pose its pages. Very singular, too, the subjects contained therein seem providentially to arrive in accord with circumstances. May they have their desired effect on all our hearts, in enabling us to appreciate more the truth of see not each other's face in this world, we may behold each other near the throne of his glory. Remaining your's in the bonds of peace, THOS. S. LYLE. God's Word, that we may grow more in the LETTER FROM A NEW CONVERT TO favor and knowledge of our Lord and Master. We have been favored during the past week with a visit by one whose name is a praise in all the churches-I mean our beloved brother, Thomas Magarey, from Adelaide. Having arrived on business, his stay with us is unavoidably short, which does not fail to produce those counter feelings of pleasure and disappointment, but hope it is to our profit withal. He has not hesitated to give us counsel founded on his own experience, to beware of matters that are likely to create divisions among us. Now the ice is broken, I believe he intends coming to Melbourne twice in the year. the colony is mainly dependent on its sisters for the supply of the staff of life, there is a great and growing interest existing between them, and therefore hope he will have occasion to visit us oftener. As As our Brother Warren is writing you, and will no doubt give you some particulars of our standing as a church, I need not touch on that matter;* but I am happy to say that the teaching of our dear Brother W. has been highly appreciated, and done much good. He has also made some little stir among the Baptists at Prahran, having spoken before them occasionally, in order, if possible, to obtain the use of their chapel on a Lord's day evening, when it is closed, to proclaim the gospel. After speaking a few times, it was agreed that he should deliver a course of lectures, but on submitting the list of subjects for delivery, they took exception to one, and wished him to de liver the others. Brother W. could not con sent to an abridgment, as it was a very important link in the chain, and consequently the matter has dropped. Tell it not in Gath, that a body of Christians, and professedly Baptists, too, refused to have a lecture delivered in their place of worship, on the subject, What is faith, and how obtained? But it is to be hoped that the vail which has been occasionally drawn a little aside, will have enabled them to perceive objects, although indistinctly, moving about with some degree of freedom, instead of being nailed with an iron necessity in time and eternity. May it be our happiness to endorse the declaration of Peter, in opening the kingdom to the Gentiles, "I perceive of a truth that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him." In conclusion, I would exhort you and myself to keep near a throne of grace, that if we Brother W. requests that this letter should not be published. Dear C. that HIS BROTHER. I am very anxious to hear how you get on in your new situation. I suppose you will have heard what I have done since leaving home; if you have not, I shall be done what I consider every one should do, and happy to inform you on my return. I have must do, if they wish to become the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel pretty sure Christian's life; but your mind has been unyou wish to be a Christian, and to lead a be Christians, and who profess to be desirous settled and confused by those who profess to of making others Christians; but as they know pected to teach others. Dear brother, if you not the way themselves, they could not be exwish to be happy, for time and eternity, divest your mind of all those errors that you have been taught to regard as truth, by those who appeared to be anxious for your conversion, and "receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save your soul." Read, and endeavour to see what Christians really study, and meditate upon the Word of the Lord, their sinful state, and having heard of a Saare; whether they are not persons who, seeing viour able and willing to save all who come unto him, have believed that they may come, if they repent of their sins, and are baptized for the forgiveness of them. Having fled for refuge to the hope set before them in the gosJesus," and have joy and peace in believing. pel, they become new creatures in Christ They no longer hesitate as to whether they are they have entered by the straight and narrow in the right road or not, but being sure that gate, go on their way rejoicing. They "look not at the things which are behind, but press toward the prize of their high calling in Christ Jesus." the knowledge of Christ and of his gospel to be Our Heavenly Father never designed a source of doubt and perplexity, but a confiable and willing to perform. Rest assured, dent assurance that what He promised He is dear brother, that I shall be most happy, on my return, to contribute in any way to your present and eternal happiness. I will then has done for me, and what I am sure He will make known to you more fully what the Lord do for you, if you place yourself under the will see the importance of taking heed to the teaching of his Word and Spirit. Hoping you I remain, your affectionate brother in the flesh, things which belong to your everlasting peace, and trust hereafter to be in the faith and hope of the gospel, H. H. WHITEHAVEN. ITEMS OF News. Being detained at Wigan for a short time on my route to Huddersfield, I hasten to give you some particulars of my visit and labors at Whitehaven and vicinity. Having received an invitation from the church there, I made arrangements and left home on the 9th ult. arriving the same night, and at once announced two open air meetings for Lord's day. Accordingly, on the 10th, after the morning meeting of the brethren, we held a meeting on the Bulwark, and obtained a favorable hearing: and again, after the church meeting in the afternoon, we held a