sin. The bible teaches us all things necessary for life and godliness,' and we are not left to the light of nature to determine what is and what is not sin. The light of nature, also, teaches nothing definite on the subject. Those nations which have not possessed the bible have not usually regarded incest as a sin; and those which have, have never agreed with each other as to its extent. It was obviously no sin in the sons of Adam and Eve to marry their sisters; and if God had not prohibited incestuous marriages, it would have been always equally lawful. The decisions of no individuals as well as of no bodies of men, whether legislatures, courts, or councils, can have the least authority in constituting any marriage a sin, which is not pronounced a sin by the law of God." p. 102. Having discharged what I considered a duty in directing attention to Mr. Dwight's admirable little work, I cheerfully leave the subject to the reader's judgment, and remain, Sir, yours respectfully, J. JONES. March, Sept. 6th. to the Infirm Ministers' Fund! Does this arise from a want of those charitable feelings among Christians, which is one of the grand characteristics of our holy religion? No, by no means. The lists of subscriptions which adorn the pages of our bible, missionary, and tract societies, prove the contrary. Is it, then, because they have no interest in the future comfort of their pastors, after they are incapacitated for the public ministry? I cannot believe they are so devoid of those sentiments of humanity which are the certain accompaniments of the grace of God in the heart. The neglect arises from a very different cause. The claims of our aged and infirm pastors have never been brought before the public in a way that is likely to arouse general attention. 1. A public meeting should be called in London, at the time of our annual festivals, when the subject should be taken up by our lay brethren and independent pastors, so as to give a general impulse to the provincial churches, as well as those in the metropolis. 2. After this, deputations should visit our THE AGED AND INFIRM BAPTIST MINISTERS' principal country towns, hold meetings, ob SOCIETY. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-The worthy secretary of this important society having called the attention of the denomination to its peculiar claims on the members of our churches, in your valuable periodical for August, I take the liberty of adding a few words on the same subject and through the same medium, as I very much fear that that degree of interest which the case demands will not be given to it, unless it be taken up in a very different manner from what it has been for years past. This has been generally considered a benefit society, in which the pastor is the only person concerned; and the consequence of this is, that very few persons, beyond the clerical body, trouble themselves at all about "The Aged and Infirm Baptist Ministers' Society." This is self evident, from the meagre list of free subscriptions, which accompanies the Annual Report. Can it be believed, that from 1894 churches, containing 128,037 members, that only £26 6s. 6d. would be subscribed to the Aged Ministers' Fund during the year? But such is the fact, and we cannot contemplate it without deep sorrow. But it may be replied, that many of those churches have local societies, and, therefore, they are not interested in that to which this letter refers. No doubt but this is true in a few instances, yet it does not excuse the general fact, that out of the great number of churches and members who are unconnected with any such society, that from them there has been no more than £26 6s. 6d. subscribed VOL. XII.-FOURTH SERIES. I tain subscriptions-I mean annual — and form auxiliaries; and the consequence of these movements would be, that very soon the £26 68. 6d. would have a 10 preceding it, so as to raise the list to £1026 6s. 6d. judge thus, from other denominational movements, which have adopted precisely this course. As for example, the Baptist Foreign Mission, its £13 2s. 6d. has swollen to £26,000. Our youngest infant, that blooming child the Translation Society, already gathers £1568 15s. 8d., and why should not those venerable servants of Christ (who have spent their energies in proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation, in relieving the wants of the destitute, and in advocating the claims of every benevolent object), draw forth the sympathies of their fellow Christians, as the heathen in Britain or Japan? It is a deplorable thing, that pious men, who have paid their entrance-money to a society, and their sovereign annually for many years, should only receive, in their days of decrepitude, the sum of £9 48. 