and two trustees to this bequest, whether present or not, and which testimonial shall have been first entered in the minute-book of the proceedings of said academy for that day, and a copy thereof to be given or sent to the committee or secretary of the said Protestant Union Society, formed about the year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety-eight, for the benefit of ministers' widows, of which society Mr. Thomas Preston was then treasurer, and the Reverend W. F. Platt secretary, requesting it may be entered on the minutes of their proceedings; and which said minister or ministers were, previous thereto, subscribers to the said Protestant Union Society at least one whole year before they left the said academy."

The trustees not having been able to perform the said trusts, applied, by petition, to the Court of Chancery, and the trusts have been declared by the Court to be as follow:-First, to the widows and families of such dissenting ministers as are expressly qualified under the said testator's will, if such widows and families are to be found; but if not, then, Secondly, as to one moiety of the interest and dividends of the trust fund to students, now educating in Highbury College, during such time as they shall continue such students, and who shall stand in need of such relief, in such proportions as the trustees, for the time being, from time to time may direct. Thirdly, as to the other moiety of the interest and dividends of the trust fund to the widows and families of such dissenting ministers who have received or may receive their academical education in the said academy, or in Highbury College, and who, at the time of their death, were members of the Protestant Union Society, in such manner as the said trustees, for the time being, should think fit, and in default of such last mentioned widows and families, then to the widows and families of such dissenting ministers of Calvinistic sentiments, who have received or may receive their academical education at the said academy or in Highbury College, but who may not, at the time of their death, have been members of the said Protestant Union Society; but in case there shall be no such widows or families of either class of dissenting ministers above named, then the whole of the interest and dividends of the said trust fund shall be given to the said students, in such proportion as above mentioned.

The trustees hereby give notice to any person or persons, who may claim to be entitled to the benefit of the said legacy, that their claims will be considered by the trustees upon application, by letter, or otherwise, to Thomas Wilson, Esq. No. 12, Highbury-Place, Islington, the treasurer of Highbury College.

BRIEF NOTES ON PASSING EVENTS.

The journals of the past month have been crowded with events so important and momentous, as to require political dissertations and historical narratives, rather than the few brief and passing notes of a Christian observer.

The news from CHINA may well inspire our countrymen with blended emotions of exultation and awe. We recorded in our number for May, that Keshan, the imperial commissioner, had entered into negotiations with her majesty's plenipotentiary, and that hopes were cherished of a pacific close to the affair. It was, however, soon discovered that he was resorting to those false and crooked wiles, those "refuges of lies," which constitute the strength of Chinese diplomacy. A flag of truce having been fired on by the Chinese, our naval and military forces were called into action, and with wonderful facility they swept the shores of the Canton river of their most commanding positions, and did not pause in their triumphant progress till the British ensign floated before the walls of Canton, and the second city of the empire was in the virtual possession of our armament. It is a remarkable in this case, that while the proclamation of the emperor declares that "it is difficult for heaven and earth any longer to bear with the English, and both gods and man are indignant at their con

duct," the natives not only lined the river banks, boats, house-tops, pagodas, and the the adjacent hills, without fear, to witness the conflict, but actually, in great numbers, assisted our seamen to destroy the stakes, &c., that had been driven to obstruct the river, which supplies a decided testimony to the forbearance of our brave countrymen, and to the apathy of the people respecting the fate of the Tartar dynasty. "Perched on the summit of a lofty pre-eminence," the emperor has affected to despise the "outside barbarians," but "judgments are prepared for scorners," and this last strong hold of atheism and idolatry will probably fall before the victorious arms of Britain. The case of M'Leod is not yet settled with the UNITED STATES, but we trust that it will not occasion any permanent disagreement between the two countries.

