It

think that none but the rich are happy. Now many rich men are very happy. But it is not their money, it is their religion which makes them so. It is better to be contented than rich. may please God to give us money, especially if we determine to be industrious and honest. But we should seek religion. That is the best thing. Money cannot keep us from doing wrong. It does not make us hate sin. A little ragged boy may steal because he is hungry, and he is hungry perhaps because his mother is poor: but then boys who are not cold and hungry and poor are sometimes dishonest. Indeed there is no sin from which money can preserve us; but religion can preserve us from every kind of sin. It is like the shields which the soldiers used to carry into the battle field to protect them from the arrows of their enemies. When we are tempted to be envious, or untruthful, or disobedient, it is religion which leads us to resist the temptation, and say, "how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God ?" And money cannot make us gentle and kind. Of course we may be both rich and kind. But men are not kind because they are rich. I know some rich men who are like angry hedge-hogs or stinging nettles. They never comfort anybody. I am afraid they often wound people by their rough and unkind words. They have a kind of serve-you-right, or get-out-of-the-way manner which is very disagreeable. Now real goodness makes us gentle, and sympathetic, and loving. Jesus was indeed a

"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild." How kind He was to little children, to sick men and women, and to those who repented of their sins and wanted to be good. He turned to them when others turned away from them. When those who knew Him were in trouble they would say, "Oh! if Jesus were here He would help and comfort me: and they would send to Him from Galilee and Judea; and He never told them that they troubled Him or that He was tired of helping them-He was so kind. Let us try to be like Him. And money cannot make us grateful to God for our mercies. We may have health, and friends, and houses, and land, and jewels, and money, and yet be ungrateful. But if we love God, every blessing we receive from Him, even the very smallest of them, will make us thankful. A poor woman was once heard to say, "all this and Christ." A lady who heard her was astonished to find that "all this" was only a piece of bread and a cup of water.

Now we must not undervalue knowledge. It is a good thing to know something about the world we live in, and the men who have lived in it: something about birds and flowers, and stars and stones. Knowledge is of great service both to ourselves and to others: and it may become a great source of pleasure. I am always sorry for a great lazy dunce. He does not know what he is losing every day. You boys and girls have rare opportunities of getting knowledge in these days. Make real use of them. Don't rub your eyes red with your jacket sleeves when you come to a difficulty. Don't fold your hands and say, "I can't."

"If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try, try again."

Perseverance wins the race. And knowledge is worth running after. But knowledge cannot comfort us in trouble; religion can. This is a bright and beautiful world, but we are sure to meet with troubles in passing through it. We may have to follow our dear friends to the grave. We may meet with unkindness. We may be deceived by some whom we have loved and helped. And all this will be very hard to bear if we do not love God. Travellers who have seen half the world, clever men who have made wonderful instruments and machines, and others who have written very valuable books, have been unable to bear their troubles because they did not look to God. But God helps all who love Him to bear their burdens, and makes all their troubles work together for good to them. And knowledge cannot secure for us a place in heaven. It is not the clever-it is the good who are welcomed there. The good, whether they be young or old, rich or poor, learned or unlearned-the good will wear the white robe and sing the song of joy. The good will take the place of honour, and live and reign for ever. The good will see the face of Jesus, "and never, never sin."

Oh! was not Solomon right when he said, "all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto religion!" Seek that, my young friends. It is "the principal thing." It is the " one thing

needful." Seek it while you are young. You will never have a more favourable opportunity. Every year of neglect makes the work harder. Will you offer

THE CHURCH

We have received a lengthy epistle from a thoughtful correspondent objecting to the mode adopted by some of our churches of appointing deacons, or others, to examine applicants for church membership. We have not space for the insertion of the whole document, and therefore briefly condense its statements. The writer supports his objection by the following assertions. (1.) The mode is not scriptural. Clearly the 3,000 were not so admitted on the day of Pentecost. (2.) The judges themselves, though good men, may err; and so serious injury result to the spiritual life of the applicant. (3.) The judges may be faulty in character. (4.) It fails to accomplish its avowed purpose; that of keeping the church pure. (5.) Lastly, this is one of the great reasons why the Baptist denomination does not increase in numbers." The conclusion reached is, that the writer can never enter a Baptist church by this door. Cases are given illustrating the evil effects of the present method.

