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struction; but that the association is entirely unprovided with the funds necessary for carrying into operation any plans that might be adopted. It was, therefore, determined, that an urgent appeal should be made to the churches throughout the county, to render such contributions as the necessity of the case SO imperiously demand; an appeal which, it is hoped, will be promptly and cheerfully entertained.

The peculiar circumstances of the church at Dartford, engaged the attention of the Association, when it appeared that owing particularly to the heavy debt on the place of worship, (£1000. which sum has been called in by the mortgagee,) and the large amount of interest, £50. per annum, which the church has to pay, there is great danger, unless some vigorous effort is made to relieve them, that the cause in that populous town will be vitally injured, if it do not entirely sink. The difficulty of the case arises from the fact that a considerable sum has already been contributed, both by the churches in the county, and by generous individuals elsewhere. Notwithstanding this, the following resolution was unanimously adopted, with the hope, that when it has been carried into effect throughout the county, the friends of the Redeemer in other places will assist in preserving the cause in this town from the danger to which it is exposed.

"Resolved, that this Association, commiserating the situation of the church and congregation, under the pastoral care of the Rev. E. W. Harris, of Dartford, agrees to assist them in their efforts to reduce the present heavy debt on the chapel."

The attention of the Association was directed to the subject of a general Congregational Union for the whole kingdom, and very great pleasure was felt and expressed in the prospect of such a measure being carried into effect.

The attention of the brethren was also directed to the operations of the Society for promoting Ecclesiastical

Knowledge, and a resolution adopted approving of its object.

EAST DEVON ASSOCIATION.

"The

The East Devon Association held their annual meeting at the Rev. T. Horsey's meeting-house, Budleigh, on Wednesday, July 14. The Rev J. Parker, of Sidmouth, preached in the morning, from Matt. vi. 10, "Thy kingdom come.' Committee met for business in the afternoon, and a public meeting was held in the evening. The services were well attended. Amongst other gratifying intelligence, the report stated that a con gregation of Independent Dissenters had recently been formed at Collumpton. Worship is conducted by them, at present, in a large room; but a spot of ground having been presented to them by Edward Brown, Esq. of that place; a meeting-house is now erecting.

RECENT DEATHS.

Died at Tralee, Ireland, on Wednesday, August 11, in the 28th year of his age, the Rev. C. E. PAUL, engaged in that town as one of the effective agents of the Irish Evangelical Society. This respectable young minister was educated at Wymondley College, Herts, and entered upon the interesting and responsible work of an Evangelist in our sister kingdom, about four years since, with promise of great usefulness; but his health becoming feeble, he returned to England, on a visit to his friends, in May last, and was able to address the annual meeting of the Society. Apparently recruited, he went back to the scene of his labours, where, alas! he soon found an early grave. His sun went down ere it was yet noon. May the solemn bereavement be admonitory to all our young ministers to "be also ready."

On Thursday morning, August 26th, at a quarter before two, died the Rev. JOHN THOMAS, Minister of the New Chapel, Highgate. After twelve hours labouring for breath, worn out nature took repose, and in a peaceful slumber he expired. To him to live was Christ; and his death, bewailed by others, to him is gain.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE.

FAVOURS have been received since our last from the Rev. G. Redford-Thomas Guyer--J. Leifchild--T. Timpson --Charles Moase --T. James--J. Hoppus, and T. Binney.

Also from Thomas Wilson, Esq.--A. Allen--G. P.—and R. F.

We have not been able this month to give insertion to additional articles which we have received from several valuable Correspondents on the subject of Translation; but hope to make room for some of them next month.

We are sorry it is not in our power to inform M. whether his two papers have been received or not, as the Editor into whose hands they may have come is out of town; but he may expect information in our next.

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Sam Fravell

Published Nov 1 1830. by Holdsworth & Ball. 18. St Pauls Church Yard London.

Woolnoth

THE

CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

OCTOBER, 1830.

A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN HERCUS, LATE PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT GREENOCK,

RENFREWSHIRE, N. B.

OUR lamented colleague, the late Rev. William Orme, enriched an early volume of this Magazine* with an interesting series of papers, entitled, "Historical Sketch of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of Independency in Scotland," by which much pleasing and novel information respecting our brethren in the North, was diffused amongst the Independent churches of England, and a feeling of greater confidence and warmer affection than had before generally prevailed, was excited. Opportunities of intercourse have greatly strengthened these desirable impressions, and the public teaching and the literary labours of many of our Caledonian brethren, are well known and justly appreciated in the South. The proceedings of the Congregational Union of Scotland now excite an interest, and obtain a support amongst us once unknown, and we shall be happy to promote, in any degree, a state of feeling so primitive and amiable.

