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DECLINE OF RELIGION IN THE NETHERLANDS.

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ings of friends, was more than ever laid aside. The spare hours of the statesman, the man of literature, the merchant, the mechanic, the farmer, the grazier, the day labourer, and others, formerly devoted to the perusal of the Bible, and other useful works, or to private devotion, prayer, retired contemplation on divine truth, and mutual exhortation and edification, were now given to the reading of newspapers,, political tracts, new laws and regulations, debates, and political assemblies. DISSATISFACTION and SOURNESS arising from the loss of dignity and property filled the hearts of many, and caused them either to relinquish public worship altogether, especially if they were not exactly of the same opinion with those who conducted the worship on subjects of a political or religious nature; or, if any attention to public and family worship continued, it was performed without, devotion or reflection.

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This was particularly the case, when after many shocks, we were immersed in the Great Nation. The acquisition of a foreign language, with the study of its laws and customs, required much time, Discontent was universally diffused in consequence of the expenditure in property and blood, which was compelled in support of the throne of the then powerful ruler. Our liberty was every where injured. Religion was converted into a mere political farce. And numbers of ministers were deprived of the necessaries of life, or plunged into debt, who yet sought to discharge their ministry, although many churches, through the small interest in religion, did not regard the distresses of the ministers, nor supply their necessities.

VOL. XII.

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Not only did France and Germany at this time export to our land writings which tended to extirpate the most important doc. trines of religion, but even our own soil produced such as excited doubts concerning these topics, under the pretext of SIMPLIFYING the same, or of regulating Christianity, ACCORDING TO THE STATE OF THE TIME. This, however, I must observe to the praise of the ministers, in Friesland at least, where I am most known, that their writers, and their pernicious writings, by far the greater part (I must perhaps except a few) were condemned and despised.

The Holy Spirit, in the mean time, grieved by the contempt of revealed religion, visibly with drew his influence. The righteous, whose souls were vexed by the increasing depravity, were taken away. But few heard the gospel; and it was of rare oc currence that the sinner stopped in his course, and inquired after the good old paths where the soul finds rest. We heard occasionally of some awakening in this or the other church; but it was too much like the early dew, which swiftly passes away. And among the friends of Jesus that remained, we heard sad complaints of leanness and want of vigour.

What occasion have we to fear the continued displeasure of God, unless we speedily return to him and his service! And how much it should be an object of prayer, that some young zealous preacher of repentance may arise to lead back our wandering hearts to the religion of our fathers, lest the Lord should come and again smite the land with a curse!

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Upper Holloway, 5th of Dec. 1819.

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BAPTIST CHURCHES,

BUCKS.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.

amptonshire, and expressed his hope that similar statements would be given respecting other counties. (B. M. 1813, p. 228.) Mr. Fuller added Remarks," some explanatory, and others practical; which, though valuable, increased the difficulty of furnishing corresponding articles. Should this plan meet your approbation, you will perhaps find

churches in that county, during a residence of six years in the centre of which I endeavoured to collect information respecting its churches. I know my brethren there well enough to rest assured, that by this communication I shall not offend them, though it is taking the work out of their hands.

YOUR number for July contains a plan for a yearly view of the Baptist Churches in Britain. It would be gratifying and useful: but it requires a movement more consentaneous than unhap-room for a short account of the pily our denomination is accustomed to exhibit. If, however, we cannot attain all the advantages of such a measure, we may perhaps gain a part. In many districts, if not in all, some one may probably be found, able and willing to send you an account of the churches in his own county. These separate statements will be agreeable articles of intelligence as far as they go; and if procured from all parts of the country, they would furnish a view of our denomination, far more general and accurate than any which has hitherto appeared.

This idea was suggested by Mr. Fuller, who furnished an account of the churches in North

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In the following list, Column 1, contains the names of the places where churches of our denomination meet ;-2. the date of the formation of each church, where I could ascertain it;—3. the name of the pastor;-4. the year of his settlement; and 5. the association to which each church belongs. B. stands for Bucks: N. for Northamptonshire.

J. Cooper..
W. Hopcraft.

1760 W. Lewis

1819

1813

Chenies..

1811

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The number of members is about 1500; the hearers about 6000. A disposition to hear the gospel is very prevalent in the central part of the county, where our churches are most numerous; and village preaching is carried on to a considerable extent.

All the churches destitute of pastors, excepting that at Risborough, are very small. I am not certain whether the churches at Newport Pagnell, Winslow, and Wycombe, are not extinct; they have long been nearly so.

What are its features?

1. Hypocrisy courts observation. In giving alms, the Pharisees wished a trumpet to be sounded before them. Their chief desire was, that men might know what they were doing, and repay them. by attributing to them openheartedness and generosity. They also wore phylacteries, or pieces of parchment sewed to their upper garments, with such sentences as, "Holiness to the Lord," &c. written in large letters, that men might extol their piety. They also prayed in public places with much tautology, to inspire the idea of their extraordinary zeal, and devotional temper.

more than the praise of God."

The Buckinghamshire Association was formed about nine years ago. It contains eleven churches in Buckinghamshire, to each of which is prefixed an asterisk," They loved the praise of men and one in Hertfordshire, viz. that at New Mill. Its meetings have been in general well attended, and have proved advantageous. The Secretary for the present year is the Rev. P. Tyler of Haddenham.

