meet, at least, once in six months, the time | racter, according to the intentions of the been undertaken; and deeply feeling their and place to be determined at such previous Committee:— meeting. "IV. That each division of the Alliance shall hold an annual meeting of the members, at which the Committee for that division shall be chosen; one-fifth going out annually, but eligible for re-election, and the names shall be forwarded to the Secretaries of the Alliance before the annual meeting of the general body. "V. That the Secretaries in London shall, on a requisition being presented to them, signed by at least twenty-five members of the Aggregate Committee, call a special meeting of the Aggregate Committee, stating its object; to be held at such a time and place as, on consultation with the different divisions, shall seem fit; but that no other business shall be introduced into that Special Meeting than that which is stated in the summons convening such meeting. VI. That each division of the Aggregate Committee shall form as soon as possible, Local Committees in all the important central points of the districts assigned to them; that every Local Committee shall be constituted in conformity with instructions from that division of the Aggregate Committee within whose district the locality may be situated; and shall transmit periodically to the Divisional Committee with which they may be connected a report of their proceedings and copies of their minutes. "VII. Persons may be admitted into memhership with the Alliance by each Divisional Committee, according to such practical regulations as it may think good, provided always that they may be recommended by at least two members resident in the district, and that they declare their adherence to the principles and objects of the Alliance. "VIII. That, without specifying a money qualification, it is earnestly recommended to every member of the Alliance to contribute a sum annually to its funds.-Carried." A discussion being raised between the passing of the first and second clauses of the organization, as to the propriety of the Alliance taking up the question of slavery, in order to the exclusion of slave-holders, the following Resolution was adopted, as a direction to the London Provisional Committee, who have the power of receiving corresponding members from abroad. This will have the effect of excluding slave-holders, some of whom, it was understood, were preparing to come from the slave States of America to the London Conference : "Rev. Doctor CANDLISH moved; J. M. STRACHAN, Esq., seconded"That, while this Committee deem it unnecessary and inexpedient to enter into any question at present on the subject of slaveholding, in the difficult circumstances in which Christian brethren may be placed in countries where the law of slavery prevails, they are of opinion that invitations ought not to be sent to individuals who, whether by their own fault or otherwise, may be in the unhappy position of having their fellow-men slaves." The question of the doctrinal summary of principles, which has been sometimes called the basis of the Alliance, was discussed with a view to meet objections that had been raised against it in certain quarters. It was decided, that it was neither expedient to curtail nor to enlarge that summary; but, for the purpose of meekly instructing those that oppose themselves, the following explanation was prepared to be prefixed to the document in question, in crder to remove all just doubts as to its cha "Rev. Dr. BUNTING moved; Rev. Dr. MASSIE seconded; Rev. JOHN JORDAN, Rev. ALEXANDER BELL, Rev. W. M. BUNTING, supported 66 That, following out the spirit of the Resolutions adopted in October and January last, respecting a doctrinal basis of union, the summary of principles or heads of doctrines already agreed to remains for the present unaltered; but, in order to prevent misunderstanding, with an explanation to the effect, first, that it is not to be viewed as, in any strict or proper sense, a creed or confession of faith; secondly, that the selection of certain tenets, with the omission of others, is not to be held as implying, that the former constitute the whole body of important truths, or, that the latter are unimportant; thirdly, that in reference even to the selected tenets, the document in question does not pretend to express definitely the formal propositions in which they must have been embodied, if they had been made the subjects of direct statement; and, finally, that in adopting it, the Alliance would not be understood as assuming the right authoritatively to define the limits of Christian brotherhood, but simply as indicating the class of persons whom it is considered, on the whole, desirable and right to embrace within the Alliance.