he enjoyed much friendly intimacy. Mr. Gilbert's health suffering from the climate of Hull, he accepted an invitation to Nottingham in 1825, where, first at St. James's Street, and afterwards at Friar Lane Chapel, he officiated till his death in 1852. During this period Mrs. Gilbert wrote the "Convalescent," twelve letters addressed to those recovering from illness, and, after the death of her husband, she furnished a short memoir of him. Poetry still flowed from her pen, and occasionally found its way into print, as in a "Lament for the Crocuses," and a 'few other pieces. She also published "Hymns for Sunday-School Anniversaries," and supplied hymns also to more than one collection. Her tranquil old age was passed in Nottingham, to which she was greatly attached, but she made almost every year a visit to Ongar, endeared as it was by the most sacred memories. She was able to do this even in the last summer of her life. Few tokens of decline were apparent, but a slight attack of illness in the month of August was premonitory, as she herself felt, of the end, which came with little warning on Thursday, December 20th, when, at the age of 85, she expired, after two days of unconciousness, surrounded by her six surviving children.

Hers was a character of rare simplicity, sincerity, and humility. She never thought of herself as a literary person, and received only with tearful thankfulness any testimony to the merit or usefulness of her writings. A practical energy in the discharge of all the domestic and social duties of life, was one of her most distinguishing characteristics. As a wife and mother, none could be more tenderly solicitous; as a friend, none more active and loyal. She drew upon herself a most voluminous correspondence in her ceaseless endeavours to serve others, or help the unfortunate, in which she never allowed an opportunity to be lost, for, above all things, she redeemed the time by a most conscientious industry. And yet, and notwithstanding a cheerful temperament and a lively wit, her religious feelings were marked by anxious self-distrust and humble dependence: emphatically she “walked humbly with her God," and, most characteristically, the last words in her will addressed to her children were words of warning,-" see that ye fail not of the grace of God;"-words which aptly express what was the ruling principle of her life.

DAVID DERRY, ESQ., OF PLYMOUTH.

The following account of Mr. Derry is derived from the funeral sermon preached by his pastor, the Rev. C. Wilson, M.A. :-David Derry gave himself, in his early years, to the Lord. His life has been an example of earthly duty discharged in the fear of God. He carried the spirit of religion into all he did. His career has been intimately associated with the growth of modern Plymouth. When comparatively young he entered the arena of public life, where his abilities found ample scope and commanded general confidence. He possessed considerable mental power, and this was associated with a strength of purpose and moral integrity which gave him a prominent place among leading men. He was a true Plymouthian; he loved his native town, he had its interest thoroughly at heart, and his name is closely identified with many of the movements which have marked its social improvement and commercial prosperity. He took a broad view of those subjects which were presented to him, and formed his opinions independently. Out of the conflicts of public life he carried no bitterness of spirit. David Derry was a noble type of the Christian citizen. He acknowledged the duties which he owed to his fellow-men, and strove to discharge them faithfully. His views of Christian duty were too broad and sound to exclude him from the councils of his fellow-townsmen, or to justify his evading any civil responsibility for which his abilities qualified him, and to which he might be called by the con

fidence of others. His faith had a firm grasp of God, his experience of Divine truth was deep and broad, and his religious life had in it a vigour which enabled him to bear his part in the world's conflict unharmed. His whole career was a protest against the spirit that would divorce religious life from civil duties and political claims. Our departed friend's life work—the work which is a testimony to his sound judgment, his wise caution, his administrative ability, and his high character—is the Devon and Cornwall Bank. His position in connection with it was one that made him the adviser of many, and he was uniformly a judicious friend. In the light of recent events, in which we have seen so many betrayed by the pressure of difficulty, it is a matter for sincere congratulation that his course has been one of such undeviating integrity. He himself felt this deeply. Often since his retirement from public life has he expressed to me his devout thankfulness to God, that he had been enabled to guard so sacredly the interests which had been entrusted to him.

