which is required for the evangelization of the overgrown cities and rural districts of our own land, as for Greenland and the Antipodes. There are multitudes living in practical Heathenism all around | us, who, if not unable, are altogether unwilling to support a Gospel ministry or the ordinances of religion. The aggressive spirit of Christianity must be brought to bear upon them, and without waiting for call or invitation, the old command must be obeyed, Go ye, and preach the Gospel to every creature."

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It is here that the distinction so often urged by Dr. Chalmers comes into play, which the opponents of his noble Church extension plans could not or would not understand. He distinguished between internal voluntaryism and external voluntaryism, or the maintenance of the Gospel ab intra and ab extra. Whenever the Gospel first comes to a place it must necessarily be supported without; whether that support comes from the voluntary contributions of home and foreign missionary societies, or from public grants by Government aid. Until the Gospel is received, and a congregation of faithful men is formed who love the truth and are willing and able to support the ministry, nothing can be counted upon from internal voluntaryism. And in every country, and community, and Church, there are many congregations in the transition state towards self sustentation, and requiring aid, if not support, from without. Others, again, whether from the poverty of the people, or the unpopulousness of the district, or other causes, never can come up to the self-sustaining mark. While, on the other hand, many congregations, especially in great towns, not only are easily self-supporting, but have a large surplus to spare for the advancement of the cause of Christ elsewhere.

into use.

Here the principle of mutual aid comes Instead of all that surplus being sent to the support of missions in distant lands, to the neglect of the perishing thousands of our own country, a scheme of mutual aid, and a central sustentation fund, such as that of the Free Church of Scotland, provides for the support and aid of the Gospel ministry in places where otherwise it could not be maintained.

This is altogether in accordance with the view given in the Scriptures of the Church, under the figure of a body with

many members,"" we being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." (Rom. xii. 5.) Let any one read such passages as 2 Cor. viii. 13, 14, and Ephes. iv. 16, and this will be understood. In things temporal as well as spiritual, the Church will make increase unto the edifying of itself in love, when the whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure or proportional share of every part. "As each hath received the gift, so minister the same one to another," whether this gift be one of temporal bounty or of spiritual grace. (1 Peter iv. 10.) God is not unrighteous to forget such work and labour of love shewed toward his name in ministering unto the saints. (Heb. vi. 10.) And the object of this mutual aid is not that some may be eased and others burdened, but by an equality, that the abundance in one place may be a supply for want elsewhere, that there may be equalization, "as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack." (2 Cor. viii. 13—15.)

To solve the problem of the best scheme of mutual support for the ministry is now a matter of earnest inquiry in various churches, both in Great Britain and America. Presbyterian Churches have the advantage in respect of their ecclesiastical unity and organization, but there is no reason why Congregational Churches should not form unions for the same end. For the efficiency and independence of the ministry in unendowed churches, for maintaining the succession of faithful and able teachers and preachers, and for extending the Gospel in poor and neglected districts of our own country, something requires to be done. Dr. Chalmers did not overrate the importance of the object when he said concerning the Free Church of Scotland, "The Sustentation Fund, as a natural means, is the main pillar of the Church, being that which is to give it efficiency, stability, and expansion.'

As to the propriety and practicability of having a central fund in our own English Synod, we refer to papers in the first four numbers of the "Messenger" for this year. We beg the careful attention of our readers, and especially the members of the Synod's Sustentation Committee, to the Circular of the Convener in the present number.

U

ing to the people. I have found it both interesting and useful to go out in this way among the Chinese shops; and I have the prospect of soon getting a Chinese who professes faith in Christ to stay here, and go out with me regularly. I have also, during the past month, been renewing my visits to the prisoners in the gaol, and find them very willing to listen to the Word of Life, as far as I can speak it to them. About a fortnight ago I set my foot, for the first time, on the soil of China, having crossed over to the opposite mainland along with some of the agents of the London Society, to visit a school which they have there in a town of about one thousand inhabitants. I tried to address the people after they had been addressed by a native preacher, and succeeded fully as well as I had expected. Our reception was encouraging; and altogether, when I look at the state of this people, I feel encouraged to hope, that the times of the triumph of the Gospel among them may be coming near. Oh that the Spirit of grace and supplication were poured abundantly on Churches at home and agents abroad, that the Lord's kingdom may be hastened! My work in-doors goes on as before. The school is doing well, and I do not, at any rate, weary in studying Chinese. The English congregation is much as before, with this difference, that in the hot season the soldiers cannot attend in the forenoon, and do not all come in the evening. I am glad to see from your letter that there is some hope of others joining us here. May you be guided from above in this matter, both as to the persons sent and the station to which they should go! I have left, as usual, my letter-writing to the last moment, and therefore must hurriedly conclude. With Christian regards to all friends, "I ever am yours, Truly and affectionately, "WM. C. BURNS."

CORFU MISSION.

