expansive on others. How few books | venient to afford room for one in every are there professing to give the early history of Christianity which were not written by advocates for the union between church and state, for episcopacy, and for pædobaptism! Happy is the young reader who has not derived his notions of ecclesiastical history from an author attached to one or more of these errors. The very design with which the ancient writers on whom most modern historians rely composed their memoirs was, in many cases, to promote clerical ascendancy and decry those who adhered to apostolic doctrine and practice. Ecclesiastical History, if properly developed, would show clearly the mischiefs which departure from primitive simplicity has wrought. We have a strong conviction that these sketches will be found deeply interesting and instructive, containing much that will be new to many who have sought information on the subject, as well as to others who have not read works professedly treating of it. The times demand an acquaintance with Ecclesiastical History; works are zealously pushed into circulation that are adapted to mislead; and it may be expected that intelligent young persons of baptist parentage will be eager to look at Christian antiquity, not as presented to them by prelatists and devotees to the hierarchy, but as sought out by those who regard that as the best Christianity which corresponds most with the New Testament, even though its professors may have been contemned as heretics and vilified as opponents of clerical authority. II. The editor is in possession of a number of sermons which have never been printed, and which were delivered forty or fifty years ago by some of the most eminent baptist ministers of the last generation. These afford specimens of that solid and instructive teaching which endeared them to their contemporaries. It may not perhaps be con successive number, but it will be satisfactory to readers who know the value of their productions to learn that the editor possesses enough to give one in every number throughout the year, should sufficient space be available. In January next, the series will be commenced with one by the late venerable Abraham Booth, on the words," Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God !" III. It has been thought the occasional insertion in the Magazine of a good congregational Tune, not in general use, would be to many of our friends very acceptable. The mode of printing music with moveable types, recently brought to perfection, in which our printer has given to the world admirable specimens of skill, will facilitate this, and we confidently rely on such scientific assistance as will render this part of our design satisfactory to those who delight in sacred music. IV. It is intended that answers to Queries shall constitute, next year, a prominent part of the work. Queries have frequently been forwarded relating to difficulties respecting passages of scripture, or intended to elicit information on subjects in which the writers were interested. The editor has been unwilling, for reasons which had weight with his own mind, to comply with requests thus presented to him. He now, however, announces his readiness to receive Queries, and his desire to procure answers to such as seem to him suitable for public discussion. Two or three preliminary remarks must, however, be conceded. First, he does not bind himself to notice every Query that he receives: on this he shall exercise his discretion. Secondly, he does not intend to notice any Query that is not accompanied with the name and address of the writer; though any other signa ture may he adopted by the inquirer for publication. Thirdly, he must not be supposed to write all the answers himself. To some Queries he will probably reply himself in the number which appears first after the request has been received; some will be put into the hands of judicious friends for prompt reply; and some will be printed in the hope that appropriate answers to them will be volunteered for publication in the following month. A WORD TO THE LADIES. Ir is not necessary that the writer should apologize to the ladie for intruding himself upon their attention, as he has something to say which he is sure will interest them. Twenty-four hours have not yet elapsed since he became acquainted with certain facts which startled him, and they are probably unknown to readers in general. Vague impressions having led him to request the respected treasurer of the Baptist Magazine to allow him a sight of applications made by the widows of ministers for participation in the profits of the work, and the request having been granted, he has derived from them information that he is anxious to communicate. The first letter which he opened was from the widow of a minister who sustained the pastoral office forty-one years. His ordination, in 1796, is recorded in Dr. Rippon's Baptist Register, and from that time to the time of his death, in 1837, he continued to labour in the same village. His relict is now seventy-four years of age. Two orphan grandchildren are partly dependent upon her. She refers, in her application, to pressure arising from the high price of provisions, and to her increasing infirmities. What may it be supposed the good old woman has for her support? Independently of the Magazine, she has twenty-five pounds per annum. Nine shillings and seven pence three farthings per week! weary pilgrimage had lasted yet longer. A respected minister writes, in a postscript, "There cannot be a more needy or deserving case than that of this pious widow of more than fourscore years." She herself expresses lively gratitude for assistance previously received, and adds, " I assure you, gentlemen, that my case and circumstances are still