66

A paper of such signal ability and sound sense appeared in this Magazine last year from the pen of the Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., (page 259) on this subject, that we feel strongly inclined to refer our correspondent to that, and there leave the matter. But two or three words may be added. (1.) Of the reasons assigned against the expediency of the present practice all are valid to some extent, except the fifth. That is clearly out of court, for on the one hand the Baptist denomination is on the increase in numbers; and on the other, the same door will be found in some Independent and other progressive denominations. (2.) Moreover, is not the objection often rather to the way in which the work is done, rather than to the work itself. There is severity in some cases where there ought to be the greatest tenderness; the demand for an advanced Christian experience in "babes in Christ" where nothing more should be required than the faintest signs of real life; and the investigation of "frames and feelings" rather than of habits of life. We must distinguish between a plan of action and the ways of working it. (3.) But the chief thing to be remembered is, that the church has no law on this subject in the New Testament, which is her statute-book, and therefore she is thrown

this short prayer-"Dear Lord Jesus, help me to hate sin, and to love and serve Thee ?" H. BERESFORD ROBINSON.

AND ITS DOOR.

upon the guidance of an enlightened and far-sighted expediency. The right place for every Christian is the church of Christ. That is clear. The door, therefore, must not be so strait as to keep out the feeble and timorous, or you will injure them: nor so broad as to admit the hypocritical, insincere, and scheming, for they will injure you. We ought not to have any hard and fast line, rigorously to be followed in all cases; but to adapt our mode of admission to the condition, character, and disposition of the applicants. With some nervous, shrinking spirits, an interview with the pastor, or any one of the officers of the church, followed by private inquiry as to habit of life, should be enough: others will enjoy telling "what the Lord has done for them" to a dozen fellow believers, or to a hundred. Let these have their joy. The law is that every child of God should be inside the family home; every worker in the vineyard; every Christian in the church of Christ; and church members, elders, deacons, and pastors, should work together to smooth the path of the fearful and diffident by friendly counsel and real sympathy, to "cast up the stumbling-stones," and make a clear road lest "the lame be turned out of the way," to lead up to and through the door of the church the shy and distrustful, so that all the children of God may enjoy the ordinances of His house, delight in the communion of saints, and perform the duties and enjoy the privileges of the fellowship of believers. A Christian outside a Christian church is a right man in a wrong place, and no pains should be spared to get him where he ought to be.

During a fourteen years pastorate in which the above elastic method has been adopted, and an average of 69 persons received into fellowship every year, we have never had one case that was too much for us; only one that deceived us, and in that instance the utmost care was taken in vain; but not a few of the "children of God" now with us would have been outside our communion if the "red tape" of officialism, or of inflexible rules, had fast bound our church door. Let the church that has our correspondent within reach (or any one like him) get him speedily into what seems his proper position, that of a working and useful member of the church of Christ.

JOHN CLIFFORD.

RABBI AGUR'S SCHOOL; AND ITS FOUR TEACHERS. By Samuel Cox. Religious

Tract Society.

RABBI AGUR's school is Mr. Cox's first attempt to engage the attention of that largest of all reading audiences-the young. The book consists of five addresses: the first four being devoted to the illustration of the lessons taught by the Ant, the Hyrax or Coney, the Locust, and the Lizard, as stated by the Son of Jakeh, in the book of Proverbs, xxx. 24-28: and the fifth is occupied with the enforcement of the beautiful words of the Saviour about Birds and Lilies. The subjects are chosen with great skill, they refer to visible, familiar, and living things, and children listen to no teachers so eagerly as to those which run, burrow, creep or lay, swim or fly. They learn most readily with their eyes; and Mr. Cox has opened his school and made it attractive to his learners by putting in it things they may see. These topics are treated with the author's usual thoroughness, simplicity of speech, and

quickness of perception, and with much more than his usual felicity and richness of illustration. Children will greatly enjoy these words: and they are sure to be profited as they are pleased, and strengthened as they are charmed. Nor would "children of a larger growth" find themselves out of place if they were to sit on a quiet Sabbath afternoon in the Rabbi's school and receive his wise and thoughtful teaching.

HEAVENLY LAWS FOR EARTHLY HOMES. By E. Dennet. Stock.

THIS manual of the relative duties is admirably calculated to further domestic peace and happiness. It is a practical and sensible guide to home-duties, keeps close to the regulations of scripture as to husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and servants; sets forth in a forcible way the grounds of the several obligations, and the advantages that will follow compliance. It is worthy of a place in every home.

THE FORTHCOMING ASSOCIATION. DEAR MR. EDITOR.

Will you give me space to request the ministers or secretaries of our churches to be as prompt and early as possible in returning the "Schedules" for statistics this year.

Last year a good many came to hand during, and some after, the Association; and as the Secretary's report is expected to be ready on Tuesday morning, in order to its accuracy and completeness it is necessary that none should be later than the 14th, or 15th, of June. May I also ask that this year, instead of postage stamps, Post Office Orders, costing ld., may be used for remitting the contributions towards the expenses of the Association. Forms will be inclosed with the Schedules, which will be issued in May.

