shillings. These publications, then, may find a place in almost all the families of the Denominations; and since this is both desirable and practicable, the Writer submits, that no means should be left untried to accomplish it. But, in respect to such means, very little can be done by any central action; if realized at all, it must be by local influences. Individuals may work wonders in this way; but it will not be safe to leave it to individual zeal, even were persons of the proper stamp to be counted by thousands instead of tens. Nothing great, general, and permanent, can spring from efforts of this description. Were the raising of funds for the British and Foreign Bible Society, or the London Missionary Society, or any other public Institution, to be left to the optional efforts of individuals, utter ruin would be the certain and speedy result. Nothing can be done to purpose without organization, systematic endeavour; but in the judicious use of this, it is impossible to say what might not be effected. These Magazines furnish a very encouraging example; their extraordinary circulation, in a very great measure, arose from this wise arrangement. Matters, in respect to this subject, have hitherto been, in a great measure, left to take their own course, and the results but too plainly demonstrate the impolicy of longer continuing such a course. Those principles, which, in everything else bearing any analogy to this subject, with proper system, are worked so effectively, cannot too soon be applied. It strikes the Writer, that in every Congregation there ought to be what might be designated an Officer of Publication, a man of intelligence and observation, zealous for the diffusion of truth, and thoroughly acquainted with the Church and Congregation. It should be the special business of such an Officer to take care, that the Whole People should have in their hands, annually, a list of all the Periodical Publications, Quarterly, Weekly, or Monthly, of the Body, and also a list of the Works on divers subjects, which are on sale. This Officer, in all points, acting in concurrence with the Pastor and the Deacons—and who might, indeed, be one of the Deacons himself; and if so, so much the better—might be surrounded with a Committee of Assistance, among whom the Congregation might be divided, canvassed, and supplied with all the Publications for which they might be subscribers. The Writer is satisfied that in this thought there is the germ of a system, which might be made to work wonders. It might bring the great mass of the mind of the Community under the combined action of its whole Periodical Literature. If there were difficulty in commanding a Committee that would work effectively, then the remedy is obvious ; a person might be appointed, corresponding with the well-known and everywhere most useful character, designated Colporteur, who might keep up a regular periodical intercourse with the entire congregation, and not with them only, but with families on all sides, among whom, in this way, he might work a world of untold good. On these subjects the Writer might enlarge, but he forbears. It is hoped that enough has been said to fix attention, where it may be needful, on the general question of the circulation of the Magazines, to enlist the benevolent services of such as may not have hitherto embarked in the matter, and to call forward afresh all those to whom the Publications have been already laid under great and lasting obligations. The Writer leaves the matter to the intelligent zeal of the faithful, and commends it to the blessing of God. Nov. 25, 1851. EDITOR. CONTENTS. Theology. • 254 . .. . 353 . . • 54 Page Thoughts on Revivals of Religion . Column on Conversion 11, 57, 105, 208, 483 Preparation of Heart for Social Prayer . 51 Requisites to Prevailing Prayer Aversion to the Prayer meeting Scripture Illustrations .. . 55, 364 Conversion of Souls a Ground of Gladness 97 “I wonder what Ails our Minister" . 104 Dependence upon the Spirit of God. The Double Death, and the Two Burials . 193 Thoughts on the Church of Christ . Periodical Beneficence-Try it . . . 252 Obstacles to Church-Going . . . 253 Christianity : Its State and Prospects . 401 Choice Extracts from Drs. Bogue and Bennett's “ History of Dissenters," re- Bent on Morals and Religion 405-111 Nature and Extent of Inspiration : 412 Guilt and Danger of “Little Sins". . 