A sister church in the flourishing town of Greenock, on the banks of the Clyde, which was organized in 1806, has recently been bereaved of

a beloved and venerated

* Congregational Magazine, 1819. VOL. XIII. N. S. NO. 70,

pastor, the Rev. John Hercus. His death was improved by Dr. Wardlaw, who has just published the interesting discourse* he delivered on that occasion, with "a Memoir" appended, which, by his permission, we cheerfully transcribe, with a full persuasion that it will be acceptable to our readers.

"Rev. JOHN HERCUS was born in the parish of Birsay, in Orkney, July 16, 1782. His father died when he was only thirteen months old, leaving his mother a widow with three children, of whom he was the youngest.-About three years of age, according to a manuscript left in his own hand-writing, he very narrowly escaped from drowning, his step-father (for his mother had married again) having caught him by the hair of the head, when he had fallen into a mill-dam, and was only a few feet from a large wheel. Mark, O my soul,' says he in recording this early preservation, the goodness of thy God!'

* Christ's Care of his Servants: A Sermon preached in the Independent Chapel, Greenock, on Sabbath, May 23, 1830, on occasion of the lamented Death of the Rev. J. Hercus, with an Appendix, containing a brief Memoir, by Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. 48 pages. 8vo. 1s. 6d. 3 T

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As a preservative from similar
dangers, he was early sent to
school, and received the best edu-
cation, in all the ordinary branches,
which the place afforded, till be-
tween twelve and thirteen years of
age. During his time at school,
when he might be about ten years
old, he had (to use his own ex-
pression) some thoughts about
that awful subject-eternity, which
made him tremble;' but as they
occurred to his mind chiefly when
in bed, they were soon dissipated
by the social amusements of his
boyhood. About this early period
too, his mind was tenderly affected
by the sufferings of Christ; and
he thought, with the natural sym-
pathy of childhood, that had he
been in the Jews' place, he never
would have acted such a part.
He had pleasure in committing to
memory and repeating psalms and
hymns, and attended punctually
to the form of prayer; persisting
in this practice, though without the
spirit of devotion, even up to the
time of his coming to the know-
ledge of the truth. Though un-
questionably indebted to the re-
straints of early religious impres-
sions, which had happily made
him think of swearing and other
improper language as awfully
criminal in the sight of God,' yet,
like too many other young persons,
he did not entirely escape the
infection of these evils, being ex-
posed to it in the company of
servants, while overseeing them at
their work, and taking part in
their rural occupations;-a useful
caution to parents.-When about
fourteen, he went with a brother
and two other lads, on board a
small boat, to shoot sea-fowl
among the rocks.
He and one of
the other lads landed on a small
rock, separated from the cliffs on
the coast about thirty feet, to fire
off their guns. Meantime the two
who remained in the boat, in

making a grasp at a young fowl on the cliffs, pushed off the boat, and fell, both of them into the sea. None of the four could swim; and had not the boat providentially come directly towards the little rock on which he and his companion had landed, enabling them thus to get on board and pick up the other two, after they had been about fifteen minutes in the water, they must all inevitably have perished. This incident made an impression on his mind at the time; but it was transient.

"Towards the end of the year 1798, the young subject of this brief memorial formed the resolu tion of leaving home, to learn some business; and, having been advised to go to Leith, as the best place for prosecuting that on which he had fixed, he came thither in the month of April, 1799, having of course nearly completed his seventeenth year. Here, through the kindness of Providence, his lot was cast in the house of one of God's people; whose example, together with the preaching of the gospel in the Circus, Edinburgh, was the means of spiritual benefit to his soul. About the same time, several of those who were engaged in the same occupation with himself were brought to an acquaintance with the Saviour. They formed an association for prayer; of which the number of members soon increased to twelve or fourteen, and which they found exceedingly profitable, in promoting both increase in knowledge and circumspection of conduct.After returning from a visit of two months to his friends in the North, he was, in July 1801, admitted as a member of the church in the Circus; and soon after, he began to assist in the duty (which so many have found productive of no less benefit to themselves than to their pupils) of Sabbath even

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