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any other class of men in the world. But since many of our ministers must be teachers of schools, we heartily wish them to possess all the qualifications which Mr. Buck has happily delineated in a passage of his diary, which we think highly creditable to his judgment.

"1797. I now succeded Mr. Eyre in taking the charge of a large boardingschool at Hackney. This I found to be a very important undertaking, as all will find who engage in it; requiring great attention, much labour, good health and spirits, invincible patience, a knowledge of the diversified powers and capacities of youth, a happy art of adapting ideas to the juvenile mind, a

auxiliaries to the Religious Tract Society of London, (now upwards of 130,) is so well known, and so generally acknowledged, that nothing need be said in recommendation of them. The information given, is as follows:-"The number of tracts received into the Depository this year is,-of hawkers' tracts, 27,920; of subscribers' tracts, 31,608; total, 59,528. Exceeding the preceding year by 6000, and the year before that, by above 20,000. The cost of the tracts received this year, including incidentals, is 72.

18s. 3d."

In the Press.

A new and enlarged edition of Mr. Bruce's Juvenile Anecdotes will be

fixed plan of government and discipline, LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. a determination never to be hurt by the little tales sometimes carried home to the parents, a real love for children, as also a pleasure in the communication of knowledge to them. These, and many other qualifications are necessary, if we wish to succeed; indeed, we should hardly have any thing else to do." p. 350.

We cannot take leave of this book without expressing our obli- | gations to Dr. Styles for the judicious use he has made of his materials in compiling a memoir of a worthy minister of Christ, whose memory will doubtless be most affectionately cherished by the multitude of his surviving friends.

ready for publication in a few days.

Also, a cheap edition, somewhat abridged, for the use of Sunday schools. The Rev. R. Hall's Reply to the Rev. J. Kinghorn.

will be published, Part I. of an Edition In the course of the present month of the Hebrew Bible, without Points, to be completed in four Parts; which is uniform to the Edition of the Hebrew Bible with Points, that was published in May either of these Bibles may be We shall not dispute with the had interpaged with English, Greek, or biographer the pre-eminence of Hox- Latin; and these conjoined, will not, ton-college; but we shall complain when bound, exceed one inch in thickof him seriously for the disrespectfulness, or, as a Hebrew Bible alone, will be manner in which he has noticed the only half an inch. theological tutor there

"The divinity chair (he says) has been long filled by the Rev. Robert Simpson, D. D. who, on account of his age and growing infirmities, is expected to give place to one of the first theologians of the age." p. 121.

If this be not altered in the second edition, we shall sentence Dr. Styles to receive a hundred lashes from a Scourge severer than his own.

Just published,

In one vol. 8vo. (with a fine portrait by Freeman) Sermons on the Doctrines and Duties of the Christian Life. By

the late Mr. Archibald M'Lean, of Edinburgh. To which is prefixed, A Memoir of his Life, Ministry, and Writings by Wm. Jones, Author of the History of the Waldenses.

The second edition of the Rev. J. Kinghorn's Reply to the Rev. Robert Hall.

The Report of the Newcastle Religious The Rev, R. Hall's Speech at the Tract Society, for the year 1817; Leicester Bible Society, July 15, 1817. with an Epitome of the principal The first volume of the Oxford EncySpeeches delivered at the Anniver-clopædia, or Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, sary Meeting, on the 10th of April, | and General Literature.

1817.

THE utility of this Society, and of others of the same kind, which are VOL. 1X.

A Map, showing the Order and Causes Salvation and Darnation: by the author of the Pilgrim's Progress.

of

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Missionary Retrospect and Foreign Intelligence.

Extract of a Letter from Dr. Carey to Dr. Ryland, dated December 30, 1816; received July 10, 1817.

"I AM not quite recovered from a dangerous fever, with which I was seized about the beginning of November last. I went to Calcutta for medical assistance, and had the daily attendance of three of the most eminent men in the profession; one of them the son of dear Mr. Robinson, of Leicester. The Lord graciously blessed the means used, and I am so far recovered, as to have returned to Serampore about a month ago. Since that, I have had a relapse, which has left me very weak, and with a strong tendency to dysentery. My general health, however, is improving, and the doctor says, that these symptoms will gradually cease.

