his knees, read the 9th chapter of the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians. I do not ask him merely to read it: I entreat him to pray over it. And I am much mistaken if he will not leave his closet with views upon this important subject, widely differing from those with which he entered it. A LAYMAN. MRS. DIX'S LEGACIES TO MINISTERS. The treasurer of the "Minister's Friend, or Associate Fund," having received several applications in reference to the above legacies; to prevent farther useless trouble, it has been deemed proper to inform the public, that the whole amount left by the late Mrs. Dix, for the benefit of ministers, has been distributed by her executors. The committee of the above Society avail themselves of this opportunity to express their thanks to those ministerial friends who have transmitted the following collections, since the commencement of the present year: £ s. d. The committee cannot but indulge the hope that these examples may induce other ministers, in various parts of the country, to inquire whether they cannot, by some means, aid the objects of this important institution. The affecting trials and difficulties of faithful and laborious ministers of the Gospel, call loudly for the liberal aid of the Christian Church. The committee are reluctant to refer to individual cases of ministerial privation and distress. These, however, may be easily imagined, when it is stated, that applications are received from many ministers, with large families, whose income does not amount to more than forty, fifty, or sixty pounds per annum. All communications to be addressed to the Rev. C. Gilbert, corresponding secretary, Upper-terrace, Islington. Rev. T. LEWIS, Gratuitous AN APPEAL Secretaries. On behalf of the Christian Instruction Society, for the Improvement of the Morals of London. The religious destitution of London is not the discovery of yesterday. Impressed with the awful and threatening fact, several ministers and gentlemen, in 1825, formed an institution, which they denominated, "The Christian Instruction Society," and proposed a plan of operation, for conveying to the abodes of the poor and neglected myriads of London's population, the message of Divine mercy. Amongst their methods of usefulness, they gave due prominence to the preaching of the Gospel, and the establishment of social meetings, for the purposes of reading the Scriptures and prayer. They have sought also to promote a better observance of the Lord's day, by the establishment of Sunday-schools, and the circulation of religious tracts and books through the generous agency of private Christians, who systematically visit the poor at their own abodes. The experience of more than twelve years has proved, that these plans are adapted for usefulness, and that the blessing of God has rested upon them. For several years the labours of this society were principally sustained by the gratuitous exertions of the ministers and voluntary agents connected with it; but a provision was made, in its original regulations, for the employment of stipendiary agents, should its funds prove adequate thereto. Several of the local associations, connected with this society, having stated to the committee, that the regular services of such agents would greatly assist the efforts of the gratuitous visitors, and promote the general objects of the society, they engaged to supply one half of the salary of a missionary agent, the associations engaging to provide the other moiety. Beside, therefore, two thousand gratuitous visitors, who are statedly employed in circulating religious tracts, on loan, amongst the dwellings of the poor, and the occasional and voluntary services of not less than one hundred ministers in connexion with the society, there are now fifteen missionary agents regularly employed in prosecuting the benevolent objects of this institution. By this combined agency fifty thousand families are regularly visited. One hundred and twenty stations are opened for preaching the Gospel or social prayer, in the districts that are under visitation, at which, during the past twelve months, nearly ten thousand religious services have been held. Within the same period, the visitors have obtained the circulation of seven hundred and twenty-eight copies of the Holy Scriptures, induced two thousand eight hundred and twenty-three children to attend schools of religious instruction, and have provided suitable relief for two thousand two hundred and twenty-four cases of sickness and distress. The society possesses spacious tents, which are erected on the Lord's-day, and at other convenient seasons, in the public fields, for the preaching of the Gospel; and, during the past summer, large and very attentive congregations listened to the services of many Christian ministers, both beneath the tents and in the open air. Throughout the winter, several courses of lectures to young men, mechanics, and others, have been delivered on the evidences of Christianity, Scripture history, and social duties; which services have been attended by numerous and interesting congregations. The continuance of these extensive plans of usefulness is, however, endangered by the inadequate support it has hitherto received, and the committee therefore earnestly appeal to the Christian public for those liberal contributions by which they hope to sustain and extend these benevolent operations. Subscriptions and donations will be thankfully received by Thomas Challis, Esq., the Treasurer, 34, Finsbury-square; the Secretaries, Rev. John Blackburn, 11, Lloyd-street, Pentonville, and Mr. John Pitman, 