But we must now turn to our HOME affairs, placed, as they are, in an important crisis. Impatient of further delay, and dreading further discussion in parliament on the principles of free trade, the Tory party urged their leader, Sir Robert Peel, to propose in the House of Commons a resolution expressive of a want of confidence in the present ministers, which, in consequence of the absence of eight professedly liberal members, without pairs, he succeeded in carrying by a majority of one! the votes being, Ayes 312; Noes 311-1. This, however, put an effectual stop to parliamentary debate on the great questions of monopoly, and our gracious Queen proceeded to dissolve the parliament. In the speech from the throne her majesty expressed (and the tones of her voice betrayed that she felt what she uttered) her "anxiety that the exigencies of the public service should be provided for in the manner least burdensome to the community." "This," she added, “induced me to resort to the means which the constitution has entrusted to me, of ascertaining the sense of my people upon matters which so deeply concern their welfare." If, then, the nation is to be ruled again by Tory counsels, the fault will not be with our patriotic young Queen, but with the electors, to whom she has so constitutionally appealed. Amidst the excitement of the contest which has now commenced, we feel that our readers will not be prepared for the consideration of questions relating to the Church of Scotland, the Dean of York, Church-rates, the Jews' Qualification Bill, &c.

These, and similar subjects, will all be in abeyance till the elections are over, and the will of God shall be seen. May He save our Queen and her people from a party, that, with lofty pretentions to religion, are now labouring throughout the realmby every art-to corrupt and debase the electors of Britain, to secure their own sinister and selfish ends.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Favours have been received from Rev. Drs. J. P. Smith-Matheson.

Rev. Messrs. A. Reid-W. Atherton-W. Walford-O. T. Dobbin-D. Gunn-E. Giles-Wm. Tarbotton-H. L. Berry-W. Davis-H. J. Rooke-James Gwyther— T. W. Gotch-N. M. Harry-W. Skinner.

Messrs. J. G. Mansford-Hull Terrell-J. Eives-Richard Ash-A. M'CreeryR. H. Terrell.

An Inquirer.

Whilst we concur in several of the sentiments expressed in Mr. M'Creery's letter, yet, we must decline its publication, as we cannot give currency to its sentiments which would call for replies from the parties referred to, and involve us and our readers in a long and angry personal dispute.

THE

CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

AUGUST, 1841.

THE OFFICE, DUTIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACONS;

WITH ADVICE TO THE CHURCHES ON THE CHOICE OF

BRETHREN TO SUSTAIN THAT OFFICE:

Being the Eighth Address of the Annual Assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, held at the Congregational Library, London, on the 11th of May, 1841, to the Ministers and Churches of the same faith and order throughout the Empire.

DEAR BRETHREN,-It is with pleasure that we embrace the opportunity presented by our annual assembly, to offer to you again our fraternal salutations; to assure you of our lively interest in your spiritual prosperity; and to renew those expressions of the respect, affection, and deep interest, in which we hold all the Congregational Churches of the empire, with their bishops and deacons, offered to you on former occasions.

As we possess no authority over the brethren, nor desire to obtain any, so would we be careful to adopt no procedure, to employ no expression that could seem to imply the least thought of usurpation, or the most remote tendency to an evil not more dreaded or deprecated by you than by us. Delegated by numerous associations and churches, we are assembled, not the pastors only, but many brethren of the churches, for free conference, delightful communion, fervent prayer, on all subjects that can generally affect the welfare of the churches, but under sacred charge and full purpose not to touch questions affecting the affairs of particular churches, or to attempt the decision of any of those minor points on which our brotherhood claim and exercise the right of holding different opinions, without offence and without schism. With these views, and in this spirit, we proceed to address you with all love and respect, in another of those annual letters, in which

N. S. VOL. V.

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it is our wish to embody a testimony to our principles for future times, as well as seasonable advice on subjects of present importance and interest.

