other added to the many facts which make it probable that the state of opinion among the Jews is rapidly undergoing a great change--and which moreover lend their countenance to the generally received interpretation of the prophecies, which is now assailed not only by Millerites, but by that class of critics and Theological professors who borrow their learning from the Rationalists of Germany. The Bible.---According to a letter published in the Monthly Ex. tracts of the Britisli and Foreign Bible Society 600 Roman Catholic inhabitants of Fillefevard in France, have been induced by the Society's agents, to embrace the Protestant Evangelical religion, Dr. Reese has succeeded in restoring the Bible without note or comment in the Schools of the First and Eleventh Wards in the city of New York. These are the districts from which the Papists had excluded the Scriptures. We have been requested to publish the following acknowledgment of books donated to the Theological Seminary at Oxford:-- By Edward Blackstocks---Reids Memoirs of the Westminster Assembly Divines, 8 vo. Rev. J. H. Bonner---Bickerstith's Christian Student, 12 mo. Hon. J. Morrow---Gill's Commentary, 9 vols. 4 to. A Friend--Calmet's Sacred Geography, 4 to. Rev. W. Taggart---Dupin's Ecclesiastical History, 6 vols. Folio. D. Macdill-Poole's Annotations, 2 vols. Folio.; Stuart on the He'brews, 8 vo. The Editor acknowledges the receipt of $10,00 from Mr. McCreight remainder of a contribution to the Theo. Seminary from the congregation of West Fork. ***Our patrons are requested to keep in mind that the Publisher needs funds. He has been within the last year or two much helped by receiving payment from some who were in arrears for three four or five vols. It is hoped that others will follow the example---for there are still such on his list." . *We have been obliged to omit some papers which should have appeared in this No.---Correspondents will be attended to. A discourse on the temporal support of religion. Published by request. "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come." 1 Cor. 16: 2. In this verse, the Apostle gave the church at Corinth, particular instructions in reference to their benevolent contributions. We learn too, from the preceding verse, that he had given the same instructions to the churches of Galatia. "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye." And, as there is but one infallible rule of faith and practice in religion it is evident, that the same great principles, by which the members of these churches were required to govern themselves, are applicable to all Christians every where. To us therefore, as professed followers of the Redeemer, the Divine injunction is, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.” The subject presented in the text, and to which we design directing our attention at present, is the duty of contributing of our worldly substance for religious purposes. We shall examine the subject briefly, under the following propositions: I. It is the duty of Christians to give a part of their temporal goods for the support of religion. VOL. II:-SIG. 25 II. It is their duty to give in proportion as God has given to them.. III. They should give voluntarily.. IV. They should give systematically. I. We first call your attention to the simple fact that it is the duty of the Christian to give for the support of religion. Clear and abiding convictions on this point are the most that is necessary to induce good people to do their duty. And in reference to it, we remark, that the language of the text is plain: "let every one of you lay by him in store. The Apostle had just informed them the purpose for which they were required to lay by in store. It was not that their money might be kept in a place of safety for their own gratification in' future, but to make a "collection for the saints." And the whole expression here deserves to be particularly noticed. He does not say that some of the members of the Corinthian church, should lay by them for this purpose, but that "every one" should do so. He made no ex ceptions among these to whom God was affording any prosperity.. That it is a duty therefore to give for the support of religion, is very clearly presented in our text. There are also many other precepts in the word of God equally express on this point. In examining a few of them, let us commence in the Old Testament, and we will find that since God has had a church in the world, He has made it the duty of His people to give what was necessary for its support. In the eighteenth chapter of the book of Numbers we find that one of the twelve tribes of Israel, that of Levi, obtained no portion of the land of Canaan as an inheritance whence they might derive a subsistence. They were to be especially employed in the service of the tabernacle, and God provided for their support in a different way from that in which the rest of the nation were to be supplied with the necessaries of life. He enjoined the eleven tribes, among whom the land was principally divi-. ded, and who were allowed to cultivate it and gather its fruits, to give one tenth of all their increase to to the tribe of Levi. This was the regular way in which that tribe received its support. Nor was that all which God required his ancient people to give for pious purposes. There was still another tenth required, as appears from the fourteenth chapter of Deuteronomy, after giving the Levites their portion, in order to support their numerous and protracted religious feasts. And besides all this, they appear to have