more needy, for I experience, as years increase upon me, that my wants and infirmities also increase; and were it not for your kindness, and the assistance I receive from the Widows' Fund in London, I must be upon parochial aid." The exhibition she receives from the Widows' Fund is twelve pounds per annum; so that her whole income, independently of the Magazine, is, for one week, four shillings and seven pence farthing! The third letter was from the widow of one who had been pastor thirty-two years. At sixty-one years of age she answers the question, "What is the amount of the applicant's income from every source," by saying, Nothing whatever except the Widows' Fund." 66 And these were the wives-the chosen, beloved, affectionate wives-of men who were counted faithful, and put into the ministry. These were the partakers of their cares and privations during life, sharers too in the difficulties arising from a slender income, which never allowed any provision to be made for future contingencies, barely sufficing for the exigencies of the passing year. The second letter was from one whose These are the living representatives of men who soothed the sorrowful, proclaimed the tidings of mercy to the guilty, and guided to the Saviour many who were on the brink of ruin. But the greater part of those who enjoyed their ministry have passed away from the present state of existence, and they who valued their labours most were generally poor, and could not show their gratitude very effectively. It is, however, a sad story. travelled long distances to listen to his eloquence on extraordinary occasions. He was an old man when he died, and had been more than fifty years in the ministry. His widow applies for aid, declaring that her whole income from every other source amounts but to eight pounds per annum ! It can scarcely be necessary to proceed further in this course. Suffice it to say that these are tolerably fair specimens of the cases described, and that others are principally diversified by references to afflicted children needing the personal care of their mothers, and having no provision for their support. The examination has proved to the writer far more painful than he had anticipated. He expected to find much afflictive destitution, but the cases as given in detail have rendered the investigation indescribably depressing. The average But here is another case. The minister and his wife had moved in easier circumstances. They had enjoyed the bounties of divine Providence, and had found pleasure in showing hospitality. When he died he left, as it was believed, adequate provision for her future wants. But a trusteeship in which he had engaged proved calamitous. An expensive chancery suit ensued. All has been lost; and she has to throw herself upon the resources open to her as the widow of a minister. Her income, independently of what she may receive from the Maga- | pastoral office is twenty-four ;-a length zine, is twenty-one pounds per annum. Here is another case. Hereditary property derived from her family assisted to render comfortable and useful the laborious pastor to whom she was for thirty years united. She was left a widow with a number of single daughters. Her husband's death was followed by that of a trustee, who proved to be insolvent. To the loss of property succeeded the loss of health. Infirmities disable her for exertion, and she mentions as her only support the two sources so frequently referred to in these letters as invaluable the Widow's Fund, and the profits of the New Selection of Hymns for the use of Baptist Congregations. Here is another case. The husband of this widow was one of the most celebrated of our preachers. His name was universally known in our denomination, and extensively known out of it. Thousands of admiring hearers have number of years during which the husbands of the applicants sustained the of service certainly entitling them to respectful consideration. The average annual income of these widows-widows of men who laboured in the gospel for a quarter of a century-independently of what they receive from the Baptist Magazine, is, alas! but seventeen pounds! Here then, ladies, your prompt and cordial exertions are required. It is to you, as instruments in the hands of the Infinitely Compassionate One, that the hopes of the writer are directed. Nothing is easier than for you, without stepping out of your own sphere, to adopt measures which will relieve extensively and permanently these your widowed sisters. Five thousand four hundred and sixty-seven pounds have been distributed among them, raised by means perfectly unobjectionable, and admitting of indefinite extension. So large an amount of profit arising from the sale of the Baptist Magazine has been distributed, cheering many a sorrowful heart, and calling forth many an expression of gratitude. Were it not for this, their circumstances would be yet more deplorable than they are. It is but for you to exert your influence in the social circle, and the amount realized for distribution will be immediately doubled or trebled. "This year," said a friend to the writer, a few weeks ago, "there are seventeen Baptist Magazines taken in our congregation instead of two, and all in consequence of your conversation with me, the last time you were at my house." Adopt the same course, ladies, and your hearts will be gladdened by the result. You will be doing good to your friends by bringing before their attention that which will be beneficial to themselves, enlarging their knowledge of the history of our churches, our principles, and our best writers, while you are assisting the widows and fatherless children of worthy ministers of Christ, by augmenting the funds consecrated to their support. Will you not bear this important object