"How important is it to live in that state of continual communion with God, and lively faith in Christ, as to have the great point of our acceptance with God quite clear, while we are in health. In my illness, great weakness and great stupors so prevailed, that I found it impossible to do more than cast my sinful soul on the Redeemer, and hope in the mercy of God for eternal life. Now I am raised up, may I labour in the work of the Lord with increased diligence. My dear brethren Pearce, Sutcliff, and Fuller, are gone to their rest. I am in my 56th year, and cannot expect many more years. Whenever I die, may I, through Divine grace, join them in the world of bliss.

"So far as I see, the two brethren from the London Missionary Society are of the right stamp: we live in great harmony with them. They have obtained the Free Masons' Lodge to preach in, and have a decent congregation.

"Brother Marshman has just drawn up a plan for native schools, on which, if funds can be supplied, they may be extended all over India. It has met the unqualified approbation of several gentlémen of distinction, who have subscribed to it; but whose names it may be impro

per to mention.

"Thus the Lord is opening a way for good to be done to an incalculable extent. Things in general wear a promising appearance through the whole mission: and notwithstanding all our causes for humiliation, we have many, very many,

for rejoicing, and still more for hope. I am still under the operation of mercury for a dysentery, my mouth is very sore; but I trust the disease is almost removed, it now occasions me but little pain or inconvenience. I have at least fourteen years' labour still on my hands: how long it may please the Lord to continue me, I cannot tell, but his will be done. Brother Yates has made very good progress in the study of Sungskrit, Bengalee, and Hindee; and will, I doubt not, in a reasonable time, be able to take my work himself."

Mr. Burls has received a letter from

Dr. Carey dated Feb. 18, 1817, in which he says, "We are now all well." And also that the translations have been but little hindered by his affliction, as with the exception of a month, he was able to do a little every day.

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"VERY DEAR BROTHER,

"God was pleased to favour me with a pleasant passage to the embraces of my dear family, and the church and people of my charge, and I think I am under stronger obligations than ever, to bless and praise his holy name.

"Since my return, I have established a Sunday school, for the children of the people of colour, and have about 100 in it, which God greatly owns and blesses; in addition to this, I have esta blished another for adults of both sexes; this God hath abundantly smiled on, and I expect in a very few days to have a Bible Society established, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, that the people of colour in these states may be universally supplied with the blessed word of God, that is able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith that is in Christ Jesus. And when we have supplied our domestie wants, we purpose

sending the residue to our benighted bre- | of Coleman and Whealock: their souls are on fire to enter on the important work of pointing the heathen to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. May, O may, the great. I AM go with them.

thren in India: these, my dear brother, are the feeble efforts we are making in Boston. I ask, and have no doubt we shall have, your fervent prayers for our

success.

"God with us is doing wonders: I can say there are more than one hundred souls in this town, since my arrival, have been brought to the knowledge of the truth; and this is as it were nothing to what the Lord hath done in many other places. In the town of Woburn, about 10 miles distant, there are, I suppose, upwards of two hundred souls brought to the knowledge of the truth, within two or three months; this is a village containing about two thousand inhabitants. Time would fail me, my dear brother, to relate the whole in the state of Vermont. I think I should not exaggerate if 1 should say, there are thousands in one year who have experienced a change of heart; and the work of the Lord is so powerful, that there are not labourers enough to supply the extensive

harvest.

"Two of our dear young brethren in the ministry, are upon the eve of leaving us for the Burman mission, by the names

"I think I may venture to say, what I have now communicated to you is true; but the one-half I have not told you.

"Here I must close, with adding a desire for a continual interest in your prayers to God for unworthy me. And shall I never see you, and your dear family, any more? Ah, distressing thought! I dismiss it, and entertain a more cheering one. I shall, I trust, though the most unworthy of all God's chosen, through infinite grace in Christ, meet you where parting shall be no more.

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My best regards to all my dear English friends; please to tell them, their kindnesses to me and mine will be in everlasting remembrance.

"My dear wife joins me in love to. your family; please to accept the same. yourself, from your unworthy, though sincere friend, in a dear, dear Lord Jesus, THOMAS PAUL."

