to say we have had no necessity to expel any of our members, nor have any voluntarily separated from us. Peace and harmony have prevailed, and I sincerely trust the Lord the Spirit will continue to work a still greater work, and we will give Him all the glory.

"The congregation has continued gradually and steadily to increase, and it would increase considerably more if we could afford to give pews to families who are desirous to obtain them. But we can only afford odd sittings, as all the pews are occupied.

"I have good attendance in all my out-stations, and I believe God is greatly blessing my labours in these places. The Sabbath-school is doing well; the attendance during the past winter has been much better than formerly.

"I continue to visit regularly among my people, which owing to the increase in my congregation gives me additional labour. But this I regard as a very important part of my work, as by visiting from house to house I have an opportunity of knowing all the requirements of my dear people, and am better prepared for preaching so as to profit them. I could mention many circumstances, in connexion with my ministry here, which might be interesting to the Committee and your readers in general, but as I cannot trespass too far on your time I shall merely mention one or two.

"I mentioned in a former report that some Unitarian families had joined our congregation, since then some more families have come to us, and I am happy to tell you that some of them have been converted, and have joined the Church. Lizzy A- is the eldest daughter in a large and interesting family; she came one Sabbath to hear me, and induced her father-who is a very intelligent man-to accompany her on the following Sabbath. He did so, and afterwards took a pew for his family. That young girl was converted, and

became a member of the Church and a teacher in the Sabbath-school.

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'Mr. A- afterwards requested me to visit his aged parents, who reside four miles out in the country, and who also were Unitarians. He said they had never been instructed regarding the atonement of Christ. I went, and continued to visit them regularly, and I have reason to hope that his mother, who has been confined to bed for the greater part of the past year, has been enabled to rest on Christ for salvation.

"Eliza A, their daughter, took a sitting in the chapel, and after some time was laid on a bed of affliction, which she then regarded as her deathbed. She desired them to send for me. I immediately went, and she said, ‘Mr. I am very ill, and probably may not recover, and I feel very anxious about my soul. Will you kindly explain to me the atonement of Christ? I have never heard it preached in the Church to which I belonged, and am ignorant of the plan of salvation.'

"I then read the 53rd chapter of Isaiah and the first chapter of the first epistle of John, and engaged in conversation on the doctrines contained in them, desiring her to ask me any question she might think proper. During our conversation and prayer she seemed deeply in earnest. The next morning she sent for her brother, and when he arrived she requested him to send for me, as she felt worse and wished to tell me that God had blessed my conversation and prayer to the salvation of her soul. When I arrived I was greatly delighted to find her very happy, resting on the great atonement, and rejoicing in the favour of Christ. However, she gradually recovered and became a member of the Church, and I trust will glorify the Saviour.

seldom been absent from our service, Sabbath morning and evening. He has renounced all the errors of Unitarianism, and I believe God has wrought a gracious work in his heart. He has lately applied for membership in our Church.

"Already we have received three who were Unitarians into our Church, and three others are on my list of applications for membership. I have been greatly encouraged while visiting some of our people who have passed away to join the Church triumphant. An aged sister-the oldest member of the Church-died, after suffering long affliction, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God. Some others have left the same cheering testimony of the power of Divine grace to support in the last conflict.

"In reviewing the goodness of God in the past year we have good cause to praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for what is to come."

Another devoted agent sends the following:

"The winter now past has been a season of trial with us here at Bstrongly taxing our faith and patience. The poor have suffered very much from want of employment and the high price of provisions, whilst death has also been in our midst. We have lost two old members. One of them had been connected with the Independents for upwards of sixty years. He died at the good old age of eighty-two, full of grace, and beloved by all who knew him. He was a quiet, unassuming man, and walked in the path of duty with a steady step. As he drew near the end of his earthly pilgrimage he seemed to increase in the love of God and in the desire to be with Jesus. His end was peace.

"The other was one of our most active deacons. He was a remarkably intelligent and active man, and we feel his loss the more deeply because that his experience enabled him to be of the greatest service to us in any important business connected with the Church. His memory will long be cherished in our

hearts. The Lord has, however, raised up a young man, full of grace and good works, to fill his place, so that whilst one after another is removed to the Church above, there is always a way opened up to keep the good work progressing.

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But amid all these trials I have still much to cheer and inspire hope My people are so kind, gentle, and loving towards myself and each other, and so willing to unite with me in doing anything for the welfare of the Church, that I feel greatly encouraged, and quite at home amongst them. Not long since an elder, belonging to a neighbouring Presbyterian congregation, remarked to me that he did not know any congregation in which there was so much real sympathy and love as among the people of the B Church and congregation.

"In every part of my work I am receiving encouragement. My out-stations continue to be well attended, and I believe the truth is spreading and finding its way into many homes. I find great assistance in domiciliary visitation from an ample supply of tracts sent me by a kind gentleman in Yorkshire.

"The new Sabbath-school which I opened last year in the chapel is doing well. We have now forty-seven scholars and six active teachers, all vying with each other in the useful work. R- our old Sabbath-school continues in a state of steady prosperity. We have there eighty-five scholars and ten teachers.

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At

I may add that the collectors have a little money in hand, but they wish to keep it till they have a larger amount to send. Altogether, I have great reason to thank God for His past mercies, and trust in Him for the future. Thus far has He helped us, and I am sure He will not desert those who are His praying people."

INDIRECT INFLUENCES OF OUR MISSION LABOURS.

