On the momentous question which relates to the divine authority of excommunicating slave-holders, as such, the Editors have reserved their opinion, in order that all parties may enter, and occupy with freedom, this open field for Scriptural investigation; and a hope is entertained, that this inquiry will be prosecuted so as to secure for all concerned in its decision the greatest possible advantage, with the exaltation of our common Lord. The Bible Society question has been forced into the pages of this work rather prematurely. No discussion on this subject should have taken place in public, until the protest had been laid before the Committee of that Society; but since events, over which they had no control, have opened the controversy, the Editors hope that every effort will be made to conduct it with temperance and Christian charity; and, especially, that nothing may be done, or even attempted, which may injure an Institution, to which so many are indebted for the Word of life. The Editors desire to express their sincere thankfulness for that liberal support which this periodical has continued to receive through the past year. This they are anxious that it should still deserve, partly for their own credit, but, principally, for the sake of those widows and orphans whose daily wants are too sparingly supplied from its profits. These endearing objects of Christian sympathy have an interest in this work which is bound up in the welfare of all our churches. The Editors cannot cease to regard these objects of their daily concern with deep solicitude. They will therefore pray and labour for the peace of Jerusalem. For the brethren and fathers' sakes they will now say, "Peace be within thee!" BAPTIST THE MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1836. ADDRESS OF THE EDITORS. GOODNESS and mercy have crowned with their blessings the year which has just expired; and opened before us fields for future exertions in the work of God. May He, who has supported us through the past, kindly supply the wisdom and strength needful for every subsequent emergency! Every man should raise his own Ebenezer, for each receives his own portion of divine munificence; but those who are influenced by Christian patriotism, and the love of souls, will acknowledge their peculiar obligations for mercies bestowed on the nation in which they live, and the church for whose enlargement they labour. Our government has been supported, and the nation blessed with peace. Every public abuse has not been corrected; but reformation has advanced with solemn perseverance. Great questions of vital importance, both to church and state, have been discussed in the senate and amongst the people. Ireland has made known her sorrows and her sins; the compulsory establishment of England has been shaken; the colonial system has been forced forward in its approximation to VOL. XI., 3rd SERIES. wards purity; slavery has uttered the groan of its last convulsion; and liberty has revealed, both at home and abroad, the nature of her manifold benefits: still, in all these changes, divine truth maintains its power, controlling the community so far as to give this land of gospel light a vast superiority over those which sit in darkness. These things reveal the hand of God. May it ever be visible to his servants, directing and supporting them through every difficulty; that reform may be the fruit of religious principle, and unfold the Redeemer's glory! In the church, we have cause for humiliation before God; chiefly, because our gratitude and devotedness have been so disproportionate to our advantages. Admonitions have been repeated with awful frequency! Some useful labourers have died;* others *Since this was sent to press, we have received the painful intelligence, that the Rev. William Newman, D.D., for many years an editor of this Magazine, and to whom all parts of our De entered into his rest. nomination have been much indebted, has His praise is in all the churches; but most, where his cha racter was most fully known. May this solemn visitation produce an increase of watchfulness and devotion in all our hearts! B have been afflicted; our necessi- | cise of our fidelity. Our brethren ties have been daily revealed, and at times our follies: still, God has not left himself without witness. In some parts of our land he has graciously poured out upon our churches a spirit of seriousness and supplication. The means of securing a revival of his work have been consulted, and his direction earnestly solicited. For these things many have been grateful, and all the heaven before us brightens still with hope. One proof of this advancing mercy is seen in the increase of mutual affection between the servants of our common Lord. Though great questions have still to be determined, the acrimony of discussion is diminished day by day. May the time soon come when saints shall feel that all their interests meet in the Redeemer's triumph! Great advances have been made in all our institutions toward that generous co-operation by which alone great objects can be gained. In the support of missions to the heathen, in the diffusion of gospel light through our own land, in the improvement of religious education for all classes, in efforts to correct the evils of intemperance, in spiritual solicitude for the lower classes of society, in removing the encumbrances of debt from our places of worship, and in efforts to form the parts of our denomination into one united body; we recognize the good hand of God, producing greater zeal and conformity of exertion than have ever been known in former years. A Deputation to Ireland have collected important facts, which are given in the Chronicle. Our conference with America is of great importance, both for our instruction and for the exer have returned in peace; and through the difficult duties they had to discharge, God has graciously preserved them. From their reports much will be learned respecting the duty of our churches. We hope to understand from them how fraternal co-operation may secure the objects of perfect union without infringing on individual liberty. The united churches will anticipate with no ordinary interest their meetings in June ; and years to come will be employed in strengthening the band of their mutual affection, by labours of love and mercy. The increase of spirituality in our churches demands peculiar attention through the present year. Advantages are multiplied all around us. That spirit of reviving piety, which is seen to move in so many circles, must not be insulted by neglect. It descends both