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Enquiries and Correspondence.

Spirit and Letter of Scripture.

SIR,-It is I believe a generally admitted fact, that there is a certain class of Scriptural injunctions, a literal compliance with which, is not incumbent on Christians at the present time. Such, for example, as those contained in Luke vi. 29, John xiii. 14, 1 Cor. xviii. 20, are usually regarded as differing widely in the kind of obedience which they require, from those in Matt. xxviii. 19, Luke xxii. 19, &c. With regard to the former, it is thought sufficient if the spirit of the command be attended to, but in reference to the latter, it is deemed important that the form and letter of the precept be strictly observed.

What authority we have for making a distinction, and by what rules we are to be guided in making this distinction, are the enquiries to which I am desirous of receiving a satisfactory reply. Should they be considered entitled to a place in your excellent periodical, an answer conveyed through that medium will greatly oblige,

Your's truly,

A SEEKER AFTER TRUTH.

We do not think that a strict compliance with the letter of Scripture is enforced in the latter texts, more than in the former. It is indeed impossible closely to imitate the primitive practice of the church with reference to Baptism and the Lord's supper, since critics are not agreed as to the precise meaning of the first of these terms, nor do they know exactly what was the nature of the bread and wine used at the latter.

Baptism of John and the Apostles.

SIR, I have been greatly pleased at the kind manner in which you answer the questions put to you by young enquirers in the Youths' Magazine. I am encouraged therefore to ask an explanation of Acts xix. 1-6. Does this passage imply that the disciples were twice baptized with water; or once with water, and then with the Holy Ghost? But it appears that the Holy Ghost was given by the laying on of hands by St. Paul. (verses 5, 6.)

An early answer will greatly oblige,

Your's very respectfully

ANXIETY.

The baptism of John, and baptism in the name of Jesus, were perfectly distinct. By the first of these, a profession of belief in Christ as the coming Messiah was made: by the second, the believer was received into all the privileges of the Gospel dispensation, the most important of which was the communion of the Holy Ghost, given in this instance through the imposition of hands by Paul.

These Corinthian candidates were consequently twice baptized with water; the old rite of John's baptism standing in much the same relation to the new one, as circumcision did with those coming at once out of Judaism.

Perverseness of Israel.-Coals of fire on the head.

SIR,-Encouraged by your explicit answers to your several correspondents, permit me to ask an explanation of the following.

1. Does not Balaam's assertion (Num. xxiii. 21,) appear to be contradicted by the repeated backslidings of Israel?

2. What is the meaning of the Scripture phrase, "Heaping coals of fire on the head?" ALFRED.

1. All that seems to be implied is, that God had not given over his people to be cursed by Balaam. He had not imputed to them their iniquities: He had not condemned them for their perverseness.

2. The text in Romans xii. 20, is a quotation from Prov. xxv. 21, 22. The best interpretation seems to be, that, by returning good for evil, we shall so sting and wound the conscience of our enemy, that he will suffer as acutely as if burning coals were heaped upon his head. It must be remembered that a simple fact is here recorded, and that no reference is made to motive.

Teaching the Young.

SIR,-A constant reader of your valuable Magazine will esteem it a great favor, if you, or any of your correspondents, will give her a little information as to the best method to be pursued, so as to make the Scriptures interesting and instructive to young and inattentive minds.

I am,
Your's,

A SABBATH SCHOOL TEACHER.

For young people, abundance of illustration, drawn from all possible sources, and especially from every-day life, and scenes with which the learners are familiar, will often secure attention. To use great plainness of speech is necessary, and the teacher should proceed invariably from the known to the unknown. But in the limited space allotted to this portion of the magazine, it is impossible to do justice to the question. We recommend the careful study of "Todd's Sabbath School Teacher."

Justification and Sanctification.

DEAR SIR,-I am encouraged by your kind answer to my last question, to trouble you again. Will you kindly explain the difference between sanctification and justification. I know they are not the same, but I want them fully explained.

EMMA.

Justification is the free gift of God, by which our many offences are forgiven, and we are accounted righteous for Christ's sake. (Romans v. 16—18.)

By Sanctification, we are made to love and practise holiness.

THE SON OF THE MANSE.

WE have collected the materials for the following brief narrative from a delightful volume, entitled, " Missionary Life in Samoa," compiled from the Journals of the lamented deceased.

GEORGE ARCHIBALD LUNDIE, one of the sons of the Rev. Robert Lundie, of Kelso, was born 1st January, 1820, and whilst quite a child, appears to have been under strong religious impressions. In the twenty-seventh volume of this Magazine, * is inserted an interesting anecdote, entitled, " Reproof conveyed by a child ;" from which it appears that he was, in his infancy, the instrument employed by the Father of Spirits, to awaken a young woman from the sleep of sin. The work before us adds, that his parents "waited on her during a lingering sickness, and had the joy of seeing her embrace Christ, as all her salvation, a considerable time before she expired.”