been subject to occasional calls of charity. We do not suppose, that this regulation is binding under the present dispensation; but still it clearly establishes the great principle that it is the duty of God's people to support the institutions of His appointment. Nor are there wanting in the New Testament express precepts to this effect. The Savior assured His disciples, when speaking of their temporal support, that "the laborrer is worthy of his hire." And the most conclusive evidence on this point, is found in the ninth chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, and the last of the Epistle to the Galatians. We there find such declarations as the following: "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." In the book of Proverbs also, it is enjoined, "Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase." Were it necessary, we might refer to other passages of similar import. The Scriptures make nothing more evident, than that Christians ought to support the Gospel. The Bible also contains many interesting examples on this subject. Read, when convenient, the thirty-fifth chapter of Exodus, the twenty-ninth of first Chronicles, and the second of Ezra, how exceedingly liberally the Hebrews contributed, in order that they might have the privilege of worshipping God in such a place and manner as He required. And when we come to the New Testament for examples, see in the Gospel histories, how the Savior and His apostles were accustomed to attend to the wants of the poor. Observe in the Acts of the Apostles, how the primitive Christians "sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need." And read especially the eighth and ninth chapters of the second Epistle to the Corinthians, for an account of the liberality of the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, and for an exhibition of the true principles upon which religious contributions should be made. We farther remark, that this duty, which is enforced by so many precepts and examples in the word of God, is evidently both reasonable and just. It is certain that the Gospel does not exist, and exert an influence, without a temporal support. Churches in which to worship God, and seminaries in which young men are trained for the ministry, are not erected without money. Nor can pastors of congregations. teachers of Theology, and missionaries among the destitute at home, or the heathen abroad, live without the necessaries of life any more than other men. Yet it is necessary that the former be erected, and the latter supported. The prosperity of the Gospel requires that there be churches, and seminaries; pastors, and teachers, and missionaries. What then can be more reasonable than that those who solemnly profess that the Gospel is the greatest blessing which they enjoy, and incomparably the greatest blessing which this wicked world has ever enjoyed, should contribute to its support, in all these respects? If the Gospel needs a support, it is difficult to conceive of anything more reasonable than that it should be given by those who profess to know its value. This is also just. Those whose profession of religion is such as it should be, receive a peculiar benefit from the Gospel, and its various institutions. By means of them, they learn the things that pertain to their everlasting peace. By means of them, they have been brought under the renewing influences of God's Spirit, and are in a state of preparation for the world of glory. But they would not have learned what they have, had not the Gospel been supported, and brought to them, and they received the advantages of its gracious instructions. Nor will the work of preparation for heaven, which is supposed to have been commenced in them, be carried on and completed in any other way than by the means of God's appointment; and an important part of that means, is their continuing faithfully to observe His ordinances. Since therefore, the institutions of the Gospel, are the means by which Christians receive the most invaluable blessings, it cannot but be just that they should contribute for their support. Why should they receive a great benefit, and give nothing in return? Is it just that they should enjoy the privileges of the Church of God, the advantages of the administration of word and ordinances, if they neither give, nor have any disposition to give anything to procure them? It is true that in supporting the Gospel the Christian makes no compensation, and should never think that he is making any compensation to God, for the blessing of salvation which He graciously bestows upon him. He can do no more than render a little assistance to sustain the means through which it comes. But when God freely confers eternal life upon the guilty and unworthy sinner, is it not right that he should bear whatever part he may be able in upholding the machinery through which it is received? Is it not right, that he should manifest his gratitude to God, by doing all that he is able to sustain His blessed' institutions? In doing this the true servant of Christ will never suppose that he is doing himself injustice; but if he neglects to make any effort of the kind, it will be difficult to believe that he is rendering to the Church, that which, in view of his relations, is just and right. II. It is the duty of Christians to give in proportion as God has given them. Under the former dispensation, as we have seen, the people of God were required to give a definite part of what annually came into their possession, for the support of religion. It is the opin |