But this represents only one side of his life. He was avowedly a Christian man. There was no concealment of his religious convictions. There was no equivocation or hesitancy about his profession of Christ. The qualities of mind and heart which won the confidence of his fellow-townsmen gave him prominence in religious movements. He became a Sunday-school teacher when Sundayschools were regarded as a species of religious Quixotism; and when the great missionary enterprize was food for the satirist, and was frowned upon by a large section of the Christian Church, he embraced it heartily, and pledged himself to its promotion. The Western College has lost in him a tried and faithful friend, and the Town Mission a generous supporter. Indeed, there is scarcely a charitable institution in our town which he has not helped to sustain. In this church David Derry will ever be remembered with reverence. His name has stood on the roll of its membership for nearly fifty years, and for nearly forty years of that time he has held an official position in it. This, in itself, is no small testimony to his character and worth. He had used the office of a deacon well, and purchased to himself a good degree." His ecclesiastical sympathies were with Congregationalism, but he was utterly free from any approach to religious bigotry or sectarian narrowness. While holding his own views firmly, he had a large charity towards those who differed from him. His own religious convictions were clear and intense. He was profoundly attached to what we regard as the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. With him they were not merely Bible truths, but vitalised facts. With increasing years the merits of the righteousness of Christ became more and more precious to him, as the only ground of his acceptance before God. . . His last words were addressed to his faithful wife-"You are very kind to me," he said, "but I want to mountunfinished sentence was completed for him :—

"Then let me mount and soar away
To the bright world of endless day,
And sing with rapture and surprise
His lovingkindness in the skies.'

"The

Is that what you mean?" she asked. The lips were sealed, but the uplifted hand was the silent, eloquent reply. And out of his sleep of insensibility he awoke to behold his Saviour, amidst the surpassing splendours of the spiritual world. There was no death-bed scene; there was no parting word; there was no last testimony,-none was needed. After nearly fifty years of public life, he has gone down to the grave with a Christian reputation untarnished.

Mr. Derry was born on the 15th of February, 1794, and died on the 24th of January, 1867.

JAMES EDMESTON, ESQ., OF HOMERTON.

The elder readers of the "Evangelical Magazine " must have a vivid remembrance of a name which long occupied a prominent place in its pages as a contributor of poetry. In the "Lyra Britannica," just published by Dr. Charles Rogers, it is stated that Mr. Edmeston wrote nearly two thousand hymns. And in the Rev. Josiah Miller's volume on "Our Hymns," we find the following statement furnished by the poet himself:-"I was born 10th September, 1791. My parents were Independents-my maternal grandfather was the well-known Rev. Samuel Brewer, for fifty years minister of the ancient Independent congregation at Stepney; but, from early years, I had a strong leaning towards the Church of England, the service of which I always found more congenial to my own feelings, and, after many years of occasional conformity, I became a member thereof, and joined the congregation of Ram's Episcopal Chapel, at Homerton, the incumbent of which was and is the Rev. Thomas Griffith, prebend of St. Paul's."

We may add to this statement that Mr. Edmeston's grandfather, the Rev. Samuel Brewer, was minister of Stepney Meeting from 1746 to 1796, and that his father, Mr. James Edmeston, became a member of the church in 1787, and survived the pastorates of the Rev. George Ford and Dr. Joseph Fletcher, and died during the present pastorate in 1847, in the eighty-ninth year of his age. The last member of the family who was connected with the church in Stepney Meeting, was Miss Sarah Edmeston, who watched over her aged father, during his declining years, with the utmost devotion, and survived him only a few years,— a lady whose "good works" and pure, rare beauty of character, endeared her to all who knew her.

James Edmeston, the younger, was an architect and surveyor by profession. In 1817, he published a small volume, entitled, "The Search, and other Poems," which was dedicated to his friend, the Rev. F. A. Cox, of Hackney. This was succeeded by many volumes of poetry in after years. Mr. Miller says:"Mr. Edmeston has been very successful in his hymns for children, some of which are scarcely inferior in merit to those of Jane Taylor. Some of his hymns were written, week after week, to be read on Sunday after family prayer; and at all times hymn-writing has been to him a sacred and solemn work." That beautiful "spiritual song" for children, "Little Travellers Zionward," will occur to many readers. The well-known hymn, now to be found in almost all collections, Saviour, breathe an evening blessing," was written many years ago, after reading in Salte's "Travels in Abyssinia" the following words:—“ At night their short evening hymn, Jesus, forgive me,' stole through the camp." "It has been sung," Mr. Miller informs us, "for years, at the close of the service, at the church at Homerton, where Mr. Edmeston worships."

Mr. Edmeston has ceased to worship on earth. On the 7th of January, 1867, he entered into his rest, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

Sunset Thoughts; or, Bible Narratives for the Evening of Life. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., 32, Paternoster Row.

THIS book, with its large print, and clear, calm style of thought and of expression, is likely to be a favourite with the aged.

Bernard Palissy, the Huguenot, and Potter.
Edinburgh Oliphant and Co.

THE touching and teaching story of one
of the most remarkable men of the six-
teenth century is here given; in small
compass, but put together with much
good taste and skill.

Eight Acrostics on the Bible. Addresses
delivered at the Rye-lane Sunday-school,
Peckham. By GEORGE THOMAS CON-
GREVE, Superintendent. London: Elliot
Stock.

