The affectionate and intelligent memoir of the Rev. John Williams in the last number of the Harbinger renders the promised Reminiscences and Reflections, almost superfluous. I cannot, however, as a fellow student and old friend of our departed brother, resist a temptation to insert my name in association with those mentioned in the Memoir, and with the names of the many who have dropped tears over his grave.

The grace which effects man's salvation, while it glorifies the Divine perfections, acts on the human mind so as to preserve inviolate its constitutional characteristics and responsible endowments -it draws with the cords of a man.

In studying therefore christian biography, we should constantly observe how grace operates on mind so as to preserve, through the whole process of moral transformation, its natural peculiarity and identical character. Luther and Melancthon did not merge their idiosynerasy in protestantism, and John and Paul secured their personal characteristics through their apostolic ministrations and inspired writings.

Our beloved brother was indeed gifted with so much evenness of mind and circumstances, that it is not easy to point

out

any particular feature of his character. As is the case with all taught of the Lord in their youth his character consisted of deep humiliation and abiding self-abasement, with a meek reliance on the Saviour and admiration at the riches of his grace,-decided consecration to his service, love to the saints, and charity to all men.

The Memoir asserts, "that our dear friend had a cultivated mind. He was fond of useful science, and was willing to impart as well as to increase his own

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stores of knowledge." Prompted at an early period by anxiety to know, and elevated by natural taste and heavenly influence above idle curiosity and small science, he delighted in acquisitions to his mental treasures collected out of the fields of nature and of art, of science and of literature, and especially out of that book which reveals the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh. Hence his attainments, without high pretensions, were respectable and remarkably accurate as far as they went: he was

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a scribe well instructed in the kingdom of God." You could perceive at once that his views of christian doctrine, experience and practice were extensive and refreshing. Without rigidly adhering to hackneyed terms in theology, he had studied closely and ever enjoyed the great evangelical truths so elaborately set forth by the best puritan and other writers. This attainment, with daily contemplation of the book of wisdom and knowledge, stored his mind with enlightening and warming thoughts. He was rich in these treasures.

Sympathy formed a beautiful attribute of our friend's character. Affection indeed predominated in him, and it was easy to see, that he was more formed to weep with those that weep, and to rejoice with those who do rejoice, than to conflict boldly with the stern difficulties and dangers often connected with great enterprise. Not indeed that he was defective in energy, or altogether free from a natural quickness of temper; but his proper element was love: he gave his heart to his ministerial work, and to the various tempted and afflicted persons with whom that work brought him into contact. Familiar with his own heart, he could speak a word in season to those

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who were weary, and comfort the convinced and trembling penitent. He was not ignorant of this world in its diversified phases of trouble and pleasure, frowns and flatteries, disappointment and success.

Thus fitted by natural affection and taught by observation and experience, he was endeared to many to whom he ministered in various parts of the kingdom, and was extensively useful.

Our recollections of our dear friend extend to his life as a STUDENT, and his early introduction into the pulpit.

At College he won the esteem of all his fellow students. He was diligent without ostentation, much employed in his own room in furnishing his mind with the power of reading critically the Holy Scriptures in their original languages, and with materials and facilities of rendering his future ministrations such as might profit the church. Yet there was at all seasons of relaxation and uniting with his brethren a simple heartiness and cheerfulness, pleasant and endearing. Many of us in that fraternal circle, at times, were to be blamed, but I cannot charge my memory with any act of our brother, or with any expression of temper which could justly annoy and distress either his tutor or fellow students. We always met him with a certainty of enjoying the cheerful intelligence of an amiable and devoted companion. We recommend to all who are preparing for the work of the ministry, to cultivate the modesty, the studious diligence, the earnestness, the circumspection, and piety of John Williams. In those dreamy hours of inexperienced youth, I am persuaded the moderate expectations of future popularity, which he cherished, were a means of keeping him humble the bloom which adorned his early fruit. I never heard him talk of the great things he would do when disentangled from the restraints and obscurity of the College. He honoured his Lord in his youth, and his Lord honoured him. Forty and six years have passed away since I left him hard at work, and I can say, I never think of our association in the school of the prophets without grateful affection. May the writer meet him in a college where the student shall "know, even as also he is known.'