Domestic Religious Intelligence.

LOAN FUND.

To J. Marshall, Esq. Treasurer to the Loan Fund.

SIR, I am happy to find by the Magazine for this month, that a new object presents itself to the attention of the religious public, and one that has long appeared to me of the greatest importance; I mean a plan for assisting poor churches in erecting meeting houses, &c. fc. and I am glad to find it in the hands of persons at once so well qualified, and well disposed to carry it into execution. I really think it will be productive of more general utility to the cause of our adorable Redeemer, and give more general satisfaction to the religious part of the community, than even the erection of a Baptist tabernacle in the metropolis of the empire. But you will permit me to give an opinion for your consideration, which is, that your proposed plan does not extend far enough in removing existing

evils; for I conceive there are many small congregations, who, (on enlarging, culty in obtaining loans, as they do in or otherwise,) do not feel so much diffi paying off either principal or interest; and therefore, while 1 admit that your plan will be of incalculable benefit in many cases,* yet something more effective is still wanting.

I conceive, that from the very rapid increase of our denomination, the erection of many new places has been found necessary, as well as the enlargement and repair of old ones, and that, in consequence of this, many of our churches are distressingly in debt, and have no idea of paying off these debts, but by sending their ministers about the country as mendicants, to beg from the religious public. This degrading method of obtaining money, is often attended with the

An application for 2201. offering the required security, has been already made." EDITORS.

most unhappy effects; for, in the first place, a very considerable sum is expended every year in travelling and other charges, and in several instances I have known the whole of the money collected, thus expended!!

Another inconvenience is, the privations, toil, and labour, to which ministers are subject in travelling; together with the mortifying treatment they frequently experience, from persons who will neither assist them, nor even say, "Be ye warmed, or be ye clothed ?" Another evil is the length of time ministers are obliged to leave their families and congregations. I knew a worthy minister who was from home six months in one year; and others have been absent nine months in the year. All this time their families are neglected; supplies must be provided for the church at a considerable expense; the sheep are left to wander, for want of the shepherd, and at times "grievous wolves have entered in among them, and devoured them."* Now to remedy these evils is the grand secret, which may in time be found out and applied; and I will say, "a monument of gold" for the person who discovers it! If the following suggestion should lead one step towards it, I shall be gratified. May there not be a" SINKING FUND" in every church, called "The building and repairing fund." This fund should be supported by a certain annual sum, which would soon become such a common-place thing, that it would be cheerfully and regularly paid, the same as insurance, or any little tax on property.

This fund should be kept exclusively for the purpose of building, repairing, or enlarging; and also for assisting others in the same design. It should be managed by a Committee, belonging to each individual church, called "The Building and Repairing Committee;" and the Committees belonging to each of the churches in a district, or in an association, should correspond, and be in some way united to each other; or there may be one general Committee in London, with whom individual Committees may correspond.

Then, if any church deemed an enlargement or an erection necessary, their wishes should be submitted to the Committée; a survey should be made, and a

The writer might have mentioned the injury done to ministers who are em ployed in collecting, especially young ministers, in preventing their studies, degrading their minds, making them idle, gossipping, &c. &c. EDITORS.

plan and estimate prepared; and when the necessity of such an erection or enlargement is determined, and the plan and estimate approved, each church in a district shall pay a proportion of the expense, leaving a part (say one-third,) of the debt, to be annually discharged, agreeably to your plan, or by a subscription among themselves. This would prevent an unnecessary expenditure in erections, enlargements, &c.

We may see, from the following calcu lations, that such a fund might be raised with perfect ease, and in a few years produce an abundant supply. For instance, suppose a small church can only raise five pounds per year for such an object; this at compound interest will, in twenty years, amount to 165b. 5s. 6d.; and if churches that are very poor find it difficult to raise that sum, let them find twenty-four persons to subscribe one penny per week each, and it is more than sufficient; or let them apply to their richer brethren, in neighbouring churches, for the needful, and the difficulty ceases. Let them be also told, that as they make no difficulty in paying their insurance, because it secures to them a certain benefit, so neither can they expect a place of worship secured to them for less than five pounds per annum.