2d. each! Not for the wart of a will on the part of the committee, but for the want of means to divide a larger amount; the disposable income being only £351 5s. 11d., two-thirds of which had to be divided among twenty-seven beneficiary members. And if we add to this the number of godly men, whose incomes have always been so extremely small that they could not afford one sovereign a year, to secure even this amount of benefit in their old age, but are compelled to retire from their pastorates from infirmities brought on in the ministry, without any prospect of a comfortable provision, when they stand mostly in need of it; or are induced to hold fast an office for which 4 Y they feel themselves disqualified by an exhausted constitution, merely because they have no other method of obtaining a subsistence, either for themselves or dependents! The Wesleyan society, after their centenary (I am told), adopted a resolution, that every member of their body should subscribe sixpence a year to their Superannuated Ministers' Fund-although that Fund was an honour to their denomination before. Now, if the members of our 1894 churches would adopt a similar plan (the rich supplying the deficiencies of the poor), the result would be as follows,-128,037 persons at sixpence each, would raise an income for our infirm brethren of £3200 18s. 6d. annually! Surely this is a plan worth trying, if it should not succeed to the full extent. Say, only one-half the number could be induced to help in such a laudable undertaking, even then £1600 9s. 3d. would be available to the object, and surely this sum would materially alter the character and efficiency of "The Aged and Infirm Baptist Ministers' Society." But I feel assured that if the subject were generally and feelingly brought before the able members of our community, we should see not merely sixpences thrown into the general fund; but some of those princely subscriptions, adorning the pages of the report, which have graced the annals of our other sccieties. For I cannot believe that those who have enjoyed the gospel of the Son of God, as it has flowed from the heart and lips of his faithful servants, would permit them to retire in suffering and want, without making some such direct effort to sustain them in old age. As I have no personal interest in the society a kind Providence having superseded the necessity-I can plead the cause more forcibly, and, therefore, call upon all those who esteem the servants of God for their works' sake, to lay this matter to heart, and do justice 'tis really an act of justice rather than mercy for which I am interceding-to those who, above all men, have the first claim on our Christianity. I might instance a number of worthy men whose incomes have scarcely ever exceeded £40 a year; many of whom would rejoice indeed, in their declining age, if they could but hope to see such a measure as is here laid before the public put into execution. May their hopes be realized very speedily is the earnest desire, Sir, Of yours in the gospel of Christ, Windsor. S. LILLYCROP. ON THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR, I have for several years been much concerned at the gradual disuse of those annual services formerly held by dissenters for the purpose of commemorating the de liverance of this country from the iron yoke of popery, which I deem to be one of the most odious and tyrannical systems that ever cursed the earth; but of late years, partly from the grosser parts of the system being concealed from public view in England, and partly from its adherents having come forward, apparently as the advocates of civil and religious liberty, the opposition by the dissenters, and others, to the papal system, has been much weakened. As an illustration of the subject, allow me to introduce to your numerous readers, a few remarks by the late venerable William Jones,* "Most readers of our English history," be observes, "are aware that the members of the church of England are required to observe several days in the year as seasons of solemn commemoration of remarkable events, regarded by the legislature as national blessings, or calamities, and to join in general thanks givings, confessions, and prayers, appointed for the respective occasions; the only one of these days which protestant dissenters have ever distinguished by such notice is the 5th of November, they have felt equal satisfaction with the most patriotic of their countrymen in the deliverance of this land from the danger with which it was visited, by the Spanish armada in the reign of queen Eliza beth, and in the preservation of king James, with all his family, and both houses of parlia ment from the ruin prepared for them by the gunpowder plot; and also, in the revolution of 1688, by which king William was raised to the British throne. A way was prepared for the succession of the house of Brunswick, and the country blessed with a degree of civil and religious liberty, which had never before been enjoyed by any nation in the world, and for more than a hundred years after the revolution, it was their general practice to meet in their respective places of worship on the 5th of November, and to unite in devout thanksgivings, and hymns of praise to Almighty God for these national deliverances, and in fervent supplications for the continuance of such important national blessings. "These devotional services were accompanied with sermons (many of which were printed) in which the ministers were accustomed to state the leading circumstances of each event thus commemorated, with its bearing upon the interest and the happiness of individuals, and to recommend and enforce its grateful celebrations. It will be obvious to every reflecting mind that these discourses would often exhibit the principles of civil and religious liberty." These