-Carried." The rest of the business of the Aggregate Committee at Birmingham related chiefly to finance and other details of arrangement. But the three following Resolutions, which closed the proceedings, are of a different character. The speeches introducing these Resolutions, and the spirit manifested by the whole assembly, were in direct accordance with the holy and heart-cheering cause in which the parties breathing these delightful sentiments are happily united and engaged:"Rev. Dr. RAFFLES moved; Rev. J. A. JAMES seconded; Rev. Dr. HOBY supported That this Committee cannot separate without conveying to their beloved and honoured friend, the Rev. Edward Bickersteth, the assurance of the deep and unfeigned sympathy which they entertain with him in the painful dispensation of Providence with which it has pleased our Heavenly Father to visit him; while they gratefully acknowledge the mercy which interposed for his delivery in the hour of danger, and earnestly pray, in humble submission to the will of God, that his health may be speedily and perfectly restored, and his valuable life and labours long continued to the Christian Church, and espenially to this Alliance, which already owes to him so large a debt of gratitude, and in whose service he was engaged, when the painful event occurred to which we desire thus affectionately to refer.-Carried." A copy of this Resolution was ordered to be transmitted forthwith to the Rev. Edward Bickersteth. The Rev. J. Cooper acknowledged, on behalf of his esteemed relative, the expression of fraternal regard. "Rev. Dr. CANDLISH moved; Rev. Dr. BUNTING seconded; Rev. JOHN KELLY supported "That the Committee acknowledge the good hand of God in the leadings of His providence and the pourings out of His Spirit, during all the proceedings which have taken place since this movement towards union began, especially in the removal of many difficulties, the preservation of unity and brotherly love among the friends and brethren who have attended the meetings, and the progress so happily made in the blessed work which has obligation to the long-suffering patience, and undeserved goodness of God, as well as their entire dependance upon Him for all future success, the Committee would record their humble gratitude for past mercies, and their determination to go forward in Divine strength, thanking God, and taking courage.-Carried." "Rev. J. H. STEWART moved; Rev. Dr. URWICK seconded; Rev. C. PREST, Rev. R. NEWSTEAD supported— "That this Committee, desiring most devoutly to acknowledge the favour of the God of all grace in their proceedings hitherto, producing in them, as they humbly trust, increasing faith in His approval of their object, and leading them to a deeper sense of their entire dependance upon the agency of the Holy Spirit at every step in their progress, unanimously recommend to the members present, and to their absent brethren, and also entreat of all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours, earnestly to supplicate the abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, and particularly as the spirit of love, with a special reference to the proposed Conference in August, that the Lord of His grace and mercy may so bless the proposed Evangelical Alliance, that believers, walking worthy of the vocation wherewith they are called, with all lowliness and meekness, and with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.-Carried." Thus closed the private sittings of the Aggregate Committee in Birmingham. A very interesting and successful Public Meeting in the great Town Hall, attended by three or four thousand persons, concluded the whole. We understand that the 19th of August next has been fixed by the Select Sub-Committee as the day for the great Conference Meeting in London; and it is anticipated that the deliberations then to be entered into, together with the devotional exercises and public meetings which may be held, will extend over at least eight or ten succeeding days. LONGINGS FOR CANAAN. "How far is it to Canaan?" asks the doubting Christian, "for I am sadly afraid I shall never get there. My sins are a heavy burden to me, and I long to be rid of them, if, indeed, there is hope for such a one as I." Go on, poor doubting Christian; take fresh courage and quicken thy step. Canaan is not so far off but thou shalt reach it at last, and if thou couldst know how willing the Saviour of sinners is to receive thee, it would shed a sunbeam on thy dejected countenance. I have a word of comfort for thee, a cordial for thy heart: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." "How far is it to Canaan?" asks the triumphant Christian, " for I long to be at home. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and because he lives, I shall live also.' My soul has made me like the chariots of Ammi-nadib,' and I am impatient to behold Him face to face." Go forward, triumphant Christian, with the glorious ring of assurance upon thy finger! Cast not away thy confidence, which hath great recompense of reward;" but stay, I have a word also for thee, which may be useful. Ponder it in thy heart : 66 "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." "How far is it to Canaan?" asks the afflicted Christian," for I have lain a long while upon the bed of suffering. Wearisome nights are appointed me. I am full of tossing to and fro unto the dawning day.' 