6, Colebrook-row, Islington; and Messrs. Hankey, 7, Fenchurch-street; or at the Depository of the Society, No. 60, Paternoster-row. NEW WILLS ACT. MR. EDITOR,-Fearful that the benevolent intentions of many of your readers to aid the cause of Missions by legacies, may, by inattention to the new law of wills, be defeated, I beg, through your Magazine, to attract their notice to the following particulars: That, in future, a codicil, containing a bequest, must be signed at the foot or end of it by the testator, or by some other person in his presence, and by his direction. The signature must be made or acknowledged by the testator, in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time. The codicil need not be sealed. The following form of attestation will suffice :"Signed by the said the testator, in the presence of us, present at the same time, who in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses." If, after the execution of the codicil, any alteration be made in it, by obliteration, interlineation, or otherwise, care must be taken that such alteration be made and executed, in like manner as the codicil itself; and it will be desirable, also, that the names of the testator and witnesses be written on the margin of the codicil, opposite every such obliteration, interlineation, or other alteration. The codicil will be revoked if the testator (whether male or female) marry, after executing it, and whether the testator so intends it or not; and, if the testator wishes to revive it, he can only do so by re-executing it, in the same manner as it was originally executed, or by means of another codicil similarly executed, showing an intention to revive. The whole of the above ceremonies will be required, whether the codicil contains the most trifling gift, or whether it disposes of property of the first magnitude. I remain, Yours faithfully, Great Marlborough-street, March 1, 1838. WIDOWS' FUND, ESTABLISHED 1733. The Hundred and Fifth Anniversary Meeting of the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, will be held on Thursday evening, the 5th of April next, when a sermon will be preached by the Rev. John Howard Hinton, A.M., at the Meeting-house, Devonshire-square, Bishopsgate-street. Service to begin at seven o'clock precisely. This benevolent society relieves annually upwards of two hundred widows. PROVINCIAL. BLACKBURN INDEPENDENT ACADEMY. FROM the report of this excellent institution, just published, we learn, that since the last annual meeting, seven of the students have entered upon spheres of usefulness, amidst flattering prospects of success. "The committee trust it will be the devout wish and prayer of the friends of the Saviour's cause, that these dear young brethren may receive the countenance and richest blessing of the Lord of the vineyard; may be divinely strengthened for their early experiment of the difficulties of their high employment; and may pursue a course of holy and honourable service, untarnished, uninterrupted, to their latest hour of life!" At the Midsummer meeting three students were admitted on the foundation, and two candidates were received on probation, and have since been fully introduced to the benefits of the institution. At Christmas two more young men have entered on probation, and ten students are now in the college. The time of those in the house during the past year, has been occupied with the study of the languages, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac; with Natural Philosophy and Mathematics, Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, Moral Philosophy, Biblical Criticism, the Evidences of Christianity, Pastoral and Ministerial Duties, and Systematic Theology. In consideration of the comparative shortness of the term of study, and other circumstances, the frequency of engagements in preaching has been considerably restricted during the last half year. The usual examination took place at Midsummer, and the following is the report of the examiners. From the various courses of study in which the students had been engaged during the year, the following portions were selected for the examination :-"In Latin-The 4th and 5th books of Cæsar's Commentaries, the Agricola of Tacitus, and Horace's Art of Poetry. Greek-Valpy's Delectus, extracts from Herodotus, and the first five chapters of Exodus in the Septuagint. Syriac-1 Timothy, 1st chapter. Hebrew-Isaiah, 52nd and 53rd chapters. Chaldee-Daniel, 2d chapter. Mathematics-The first four books of Euclid, Plane and Spherical Trigonometry, and the application of these to the calculation of eclipses. Theology-The Evidences of Christianity and the nature of Saving Faith, together with Essays on the following subjects:The perversion of the original principles of human nature by depravity;' Mr. Wolstenholme-'Is Divine truth the means or instrument in regeneration?' Morris-The doctrine of Divine influence in regeneration is not inconsistent with treating men as necessarily active in that change;' Mr. Baker. Mr. "The committee feel highly gratified at the evidence of diligent attention and zeal afforded by each of the classes in every department of their studies; and only regret, that, in some portion of the examination, sufficient time could not be allowed some of the students to do justice to the attainments they had made. To Mr. Rice, one of the seniors, it is due to record the large and accurate mathematical skill he displayed in exhibiting the calculations he had made of the solar eclipse which is to take place in the year 1858, and in demonstrating some of the formulæ involved in them. Throughout the whole examination peculiar