THE following is a copy of a letter from Mr. Charteris at Corfu, dated 14th July, 1848, to the Secretary of the Ladies' Missionary Association :—

"Since I last wrote to your minister, the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, not much of great interest has occurred. I am going on as usual among the sons of Israel.

The case of so often mentioned, is, I am thankful to say, more promising. There was long too great anxiety for baptism on his part, and when I proceeded to point out what I considered deficiencies of both head and heart, he would go away acknowledging them, but proving, by not returning for perhaps a whole fortnight that Jewish pride was still a lurking and besetting sin with him. Latterly, however, he has shown much more humility, much more regular attendance, and a growing apprehension of Divine things. I am in hopes that now the Spirit of God will be given in answer to our prayers and his own, which I have directed him to offer up in the name of Christ. I have often gone over with him the 36th of Ezekiel, and always urged upon him the importance of prayer, shewing him that the Lord must be inquired of by the house of Israel for all these things, the new heart,' the spirit of repentance and new obedience, the ability to walk according to God's statutes, and an inheritance better than the earthly Canaan. I must still continue to instruct him, and we shall just wait until we see further progress, and shall follow the evident leadings of the Divine will in this matter.

"O——, of whom I have also written, continues to give me great satisfaction in the boys' school; he keeps excellent order, and brings them forward with much success. He comes frequently to read a chapter, always in the English Bible, which he prefers, and which he reads like an Englishman. He never had any other instruction than my own, which he has always followed up by such diligent private study, as to excel all the other young men of the place, and to command for himself respect for his talents among his countrymen. He now also teaches a few of the younger boys of his class the English language. I am always glad to see him exerting himself in any way so as to be of use to them.

"We have a young Greek to teach arithmetic, but in this department my constant superintendence is required. Frequently some of the other young men remain after Mr. Stevens has finished, and act as monitors; in this way great progress is made by the boys, some of them can now read who scarcely two months ago knew a single letter. The Greek master gives lessons to myself in modern Greek, which I am beginning to

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My work among the soldiers continues as before; I preach twice a-day to them, and in this hot weather I feel it laborious, so much so, that on the Monday morning I wonder if I can do it the next Lord's-day, but when it comes round I am happy to find myself strong enough for it; indeed, my health is excellent. It would be hard to say what is the fruit of my preaching to the soldiers. The seed-time is over, but the harvest is yet to come; I am, however, frequently much gratified with their cordiality. They come sometimes to see me, to converse with me and get tracts; I find the last you sent me very suitable. I only wish more of them would come to the prayer-meetings, as we have seldom so many as twenty.

"I baptized an infant son of our teacher, Mr. Stevens, on the evening of July 13, when we had a good attendance at our prayer meeting.

(Signed) "WILLIAM CHARTERIS. "P.S.-I have seen the last year's Reports; as may be expected, there are occasional inaccuracies in it. Pray do not say there is a Scotch regiment at Corfu; the 76th is not Scotch. Then, our prayer-meeting is weekly, not monthly; once a month it is a missionary meeting. Preparation for the weekly prayer-meeting often costs me nearly a day's preparation for the work, but it is a night of great enjoyment to me. I am assisted in the devotional exercises by our worthy elder, Mr. Campbell. There are, at present, a few of my soldiers in the hospital, whom I have to visit.

"W. C."

THERE is nothing out of heaven, next to Christ, dearer to me than my ministry.Rutherford.

SUSTENTATION FUND.

THE following circular has been issued by the Convener of the Synod's Sustentation Committee, and we publish it in the "Messenger," in order that not only the members of that Committee, but all interested in the subject, may be able to send authenticated information, or to make suggestions on the subject.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND
SUSTENTATION COMMITTEE.

"DEAR SIR,-I send you herewith a copy of the Resolution of Synod appointing and describing the duties of the General Sustentation Committee of our Church.

"At a Meeting of Committee held at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 21st April last,

it was

"Resolved, that the members of Committee send in to the Convener as early as possible any statement or information (they possess or which they can procure) likely to promote the objects of this Committee; and that as soon as such information is received, the Convener shall call a full meeting of the Committee for considering the information thus collected, and proceeding with the whole subject.'

"In conformity with the above Resolution, I beg to intimate that I shall be glad to receive from you any information you can give on the subject.

"Allow me to suggest that, whilst the more immediate objects of the communication from you is to suggest definite plans for increasing the sustentation of the ministry, to place such increase on a basis likely to be permanently satisfactory, and to give confidence to our Church as well as to ministers who may be called to labour in it, it is also important that the Committee have before them all the information that can be collected respecting the working of any schemes that have been tried by other Churches, whether now in operation or not, as well as the particulars of any schemes that have been proposed or are about to be put in operation.

"It also appears to me desirable that members of Committee should send in any information they possess respecting the working of our own Supplemental Fund, as well as any objections that exist against extending its operations, so as to overtake the object before us. But allow me to suggest, that members of Committee, in doing so, do confine themselves to