'O that I had wings like a dove; for then would I fly away, and be at rest."" Be of good cheer, afflicted Christian! The heavier the cross, the more pleasant will be the crown. If we suffer with Christ, we shall be glorified with Christ. I have a word to refresh the fainting soul, and will now give it thee: "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." "How far is it to Canaan ?" asks the persecuted Christian, "for I am outcast from my family, a stranger upon earth: like my Lord, I am despised and rejected of men. Many are they that rise up against me, and they hate me with a cruel hatred.'" 6 Hold on thy way, persecuted Christian; it is a safe one, and a blessed one, yea, the one thy Redeemer trod before thee. Dost thou want a word of consolation? I will give it; lay it upon thy bosom : lasting joy shall be upon their head; they | ness, or struggling through the clouds of Look up, poor dying Christian; and yonder "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: and when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Israel, thy Saviour." THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD. GRACE is the great Bible theme. God's word is the word of grace. It breathes of grace from first to last. Every promise is laden with grace. The burden of every prophet is grace. Each evangelist spreads out scenes of grace before us. Each apostle makes known to the Churches the wonders of grace. The last words in Scripture, falling upon the ear of a sinful world, are the words of grace: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." It is the grace, or free love of God, that meets us at every turn, disclosing some more of its unsearchable riches, and seeking to draw the eye of a careless but miserable world to that which is so abundantly fitted to gladden and to bless it. It is this free love that, like the rich music of some majestic river, ceases not day nor night. generation after generation, but is ever sounding on in the ears of the dwellers along its valley, whether they listen or not. It would seem as if God were resolved that we should be compelled to hearken to the words of grace and learn their meaning, though by endless repetition of precept upon precept and line upon line. It would seem as if God were never weary of telling us the gracious purposes of his paternal heart, in order to remove every suspicion on our part of the sincerity of his compassionate interest in the welfare of his lost ones here, and to prevent any misunderstanding of what he really means by free love to sinners. He would have us know that this love of his is really free and deep, and tender and true, meeting the sinner just where he stands, and bringing salvation to him just as he is, in all his worth lessness and misery. The God of the Bible is the God of grace, and hence his word is the revelation of grace. It is the gracious mind of God that, fold after fold, unrolls itself in each successive page. The gracious purposes of his heart towards sinners, come sparkling out, like so many stars at midnight, countless, unquenchable, and gladdening, the only true light that falls upon a darkened earth; "for the light shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not." Whatever leaf we turn, whatever scene we The redeemed of the Lord shall return, gaze on, we can still discern grace, either and come with singing unto Zion, and ever-shining down in the strength of its bright "Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward is great in heaven." "How far is it to Canaan ?" sighs the bereaved Christian, "for I am a lonely and desolate pilgrim. All that were dear to me on earth are taken away. My tears have been my meat day and night, and my soul yearns for the land where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying." Pas on, bereaved Christian; the more lonely thy pilgrimage, the sweeter thy reception at the end. The Lord, whom thou seckest, hath a special care and pity for his desolate ones. Take these words with thee, and they may refresh thy spirit. For even though they be desolate RELIGIOUS REVERENCE, A HIGHLANDER, observed the Rev. Dr. Macleod, can give and take a joke like his neighbours on most subjects, but not on his religion; here he is reserved and shy. To know them on this subject, you must be a Highlander. A friend of mine was in a boat with a man from St. Kilda, advancing for the first time, from his native rocks, to visit the world. As he went towards the Isle of Mull, they asked him about St. Kilda, and told him of the magnificent things at Mull. He parried them off with great coolness for some time, and in good humour. At length one asked him if ever he heard of God at Kilda. Immediately he became grave and collected. To what land do you belong?" said he; "describe it to me." I," said the other, come from a place very different from your barren rocks; I come from the land of flood and field, a land of wheat and barley, where nature spreads her bounty in abundance and luxuriance before us." "Is that," said the Kilda man, "the kind of land you come from. Ah! then you may forget God, but a St. Kilda man never can. Elevated on his rocks, suspended over a precipice, tossed on the wild ocean, he never can forget his God; he hangs continually on his arm." All were silent in the