SOLOMON S. ALLSOP, Secretary.

of the above Committee, that their names may be duly enrolled on the list of ministers in the Minutes for 1872. All applications, testimonials when needful, &c., should be in Mr. Stevenson's hands by the second week in June. Brethren are directed to the Minutes of 1865, or the Magazine for 1870, page 145, for further information; or it will be cheerfully furnished by, SOLOMON S. ALLSOP,

Association Secretary. March, Cambs, April 11th, 1872.

CONFERENCES.

The next LINCOLNSHIRE CONFERENCE will be held at Peterborough on Thursday, June 6. Sermon in the morning by the Rev. J. R. Godfrey. A Home Missionary meeting will be held in the evening.

WILLIAM ORTON, Sec.

The LONDON CONFERENCE will be held at Tring, on Wednesday, May 29. At 2.30 p.m. business, and a paper by the Rev. J. G. Pike, on "What to do with our small churches." In the evening a sermon by the Rev. J. H. Atkinson. J. SAGE, Sec.

The half-yearly CHESHIRE CONFERENCE met at Nantwich on Easter Tuesday, April 2. Rev. R. Kenney presided at the business meeting in the morning; the Conference sermon was dispensed with in order to facilitate the arrangements of the Nantwich friends in laying the foundation stone of their new chapel in the afternoon. Baptized since last Conference, 5; candidates, 2. Owing to inclemency of weather the attendance was small compared with what was expected by the Nantwich friends to witness the laying of the foundation stone.

I. The Home Mission Committee, stated that Rev. T. E. Rawlings had consented to remain at Congleton, at the request of the friends, who are laudably trying to become more self-sustaining.

II. The following resolutions on the Education Question were unanimously carried, copies of which were to be forwarded by the Secretary to Mr. W. E. Forster, the Minister of Education :

1. That in the opinion of this Conference, certain clauses of the English Education Act, are framed in defiance of the conscientious convictions of very many of Her Majesty's faithful subjects, and that nothing short of the absolute repeal of the 25th, and amendment of the 74th, clauses, will remove the injustice and oppression under which we labour; that their operation will provoke much opposition to, and violation of the existing law, in the proper regard for the higher law of conscience.

2. That in the opinion of this Conference, any measures tending to establish a system of denominational teaching, in the schools of Scotland and Ireland, whereby Presbyterianism in the one case, and Roman Catholicism in the other, would receive the sanction and favour of Parliament, would be alike unjust and wrong, opposed to conscience, truth, and equity.

III. That the next Conference be at Wheelock Heath, on the first Tuesday in Oct, and that Rev. I. Watts, be the preacher, or in case of failure Rev. W. March.

IV. That the Home Mission Committee introduce for discussion at close of

business the subject,-"Claims of the Home Mission Work on the Churches in this Conference." WILLIAM MARCH, Sec.

The WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Longmore Street chapel, Birmingham, April, 2. In the morning an able paper was read by the Rev. J. P. Barnett, of Longford, "On the Best Methods of making our Church Meetings as promotive of the Spiritual Interests of the Church as possible." Conversation followed, in which several brethren took part. A cordial vote of thanks was given to Mr. Barnett for his paper, and he was requested to forward it to the Editor of our Magazine.

In the afternoon the Rev. L. H. Parsons took the chair. Thirty-seven were reported baptized, and forty candidates.

I. It was unanimously resolved, "That a most cordial vote of welcome be given to the following brethren-Rev. E. C. Pike, B.A, of Lombard Street, Birmingham; Rev. W. Salter, of Netherton; and Rev. G. D. Richardson, of Union Place, Longford; and we pray that they may be abun dantly successful in their different spheres of labour."

II. That the churches be advised to take into consideration the desirability of uniting with the Midland Baptist Union.

III. A letter from the London Conference respecting the working of our Home Missions having been read, it was resolved: "That this Conference recommends to the consideration of the Association the question, whether there cannot be, with advantage, a greater concentration of effort in respect to Home Mission work."

IV. The next Conference to be held at Coventry in October. Rev. W. Salter, of Netherton, to preach. The paper, to be read by Rev. E. C. Pike, B.A., the subject to be left in the hands of brethren Barnett, Lees, Pike, and Cross.

V. Brethren Barnett and Carpenter of Longford, Lee and Cross of Coventry, were appointed as a Committee to prepare the business for the next Conference.

In the evening the Rev. W. Lees, of Walsall, preached an earnest sermon from Rev. ii. 1, "Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."

H. CROSS, Secretary.

CHAPELS.

ALLERTON.-On Saturday afternoon, March 31st, the ceremony of laying the foundation stone of a NEW CHAPEL at Allerton, was performed by Mr. A. Illingworth, M.P. The site on which the building is to be erected occupies a very central position in tl e village. The proposed building will contain school-rooms and class rooms in the basement. The chapel will contain