As a PREACHER our brother, youthful in appearance, and easy and pleasant in action and tone, arrested more than or

dinary attention. This attention was well repaid by the rich truths he usually delivered with earnest though mild animation, "with meekness of wisdom,” and, through grace, with holy unction. His expression was clear and neat, and though he never made high assumptions, he often rose above mediocrity and was listened to with interest and advantage, and was considered by various congregations in the Connexion to be one of the most promising young ministers of his time for spirituality and usefulness. We have heard of his praise and have witnessed his success at Dover, Bath, Warrington, Congleton, and other places. We have a vivid recollection of the manner in which the late Mr. Unsworth of Warrington-one of those devoted men who erected and adorned the chapel of Saint John's in that town, which proved so great a blessing under the ministry of the Rev. Alexander Hay-spoke of his sermons and I have heard what a favourable impression his first efforts at Bath made on the venerable Doctor Hawies. His was the preaching of a young man, speaking evangelical truths which he had seen and tasted and handled, with fear and trembling, yet with a warm and earnest heart, a well informed head and agreeable utteranceand, we doubt not, God rendered these services his power unto the salvation of many. Free from Neology, self-righteousness and sufficiency, on the one side, and antinomian presumption on the other, with a plainness remote from vulgarity, "gentle yet not dull," his words like dew fell with penetrating and refreshing power on his hearers. All in the city and its neighbourhood where he laboured with such unwearied perseverance for thirty-eight years, bear witness to his preaching the gospel in its fulness, free from distortion and extremes; to the information he conveyed, especially in his expository addresses, and above all, to the spirit which he ever breathed; and they are witnesses how holily, and justly, and unblameably he behaved among them for so many years.

If at any time our friend was not so well prepared as he could wish to have been, as he advanced in life, his employments in private tuition, and his itinerant addresses to cottagers who needed plainness itself made easy-line upon line, precept upon precept, will blunt the edge of criticism, if they do not secure its praise. If churches would have the

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As is the case with most persons, as our beloved friend grew older he spake more slowly, and evinced less fire when not under excitement. This change, as is usually the case, affected his popularity; for even when the wisdom of age gives weight to the matter of the sermon and enriches it with accumulated experience, even then, the charms of youth having vanished, the power of arresting atttention generally becomes less. A few gifted with extraordinary talents and physical constitution keep in age the interest they created in youth; but this is the exception, not the rule. It is happy for all parties when a long connexion with one pious congregation, enables a minister by patient continuance in well doing to retain that popularity and usefulness which originated in his younger and more vigorous days. We may offer as a solution of the fact, that speakers generally lose in vivacity and attraction as they gain in years and experience that the animal spirits are less active and impetuous; and in the case of our beloved brother, we may add the following remarks.

The constitutional calmness of our friend had a tendency to quietude. The ocean naturally seeks this level, rejoicing as it were in the consciousness of its own profundity: it is only when acted upon by external influences that it pours onward its tidal current, or that it rises into the sublimity of a storm; and we know it is this agitation, however perilous, that gives to it life and intensity. Comparatively few, especially of the young, hold sympathy with what may be termed still life. There was also in Mr. Williams fine natural taste, and it is often found, that this taste leads to fastidiousness. He would not have excelled as he did in his early connexion with the press, had he not added to good preparatory training a love to the accurate. He became, we may say, too anxious to secure the best word, and to place it in the best position, for extemporary, popular speaking. This was remarked of the admirable and eloquent Joseph Hughes of Battersea. So scrupulous was he in the choice of the terms in which he conveyed his thought, that it often became chilled in its passage from his warm and affectionate heart. Young preachers

as well as of thought, but in actual speaking, rather allow a trifling inaccuracy to pass uncorrected, than freeze their address by hesitancy. We may sharpen the instrument till we destroy its power of having a good edge. A person "apt to teach," of holy feeling and cultivated mind, having prayerfully studied his subject, needs not fear to speak with the usual accuracy of good conversation, and, with the late Robert Hall, we consider this quite sufficient.

Perhaps a want of written preparation, either in part or in whole, necessary from his other engagements, retarded his utterance by leaving him to think too much at the moment. This will generally be a hindrance to fluency in persons who must think and feel that they have something to say worthy of attention.