boat, and not a word more was asked him regarding his God. 66 66 66 THE POWER OF GOD. "THERE is no high pressure power in the enginery of the spiritual kingdom, but the exceeding greatness of God's power towards them that believe. It is that power which we seek to engage, and the engaging of it must be a private, secret, work. David in secret had slain the lion and the bear; that gave him courage when all others were giving way, to go against the Philistine with his tried armour, the armour of God. Robert Bruce would not go to the pulpit except the other went with him; that made Satan quail before him-the sword was not Gideon's, but the Lord's. Welsh reckoned the day ill spent if he stayed not seven or eight hours in prayer; that made the grape-gleanings in Ayr exceed the vintage in Irvine-and few vintages in our day are to be compared even to Irvine's. Let the Israelites within our borders set about this secret work. True, they are not all Israel who are of Israel. But we have not a few true sons and daughters of the prevailing wrestler, scattered throughout our congregations. Let these be found (alone) with the Angel! Let them bear Zion especially on their hearts before the Lord, whether in the closet, or in the family, or in social prayer; and let them not be discouraged by a few hours of darkness. Jacob wrestled on through the dark night. David mourned in his complaint, and made a noise. Welsh, and Bruce, and Rutherford were detained so long in the pavilion, less by the pleasantness of the sunshine, than by the agonizing of a soul urged to incessant crying by an ever-increasing sense of need. But Jacob, and David, and Welsh, and Bruce, and Rutherford, had their day-breaks-their seasons of holy joy. "Ministers of God! Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.' It is not enough,-to accoutre you for this great work,—that you pay occasional visits to the secret of the Lord's tabernacle. You must dwell there if you would learn his secrets, and would be used by him to make known those secrets to dark souls. The Father sent his Son into the world as his witness, and his Son's preparation for declaring him was the insight he had gotten into his father's mind and heart, by dwelling in his bosom, and likewise the power given him as his father's king. So you must see-not once, but day by day-in the face of Jesus Christ, the light of the knowledge of Jehovah's glory, else you cannot execute your commission, and you must carry along with you the same divine power -not embodied, indeed, in your person, or in the words you utter, but embodied in the person of him who said, 'Lo, I am with you alway,'-else the dead Lazarus will refuse to leave his grave. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.' So sent, you will go forth most effective preachers;-your eloquence, not the cold, soulless eloquence of a sign-post by the way-side, pointing out the road to others, but itself not moving on, (alas! how much does even the godly minister feel of that, and how many are there in our pulpits who never get beyond it!)-but the true eloquence and the impressiveness of the man, who, himself, is hurrying forward to the New Jerusalem—is declaring plainly by his whole walk and style, that he seeks a better country,'-is rejoicing, with trembling, in the light of Jehovah's face, and is extolling, with a full heart, the beauty and comeliness of that Beloved One, whom he himself prizes as the chief among ten thousand and altogether lovely! Your words may be plain, your style unpolished, your manner unadjusted to histrionic rule; there may be nothing about man--the whole may seem utter foolishness; either matter or manner to attract the carnal BIBLE CIRCULATION. FROM 1800 to 1844, the British and Foreign 66 she had to be lifted up to enable her to empty it into the cistern; and when she looked up she said, with tears in her eyes, "she would go seven times a day in order to fill it." Still very few went, and the cistern continued nearly empty; whereas, if all had gone, they would have brought an abundant supply of the living water, and their "Joy would soon have been "full." ‘ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE, THAT asking for that which will fill up our joy. YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL." THESE words continued to sound in my ears, vision realised before me. I fancied myself transported into the school-room, and in the centre of the room was placed a large cistern. All the scholars cistern full,-full of beautiful clear, sparkling were there, and they all wanted to get the water, that was to be had at a fountain not far off. On looking more carefully at this All the scholars were provided with a jug, large cistern, I saw written on it-" Joy." that they might go and bring this living water in from the fountain. They told me they would like to have the cistern full; and yet what surprised me very much was, that hardly any were going for the water, though, on looking into the cistern, the bottom of it was little more than covered,—it was almost empty: Seeing so few bringing the water, I began boys, who told me "they thought that others to inquire the