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2. The hypocrite regards only the externals of religion. The outside of the cup and platter was cleansed by the Pharisees; but within it was full of cursing and bitterness. Like a painted sepulchre, the deceiver has a fair exterior; but the inward parts are full of corruption. He prays when he is heard; but if he attends to religious duties in private, it is only as an ACTOR, that he may appear to more advantage in public. Amongst the serious, he is serious; but at home, and where detection is not apprehended; the mask is laid aside. He pays tithe of all he possesses; but the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith, are totally disregarded. He has the image of God in his face, and the image of the wicked one on his heart.

3. Hypocrisy can live only in the sunshine of prosperity. When, by an apparent sanctity of manners, the hypocrite can devour widows' houses;-when a good name is attached to the christian character-when world

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ly advantage or honour can be obtained by it-many will avow their cordial attachment to the ways of piety. But if afflictions arise for the word's sake, they are offended; they leave religion behind, and flee from the paths of righteousness. Honour and emolument are the shrine before which a hypocrite pays his devotions.

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grity, and is relied on in concerns of trade and merchandize. Thus he imposes upon the unwary, sells a bad article, or often accumulates property to which he has no claim. It is almost unnecessary to add, that such persons often become bankrupts, and flourish more when many of their creditors are ruined, than ever they did in their days of public credit. These are the sources from which spring the morbid joys of a hypocrite. However,

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6. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment.

God has in mercy so ordered it, that a man can seldom succeed long in religious artifice and fraud. You come upon the hy

4. The hypocrite is the man of all companies. With the serious professor, he dwells with rapture on the excellency of true religion; talks of prayer;relates his experience; discusses doctrinal truth; and insists on a life of genuine piety. But he is equally fluent at an ale-bench. He talks on subjects of an obscene and immoral na-pocrite when he does not expect ture, and endeavours to excite admiration. Vertumnus like, he assumes all forms; he flows in the wave, or walks on the plain: with the saints, he is a saint; or a fiend with fiends. Yet, detestable as is his character,

5. A hypocrite is not without his joys...

He rejoices when he obtains honour. He wishes to be thought a good man; a man of reading, of wisdom, and of judgment. By appearing zealous in the ways of religion, by giving his support to the interests of piety, and by taking the lead in public worship, the hypocrite is noticed, and is looked up to as a man of importance. His vanity is gratified; the incense exhilarates his soul. He rejoices also when he increases his wealth. Is he a ser vant and his master a professor? By professing to be religious, he can secure a good situation, and obtain patronage and support.Or is he a tradesman? under the garb of a professor, he acquires credit, passes as a man of inte

you. He drops a sentence, or is overtaken in some immoral act, which betrays the man, and discovers his cloven foot. In such a discovery, you murder the joy of a hypocrite. His credit is lost amongst the friends of true piety, who look upon him, when unmasked, with horror. In addition to this, he is compelled to endure the taunts and scoffs of the openly profane, who say to him, "Art thou also become as one of us?"

But if he could wear his mask till death, and even enter eternity undetected, his exposure will immediately follow, and will be consummated in everlasting woe. Whilst he was alive, and appeared a friend to religion, his very acts of seeming piety emitted a Luciferian stench odious to God; but now he is driven from his presence as insufferably detestable. When our Lord would describe the extreme misery some would endure in eternity, who" were sinners above the common class, he assigns them a portion

with HYPOCRITES and UNBE-instruction to the mind and LIEVERS, plainly intimating that capacity of the scholar-Simsuch experienced aggravated plicity and familiarity in teaching damnation. -Gravity mixed with kindness My reader! are you a de-Unwearied patience - Discriceiver? If so, you are in an mination in rewarding-Caution awful state! Flee, Oh flee to in punishing-Dignity united with Christ for pardon. Yours is the mildness-The talent of reprovmost wretched and miserable ing by a look-Early rising on condition, but Christ CAN pardon the Lord's-day-morning-Secret, YOU, At his feet confess your habitual, and fervent prayerguilt, and seek a new heart, while Constant attendance Persevethere may be hope. Or are you rance-Keeping the children in a man of Christian integrity? strict order during divine service, Then, bless God for it. You and that without any troubletrust not in your uprightness, but The not being discouraged by the in the Lord Jesus, for salvation; bad tempers, of the childrenyet it will afford you joy and Cultivation of affection towards consolation under reproaches and the other teachers, prayer for afflictions, that you have the tes. them, and meeting for prayer timony of your conscience, that with them-Avoiding dispute in simplicity and godly sincerity with the officers of the church you have had your conversation-Requesting the occasional asin the world. But perhaps some individual may cast his eye over this paper, and please himself with reflecting, that if he is not a professor of religion, yet he is no hypocrite. To such a one I would say, Hypocrisy is but one way to hell. You are not in this way;-The honour of being an inbut are you not in another, which strument in the conversion of will as certainly lead you thither? children - The approbation of The proud, the covetous, the las- the Saviour at the last day. civious, and the malicious, are all excluded from the kingdom of heaven. The Lord give you a new heart, and renew a right spirit within you. Then, when the hypocrites' hope shall perish, you shall exult in everlasting life.

Shipley,

J. M.

sistance of the minister, in the way of advice and exhortation, at which time the parents should be present.

2. MOTIVES to excel. Im-. portance of Sunday-schools to society-The value of the soul

AB-T.

ON THE LETTER H..

MR. EDITOR,.

My ears are frequently of fended with the aspiration of the letter H, in words where it does not occur, and the omission of

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SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS. it where it ought to be sounded.

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I lately heard from the pulpit, "He his hall hand hin hall." Such improprieties deprive me of the pleasure (if not the profit) of hearing.

AB-T.

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