continually on your hearts? Will you allow one copy of the Magazine to be discontinued by a friend without remonstrance? Will you allow any acquaintance to omit to take it for want of having his attention directed to the subject? Will you not mention it to every young Christian who is received into the church to which you belong? Other magazines are profusely advertised and brought before the attention of our fellow members prominently in various ways. Whatever be their claims, remember ladies, and take care that your friends remember, that there is not one of them from which the widow of a baptist minister receives a single penny. It is on you that this business naturally devolves. Who can be supposed to feel so tenderly for the bereaved women who sacrificed worldly prospects when they became wives of baptist ministers as yourselves? Who can recommend their interests to the attention of others with more obvious propriety? Delicacy-morbid delicacy it may be, but yet a natural delicacy—restrains some pastor from urging the extension of the sale of the Magazine for this reason, lest it should appear as though they had in view the possible advantage of their own relatives. But to you, Christian ladies, the course is perfectly open and manifestly honourable. What can be easier than to ask, Do you take the Baptist Magazine? There are thousands of baptists to whom the thought of doing good in this way has never occurred. ON CHRISTIAN MEEKNESS. BY THE REV. J. J. DAVIES. "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." SUCH is the third character which our Lord in the sermon on the mount pronounces blessed-"the meek;" and such is the promise which he makes to the meek-"they shall inherit the earth." I. Let us consider the excellence commended by our Lord in relation to its NATURE. There is a natural gentleness of spirit, amiability of temper, lowliness of mind which considerably resembles the grace of Christian meekness. It may be condemned by some as a weakness, but all considerate minds will be sensible of its loveliness and its worth; they will feel that it must necessarily who possess it, and exert a mild and benignant influence on all who are connected with them. But all men, and even all Christians do not possess this spirit; neither is it the excellence commended by our Lord in the sermon on the mount. Christian meekness is sometimes associated with a naturally mild and amiable spirit, and then it generally proves the distinguishing feature of the character. But Christian meekness is sometimes found in connexion with a spirit naturally irritable and impetuous, and then this temper is evidently controlled and regulated by it. prove a source of happiness to those | above those of the same age with himself. And his proud and fierce spirit was no less conspicuous in his treatment of the unoffending disciples of Jesus; he breathed out threatenings and slaughter against them, and pursued them to prison and to death with relentless and untiring malignity. "But when it pleased God, who separated him from his mother's womb and called him by his grace, to reveal his Son in him," immediately he became a new man, “old things had passed away; all things had become new." He retained the native ardour and strength of his character, but these noble qualities were tempered by the mild and gentle influence of the gospel, by which also his proud and intolerant spirit was completely subdued. He retained the boldness and courage of the lion, while he laid aside his ferocity, and assumed in its stead the gentleness of the lamb. Amidst all his difficulties and toils, amidst all his sufferings and persecutions, amidst all the dangers to which he was exposed and the injuries which he sustained, he uniformly displayed himself the meekness and forbearance, the gentleness and patience which he so forcibly inculcated on others; and though he differed much in character from John, he possessed as truly and as eminently as he did, the grace of Christian meekness. Two of the most eminent of the apostles afford a striking illustration of this remark. The first is John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and the second is Paul, the distinguished herald of mercy to the Gentile world. John possessed naturally great amiability of temper and gentleness of spirit. His natural temper appears to have resembled that of our Lord, who was preeminently "meek and lowly in heart;" and this similarity of temper probably constituted the foundation of that peculiar intimacy and affection which existed between our Lord and the beloved apostle. And when enlightened and sanctified by the truth, when the grace of Christian meekness was superadded to the native gentleness of his spirit, John became eminent for those features of the Christian character which are emphatically lovely. No one can read his epistles or his gospel without perceiving this; and all the traditions which have been preserved respecting him, verify the same. Paul, on the other hand, was naturally of an irascible temper, of an impetuous and fiery spirit. His impetuosity appeared in the zeal with which he devoted himself to Judaism, and in the progress which he made in the Jewish religion All the excellences commended by our Lord in the sermon on the mount, are essentially evangelical in their character. They are not the native growth of the human mind; they are not the result of education or the fruit of mental discipline apart from religious principle, from divine influence, from dependence on God, from faith in the blood of atonement. They are truly the fruit of the Spirit; they are the result of his gracious operations on the heart; they are plants of paradise produced in the soul by the Spirit of all grace; they grow along the margin of the waters of |