meeting in the Marketplace to an attentive company: at each place the attendance was cheering. From the state of the weather, these meetings were not well attended, so we sought and obtained the Temperance Hall, free of charge, where we gave four lectures on "Christianity, its rise and progress during the first century." The audiences were not large, but the attention was all that could be desired. While we dilated on the facts, ordinances, promises, and blessings of the religion of Jesus, distinct from the systems of the present time, as of old, some approved, while others spake evil of that way. We continued to hold two open air meetings every Lord's day, the attendance increasing each succeeding opportunity, and at the last meeting in the Market-place we had upwards of two hundred attentive hearers, who, notwithstanding darkness was coming on, showed no disposition to disperse. Some hundreds of hand bills (Apostolic Preaching), with other tracts, were given away, the people receiving them eagerly. Our brethren here meet in a room connected with Brother Brown's dye-works, and being small and inconvenient we could not invite the people to come with us for inquiry and conversation. We felt this as a disadvantage. We have no immersions to report, yet we have sown the seed in hope, confident that if the effort is followed up by the brethren, fruit will be gathered in. The church here numbers 14, and has only been in existence a few months. There are some excellent materials in it for the service and work of the Lord, which, I trust, will be brought into operation. There are several small communities in this district, of Baptist origin, Scotch or otherwise, which, in company with Brother Brown, we visited, and conversed with a few leading brethren among them; the societies are in a low condition. We were received with Christian courtesy by most, and requested to visit them, and labor a short time, which would have been productive of good, could I have done so. I left Whitehaven on the 8th inst. and in company with Brother Brown came on to 'Kirby-Ireleth," where there is a church of 20 members, with an aged brother as their president. Here we held five meetings in all, the attendance being most cheering. I presented to them Jesus and the resurrection, but here, too, there were those who objected, because we went out of the beaten track, and did not sermonize. Still, it is fully expected a few will speedily decide. This we can safely say, inquiry has been excited, and an earnest desire to know the truth in order to do it, predominates with the people of these parts; and if an evangelist could be sustained for six or twelve months, great good would result. May the Lord of the harvest send forth many laborers, faithful, selfdenying, willing to spend and be spent in their Master's service, looking for wages unto eternal life when the Lord comes. GLASGOW. F. HILL. Lord's day, Sept. 24, a young man who is a student in Bro. Beattie's morning Bible class, was immersed in the name of Jesus, and united afterwards to the church of Christ meeting in the hall of the Mechanics' Institute. OBITUARY. WILLIAM NASH AYRES. Since I wrote you last, we have been called upon to sustain a loss in the death of our elder and presiding brother, William Nash Ayres, who fell asleep in Jesus, Sept. 2nd, 1854, aged 65 years. His end was peace. London. He had been a member of the church in Camden Town, but something occurred that caused him to leave there, and he then joined the Scotch Baptist church, William-street, Islington; but when they became Plymouth brethren, true to his principles, he left them, and was one of those who formed the church in the Berean Hall. He was chosen by the church to preside at their meetings, which office he held until his death. He was well known to the brethren about I visited him almost daily for the last two or three weeks of his mortal existence. On the night previous to his death I said," What would you be without this hope now?" He replied, "Miserable, miserable! but glory be to God, victory, victory through the blood of the Lamb!" When I left him I was forcibly reminded of the words of the Poet: ""Tis religion that can give Sweetest pleasure while we live ; 'Tis religion must supply Solid comfort when we die." He was heard during the night to say repeatedly," Complete in Him." At his own request, the brethren of the church and some other brethren, carried him to his last resting place. He was indeed a good man, and feared God above many. JOHN CORRIE. FAMILY CIRCLE. DO YOU NEED A FRIEND? Ir was a beautiful day in August-the sun was shining gloriously overhead-the fields were proudly waving their golden crops, or else were bestudded with shocks of newly-reaped corn. The heat was intense; and the road along which lay my journey extended on and on for many long miles before it reached my destination. What was it that had induced me to undertake so long a walk on such a hot day? It was FRIENDSHIP! I had "old friends" in and its vicinity; and my regard for them prompted me cheerfully to pursue my way--spite of heat, dust, and distance. Thought I, as I walked along, “ How powerful is friendship! When of a virtuous and intimate character, it will do almost anything-level mountains, exalt valleys, shorten distance, inspire courage, neutralise fatigue!" These thoughts led me to reflect on the pleasing fact, that Christianity lays hold of this exquisite susceptibility of the human heart, and turns it to the best and most benevolent account. The Gospel avails itself of the charms and claims of friendship, by revealing a singularly valuable FRIEND. It gives us the pleasing information that "One there is above all others, who well deserves the name of FRIEND." Courteous Reader! Can you spare a few moments to read a short but earnest commendation of this Friend? د" "WHO IS HE?" you inquire. I will tell you. His name is JESUS, (i. e. Deliverer)" for