pleasure was felt at witnessing the extensive acquirements of the students; whilst renewed thankfulness was excited by the repeated evidences afforded of the eminent ability and devoted zeal with which this institution is conducted. "(Signed) On behalf of the Committee, "JAMES GWYTHER, Chairman.” NEW CHAPEL OPENED. A new and handsome chapel, of the Congregational denomination, was opened for Divine worship, on the 27th of September, 1837, in Stroud, Gloucestershire. For a considerable time previously, the deacons of the church at the Old Meeting had found themselves in the painful yet pleasing predicament of being unable to accommodate many persons who were desirous of hearing the Gospel in that place. After much consideration, the minister and other friends came to the resolution, that as the old chapel had already been enlarged as much as it could be conveniently, the method most likely to conduce to the promotion of the general good was, to build an entirely new place in another part of the town. The cost has been 27007., of which 23007. has been already either paid or promised; and of this sum about 20007. has been raised by the congregation themselves, including several handsome contributions of persons who continue to worship in the old place. Just before the opening, the church separated itself, in the most peaceful manner, into two divisions. Mr. Burder, with one of those divisions, then withdrew to the New Chapel. Mr. Leifchild, Mr. Newman, of Shortwood, Mr. James Parsons, Mr. Binney, Mr. A. Pope, and Mr. E. Martin, preached on the day of opening, and on the following Sabbath. ORDINATIONS. On Thursday, Oct. the 12th, 1837, the Rev. F. Perkins, late of Cheshunt College, Herts, was ordained to the pastoral office over the church and congregation assembling for Divine worship in the Independent Chapel, Potworth, Sussex; the Rev. Lewis Winchester, of Worthing, delivered a very appropriate discourse, on Wednesday evening, from Rev. xxii. 2, by way of introduction to the solemnities of the day following; when the Rev. John Phillips, of Medhurst, commenced the service by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. J. Benson, M. A., of Chichester, described in a clear and effective manner the nature and design of Gospel churches; the Rev. O. T. Dobbin, A.B., of Arundel, asked the usual questions, and received the confession of faith; the Rev. L. Winchester, of Worthing, offered the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands; the Rev. J. Denton, of Winslow, Bucks, delivered an affectionate and solemn charge from 2 Cor. vi. 4; "In all things approving ourselves the ministers of God;" the Rev. J. Edwards, of Brighton, concluded with prayer. In the evening, the Rev. J. Denton commenced with reading the Scriptures and prayer; and the Rev. J. Edwards delivered a suitable and affectionate sermon from Phil. i. 27, to the people over which church he was ordained several years ago. RECOGNITION. The Rev. John J. Braine, late of Pembroke Dock, having accepted an invitation from the Independent church worshipping at the Tabernacle, Tenby, Pembrokeshire, commenced his labours there on the 12th of November, 1837. On the 25th of December, a public recognition of Mr. Braine, as the pastor of the church, took place, when the Rev. Thomas Harries, of Pembroke, delivered the introductory discourse, founded on Phil. i. 1, 2, in which he described, in a clear and scriptural manner, the nature of a Christian church. The Rev. H. Davies, of Narboth, preached from Rom. xii. 1, &c. ; the Rev. T. Jones, of Rose Market, asked the questions; and Mr. W. Jones, one of the deacons, stated the leadings of Providence which induced the church to invite Mr. Braine to become their pastor; the Rev. J. J. Braine then stated his reasons for accepting the invitation, and gave a brief outline of the course he intended to pursue in the discharge of his ministerial duties; the Rev. B. Evans, of St. Florence, (the late pastor,) offered the recognition prayer. In the afternoon a service was held, when the ministers discussed the request of the Apostle, 2 Thess. iii. 1. In the evening, the Rev. B. Evans delivered a charge to the minister and church, from 1 Tim. v. 17; and the Rev. T. Jones preached to the congregation from Heb. xii. 1. The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Thomas, Williams, Morris, and James. The congregations on this interesting occasion were unusually large, and it was evident that the feeling of gratification pervaded the minds of all present. May the union thus auspiciously formed remain happy, prosperous, and unbroken. HANTS ASSOCIATION. The Half-yearly Meeting is to be held at Odiham, on Thursday, the 26th instant. The Rev. J. Blackburn, of Botley, is to preach - On the Nature, the Manifestation, the Evils, and the Cure of Selfishness-the subject to be viewed in connexion with our obligation to Jesus Christ, founded on the expression of the apostle, "All seek their own," &c. The Hants Sunday School Union will hold their Meeting on the same day, at an early hour in the morning. POETRY. LINES SUGGESTED ON SEEING THE PORTRAIT OF JAMES MONTGOMERY, ESQ. I HAIL thee! bard of freedom and of truth! I hail thy pictur'd semblance; for to me Bright visions of delight thy minstrelsy Hath brought; fair legends of the world's green youth, Ere yet deluvian waters marr'd its grace; And deep communings o'er the unfathom'd sea, And liberty to Afric's injur'd race. And still to holier chords my heart has thrill'd, Or "Night," and "Prayer," have ev'ry passion still'd. To raise our grovelling thoughts from earth to heaven! F. S. N. P. General