reason. I first asked a class of would go," and there was no need for them. Then a class of girls, who said "they had no time to go,"-though all the while they were speaking idle words to one another. Then I went to a class of the older scholars, who I started up from my reverie, and wondered if this could be a picture of the school. The means are within our reach of receiving a blessing, and yet we will not use them. Jesus has said, "If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." "Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." We all profess to be wishful that our "joy may be full;" and yet we won't give ourselves the trouble of Some, like the boys, think that it is enough if others go, and they need not. Some, like the girls, try to excuse themselves by saying, they have not time. Others, like the elder scholars, think that because God is able to do it all, therefore they should not require to go and ask him; and others are too proud, and fancy they can give something in paybecause they don't go the right way about it. ment for what they ask; while some are discouraged because they don't get it, and all They are not asking after the living water in the name of Jesus, they are not asking receive the least drop, or perhaps they are humbly as those who are not worthy to not looking up expecting to receive what they ask for. It is to be feared that Jesus may still, with reason, say to us, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Scotch Church Sabbath School, Manchester. -From an Address to the Children of the THE VANITY OF CEREMONIES IN ALL the art and power of the world cannot ---but with the 'goodly matter' of a Spirit-replied that "the person who had the foun- gestures and postures, to a man that is swal taught man, and the touching 'conveyance' of one yearning over human souls, and the single eye and expecting faith of one who has been with Jesus; you will always triumph in Christ, because your preaching is the power of God. On the contrary, without such an unction from the Holy One, your learned and stately ratiocinations may inform―your ingenious subtlety may amaze your brilliant fancy may dazzle--your graphic sentences may beguile the tedium of an irksome hour your dulness may sopite-or the syren sounds of your pleasant voice' may suspend upon your lips admiring assemblies; but, in the meantime, you are the stumbling-block over which souls are daily falling into hell; and, in the end, you will yourselves be castaways." -Presbyterian Review, April, 1846. THE FIRST SCOTTISH BIBLE. THE first edition of the whole Bible ever printed in Scotland, was printed by collections of parishes, ordered by the Church. It was dedicated to the King in 1579; and it was required by Act of Parliament, under a penalty of 107, that every family should have a Bible and Psalm-book, and searchers were appointed to see that the Act was carried into effect.. tain might lead a pipe down from it to the majesty of the glorious God! or that is lost won't go it. door; some scholars had just come back, but Meantime I noticed first one and then SCIENCE. Geo SCIENCE, advance! The Gospel fears you several months old. False! it grew up last night. Look at that tree in Paradise. You say it must have looked at the Sun for half a century. False, again! it is fresh from the hands of its creator. Go on, then, Geologygo on with your discoveries. We will thank you for your facts; we will trample on your arbitrary inferences.-Carson. THE VOLUNTARIES AND THEIR MINISTERS. WE admit, at once, that before the present race of Voluntaries can be entitled to all the high thoughts which they sometimes seem to expect should be entertained concerning them, they must become a greatly changed people in their own manner of thinking, and in their manner of action too. When they shall learn, as Churches, to deserve a higher order of men, as ministers, they will have them--and not till then. They may build colleges, and appoint professorships without end; but, to secure the services of large numbers of able men in their ministry, they must know how to make much better provision for the reasonable claims of such men, and how to evince a more just estimate of what is due to the ministerial office. Let us not be misunderstood. We want no sinecures in the Dissenting ministry. We are far from wishing that there should be anything about it to constitute it a lure to the covetous or the indolent. We desire not a system which would place the ministry in independence of the people. But we do wish that men who might have secured wealth by a life of secular employment, should not find themselves doomed to a grinding poverty because they have chosen a life of spiritual employment. We do not wish that Churches, who must be allowed to exercise their right of complaint if the work of the ministry be not well done, may be found no less forward in the discharge of their proper duty when that work is so done. We wish that men who meditate entering our ministry may always see good reason to calculate on this gratitude this honesty at the hands of our Churches. From the poverty of the poor a good man will bear much, but it is no part of his duty to submit to suffering inflicted by the parsimony and meanness of those who are not poor. The labours both of the pastor and the scholar must be of higher value among Nonconformists, if they would possess these in a higher quality. That their priesthood may be a priesthood of power, in these times, it must be a priesthood of letters; and that it will not be, in the degree required, until they shall themselves give proof that they have learned to value literature in its relation to Christianity after a much-improved mode of reckoning. At present, they are the last to appreciate the literary power really existing among them. they possess of this kind is often more justly estimated elsewhere than among On this whole matter they have much to learn.