be obliged. I avail myself of this oppor-
tunity to add, for the information of the
friends of the Loan Fund, that the first
instalment, being one-twentieth part of the
money lent, due at Michaelmas, has been
paid by every church; the produce, fifty
pounds, will be added to the amount in hand
of donations paid, and constitute an imme-
diate loan to another church. The committee
are gratified in thus disposing of the first-
fruits, and they trust that extensive and
prompt donations will enable them to deposit
a second thousand in this savings' bank, which
gives a threefold advantage, by remission of
interest, a return of principal, and a recom-
pence to the depositor amply secured in
those words, "Whoso giveth to the poor
lendeth to the Lord; he will repay him."
The following donations are noted:-

The Treasurer...................
.£100 0 0
Joseph Tritton ................ 10 10 0

J. L. Benham....

10 0 0 2 2 0

John Sand

numerous.

I am, dear sir,

many other similar statements, expostulations, and warnings arising out of the same subject. And it is with no desire to see these softened, in any way whatever, that I make these remarks. But it has numberless times struck me,—and it did so forcibly on the occasion alluded to,-how much would it conduce to the tradesman spending the sacred day of rest in the way he would wish to do, if his mind could be set at ease with regard to the bill he has due to-morrow, next day, or next week; if the many accounts standing long over-due in his books were paid him, or even a portion of them.

Sir, we have many, nay, almost numberless, societies for this, that, and the other object of Christian philanthropy, not one of which would I wish to see off the field. But I would wish to see one added, something akin to our temperance societies, whereby individuals would lay it upon their conscience, if they did not bind themselves in the sight of men, to pay what they are owing. I can assure those who minister to us in sacred things, that many a quieter mind would sit before them, and many a harassing thought be prevented in the house of God, if the accounts which have run on quarter after quarter were in the hands of the small capitaled tradesHow can he listen with a quiet mind, or give himself to the manifold privileges of the day, when he has to look forward to the three or four "travellers" who are in town, and all of whom he must meet with a nearly empty pocket, but a full ledger,—all good debts (allow them to be so) at some time, but not at the time most wanted? Whether in the church or at home, he has still the one thought upon his mind; his children even see it in his face; they have too often read his anxieties there before now to mistake the signs; his partner in life feels with and for him, and many soothing words may pass her lips, but still to-morrow is coming, and "What am I to do ?"

man.

This is no visionary picture, Mr. Editor. It is one daily realized, not only in what we call the world, but in the religious world too. To that world I speak; on those composing it I urge, that ere they assemble themselves again to hear the word, or break the bread of life, or congregate in the weekly meeting, they ask themselves, as in the sight of God, "Am I innocent of the anxieties pressing on the mind of my brother, of my sister, or indeed of any one whose books may bear my name?"

These, sir, are no new thoughts of mine. In my boyhood, when in my apprenticeship, I had perhaps such opportunity of observing this disease in all its aspects as few out of London possessed. I include in this its aspect in the religious world of the city I was placed in. I was counted a quiet youth, but one of a class who draw, sometimes, conclusions not quite so childish as their years and height would bespeak. "There are few such observers as

SIR,-You are very respectfully requested to invite an essay for the magazine On the Claims of Superannuated Ministers on the Benevolent Sympathies of the Christian Church." Your correspondent thinks, that if this subject were suitably presented to the religious public, they would not permit so many that never before knew the apprehensions of want, the limitations of poverty, or the degradations of dependency, now in addition to the infirmities of advancing age and the painful absence of those services in which their highest happiness has been found, to struggle with the difficulties of the former, or to endure the humiliations of the latter, when applying to uncertain and inadequate

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. SIR,-You would oblige a reader of your pages by inserting the following query, at your earliest convenience, in your excellent work; or should not this be by you deemed most advisable, by getting one of your correspondents to write a short plain piece on the distinction between a moral and a religious act, and between a moral and a religious principle? and whether the former can exist and be exemplified, independent of the other? Query. Is there such a thing as true and unfeigned morality existing in, and capable of being clearly exemplified by, any individual in the world, distinct from, and independent of, true religion? Or, to be clearly understood, Can an unregenerate man, with all the light of revelation, strictly speaking, he said to perform a moral act; and can a regenerate

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person be said to perform a moral act, which in no way partakes of evangelical religion? Or, must not true religion be at the foundation of every moral act?

Sir, I have been led to propose these queries purely for the sake of information and not on account of any existing dispute; thinking, at the same time, that a clear distinction and a correct notion on the subject would be pleasing and profitable to many of your readers, and particularly so to many of the public writers of the present day. I am, sir, Yours obediently,

A. E. O.

EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT.