We may be allowed to hazard a conjecture, that the long and paternal intercourse of our brother with the Welsh preachers might, unknown to himself, have superinduced a habit of repetition, and of dwelling on one idea so long as to render it at times ungrateful to our English ear. There is in the Cambrian ministers little regard to evenness and moving "right-on." Like their beautiful Principality, with them all is dale or hill or mountain, and they often prefer a circuit round the base of a lofty prominence, to the direct path over its summit. They generally take time to warm their joints, before they proceed with ease and effect on their journey.

We offer these remarks rather as of general application to cultivated preachers, than as being peculiarly confined to our brother, and desire them to be understood in a qualified sense. The Rev. James Bridgman, who had laboured with our brother for 38 years, most suitably engaged to preach the funeral sermon. This, notwithstanding great trial of feeling, he was enabled to do from Luke xii. 43.

"Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing." The congregation at Queenstreet chapel was large and deeply affected, while they thus testified their affectionate esteem of a good minister of Jesus Christ, and a pleasant and useful inhabitant of their city living universally respected among them for so long a period. His remains were interred in the Cemetery of the city of Chester.

Delicacy for the survivor of these two

brothers in Christ and workers together with God so long in the same sphere, must not prevent us expressing our admiration of the grace which enabled them under all the toils and the trials of their ministry to maintain uninterruptedly for 38 years, that fraternal regard, that each esteeming the other better than himself, which rendered them a beautiful pattern to all those who, in similar circumstances, are called upon "to stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." Were all such, a reproach would be rolled away from the door of many a sanctuary, and the fear of copastorship and assistants would cease to haunt our too often solitary and enfeebled ministers.

The lamenting friends of our departed brother may say as they stand at his grave "There lies a man well instructed in human and in divine knowledge, who, faithful as a christian and a minister, to the doctrines of grace in their sovereignty and holiness, was enabled by the power of that grace, greatly to disarm prejudice, by amiableness of deportment and purity of conduct; by integrity and benevolence; by zealous employment of respectable talents, in both private and public life; by the earnestness of a heart animated with the love of Christ." This he did through a life, extending beyond three score years and ten, exposed to general observation. This his brethren admired though he himself seemed unconscious of the grace which was glorified in him.

Farewell. We will remember thy last word-" JESUS," and pray and hope to join thee in the choir whose song is the name above every name.

J. K. Foster.

MOHAMEDAN MISSIONS.

The friends of Christian Missions in England, may not be generally aware of the startling fact that the religion of Mohamet is still a most formidable rival of christianity in respect of its missionary character, and is, at present, making surprising progress among mankind. On this subject a recent article, in the Edinburgh Review, informs us of the following facts :

The religion of the Prophet is still aggressive. In the South and East its progress is matter of recent history. In the East a very large portion of the

now

great Malay race has adopted it within the last few centuries. It has penetrated throughout their vast Archipelago. All the Malays of Borneo are Mohamedan, and Mohamedan by conversion,-not by conquest. We have heard of regular Mohamedan Missions established even in the Eastern parts of China. Farther and farther, towards the remote region where East and West meet, the Koran is achieving its triumphs over Paganism, and is heard of even on the coast of New Guinea, where its zealous apostles meet the advancing van of Christian conversion from the Pacific. But it is towards the South, among the negroes of Soudan, that its greatest progress has, of late, been made. The Prophet holds exclusive dominion, almost without any admixture of other religions, over one-half of the African Continent (drawing the line of demarcation between Mohamedanism and Pagan Fetichism, at Africa, at 100 N. latitude). But that dominion really extends far more to the South. Fellatah conquests have carried it beyond the Niger and Quarra, even to the Bight of Benim, where it is rapidly gaining ground on Fetichism. Sheik Othman Danfodio, who died in 1816, planted his standard near the mouth of the Gambia, leaving the vast Pagan populations of Soudon, subjugated or terrified, behind him. His successors, the Sultans of Sockatoo, appear hardly to have expanded the conquests of their faith since his time, but they have materially consolidated and strengthened them. The vantage ground thus obtained by conquest, has been extended by conversion. Fez Kairouan, and other seminaries of the priesthood, send, yearly, swarms of teachers of the Koran into Negroland. Our unfortunate Niger expedition of 1841, fell in with these rival missionaries, from the North of Rabbah and Fundah, scarcely above the tide waters of the great river. The advice of the Malions, or Teachers," says its historian, is taken on all occasions, and they already lead the minds of the people. Meanwhile, on the opposite or East coast of Africa, Arab merchants and adventurers appear to be extending the limits of Islam with ominous rapidity. M. de Lauture mentions its spread in Madagascar. He specifies, of his own knowledge, a Chief of that part of the island frequented by the French, who has just embraced it, with all his people, merely to get rid of