-The Priesthood of Letters-British Quarterly Review. What themselves. ON STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES. LETTER addressed by an unknown correspondent to the late Dr. Hey, Professor of Divinity, in the University of Cambridge. 27th November, 1781. Sir,-It is hoped that the intention of the following lines will plead their excuse, and that you will, therefore, kindly overlook whatever faults there may be in them. "An advertisement from the Norrisian Professor lately appeared in the public papers with our hearts also; and with all humility may we earnestly pray that we may thus daily learn to think as our Saviour thought, and (as its consequence, both naturally, and still more by Divine grace) to act in some degree as He acted. How blessed!" DEATH OF E. BIRRELL. concerning a thesis proposed for dissertation, continued life was ever manifested. He often 6 "Permit an old man to acquaint you, that in the year 1763 (though then far advanced in life) I was most happily led to the private study of the Gospels in the following manner. As the first employment of every morning, I said, he did not understand Christians when opened, with veneration, the Greek evange- they spoke of submitting to the will of God' lists; reading them on regularly, but never the phrase seemed to him to indicate doubt advancing further each day than to the next or distrust, at best a sort of yielding to hard curred. I then noted down in my pocket- dence,' especially when applied to early resentence of our Saviour's words which oc- necessity. The phrase mysterious provibook that sentence (as the particular memo-movals like his own, was to him equally obrandum for that day,) and closed, with thanks, jectionable; it seemed to him by no means the beloved volume. With this letter a to express warm and affectionate confidence. pocket-book for the year is transmitted to They speak of me,' he said, to one of his felyou, of which your acceptance is desired. In low-students, as being resigned to the will of its first month this method is exemplified. God. I cannot enter into such a feeling; I cannot view this as a trial which I must enwhich I am privileged. I am called away dure, but rather as a special favour with early from a state of sin, that I may be employed in perfect services above. His happy acquiescence in the Divine will evidently sprung from the affectionate views which he eminently loved God;- God is love' was always took of the character of God. He ever on his lips. On that one thought-the ever full and overflowing goodness of God-his soul, as it were, banqueted. His faith was as simple as that of a little child. His renewed heart as naturally loved and reposed seemed no more to doubt the word, or to dison God, as it did on his mother; and he trust the affection, of the one than the other. such sentence that occurs is chap. iii. ver. 15. useful to note down the facts of our Saviour's 66 The four Evangelists altogether took up took up exactly four years. "In this most short private morning devo- weary months "His joy was calm, deep, and unruffled; it flowed like a river. During his illness of ten months it was never disturbed; an impatient word never escaped his lips. His decay was gradual, and as serene as sunset. In this state of mind he passed the greater part of what would otherwise have been the of sickness and weakness. His mornings were spent in reading the Scriptures, in meditation, and in prayer; his evenings in cheerful intercourse with his friends. During the last two or three weeks his weakness was very great, and his sufferings were, consequently, greatly increased; but love for God, and love for every body about him, drew the sting out streams of love deepened and widened as they of all. His affection seemed exhaustless. The flowed. He now longed to depart. Perfect love had cast out fear;' patience seemed to have had her perfect work; he waited anxiously for the last summons. "On Tuesday, the 28th of December, two days before his death, he thought himself dying, and his mind became, for the first time since his illness, evidently excited. He called all in the house around his bed, and told them he was then departing, and that his happiness was more than he could bear. For two hours he appeared to be in an ecstacy of joy. His feelings quite overwhelmed him, and he wept again and again, from excess of happiness. During