It has been deemed desirable for us to address to you, at this the eleventh annual assembly of the Congregational Union, some recomdations upon the choice of deacons-a class of officers originally appointed in the primitive church, immediately under the eye of the apostles, and at their recommendation; and whom we conceive to be essential to the complete Scriptural constitution of every local church -you will suffer us, we doubt not, to express our sentiments with frankness upon the topic mentioned. We would present to you our advices with fidelity and affection; according to our best ability, we would counsel you in the good and right way; and you will receive, we trust, "in meekness of wisdom," a statement of those views which, in our honest convictions, are supported by the word of God—the only code of our laws and charter of our liberties, as the followers of Christ.

Allow us briefly to remind you of the nature of the office, with the authority for it, as exhibited in the inspired record of the proceedings of the primitive church.

It is always of importance for you to be "thoroughly furnished" with Scriptural reasons for every practice you adopt, whether in your individual or church capacity, in order to be able, if assailed, to "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men;" and especially is this important in an age which abounds with ecclesiastical controversies, and in which bold and artful attempts are made to render authoritative those mere human usages, for which an early origin can be pleaded. We esteem it the incumbent duty of all Congregationalists in the present day, whether ministers or people, to stand prepared, if needs be, to contend for the experimental Christianity of the Scriptures, in opposition to a ritual religion of men's institution; and to plead for the polity of the New Testament against those church constitutions, which have their basis in the "wisdom of the world," however laboriously devised, however venerable for antiquity, however patronised by power, and prescribed by legislation. We deem it, therefore, advisable to "put you in remembrance" of those views of the deacon's office, which have the authority of the Scriptures in their behalf.

The appointment is upon record in the New Testament, of persons in the church of Jerusalem, whose office it was to secure an equitable distribution of temporal relief to the believers, who stood in need of such assistance. To the honour of the first converts, it is stated, that they were of "one heart and soul;" and maintaining the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," they met daily together for religious and social intercourse, and showed to each other that hospitality, in the spirit of Orientalism, which the peculiar circumstances of the time

rendered needful. But it soon became requisite, for this " daily administration" of temporal supplies, to be superintended by appointed persons, in order to be properly executed. The apostles felt that it was not "meet" for them to preside over secular arrangements-not consonant with the discharge of their spiritual functions-and hence certain individuals were set apart by the church, whose duties are expressed in the comprehensive phrase, "to serve tables." The office of these persons is not mentioned in detail, but it was one which they who had devoted themselves to the ministry of the word deemed incompatible with that fixed attention to the evangelic mission which its importance demanded; it was separate from that of preaching the Gospel; it was purely secular. If you turn to the sixth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, you will find that their principal duty was to distribute among the needy Christians the voluntary offerings of the richer brethren; to see that none were overlooked to whom the bounty of the faithful might justly be administered, while none intruded upon their charities for "filthy lucre's sake;" and that this office was assigned to persons not formally engaged in the "ministry of reconciliation," in order to enable those upon whom its proclamation devolved to devote their undivided and unfettered energies to that object, and to those more private occupations of a spiritual nature which the work of the ministry necessarily involves.

An arrangement so natural and appropriate, as that of relieving the ministers of religion from the burden of those secular duties incident to the visible incorporation of believers in distinct local societies, obtained universally in the primitive churches. They had two classes of officers, occupying distinct departments of Christian service, one ministering in "spiritual things," and the other in "carnal things." The former were the preachers of the word; the latter were the deacons. This is the scheme of church polity, beautiful for its simplicity, yet comprehending all the machinery necessary to conserve and diffuse the truth, which the apostle recognises as subsisting among the Philippians. "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons." But in addition to being the almoner of the church, the particular purpose for which the deaconate was originally appointed, it follows as a natural consequence, that as the office was intentionally instituted to subserve the ministerial by freeing it from duties foreign to its spiritual aims, yet necessarily connected with them, all those secular services which are auxiliary to the pastorate, and by which the comfort of every separate Christian community may be promoted, fall legitimately within its province. Thus the superintendence of those arrangements which are needed for the assembling together of the church with the support of its ministers; supplying the table of the Lord with the appointed memorials of his body and blood; and taking