The most important occurrence in our circle this month is the appointment by the committee of the Baptist Missionary Society of a deputation to visit Jamaica. For seven years or more, earnest desires have been expressed by our friends resident there, that such a deputation might be sent; and, on several occasions, the committee, anxious to accede to their wishes, have applied to respected individuals to undertake the service, but without success, pastoral engagements or other impediments having prevented their compliance. The devotedness to every thing connected with the welfare of the society, and of Christ's kingdom at large, which characterizes our secretary, has surmounted this obstacle. Since the Jamaica brethren declared their ability to carry on the work in that island, urging the society to direct its benevolent exertions to other fields of labour, occurrences have taken place which rendered personal investigation desirable, several intricate questions having arisen on which the epistolary evidence laid before the committee has been unsatisfactory and conflicting. It has been intimated in print that the committee has received with indifference complaints that have been laid before it. Nothing can be more incorrect. The committee has been more ready to adopt questionable courses in yielding to applications from Jamaica than in refusing them, and more ready to vote assistance than the public has been to ratify its decisions. This is evident from the fact that the appeal made for £6000, voted during Mr. Knibb's last visit, has been met but partially; and, of the amount contributed towards it, more has been given by gentlemen who are themselves members of the committee, than by all their constituents and supporters together! In these circumstances, Mr. Angus has expressed his willingness to visit Jamaica and confer with the brethren there, and Mr. Birrell of Liverpool, whose qualifications for the service are appreciated highly by all who know him, has kindly consented to be his com

panion and coadjutor. A few gentlemen, who are prominent friends of the society, and averse to any grants to Jamaica from its funds, being apprehensive that there are cases which call urgently for aid, have empowered the deputation to draw upon them to a certain amount; and others, who have not done so will, probably, according to the intimation in the Herald, communicate their desire to do so to Mr. Peto. Our dear brethren expect to sail on the second instant, and we are but expressing the feeling of every reader when we say, May the God of heaven prosper them, render their mission successful, and bring them back in safety!

Since the preceding parapraph was in type, we have received a note from Mr. Birrell, suggesting a hint to our readers, that on the evening of the day on which they receive their magazine, and when they are assembled at their monthly concerts for missions, Mr. Angus and himself will in all probability be ploughing their way towards the mouth of the English Channel, much in need of their supplications, both for temporal safety and for the success of their delicate and responsible mission. "If any good is done by this undertaking," he adds, "it will be owing to the prayers of the churches. I have an absolute conviction of this."

A portrait of the late Dr. Yates of Calcutta, whose eminence as a biblical translator deserves that he should be held in affectionate remembrance by the whole Christian world, is in the hands of the engraver, and is intended to adorn our number for January,

1847.

Several of the Circular Letters published by baptist associations, we have not yet received. This will interfere with the completeness of the statistical information we usually give in our number for December, unless the secretaries will favour us with them immediately. Some which were wanting we mentioned on our wrapper last month, but only one of them has come to hand. Secretaries of baptist societies and colleges, and of general societies also, will oblige us, and render service to their own institutions, by forwarding copies of their last Reports as soon as possible. Any corrections in the lists of baptist chapels in London, or of the residences of ministers, will be thankfully received, and will greatly subserve public

convenience.

Dr. Murch having removed from London, letters should now be addressed to him at Rickmansworth, Herts.

It is necessary to refer to a letter which appeared last month in another periodical respecting the prize essay announced by Messrs. Bell and Roe, and mentioned in our number for September. On the receipt of

;

that letter from the writer, Mr. Pengilly, in the middle of September, we wrote to Mr. Roe, suggesting that if such a letter were published at all, it ought to be authoritative. It pointed out, very much in detail, what, in the judgment of the writer, the parties offering the prize wished that the essay should be but, if the judges should not concur with Mr. Pengilly in opinion, any competitors who should follow his directions would be misled, and would, probably, think that they had reason to complain. Mr. Roe replied, writing from Mr. Bell's residence, and requesting that the advertisement, Mr. Pengilly's letter, and all other communications on the subject, should be for the present withheld. this request we complied, but the letter appeared elsewhere. Up to the present time, nothing further has arrived from Mr. Roe. We have heard that he has been suffering from indisposition, and that may have occasioned delay. His letter from South Shields apprised us, however, that the adjudicators are to be Dr. Godwin, Mr. Acworth, and Mr. Underhill;-an excellent selection. It would be well, after what has taken place, if those gentlemen were to obviate any doubts or misapprehensions, by publishing their united opinion of what the essay ought to be.

With

A publication possessing more than common claims to a cordial welcome is to be brought out in the coming year. A new translation of the Works of Josephus is about to be issued in monthly parts, the first of which is promised for the first day of January. Several thousand pounds, it is said, have been expended in its preparation, the places which Jewish history has rendered memorable having been visited for the express purpose of obtaining graphic illustrations, and the whole country having been traversed on both sides of the Jordan, from the Arabian desert to Tripoli. It is proposed, that by means of drawings thus procured, Palestine and its archæological remains shall be placed vividly before the eye, without any exaggeration or compromise of truth for the sake of pictorial effect. The translator, Dr. Robert Trail, is believed to be thoroughly competent for his task; and a gentleman of very high literary reputation, whose name we are not at liberty to mention, is rendering him zealous aid in the undertaking. The first portion of the work, including the Life of Josephus, the Jewish War, and the two books against Appion, is to be completed in 1847, in twelve five-shilling parts; containing one hundred engravings on steel, showing views of the scenes of the history, plans and elevations of architectural remains, and medallion heads of the Grecian and Roman personages mentioned by the historian. An elegant prospectus has been issued, containing specimens both of the engravings and the typography, which may be obtained from the publishers 65, Paternoster Row.