The Irish Evangelical Society, as is well known in Ireland, has been from

its commencement blessed of God, not only by its direct instrumentality in the conversion of immortal souls, but by the indirect influence which its principles and operations have exerted in the awakened life and zeal of many other religious communities. There are few of the evangelical denominations in that country which are not willing, gratefully to confess themselves, under God, largely its debtors. Wherever our brethren are labouring, this result is flowing from their efforts still. One of our ministers, resident in a town with a population of upwards of 6,000, of whom some 5,500 are Romanists, lately wrote thus :

"I am persuaded that loyalty to our principles and direct teaching of the truth of Jesus Christ will make itself felt, even here. There never was a time when our testimony was more important than now. Weak though we may be in Ireland, our influence, where exercised upon other churches, is obvious. Here, I assure you, our presence has made others most busy and zealous."

LAY EVANGELISTIC WORK.

The following are extracts from the journals of a few of these devoted

men:

"Visited four families; read and expounded the Scriptures to eight Roman Catholics and ten Protestants, with whom I spent a considerable time. After which I fell in with two Roman Catholic women; one of them said that good works were necessary to salvation. I then read to them the 8th and 9th verses of the second chapter to the Ephesians, &c. They appeared highly pleased; our conversation was in Irish.'

"Visited five families; read and expounded the Scriptures to nine Roman Catholics and thirteen Protestants. The greater part of the Roman Catholics heard me patiently. With one of them, returning home, had a long conversation; said he had a Testament which he read frequently. I made the best

use of my time, pointing out to him God's way in the salvation of sinners." 'Heard of a young man who was at our chapel the evening previous and heard the glorious gospel preached. He returned home in good health, and in expectation of being at the ordination of Mr. G; but he was seized with apoplexy, and in a few hours was a corpse. I went to the wake, to give some sympathy to the surviving friends; and my stay was long, as I find it a profitable place, where all classes of people are in the habit of resorting. I found a great many Romanists present, and distributed a great number of tracts. While reading and expounding the Scriptures, and conversing on religious matters, very many poor dupes of Popery heard the Word of God's grace, I hope to their spiritual profit."

"This man was sick, nigh unto death, since my previous visit to him, but the affliction has proved a great blessing to him. It has brought him nearer to God, and made him think more seriously than before of his spiritual and everlasting condition. When first I visited him-some years ago now-he was a very coarse, godless kind of man, and his children, at least the grown up male portion of them, sympathizers with Fenianism; but I got him to come to my meetings, and by this means, and reading of tracts which I gave him, and conversations with him on the subjects contained in those tracts, the truth, I trust, has began to bear fruit in his case. His wife, also, appeared impressed."

The Committee need the pecuniary help of the friends of Ireland; but they need also their prayers. So momentous is the object at which they aim, and so peculiar and manifold are the difficulties with which they have to contend, that nothing short of Divine power can Let but prayer be

secure success.

poured out, fervently and importunately, by the Churches on Ireland's behalf, and doubtless, ere very long, the hour of her gladness will arrive.

LIVING AND DYING.

AN ancient philosopher once asked a friend which he would rather be, Croesus-one of the richest and most wicked of men, or Socrates—one of the poorest, but one of the most virtuous. He answered, that in life he would like to be a Croesus, but in death a Socrates. Thus it is with many now. In living they would have the luxuries of Dives; but in dying, the happiness and convoy of angels which Lazarus had. In living they would indulge in the vanities and vices of the wicked; but in dying would have Balaam's wish realizeddie the death of the righteous. But these two cannot be united. Living and dying go hand in hand together, the latter being influenced by the former.-John Bate.

BENGEL'S RESTING PLACE.

We are told that Bengel, the great German scholar, when upon his death-bed, requested a dear friend to read to him the sacred Scriptures. When the reader came to the passage, "The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin," the dying man stopped him, saying, “Add no more, it is enough; I shall die on these words." His vigorous and cultivated intellect had laid in vast stores of knowledge; he had gone the round of the sciences, and pressed his way through the thick fog-banks of metaphysical and theological speculations, till he had found the only resting-place-faith in a Saviour's death.-Robert Boyd, D.D.

"CHRIST WILL DO."

Dr. Bonar mentions a case of a man who by the most persevering efforts had tried to make himself better. He doubled the amount of his devotions; he set up family worship; he engaged in the performance of many good works, saying, "Surely God will give me peace now!" But peace came not. At last he thought of having a prayer-meeting in his house, as a remedy that could not fail. He wrote out a prayer and committed it to memory on the day of the meeting; and after he had finished committing it, he threw it down on the table, saying,

Surely that will do; God will give me peace now!" Just at that moment the words were flashed through his mind-no doubt sent by the Holy Spirit-" No, that will not do; but Christ will do." Instantly his whole soul was flooded with peace and joy, and for the remainder of his life his watchword was, "Christ will do."-Robert Boyd, D.D.

BUSINESS AND RELIGION.

"Business must be attended to," is the oft-repeated statement of a certain class of men, when requested to give time and attention to the means of personal religion. None but a fanatic would say that business must be neglected for religion; or that religion must be neglected to attend to business. The fact is, that both have their claims; and the claims of both should be met. There are many who acknowledge the two claims, but only meet one, and which need not be stated. He is a wise man that places the two claims in their relative position, and attends to them according to their respective importance. He is a fool who sees the claims of religion and at the same time ignores them, and devotes himself exclusively to the claims of business.John Bate.

THE STUDY OF NATURE. Philosophers of this world tell us to study nature; and praise the knowledge of nature as the perfection of all knowledge. They seem to think that if we only understand nature well, and obey her teachings, we have about enough for all the purposes of life, peace, and piety. But if this were really so, I take it that God would have said more about Nature in His Word. Instead of confining His account of the heavens and the earth, and all that in them is, to two chapters, I would look to see volumes freighted with it, and would expect Genesis to be geology, and Exodus natural history, and Leviticus medicine, and Numbers mathematics, and Deuteronomy chemistry, and Joshua psychology, and Judges natural law. I certainly could not reconcile it with the fact