Chronicle. THE LATTER-DAY GLORY. "They shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days." THIS is a subject in which pious people feel a good deal of interest and pleasure; but not so much, by far, as its always increasing importance demands. It involves heavy responsibilities, on our part, to bring about the wished-for period, and those responsibilities must increase as the time approaches. It affords great encouragement to the most persevering and energetic efforts; since the word of God so frequently and so plainly refers to the period and to the universal and complete triumph of the Redeemer over the world and sin. It enters, most intimately, into the noblest and strongest exercises of our faith; it fills and fires our most impassioned devotions; it gives full scope to the best and holiest feelings of our renovated nature; it calls forth our most self-denying labours and most liberal contributions, that the kingdom of God may come, and that his will may be done on earth, as it is in heaven. In introducing this deeply interesting subject to the numerous readers of the Evangelical Magazine, a few remarks may be needful, of an explanatory character, as to what will constitute and characterise the latter-day glory; and wherein the glory of that period will differ from, and surpass, the glory of any other period in the history of the Church on earth. It is a delightful thought, gathered alike from the history of the past and from the knowledge of the future, that though the Church has been, and still may be, subject to many and painful reverses, at different periods of its history, and in the different sections of the globe, in which a visible Church has at any time existed, or may yet be established, there has been, and must be, a gradual improvement of the Church of Christ in numbers, knowledge, and in piety, from its earliest infancy to its full maturity, when it shall appear "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners." Consequently, the latter-day glory of the Church will be greater than all its previous glory; that will be the greatest glory to which, in its militant state, it will be enabled to rise. There are two things to which the attention of the reader is directed:-The first is, What shall distinguish the latter-day glory; and the second is, When that day shall, probably, appear. Amongst the blessings that will distinguish that period, we may mention 1. Divine knowledge. Though nothing like the perfection of knowledge may be attained, or expected, in the present world, at any period, or by any person, yet there are several distinctive features of the knowledge of Divine things connected with the latter-day glory; as that (1.) It will be universal. "They shall all know the Lord, from the least of them even unto the greatest of them." Whether this be saving knowledge, such as saints enjoy, or general knowledge, such as a sinner may possess of God, it will evidently be a delightful contrast to the darkness that now covers the earth, and the gross darkness that still hangs upon the minds of the people. The knowledge of that period will have another delightful feature; (2.) It will be profound. "The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea." The expanse of waters in the ocean is very great; "so is this great and wide sea;" so will the diffusion of Divine knowledge be. The sea is very deep; in many parts of it it is entirely unfathomable; such will be the knowledge of the latter-day glory. We do but skim over the surface of Divine truths and sacred knowledge, into the hidden mysteries and abysses of which those will be enabled to fathom whose minds shall be illumined by the light and glory of the latter days. Divine knowledge is now shut up in springs and fountains, or limited to rivulets and paltry streams. Then the fountains of the great deep will be broken up, and the windows of heaven will be opened, and the full tide of knowledge shall burst all its ancient boundaries, and swell into an ocean, broad and deep, covering the earth as the waters cover the sea. The latter-day glory will be distinguished by 2. Divine grace. Far more remarkable and more general and copious communications of it will be bestowed on the world. Conversions will then be general, not to say universal. We may safely assert that the numbers of the converted, at that period, will as far exceed those of the unconverted, as these, at present, appear to exceed the numbers of the people of God. The grace of God will, then, more completely triumph over those who are the subjects of it. The Christians of that period will be of a far higher order; having far more of the life and power of religion, more of the love of God shed abroad in their hearts; they will be more spiritually-minded, more eminently holy; having a greater hatred to every sin, and filled with more ardent zeal for its entire destruction in themselves and in the world. The few sinners that remain will be restrained, abashed, and ashamed in their course of transgression. They will shrink from public notice; retire to sin in secret; and wear, perhaps, a cloak of religion to deceive. We may mention another distinctive feature of that period; namely, 3. The unity of the Church of Christ. The divisions of the Church are the natural result, and an infallible evidence of a painfully low state of personal piety amongst its members. They are equally destructive of its internal peace, happiness, and purity, as they are obstructive of its enlargement and prosperity by conversions and additions from the world. The Redeemer prays that all Christians and that all his churches might |