He saves His people (His friends) from their sins." He bears other names, all of which are apt and significant. He is the Messiah, or Anointed; Immanuel—“ God with us.' Strange to say, He is both human and divine-" as human as his mother, as divine as his Father." Must He not then be such a friend as is rarely to be met with? Such, in fact, we find him to be. He combines in himself the choice qualifications of ability to sympathise with human infirmity on the one hand; and on the other, All authority in heaven and in earth." He can meet his friends and commune with them, in all their lowly circumstances of poverty and affliction: but he can also raise them to all the happiness, dignity, and glory of His own throne and kingdom. His character, too, is most lovely. His principles are righteous - His affections are pure - His morals uncontaminated-His aims disinterested-and His history without a stain. And such a history! Unparalleled! In youth He far outstripped his years, resorting to the company of learned teachers of the Jewish Scriptures. In mature manhood He was most self-denying and devoted to the well-being of those around him. "He went about doing good." For this He was maliciously persecuted, but He heeded not persecution. He persevered in his compassionate course until He became a martyr to the cause of humanity and piety. He was violently put to death-as much against law as goodness. He fell; but not merely as a martyr, for " He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and was buried; and rose again, according to the Scriptures." Soon after He ascended to Heaven, to the right hand of the Father, where He now lives and reigns. Oh, what goodness, patience, wisdom, and zeal, are conspicuous in this singular history! Surely such a Friend is worthy of the name! "BUT HOW MAY I GET ACQUAINTED WITH HIM ?" you ask. I reply: You may consult the original memoirs from which the foregoing particulars have been gleaned. The New Testament, especially the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, will give you every needful information respecting this wonderful Philanthropist. You need not doubt whether enough can there be obtained to engage your affections to him. He lives, and moves, and breathes on the consecrated page. So vividly is He there drawn to the life, that the loss of his personal presence is sufficiently made up for all practical purposes. Have not distinguished foreigners sometimes been so efficiently represented to us, or our countrymen, by their own writings, or those of others respecting them, that we have known, and admired, and even loved them, without having once seen their face? And if, after such an acquaintance has continued some years, they have visited our land, have we not anxiously desired to meet with them, as with old and tried friends? Striking instances of this nature might be adduced. Just so may we become possessed of a deeply-seated admiration and love for Jesus, the Redeemer of men, through the testimonies of the Evangelists, and through the Saviour's words and actions which we hear and see in them. BUT HOW MAY I SECURE AND RETAIN HIS FRIENDSHIP? Your first step is to take the course just pointed out. You must study His birth, life, death, and resurrection-His spirit, character, and purposes-His love, wisdom, and power, as portrayed in the gospel narratives. Having thus satisfied yourself of the dignity of his person, the validity of his claims, the tenderness and strength of his love, and the all-sufficiency of his sacrifice-Does your heart now relent, and are you willing, for such a friend, to give up all your sinful works and ways, at once and for ever? Without this there can be no fellowship between you and the holy Jesus. But by it a broad and firm foundation is laid for an everlasting intimacy. Have you advanced thus far? Yet another thing is necessary before you can scripturally be regarded as within the hallowed and privileged circle of Christ's chosen acquaintances. Jesus was immersed into His kingdomHe commands you to follow him. O, seek fellowship with him in his death, by "being buried with him in baptism !" So will you enjoy the blood-bought blessing of remission of sins, and receive the sanctifying Spirit of God. So, in a word, will your friendship with Jesus be consummated. You will be fully committed to Him in all holy obedience and plighted affection. He will be fully committed to you—to protect you below, to intercede for you above, and ultimately to place you on his throne. Only be faithful! If you commence such a friendship just to betray your Lord-to" wound him in the house of his friends," your "last end will be worse than the first." Obey Him in all things. Confess Him in all places. Maintain your devotion to Him all your life; then, and not else, will He confess, welcome, and crown you before his Father and before his angels. J. B. ROTHERHAM. FEMALE INFLUENCE IN RELIGION. The support and progress of religion depends very much on the female part of the community. Their influence in forming the mind and character is immense. The heavier transactions of society fall mostly upon the men; but women, in a more retired sphere, may exert an influence no less than the men in all religious matters. Their tender and feminine minds are more easily impressed with gospel truths, while their relations in life render them more susceptible of religious impressions, and more anxious to enjoy religious comforts. Their conditions in life are attended with fewer diversions from the duties of religion. It is but seldom, in this Christian country, that we see among females an infidel, a drunkard, or a contemner of divine things. There are more females truly pious than males, and a smaller number who depart from the faith and become cast-away. Hence seldom do females become subjects of discipline, as the history of the church proves. The religious education of children depends chiefly upon the mother, especially in its earlier stages, while receiving those impressions that will influence them through life. The mother can best adapt herself to their capacities. She, with the most tender care, rears and watches the tender plant. A curse awaits that child that despises to obey its mother. THE SABBATH A FRIEND. 