ON THE ANNUAL CHOICE OF DEACONS. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. I HAVE no doubt but many of the constant readers of your Magazine were obliged by your editorial remarks in reply to your correspondent from Manchester, upon the subject named at the head of this paper. No doubt entertained that the motives which induced him to recommend the new plan are honourable; but, on reading his remarks, a few objections arose in my mind, which with, your permission, I will mention. can be 1st. It is not a scriptural provision, but a human expedient. The Holy Scriptures are the only guide to the churches of the saints, which are holy, harmonious and efficient, as they are conformed to this infallible standard. If the annual choice of deacons be essential to the peace and prosperity of the churches, how astonishing is it that the wise and omniscient Legislator of the Christian world gave no intimations of this necessity, and enacted no anticipatory law to meet it! All who love Jesus and value the increase of his kingdom, will take heed not to impugn his wisdom by a departure from his revealed will, or by being wise above what is written. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isai. viii. 20. 2nd. The tendency of the measure, were it generally adopted, would be to increase divisions rather than heal them. The fact of the measure not being a part of the law of Christ would lead many of the most pious members of our churches to oppose it, and their opposition would be founded upon principle. Frequent elections, in free societies, are always dangerous; and those in churches, which are destitute of the authority of law from Christ, would be sure to generate strife. Besides, there are many who complain of clerical lords as well as lay lords; and this being the case, may we not expect soon to hear a proposal of choosing pastors annually, as a certain remedy for the evil? 3rd. It blinds the churches to the real cause of the evils complained of. It is the will of Christ that his churches should be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment (1 Cor. i. 10); and exhibit, to the eye of this sinful and ruined world, the loveliness of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. xiv. 7. And why is it that this attractive scene is so seldom beheld? Why is it that the beauty of Christian churches is marred and disfigured by jealousies, tumults, and divisions? Is the cause in office, deacon, or pastorate? No. It is much deeper. root is in the state of the heart towards Jesus, his word, and his people. The heavenly principle of love is wounded. confirmation of this, I might appeal to the state of the church at Corinth, in which there were envyings and strife. But from whence did these evils spring? Hear the source described by the apostle : "For ye are yet carnal; for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, Its In and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?" 1 Cor. iii. 3, 4. The mind must be melted, and rendered less secular and fond of power, and more spiritual and humble. Many eyes are weeping over the divisions in the churches; but the remedy is not in the mere change of office-bearers, but in the revival of love in its vigour, tenderness, and confidence. God is love, and let the churches of Jesus seek to be like him; then, instead of the works of the flesh, the fruits of the Spirit will be visible; and, "walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, believers will be multiplied." Churches are planted by Jesus, for high and heavenly purposes; let those who are members of them, therefore, arm themselves against all specious novelties, and "stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.' The brethren in Berea " were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so."Acts xvii. 11. T. W. Newbury. UNION AMONG BAPTISTS. I HAVE read with some pain the | article written by PHILEMON, in the supplement, published with the December number of your work, on the want of union among the different ministers and churches of our denomination. It is quite true, as your correspondent states, "that not one half of the Baptist churches in England are united in associations;" but I must, with all due respect for our good friend, PHILEMON, beg leave distinctly to deny that the chief reason" is, or that even to any considerable extent the circumstance arises from the fact, "that some ministers are so inclined to have the mastery in all things, that many of the brethren are discouraged.' I have had the happiness of being connected with several of your associations, and I never heard such a charge brought against them; nor can I conceive, constituted as our associations are, how such mastery" could be 66 maintained. I never witnessed an The plan proposed by PHILEMON, for the dissolution of all existing associations, the division of the kingdom into districts, with a triennial convention, &c., may be a very good one, but he will find it no easy matter to carry it into execution; and even if he could accomplish his wishes, | I am by no means certain that we should be entirely free from the evils of which he complains. I am quite agreed with your correspondent as to the " very limited and imperfect" character of the reports of the state of the denomination, read at the meetings of June, 1832 and 1833; and hope that PHILEMON, and many other country brethren, by the ample communication of in formation, will enable the committee to make their future reports more complete and satisfactory. As the principal object of this letter is of some importance, it appears to me desirable that its writer should give his name, however humble it may be. JOSEPH BELCHER. 9, King Street, Chelsea, EXEGETICAL EXERCITATIONS. No. I. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. Look unto the rock whence ye are | words which the inspired penman hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. Isai. li. 1. As "all scripture is given by inspiration of God," all its statements must be of great, though not of equal, importance. Every verse, and every smaller portion, if the sense be complete, presents a distinct fact or sentiment, designed and calculated to advance our improvement, in a manner corresponding with its own character, whether it be in a way of instruction, or reproof, or restraint, or excitement. But, if the fact or sentiment be misapprehended and misapplied, the purpose which it was intended to serve will not be secured. In using it under a mistaken view of its import, though, perhaps, it may not be absolutely abused, it will yet, of necessity, be misapplied. Some other end than that originally designed may be gained by it, and it may, indeed, be a good and valuable one; but it will be compassed by an illegitimate means; that is, by an erroneous position put forth in the had selected and employed to convey a different meaning. This is an evil which ought to be carefully avoided. If we would form accurate conceptions of the various announcements of the sacred volume, we must peruse its contents with great attention; and diligently compare, mark, and digest its statements. We must accustom ourselves to analyze sentences, examine phrases, and try words. These hints, brief and prefatory, have been thought necessary as an apology for the present attempt at exposition, and, perhaps, for some future exercises of a similar kind; and, should they be considered sufficient in that point of view, the object for which they were written will be realized. The passage under consideration, it is conceived, affords an instance of the misapprehension and misapplication referred to. It is generally, perhaps almost universally, cited rather to humble than to encourage the faithful; though the latter, it would seem, was its obvious design. It is very Now these calamities, this sad reverse in their condition, excited the divine compassion. The prophet was sent, not to aggravate their sorrow and deepen their distress; on the contrary, he was commissioned to console and animate them, by setting before them the promise of future deliverance, and subsequent prosperity: and, in order to strengthen their confidence in the promised interpo frequently quoted in the confessional part of a prayer; in which connexion no opportunity is afforded of putting in a cautionary or qualifying clause, even were the party aware of the propriety of doing so. This unqualified way of quoting it tends to lead our thoughts back to our depraved origin, to Adam, our apostate progenitor. Thus we are taught to read our characters as the degenerate children of a fallen fa-sition of the Divine Being in their ther. This, indeed, is true; but no such truth is intended by the passage under notice. That the words were not intended to reprove and humble the righteous will become evident, it is presumed, if we examine their reference, and consider the circumstances of the people to whom they were addressed. The reference is expressly to Abraham; but surely there could be nothing humiliating to the Jews in being reminded of their descent from Abraham, the father of the faithful and the friend of God. Neither was there any thing in their condition that called for reproof and humiliation, except those recent national sins which had brought upon them the chastisements with which they were then visited. They were overwhelmed with trouble, and their spirits were sinking in deep despondency. Their country was desolate and defenceless; Jerusalem was a heap of ruins; their pleasant places were burned with fire; the Îand was desolate, so that no man passed through it; none went to the solemn feasts, and the inhabitants which were left, the aged and infirm, fatherless children and widowed mothers, were deeply depressed by a long train of afflictive events; while those who were captives in Babylon wept when they remembered Zion. favour, they were reminded of his "Let not SUNDAY-SCHOOL RECOLLECTIONS.—No. IV. INSTRUCTION. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. In the article which appeared | due consideration of this will main the Magazine for July, 1833, terially determine the method to and which suggested these papers, be pursued. it is stated, as the result of returns from about 40 Schools, that "the instruction is for the most part very defective in its nature. In 8 cases, writing is taught on the Lord's day. In those schools, where this is not the case, the greater portion of time seems to be occupied in elementary instruction; whilst in very few indeed has such a system and method of studying the Scriptures prevailed, as would be likely to produce very permanent impressions in favour of personal piety." 2. The sacredness of the Sabbath allows only of such a course of education as may be, in itself, religious, or immediately conducive to religion. To teach writing, therefore, on the Lord's day, is utterly indefensible. To teach reading also would be improper, if it were not so important to the study of divine truth, and if the Bible itself, or lessons of a religious character, were not exclusively employed in teaching it. Most anxiously is it to be hoped that the increase of weekday schools for infants and youth may soon enable the teachers of Sunday-schools to consecrate the whole of their valuable time to the immediately spiritual tuition of all their scholars. This is obviously a state of things which the friends of the rising generation must at once deplore, and desire to amend. To assist, however feebly, the latter object, the following remarks, which from the space assigned them must necessarily be very general, are respectfully sub-house of God on the Sabbath is of mitted. 1. It is of the highest importance that those who engage in Sundayschool instruction should correctly ascertain the end in view. Whatever may be the means employed, or the gradations realised, the early and genuine conversion of youth to God, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the grand design to be accomplished. The 3. The regular and orderly attendance of the children at the great importance, not only as an act of worship to which they ought to be habituated, but as a means of religious instruction appointed by the great Head of the church which should be carefully explained to them, and respecting which they should be constantly interrogated, as to the amount of their understanding and improvement. It does not seem proper, |