"When a youth at Glasgow College, George offered himself as a Sabbath teacher, and was engaged to take charge of some young people, who were of the lowest grade of manners to be found among the offspring of the drunkard and the socialist. Some idea of the difficulty

* Third Series, vol. v. (1832) p. 320.j

and disagreeableness of this task may be formed, when it is stated that a stout, fierce lad of the number, retorted a rebuke of his teacher by catching up a wooden candlestick and striking him with it. He turned out the culprit on that occasion, but did not leave him. Seeking him on a week-day in the noisome place of his abode, he had the satisfaction of so far subduing him, as to have him return to school, and conduct himself in a more becoming manner.

"When it was suggested to George that he might find more pleasing subjects for his instruction, which would not be so harrassing and exhausting to himself, and perhaps be attended with more success, his reply was noble and characteristic, Shall I forsake them for my own ease, because they give proof of having more need of teaching than others?'"'

Symptoms of pulmonary disease soon becoming apparent, his medical advisers recommended a long sea voyage as the only probable means of extending his life, and he accordingly embarked for Australia on the 26th April, 1839.

On the voyage out, this devoted young man endeavored, under the most unfavorable circumstances, and surrounded by a reckless crew, almost in a state of open mutiny, to benefit the souls of some who sailed with him; and there is reason to hope that his visits of mercy to the sick, and the openness and honesty of his reproofs to the obdurate were blessed of God. Young as he was, he was one of three gentlemen whom the captain selected to search out a series of dishonesties among the crew. He says-" The steward, a black, stood by in silence while his chest was searched, growing paler and paler, as one piece of villany after another turned up. When we had done, I had not proceeded many steps on the deck when the cry was raised, He is overboard!'and so it was. We rushed to the poop, and saw him swimming high out of the water astern. The life-buoy was cut away, the ship was rounded, &c. ; but a man in the mizen-top saw him go down very soon, and the ship resumed her course. This was a plausible and smoothtongued villain, so that almost no one suspected him. Poor fellow, he is gone-gone to his long account-hurried by himself into the presence of his offended Judge-an awful warning!"

Arrived at Sydney, he was employed by his brother, who had settled there, "to make and title plans of docks and bridges." After a short stay at this place, it was suggested by his kind Christian friend, Mr. Saunders, that he should join three missionaries who were at Sydney, on their way to their stations in the South Sea Islands-a proposal so congenial to the mind of our young friend, that with much prayerful gratitude, he resolved to accept it, and accordingly sailed on

the 10th February, 1840, in the mission ship," Camden," for Samoa. The following striking sketch of a storm, encountered on the voyage, from the pen of Mr. Lundie himself, will be read with much interest, not only on account of its graphic power, but for the testimony it affords to the high intrepidity of a Christian sailor, Captain Morgan. "It is but a few days since we encountered, and were delivered from, a fearful and long-continued hurricane. Friday was a day of rough and restless calm. The barometer gradually fell, and towards evening a fresh breeze set in, which gradually increased, till, by four A. M., we lay to under a small sail, only used to keep the vessel from rolling. By eight this also was removed, and we lay at the mercy of the fierce wind and infuriated waves, without a stitch of canvass. Still the vessel was pressed down on one side, and as each wave rolled by, the lee bulwarks and nearly half the deck were under the boiling waters. All hatches were shut, and tarpaulins fixed, and the day-time darkness was only rendered more dismal by the burning of a solitary lamp. On deck the scene was truly awful. The wind howled with terrific sound through the naked rigging. The drifting spray and rain rendered it quite impossible to look to windward; and to leeward all we could see was, when in the hollow the huge wave rolled away from us in appalling grandeur, and when on 'the top, a few ship's-lengths off, the ridge boiled as though covered with snow, and was partly hidden by a veil of drift. Our boat, part of the bulwarks, and some planks firmly lashed above the stern, were burst away by the fury of the waves;-and now, had we sprung a leak, had one joint of our little vessel yielded, or had we turned stern to the sea, our doom had been sealed. A boat at such a time would have been as helpless as a straw. ever, in the midst of all this, to see the peace which faith in Jesus gives. Mr. Harbutt offered up, with the few who assembled for morning worship, such a soothing and confiding prayer as I think I have seldom heard. Just after, the captain, passing me to go on deck, said, 'We must just wait and see the salvation of God.' I followed him on deck, and to my surprise I saw him ascend the main rigging with fearless step, to try, if possible, to get down the topgallant mast and yard, which might help to save the mast, and would render the ship less liable to lie down on her broadside. Seeing the danger of this attempt, Captain Morgan asked no one else to make it, but himself encountered the risk, I doubt not, in humble faith. He failed, however. By the time he reached the height required, he was exhausted by the exertion; for the wind continually clapped him to the rigging and held him there, and he was benumbed by the wind and pelting rain. He descended in safety, and tools were held in readiness to cut away the

It was pleasing, how

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