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ary.

the importunities of a christian missionAll this shows that Mohamedanism is by no means defunct, but on the contrary, is yet a very formidable rival of Christianity.

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One of our Connexion ministers has been endeavouring to stimulate the latent zeal of British christians to establish a Mission of Evangelisation among the Mohamedans and Druses of Turkey. It is, indeed, an important question, which we would submit to the attention of our wealthy friends. What ought we to do for the Evangelisation of the Turks? Let us ask ourselves whether it is right that we, who are ever foremost in missionary enterprises for the conversion of Jews and Pagans, should continue to do nothing at all to convert the Mahomedans. For, in fact, we have done nothing at all, as yet, to spread the gospel in the Ottoman Empire. It is true that American missionaries doing a great work among the christian population of Turkey, and have made numerous converts to evangelical truth from amongst the old Greek and Armenian churches. But, strange to say, even these devoted Evangelists have hitherto made no decided effort to proclaim the gospel to the Moslems, under the apprehension of suffering the penalty of death, which attaches to the crime of apostacy from Mahomedanism. It is, however, the fact that, under the amiable rule of the present Sultan, there is no danger that English missionaries or their converts would be molested in their work, if they only had courage to undertake it. The law in question is nearly obsolete, and must shortly vanish from the Turkish code, for the popular opinion is daily tending towards civil and religious freedom. And it is certain that a very large number of Mohamedans in Turkey, are ready to make a public profession of the christian faith, and are willing to take the risk, to be baptised, and to sell the Bible openly.

Such is the testimony of the excellent Dr. Blackwood, who has lately gone to Constantinople to devote himself to the temporal and spiritual welfare of our sick soldiers in the hospitals. That devoted man earnestly advises the Moslems to make a bold profession of the faith, and determine to endure all consequences without shrinking. "Why," he asks, "Why should not this be done boldly? Was not this the way in which christianity was first promulgated and made

victorious. Are we wiser than Christ and his Apostles, or more tender of human life than they? Or, are we only less faithful and courageous? "This is the Victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Would it not be a sounder and more vigorous christianity which we might expect as the fruit of such a root, than that which would probably result from the abolition of the law in question ?— a law, which, at present, affords an almost infallible test of the truth of profession. To me, it appears that, if there be converted Turks willing and desirous to take the bold and faithful step, they ought not to be discouraged, but to have their hands strengthened by their brethren, to be faithful unto death, if need be. From all I can learn, nevertheless, there is every reason to hope that in the Metropolis there would not now be any probability of the barbarous sentence being executed. And to bring this to the test, would be a decisive step towards the overthrow of Mohamedanism.

Let us think of the twenty millions and upwards of deluded followers of the false prophet in Turkey, who have no missionary of the Cross to point them to the crucified Saviour! And let us ask, Where is our Christian chivalry? While thousands of our brave soldiers are sacrificing their lives and limbs in defence of the Ottoman people against the Russian foe. Where are the soldiers of Christ who have courage to go and risk their lives to save the souls of these deluded people from everlasting destruction. Shall the children of this world have more invincible faith and courage than the children of light? Who, then, will devote themselves to this great cause? Who will go and do battle with the false prophet on his own territory? And who will find the sinews of war to carry on this glorious enterprise? Clare, Suffolk.

THE BIBLE PROSCRIBED.

J. R.

I will relate an anecdote, which will prove that the Osmanlis, however fanatic and prejudiced, find their parallel in those upon whom christianity is supposed to have shed its beneficial light.

American Protestant Missionaries and agents of the Bible Societies succeeded, some five years ago, in distributing numerous translated copies of the sacred