this time he repeatedly 6 urged on those around him the importance of thorough love to, and trust in, God; and exclaimed, 'Oh that unconverted persons could but know the happiness there is in religion!' As this feeling passed away, he seemed a little disappointed to find that the end was not yet; but added, God's time is best.' About half-past eight upon Thursday evening (the last day but one of the year), he began to die. His pain was very great. At times he said it was agony; yet inward spiritual joy triumphed. Again and again was the earnest prayer heard, Come, Lord Jesus; come quickly, come quickly!' but as regularly was it followed by the firm provision, Yet, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 6 6 · be not deceived, you are deceived as to the author of your zeal (James iii. 15, 16); and it hath a worse origin than you suspect. It is one of the greatest reasons that maketh me hate Romish Church-tyranny, and religious cruelties against Dissenters, because as they come from want of love, so I am sure that they tend to destroy the love of those on whom they are inflicted, and to do more hurt to their souls than to their bodies. The devil is not so silly an angler as to fish with a bare hook; nor such a fool as, when he would damn men, to entreat them openly to be damned; nor, when he would kill men's love, to entreat them openly not to love, but to hate their neighbours; but he doeth it by About half-past ten he was evidently making you believe that there is just and sinking; but he was able gently to shake necessary cause for it, so that you may go on hands with those around him, saying, Fare- without scruple, and do so again, and not well, and waving his hand, he added, with a repent. Even they that killed Christ's apostles blessed triumphant smile, O death, where is did it as a duty, and a part of the service of thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" God (John xvi. 2); and Paul himself did After a little time he spoke once more, to beg once think verily that he ought to do many all around him would be perfectly still. things against the name, and cause, and ser'Don't speak, don't speak,' he feebly uttered, vice of Jesus. And as he did, so he was done I am having deep and blessed communion by; as he measured to others, it was meawith God-happy! happy!' For above half-sured to him again. But believe it, it is an-hour perfect silence was maintained, during apostacy to fall from love. Your souls die which he seemed wrapt in meditation, a smile when love dieth. You die while you have frequently playing about his face. About the a name to live, and think that you grow end of that time his head gradually sunk apace in religion. Therefore better underback, his eye brightened and glanced high stand the tempter, and when backbiters are upward, when in a calm but firm voice, ex- deriding or vilifying your neighbours, take it pressive of admiration, he exclaimed distinctly to signify, in plain English, "I pray you love three times, 'Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!' In not these men, but hate them." a few moments more he loudly added, 'Glory, glory, glory!' Immediately the eye became dim. "I think,' says his sister, the spirit left with that glance; and I cannot but imagine he had some view of an angel at the word "Beautiful!" glory, glory, glory! then burst upon his view. LOVE, THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS. THAT which killeth love, killeth all grace and holiness, and killeth souls. That which quencheth love quencheth the Spirit, a thousandfold more than the restraining of our gifts of utterance doth. That which banisheth love banisheth God. That which is against love is against the design of Christ in our redemption, and therefore may well be called anti-christian. They are dangerously mistaken who think that Satan hath but one way to men's damnation. There are as many ways to hell as there are to the extinguishing of love. And all tendeth unto this that tendeth to hide or deny the loveliness, that is the goodness, of them whom I must love, much more that which represents them as odious. Satan will pretend to any sort of strictness by which he can mortify love. If you can devise anything that will help to kill men's love, and set the Churches in divisions, Satan will be your helper, and will be the strictest of you all. He will reprove Christ, as a Sabbath-breaker, as a gluttonous person, and a wine-bibber, a friend or companion of publicans and sinners, and as an enemy to Cæsar too. We are not altogether ignorant of his wishes, as young and inexperienced Christians are. You think, when a wrathful envious heat is kindled in you against men for their faults, that it is certainly a zeal of God's exciting. But mark whether it hath not more wrath than love in it; and whether it tend not more to disgrace your brother than to cure him, or to make parties and divisions than to heal them. If it be so, if St. James When love is dead, and yet religion seemeth to survive, and to be increased by it, think what a degenerate, scandalous, hypocritical religion that will be, and how odious and dishonourable