452 Faults in the Manner of Expre hanks The Wisdom of the Domestic Constitution 505 Lessons by the Way ; or, Things to Think On. " Train up a Child,” &c. . External Evidence Internal Evidence Praying and Giving. : 12 The Gospel Adapted to Man . 13 Anecdote of Patrick Henry An Excellent Rule. True Knowled Value of a Religious Service in the Middle The Christian and his Bible . 15 .. . . 64 64 .. 64 . 65 65 .. 317 . . 65 • 365 Descendants of a Distinguished Puritan . 107 Pleasure and Advantages of Labour . 108 Resolutions Formed under Angry Feelings 210 Intemperance in New York . . . 212 The Effects of Masking.-Two Children The Nature of that Faith by which we are Continental Uses of the Confessional . 256 Remove the Extinguisher . . . 256 For a Missionary Collectivg Card . . 317 Rowland Hill on the Effects of Drunkenness 365 Southey's Advice about Drink . Similitudes from the Vegetable World . 506 "O Death, where is thy sting?” A Prayer from Edward Sixth's Primer . 555 Fisherwick.place Church, Belfast . . 66 Northern Congregational School . . 122 Deacons.- The Claims of Men who have Served the Church with more than ordi- nary Zeal and Usefulness . . . 226 Musings of the Old Man in the Corner . 227 Congregational Union of England and Baptist Missionary Society . . 292, 293 Voluntary School Association. . Institution for the Education of the Christian Instruction Society . United Presbyterian Synod of Scotland . 380 Things Pertaining to the Kingdom of God 456 Princess-street Chapel, Devonport . . 514 Christian Contribution for Purposes of 293 293 . 74 Appeal of the Directors on behalf of the Necessitous Widows and Orphans of Building Societies 26 Duty of Dissenters at the Present Crisis , 30 Hints on Congregational Singing . . 31 Blackpool Chapel . . . . 33, 176 The Claims of the Gospel Ministry . . 69 Church Meetings : Their Neglect and their Origin and Founders of the Home Mis- 77 . 79 . 131 . 170 Moral Reform. 173 Plague . . . . . . . 178 Bridge's Records . . . . . 180 220 What a Church may Achieve by United Refusal to Bury .224 225 225 The Puritan Pilgrims and their Pastor History of the Ancient Congregational Church assembling in St. Thomas's .826 . 329 330 330 A Word on Behalf of the Colonia New South Wales . . 333 335 172, 218 668 Decrease of Public-houses in Edinburgh . 387 Theological Institutions and Colleges 387 Houses for Worship in Philadelphia . . 388 How the English Bishops do Things Public Education of Great Britain . . 390 Abstract of the Irish Census . "Constitutive Peculiarities of the Preacher” 430 Congregationalism on the Continent 433 On the Work of the Holy Spirit in con- Church Ruleg . .482 . 535 536 Temperance 570 Boys' Mission School 574 . 575 . 577 . 588 589 Monthly Review 38, 85, 143, 188, 231, 845, 543, 590 873 . . 434 . 437 Lectures on the Principles and Institutions of the Roman Catholic Religion Christianity in Harmony with Man's Nature, Missionary Addresses delivered before the General Assembly of the Church of Scot- Biblical Commentary on St. Paul's First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians . 181 Christianity and its Evidences. . Dealings with the Inquisition . . The Tenderness of Jesus Illustrated. . 230 The Christian Visitor's Hand- Book , 231 A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles 340 Manual of the Anatomy and Physiology of The Temperature of the Seasons . . The Canons and Decrees of the Council of An Introduction to the New Testament . 486 Home Truths for Home Peace . . . 488 An Essay on Church Reform . . . 489 Memoir of the Rev. E. Bickersteth Small Pamphlets Received and Approved . 493 Popery Calmly, Closely, and Comprehen- Watts': Psalms and Hymns Re-arranged, An Earnest Plea for a Reign of Tem- Memorials of J. Mackness, Esq., M.D. . 538 A Practical Introduction to English Com. The Various Forms of Religion . . . 510 Letters written during a four in Holland Eastern Manners Illustrative of the New On the Ordinance of Baptism . . . 541 The Sacraments: An Inquiry into the Nature of the Symbolic Institutions of the Christian Religion, usually called the The Young Man's Friend and Guide through Life to Immortality . . .682 Man: his Religion and his World . . 585. Short Notices 35, 83, 137, 182, 296, 841, 398, 440, 490, 542, 586 542 |