on members and people to confirm the promises of grace. God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, is already shining in their hearts. He is thus addressing every one of his servants, in the language of ancient prophecy:"Arise and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Scarcely within the history of man, have so many great affairs been placed within the reach of zealous piety. Ireland implores redoubled help. The dark villages at home have multiplied their supplications. The increased population of our towns and cities, and especially of the metropolis, requires a larger supply of spiritual instruction to meet its necessities. Education, extending itself through all classes of the community, demands a minis Our claims that press upon churches now, demand the spirit of ancient prophets. Let the churches raise their united prayer to God, and much time will not pass away before their mantles fall. Then, Jordan shall divide before us-crooked things shall become straight-rough places God shall be revealed-and "all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." try not only pious and evangelical, but disciplined in sound learning, and competent to guide the public mind. Large and flourishing churches should send off colonies of their members to form new churches; our colleges at Bristol, Stepney, Bradford, and Abergavenny, be more liberally supplied with the means of pre-plain-the glory of the Lord our paring our rising evangelists for their future work; and all our churches, in the spirit of mutual love, become integral and component parts of the Union. The east and west are ripe unto the harvest; millions of slaves in America entreat our mediation between them and their mistaken oppressors; the sufferings which call for our sympathy, in the scenes of our own missionary labour, are neither few nor small. With these, and other claims like these, we have still to demand the liberation of the church from compulsory exaction at home. Thus, brethren, the year which now opens with the beam of hope, spreads before you claims for activity that are innumerable. By these, it would stir us up to exertion, and raise every Christian soul to the elevation of devoted ness. In these diversified and glorious objects every Christian, as the Spirit shall direct him, is left to choose his own peculiar labour. But God requires from each selfconsecration. Men are needed for such occasions, whose generous zeal can relinquish earthly gain and exaltation, to occupy the post of danger, toil, and perhaps, for a time, dishonour. The With warmest desires to render this Periodical increasingly useful in advancing every interest in the Denomination, the editors cast themselves entirely on the mercy of God, and the friendly co-operation of the brethren. They will thankfully receive all communications of general and denominational interest; suggestions for the improvement of public measures, or for the advancement of individual piety; and inquiries that may serve to elicit truth; reserving to themselves, of course, in the use of what may come before them, that discretion which is necessary for securing the confidence of their constituents. In duties which require so much wisdom and perseverance, no one should presume; but the editors feel their sufficiency to be of God. May his promised blessing never be withheld! Doctrines will then distil like dew; and comfort descend, through the smile of our Father, like light from the goldburnished eye of morning! 4 REFLECTIONS OCCASIONED BY THE OPENING OF A SIR, NEW YEAR. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. The following reflections are extracted from the memoranda of a country minister, lately deceased, who was deservedly held in very high estimation as an able and consistent minister of Jesus Christ. No comment on them is required; they will find in the heart of every Christian, and especially of every Christian minister, many chords which will vibrate under their touch; nor can they vibrate without exerting an influence on the soul highly beneficial. Entertaining this conviction, I am disposed to believe that you will be willing to give them a place in your periodical for the commencement of the year, to which you will perceive they are particularly adapted. J. K. To be a Christian is a great thing; still more to be a Christian minister. Neither of these characters has been sustained by me, with that regard to the divine glory which ought to appear. When I review the little progress I have made in knowledge, the yet less in practical piety, since I first commenced as a disciple of Jesus (if ever I have done so in reality); when I reflect on the little ground gained, I had almost said, ground lost, in the subjection of my lusts; when I consider my worldly-mindedness, my unwatchfulness, my deficiency in secret prayer, in fine, my criminal negligence in every branch of Christian duty, I may well say, "How dwelleth the love of God in thee?" Where are the evidences of intense piety to be found? I once thought (happy, thrice happy, if realized in experience!) that I should feel very little disposition to acts of folly; but, alas, I may with shame acknowledge that if Jehovah had not restrained me from sinning against him, I had, ere now, made awful shipwreck of faith. I once delighted in Christian ordinances, sweetly anticipated the returning Lord's-days, oft resorted to the closet, and the Bible was the man of my right hand; but now, alas, my soul is insipid with regard to these things, very little savour of them rests on my mind, though by the duties of my profession they are unceasingly called for. What is a preacher without fervent prayer, without reading and meditation on the Scriptures, without lively delight in the service of the sanctuary? Ah me! when I compare the vast variety of furniture requisite to the ministerial office, and my deficiency particularly of sterling piety, I have too much reason to fear that I was spurred on by vanity, to an engagement for which I want the essential qualifications. Where, O where, that fervent love to souls, that earnest affectionate regard to the happiness of my fellow-creatures, and to the honour of the blessed Jesus, which becomes that office in private as in public character ? What criminal indifference to the grand object which should be had in view! And shall I continue, O thou great Eternal, thus lifeless, barren, unfruitful? Wilt thou not put thy hand a second time to the work, and recover me from this poor, backsliding state of heart? Oh! remember the word on which thou hast caused |