There are other churches who may easily raise 10l. per annum for this object; this, in twenty years, at compound interest, is 3301. 12s.; others may raise 15l. per year, which, in the same proportion, is 495l.; and others may raise 20l. annually, which would be 661l. 6s. 3d.; and so on to any amount. These sums may be paid annually, by penny a-week societies, collections, or otherwise. Sums thus raised, would not only be of infinite advantage, but the manner of raising them so easy and simple, that none would feel it a burden; and the debts already existing, or that might in future be contracted, will gradually decline and vanish, without travelling, trouble, or disgrace.

There might be a difficulty in getting old churches to adopt a new system, and many will complain of the difficulty of supporting such a fund; but let them recollect, that such a plan will exempt them from all applications of begging cases and that it will be better to pay 15 or 20l. per annum, than to have four or five begging cases in the year, which applications would perhaps collect three times the sum necessary for a fund. In short, the subject must be pressed upon the religions public throughout the United Kingdom, in every possible shape, and in every Magazine that comes outs

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SIR; I was happy to see the proposed plan in the Magazine for August for raising a Loan Fund, &c. From some conversations I have heard on the subject, I apprehend it is not by all clearly understood. The following anecdote will serve to illustrate your plan, and its probable advantages.

A minister presented a CASE to collect 160l. It appeared he had been from home thirteen weeks, and had collected about half the sum: that his village congregations had been scattered, his church neglected, &c. How much better would it have been in such a case to have borrowed 160l. from the Loan Fund! The interest would have been 81. for the first year, and the reduction upon the principal (by returning 10 per cent. of the capital,) 16l. in all 241. The next year it would have been interest and principal 211. and so on by a gradual reduction. Ought not a struggle in such a case to be made by a congregation, rather than to spend so much for expenses in travelling and supplies, and to run the risk of ruining both the minister and his congregation? Wishing success to attend any and every plan that will roll away this reproach from the denomination, I remain, &c.

1.

every year, will, I hope, influence them to take his advice. Whether the "evidence of scripture in favour of their principles" will operate as "strength over weakness, and wisdom over folly," must be proved by the result. In the mean time, before the Baptists are totally extinct, will you permit me to mention an anecdote or two which bear upon this subject, contained in Benedict's History of the American Baptists, vol. 1, p. 578.

In the history of a church near Philadelphia, he traces its origin to the following circumstance. Mr. Samuel Heaton, who was a Pædobaptist, wishing to have his son baptized, his wife replied, "If you will find me a text that warrants christening a child, I will take him to Mr. Sweesey." Mr. H. produced several texts, but his wife insisted infant baptism was not in either of them. He then went to his minister, who ac knowledged "there was no text that bore directly upon the point, but said it was provable by deductions from many texts." This not satisfying Mr. H. he gave up his former sentiments, and became the first pastor of a Baptist church in 1701. But the matter did not stop here. One Robert Calver, a Baptist, hearing of Mrs. Heaton's remark, pub. lished an advertisement in the newspaper offering twenty dollars reward to any one who could produce a text of scripture to prove infant baptism. The Rev. Samuel Harker took a text to the advertiser; but Calver would not admit that infant baptism was in it. Mr. Harker sued him at law; but on its being brought to trial the court were of Calver's mind, and Mr. Harker was ordered to pay the costs of the suit. After this, Calver published another advertisement, offering forty dollars for such a text; but no person chose to make the attempt. Mr. Benedict adds as a conclusion to these stories-" Infant baptism has been ten thousand times condemned by argument; but this was perhaps the first time it was condemned in a court of law.".

HONESTUS.

ON PUBLICLY DEFENDING INFANT BAPTISM.

To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine.

I HAVE been greatly amused in reading an address with the above title addressed to the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine in the Number for August. The reasons urged by the writer for wishing Pædobaptist ministers publicly to defend that practice at least once in

ASSOCIATIONS.

BUCKS AND HERTS.

THE meeting of the Bucks and Herts Association, of eleven churches, was held at Ivinghoe, May 22, 1817.

In the morning, Messrs. Godwin, of Missenden; and Groser, of Watford,

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