discourses were also very much calculated to enlighten the minds of their congregations, especially the younger part of them, respecting the deliverances God had wrought for their forefathers, and induce • In his Memoir of the Rev. W. Winterbothain. gratitude for the superior privileges they enjoy themselves. The Jews were solemnly commanded by Moses to make known the deliverances God had wrought for them to their children, and children's children,+ and the Psalmist in the seventy-eighth psalm recites and inculcates the same grateful remembrance of those deliverances in the following sublime strains:-" For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children, that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;" and undoubtedly the three great deliverances in England, before narrated, are equally important to us under the gospel, as those of the children of Israel under the former economy. I presume, therefore, that you will think with me, that public prayer ought to be often offered, that the long predicted downfall of popery might speedily be fulfilled; that suitable tracts should be extensively circulated, and that the superintendents of our sabbathschools should occasionally bring the subject before the teachers and children, in order at once to inform some and fortify others against the stratagems of the priests and other adherents of Rome. I am sorry that a previous communication which I sent you on this subject was not inserted. It will be matter of regret and wonder to me, if it should turn out that yourself, who have so ably written some years ago against popery, should now hesitate to approve of an annual commemoration of our deliverance from it. I conclude with a prayer that the papal and all other anti-christian systems may be destroyed by the breath of the Redeemer's mouth, and the brightness of his coming. And remain, yours sincerely; W. HARRISON. Birmingham. RICKMANSWORTH STATISTICS. ON THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTY OF A. B. C. D. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-The "practical difficulty," in your last arrested my attention, as one of not unfrequent occurrence, and as deserving a little notice; and since A. B. C. D. solicit remark, permit me, as one to whom such scenes and circumstances are somewhat familiar, to address to them a few words through your excellent periodical. The position of A. B. C. D. is rather a trying one. The majority of the church to which they belong have invited, as their pastor, one whom they, as a minority, do not approve. The latter cannot satisfactorily unite with any other body of Christians, and are not able to support a minister themselves. In this uncomfortable position they will do well to take care lest, by making themselves of undue importance, and cultivating unkind feelings either towards their brethren who have deemed it right to invite the minister in question or that minister himself, they should mar and destroy the happiness and usefulness of themselves or others, place a stumblingblock in the way of inquirers, or give occasion to the enemy to blaspheme. No course seems open to A. B. C. D. beside the one you have so beautifully pointed out in your excellent remarks; and as an old student of Christianity I submit whether any other can possibly be found that so much accords with the language and spirit of the New Testament. Nor can I but hope that should they be disposed to return to their brethren in the exercise of a right spirit, if they have already withdrawn, they will be gladly received. A. B. C. D. will permit me, as a lover of fair play and Christian concord, to remind them that their brethren in the majority had an equal right with themselves to vote for or against a candidate for their pastorate; and that, in common courtesy, their judgments and wishes should be equally respected with their own. This consideration, together with the fact that they have "no unkind feeling whatever" against the minister elect, may possibly go far to induce them to adopt the course which at first you prescribed. As to reports, A. B. C. D. will do well to pay little attention to them, seeing they turn out so frequently to the mortification of those who have acted upon them to be exaggerated or false; and, also, let them beware of a Corinthian spirit which by declaring, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, may lead them to despise him whom the church has selected; and who, although not To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-It is desirable that the statistics of the Baptist Manual should be as perfect as possible. Please, therefore, to notice that the numbers attached to Rickmansworth, Herts, should be-99 members, 48 Sunday scholars, clear increase during the year 5. This was the number when the editor's circular was issued. Since that period there have been several additions to possessing the distinguished qualifications of the church. Your's truly, W. H. MURCH. Watford, October 20, 1849. Deut. iv. 9; vi. 7, and xi. 19. the parties mentioned above, may, nevertheless, be a chosen instrument of God's work, to confound the mighty and wise. I am, Sir, yours, October 7th, 1849." Ειρηνοποιός. ON A PASSAGE IN ATHENÆUS. