12. Need I add to these concessions and admissions, another proposition, to make out the first charge which I bring against such living Christians, (I mean professors of the present day,) as alienate their property to their own lusts, and consume upon their own persons and appetites the wealth that God has given them? Such persons are robbing God, because the property given to them in his providence, that is, by his blessing upon their industry, economy, and frugality, they have not used according to his will, who gave it to them as stewards; and from whom, as such, he will demand a settlement of accounts. In withholding from God his requisitions, whatever they may be; in misappropriating his goods committed to us; in laying them up in a chest, or in depositing them in the earth, or in a bank, for our own personal gratification beyond his generous allowances; and especially in not communicating to the education and salvation of men most liberally of the means committed to our care, we are, in the light of his Bible, justly chargeable with the crime of robbing God, according to the language of the prophet Malachi. The last of the Jewish prophets, in the times of their apostacy, was commanded by God, and in his name, to impeach the nation of this crime, and the specifications in that case were the withholding of those tributes of tenths, and offerings, required in their law. But Christians have received a richer patrimony, a more liberal stewardship, and are called upon for richer offerings, and are, therefore, capable of perpetrating this awful crime on a more extended scale.

My second charge is alleged as an instance and exposition of the consequences of this crime. The half of mankind— and much more than the half-are at this moment gross idolaters, alike ignorant of God who made the world, and the Saviour who redeemed it; without vision, and, consequently, perishing through lack of knowledge.

The fact that this is the proper and unexaggerated condition of the larger half of humanity, will not be denied; and therefore need not be proved. But whether the present condition of this larger half is to be attributed to that robbery of God before complained of, may, by some at least, be called in question. We have rot space at present to debate this question. But I think such an array of concessions can be presented as will, together, if not in detail, obtain from all interested in the discussion, such an admission as will be

equivalent to a full and clear establishment of the case. I cannot, in view of the premises already submitted, and in view of those which may be anticipated, do less than solicit the most serious and thoughtful examination of the whole subject of Christian liberality. I am, from years of observation, and from constant development, most deeply penetrated with the conviction, that Christians are not at all awakened to their responsibility as stewards of the manifold bounties and gifts of God bestowed on them. Nor have they any conception of what a world this might be made, if the professing part of it could only be induced to discharge half their duties on the single item of Christian liberality. If Protestant Christendom were Christian, in the true sense of that word, in one century the gospel would resound from pole to pole, and from the rising of the sun to the place of its going down. Then, indeed, "The wilderness and the solitary place would be glad, and the desert would rejoice and blossom as the rose.' "" Then, indeed, one grand concert of praise, in all the languages of the earth, and from hearts warmed and purified by the love of Christ, would rise from every hill and valley; and one joyful acclamation of glory to God in the highest, and from the whole family of man, sweet and fragrant as the incense of the morning, would continually ascend into the ears of the Lord of Hosts. Which glorious consummation, may the Lord hasten in his own time.

DYING RICH.

AN active business man is a rational man, and a blessing to the community. He keeps in gratifying exercise the talents which God has given him, which, of itself, is a blessing to him. He gives employment to the hands of industry, which is far better than giving alms to the unemployed. These are the legitimate and rational ends of active business pursuits and wealth-getting; the gratification of the active powers and promotion of industry. But the desire of growing rich merely to die rich, is one of the most foolish of ends. Experience has fully and emphatically taught the lesson, that much wealth left to heirs, is eight times out of ten, not a blessing but a curse. Its expectation beguiles and spoils all the manly powers; its possession leads to misjudgment, excess, and finally exhaustion and ruin.

The time will yet come, when men of wealth will be wise enough to make a gradual disposition of their property while living; not prospective, but operative; thereby have an eye to the use which is made of it, and participate in the greatest enjoyment that wealth is capable of giving-that of seeing it do good to others. They will dismiss the foolish aspiration of "dying rich," with the almost certain reflection that their heirs, sooner or later, will die poor.

MILLERISM.-MORMONISM.

FROM the Ohio State Journal of May 30th, 1844, we extract the following:-"The Midnight Cry, the organ of the Millerites has ceased to be published. The editor has become convinced of his folly, and says, 'We confess that our published time is past, and that, as honest men, we cannot point to definite days in the future.'” Millerism, we may therefore conclude, is now at an end.

THE Midnight Cry, a weekly paper, has just commenced in Nottingham. Mr. C. Dealtry, the editor having laid hold of baptism for the remissions of sins, is now proclaiming it in connexion with the return of the Lord in September or October next. Some forty or fifty persons have become alarmed at the prospect, and have requested to be baptized. When fear, instead of faith, is the moving principle of action, what is to be expected when the time has expired, but disappointment and vexation? This fixing of the time for the return of the Lord will ultimately resemble the childish proverb-" If you make your finger bleed, you will be sure to die after it." If the Lord does not come in September, he will be sure to come some time after!

The Millerites of Cincinnati have leased a lot for five years, with the privilege of renewal, and are about to erect a church. The destruction of the world may certainly be regarded as deferred for the present!

SCHISM AMONG THE MORMONS.-The last Warsan Signal states that a rupture has taken place among the Mormons-numbers having seceded, under the guidance of William Law, and set up for themselves; having renounced Joe Smith, whom they now disown as an impostor.

GENERAL JOE SMITH.-This distinguished character, general, and prophet has petitioned Congress (U. S.) for permission to raise and command 100,000 soldiers for the purpose of maintaining the right of America to Oregon and Texas. It is evident that Joe has been reading the life of Mohamed. He should remember "that they that take the sword shall perish with the sword:" a fate we fear he will provoke some day.-Christian Journal, June 1844.

CONTRIBUTIONS for the Evangelists' Fund have been received during the month from Airdrie, Hull, Dundee, Wigan, and Stanley.

T. KIRK, PRINTER, NOTTINGHAM.