THERE may be a question as to the wisdom
and utility of the practice which has now
become common in some periodicals of
exercising the penetration and inventive-
ness of their young readers by means of
acrostics. But there will be no question
as to the soundness and importance of the

instructions which the author of this little volume inculcates on the Rye-lane Sunday Scholars. Much of the effect produced necessarily depends on the manner in which such addresses are delivered. They may be so delivered as to do little more than amuse, or they may be so delivered as deeply to impress. The acrostics themselves, all of them on the word "Bible," are very ingenious, and so framed as to give scope for many lessons, doctrinal and practical.

MEETING AT THE LONDON MISSION HOUSE.

ON Monday, the 4th of February, a meeting was held at the London Mission House, to which too great prominence cannot be given, and to the occasion of which, as stated in the following circular, we beg to call the most earnest attention of the friends of the Society everywhere:

“The Directors of the London Missionary Society, solemnly impressed with the sense of their responsibility in the present crisis of its affairs, including its financial position, its lack of missionary candidates, its serious losses in the field of operation by death and the failure of health, with the loud and imperative call from every part of the East for an increase of holy and devoted labourers, have resolved to convene a meeting of all the metropolitan pastors for special prayer and consultation, in the hope that in answer to prayer some measure may be devised to revive the interest of the London Churches in favour of the Society, and through them in all the Churches throughout the length and breadth of the land. Let nothing, we pray, prevent your being present."

To this appeal, wet as was the afternoon, there was such a general response on the part of the pastors, that the board-room was crowded, and the meeting overflowed into the large committee-room adjoining. The Rev. A. Macmillan, as deputy-chairman of the board, conducted the meeting. The Rev. R. Robinson, Home Secretary, read several communications urging the necessity for more prayer, and asking for special intercession on behalf of the children of ministers and missionaries, that they might be consecrated to the service of Christ. The Rev. J. Stoughton and Dr. Spence uttered a few words of exhortation, pressing very devoutly and earnestly the claims of Christ and the world, in connection with this Society, on the serious regard and prayerful sympathy of the pastors and their respective Churches. Prayers fervent and importunate, were offered by the Revs. E. Mannering, R. S. McAll, J. C. Harrison, T. Binney, W. Roberts, H. Allon, and J. Viney, and then, with feelings of thankfulness for such a gathering, the meeting decided that no formal resolution committing the brethren to any specific course of action was needed, as all present would retire with a pledge in their hearts, to seek the promotion of a deeper sympathy in missionary operations, and a more liberal support of this Missionary Society, in their various congregations.

66

We regard this meeting as an encouraging sign," believing, with the late John Angell James, of Birmingham, that "Prayer is the hope of the Missionary cause.'

[We regret the necessity of omitting our "Congregational Register" for this month, and many "Notices of New Books," already in type. Our next issue will contain a "Register" for two months.-EDITOR.]

THE

CHRISTIAN WITNESS,

AND

CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1867.

THOUGHTS ON THE SERVICE OF PRAISE.

By the Editor.

THE Church of the Old Testament had no liturgy of prayer divinely provided for it, but it had a liturgy of praise; and before that liturgy was prepared, or began to be prepared, in the days of David, there was not wanting the spirit of praise, nor the spirit of poetry, to put praise into fitting shape and form when there was special occasion, as we see in the instance of the Song of Moses, when Israel came out of Egypt-a Song in which we find the sublimest conceptions of the Divine character, and one whose thoughts and words have received the highest tribute which modern music can give them.

The New Testament contains neither liturgy of prayer nor liturgy of praise, but it informs us that both prayer and praise were practised by the first Christians. And nothing more is needed. The Christian Church of successivegenerations, with the inspired Psalter of the Jewish Church in its hand, as groundwork and pattern, with ordinary gifts of poesy in its members, and with the promised unction of the Holy One, can provide for itself the needful forms in which to utter its sentiments of adoration and praise. The New Testament Church has more reason for praise than had the Old. The fulfilment of the promise in which the faith and hope of the godly rested for four thousand years, the incarnation of the Son of God, the redemption wrought on Calvary, the larger communication of the Holy Ghost, the resurrection and ascension of Christ, and the unveiling of life and incorruption by the Gospel, should make the spirit of the New Testament Church doubly jubilant, and furnish themes for praise which ancient saints at the best understood only as children.

We are not surprised to find that the service of praise is perpetuated in heaven. How could it be otherwise? Shall Moses, and Miriam, and Israel sound their loud timbrel in celebration of the Divine power and goodness when