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. MR. EDITOR,-Having, in the course of looking through Athenæus, met with an instance of the use of the word Barril, I offer it to your notice, since it seems desirable that all passages of ancient authors, containing the word in question, should be known and examined. The following, then, is the passage : "Masurius having spoken thus, all wondered at him because of his wisdom. But Ulpianus, when silence was obtained, said, Ye seem to me, my fellow guests, to have been unexpectedly overwhelmed by vehement arguments, and to have been immersed in wine intempered with water. AOKELTE μοι, άνδρες δαιτυμόνες, σφοδροις κατηνπλησθαι λόγοις, παρα προσδοκιαν, βεβαπο Tiolaι TE TO аkparq.-Athenæus Deipnos, lib. v., p. 221. Ed. Is. Casaubon, A.D., 1597." In this passage it has its usual signification of immersion, Casaubon translating it, Et mero tanquam immersi. It is also interesting to observe, that it is a plunging, not into water, and, therefore, not a purifying, but into wine. I have the honour to be yours, &c., EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT. An earlier sheet of this number contains a Memorial respecting intended infringements on the divinely instituted day of rest at the metropolitan post office, addressed to the Queen by the ministers of the Three Denominations residing in and near the cities of London and Westminster; and resolutions on the same subject passed by the ministers who constitute the Baptist Board. We are sorry to have to report that neither these, nor the measures of a similar character adopted by other religious bodies have been able to divert the government from their arbitrary and pernicious course. A postponement of the change from the 14th of September, when it was to have come into operation, to the 28th, is all that has been obtained; and that appears to have been granted, not with a view to the relinquishment of the plan but to the difficulties which had presented themselves. The determined refusal of six or seven hundred men, who are the immediate victims, to sell their sabbaths voluntarily, imposed obstacles to the project which could not be surmounted as easily as had been apprehended; but now it appears they have received orders which present to them no alternative but compliance or dismission. We trust, however, that this may be overruled for good. A struggle will now be commenced in good earnest for the suspension of all post office labour on Lord's days, not only in the metropolis but throughout the land. Some inconveniences will be felt, doubtless, from the non-delivery ef letters on the first day of the week in some parison of the benefits that will accrue, and country towns; but these are trifling in comLondon have endured all their lives, without can be no greater than the inhabitants of repining, no delivery of letters on the Lord's day having ever taken place within the precincts of the metropolis. Before this meets the eye of the reader, the dissenting minis ters will have met again, in compliance with and we trust that energetic measures will be a requisition which has already been issued, adopted also throughout the provinces, to pat an end to what has long been felt by many to be an unwarrantable violation of that unversal and uninterrupted rest from labour which the interests of society require. It may be advantageous to some churd destitute of a pastor if we correct an impres sion which we find is in existence, that our brother Green, late of Walworth, has determined not to take charge of another church We are sufficiently acquainted with his view to feel at liberty to say, that it has never been his wish to withdraw from the ministry, though he thought it right to relinquish a station which he had occupied for fourteen years. A man of his ability, in the prime of life and in full bodily vigour, is not likely to remain disengaged long, unless his settlement be impeded by some such misapprehension as that to which we have referred. A portrait of the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, M.A., intended for our January number, is in the hands of the engraver. A tract has just been published by “The Lord's Day Observance Society," containing this impressive sentence :-"When it is remembered that of the twelve thousand per sons holding situations directly from the Postmaster-General, all, with the exception of two thousand in London, are engaged in the every-day business of life some part of the Lord's day, in selling stamps, delivering letters, and despatching mails, it will be seca that, by the utter cessation of such a system, an act of mercy would be performed fat exceeding in magnitude, duration, and extent, any that is done by the delivery of letters; inasmuch as such cessation would relieve from toil, and would restore the religious, social, and physical privileges of the sabbath day to this numerous body of persons, and the vast number indirectly caused to labour on the Lord's day by the transmission and delivery of letters. As a proof of the hardships inflicted on letter-carriers, it is a fact which may be relied on, that in many parts of England letter-carriers have often to walk on the Lord's day, as well as on the other six days of the week, twenty miles, or even more, in delivering letters and newspapers." |