1. To Education. Compare the countries with and without the Sabbath. Its ministrations powerfully quicken and invigorate the human intellect, while a vast amount of knowledge is accumulated. 2. To Government. Where are honored Sabbaths and despotism co-existent ? It shows the nature of human rights-adapts laws to the actual wants and circumstances of men-creates a conscience that sustains laws, and qualifies men to make, as well as to obey them. 3. To Health. By promoting cleanliness, by furnishing needful rest for the body and mind, by promoting cheerfulness and elasticity of spirits through its power to produce a peaceful conscience, and by its sublime influence over the hateful passions of men. 4. To Good Morals. By keeping in sight the character of God, by unfolding the claims of his holy law, by creating a distaste for unlawful pleasures, by creating a public sentiment that frowns on immorality, and through that suffering, causing wise and effectual laws for the suppression of vice and crime. 5. To Piety. By causing a right view of God to prevail, by constantly pouring on men's minds those great elements of piety, the divine truths of Revelation, by thus generating all right af. fections toward God and man, by shadowing forth and pointing men to the Sabbath of heaven. Therefore the Sabbath is the friend of the nation, the family, everybody's friend, and never fails to repay true and devoted friendship for it, with the most precious blessings for time and eternity.-Boston Traveller. WHAT IS NECESSARY? There are many things that are not necessary. It is not necessary that we should be rich or great in this world; or that we should be gay and gaudy in our dress; or that we should enjoy sensual pleasures. It will not be a pin to choose, 'ere long, what part we have acted here, when the sceptre and the spade shall have one common grave, and royal dust shall be blended with the beggar's ashes. But it is necessary that we should be born again-it is necessary that we should submit to the yoke of Christ, and own his commands, and live to the Lord-there is nothing necessary but this. DECEMBER, 1854. ANCIENT AND MODERN TRANSLATIONS OF THE SCRIPTURES. AN ADDRESS, DELIVERED AT A BIBLE REVISION MEETING, BY DR. SHEPARD. WE have assembled on a great occasion, and for a great purpose. If the ancient Pagans, when assembled on such occasions, were wont to seek the aid of their lifeless and powerful deities, with what propriety may a body of intelligent Christians, like that here convoked, raise their eyes to the Living and Almighty Being, whose word, from nonentity, gave existence and form to the vast universe, and whose wisdom and power attuned the spheres to heavenly music! And if Pagans hoped to be heard because they believed that they had convened to further the wishes of their gods, may we not look for the aid of the Eternal, when assembled for the purpose of giving publicity to the chronicles of his philanthropy, uttered in ancient times in sundry parts and diverse manners to the fathers of the Jewish people, in sacred Hebrew, but in the days which were last in the Apostolic age, were passed to record by Evangelists and Apostles in the current Greek of Western Asia, the Macedonian dialect? As this is the great object for which we have come together, we may reasonably expect the aid of Him whose word we love, in our resolution to give to the world, in all its languages, the means of a faithful translation. - Owing to the present importance and rapid spread of our vernacular, we begin principally with the English language. We have resolved that the Revelation of God-that bow of hope, which spans all time that ample arch of love, one foot of which stands on the past, and the other on the eternity to come - shall be fully and faithfully exhibited to all English readers. What language the Infinite employed when He commanded nonentity to bring forth, and a world was born — when the infant world slept in the darkness of ancient night, and naught was heard by seraphs' ears but the breath of the Eternal, as it passed over the slumbering mass, separated land from water, and invested both with seeds of all inferior things - what speech He used, when by the power of his almighty fiat, He caused eternal darkness itself to scintillate until blending sparks, of virgin light, produced the early twilight of the first-born day or what were the signs of thought by which He vocalized the grand purpose of man's creation to his coöperatives—we know not. But of one thing we are satisfied, namely, that God spoke to Moses and the Prophets in the Hebrew tongue. Whether this language, or some other, was that in which the Elohim spoke to the father of our species, we cannot say; but this is the only language in which an authentic account of the creation and early history of our race is found. It is the sacred depositary of all the knowledge of God for four thousand years. It contains all the prophecies relative to the future, until a casket for a brighter gem was found in the Macedonian, Hebraic, or Helenestic Greek of the times of the Cæsars. These two languages contain all the elements of acceptable wor ship, and all the materials of future hope. When we speak of a faithful translation of these Holy Scriptures into the English language as a thing yet to be done, and as the object of this Association, we are asked if we have not such a work already in the Common Version? To which we respond, We have not. In a late address we demonstrated, that the Common Version of the English Scriptures was procured by a tyrant, a bigot, |