to God. To preach without love, to hear without love, to pray without love, and to communicate without love, to any that differ from your sect, O what a loathsome sacrifice is it to the God of love! If we must leave our gift at the altar till we are reconciled to one offended brother, what a gift is theirs who are unreconciled to multitudes of their brethren because they are not of their way! yea, that make their communion the very badge and means of their uncharitableness and divisions! Sirs, these are not matters of indifference, nor to be indulged by any faithful pastor of the Church Richard Baxter. ENDOWMENT OF SCHOOLMASTERS. A CIRCULAR has been addressed to the Officebearer of the Free Church of Scotland, by Mr. Robert Stewart, of Dundee, in which it is proposed to endow the Free Church schoolmasters by means of life assurances. Mr. Stewart's novel plan is illustrated as follows: "Take, for example, a congregation of one hundred members. Would there not be found among them about forty persons who would give one shilling each in the year, in addition to what they presently give, for the purpose of securing ultimately the interest of 1007. for their teacher; and so in proportion, a congregation of two hundred might also ultimately realize the interest of 2001. Again, a congregation of one thousand members might ultimately secure for their teacher the interest of 1,1501. by five hundred of their members contributing the small sum of one shilling yearly; for, according to the published tables of Life Assurance Societies, a person aged thirty years can be insured in some of them as low as 21. 1s. 6d. per cent; but in societies where the higher premium is charged, a similar small sum might, with equal propriety and profit, be effected, on account of the large There in bonuses added to the policies. This plan would, I think, induce gentlemen of more efficient qualifications to offer themselves as teachers, and would also act as a stimulus upon parents to educate their sons, so as to become in their turn instructors of the young. are, however, three points which I would recommend strictly to be adhered to-First, That each congregation insure for itself, and in the end reap the benefit of its own savings, be it great or small. Secondly, That no more than 1007. be insured upon the life of any dividual. Thirdly, That the money arising from this source be only applied to the teacher or teachers of the respective congregations, and that the sums arising from the insurances be called as mortifications after the parties' names so insured. I would further recommend that, instead of leaving out the funds so arising in the ordinary way at interest, a substantial property be purchased by each congregation, which, if cautionsly done, might return seven or seven and a-half per cent. After deducting all public burdens, this simple and easy method would save the Church the trouble of creating any additional fund, by cach congregation watching over its own interests, and would finally secure an endowment for every school, towards the erection of which the indefatigable labours of the Rev. Mr. Macdonald, of Blairgowrie, have secured the sum of 60,000%." PRACTICAL COMMENTARY UPON MALACHI III. 3. A FEW ladies, who were in the habit of meeting together to read the Scriptures and make them the subject of conversation, were reading the above passage; when one of them observed she would like to talk with a silversmith upon the process of refining, which might possibly throw some light upon the figure contained in the words before them. Being encouraged by the others to do so, she went at a convenient time, and, without telling him her errand, begged to know his way of refining silver, which he fully described to her. But, Sir, said she, do you sit, while the work of refining is going on? Oh, yes, replied he, I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace; for if the time necessary be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver is sure to be injured. At once she saw the beauty and comfort of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put his children into the furnace, but he is seated by the side of it, his eye steadily intent on the work of purifying, and his wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith stopped her, and said, he had still further to mention, that he best knew when the process of purifying was completed, by seeing his own image perfectly reflected in the silver. Beautiful figure! When Christ sees his own image in his people, his work of purifying is accomplished. If two angels were sent down from heaven to execute the Divine command, and one was appointed to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street, they would feel no inclination to change employments. Seldom will Satan come to the Christian, at first, with a gross temptation. A green log and a candle may safely be left together. But bring a few shavings, and then some small sticks, and then some larger, and soon you may bring the green log to ashes. A wise man looks upon men as he does on horses-all their caparisons of title, wealth, and place, he considers but as harness. |