T. Naish and G. L. Parrot, Esqs., the latter a member of the Church of England, who with several other persons of different religious communions had favoured the company with their presence. An announcement was made in the course of the afternoon, that a cheaper edition of Dr Kippis's collection of hymns and psalms, the letter press corresponding with the old editions, was now in course of publication by Longthe price of which would be as low as 2s. 3d. if 500 copies were taken. Ministers and others desirous of obtaining this cheaper edition, would greatly facilitate the object, by having the kindness to forward without delay the number of copies they could take, to the Rev. H. Hawkes, or E. Kell.

mans,

LONDON DOMESTIC MISSION SOCIETY.-The Seventh Anniversary was held in the chapel, Little Carter Lane, Doctors' Commons, on Wednesday, the 20th of April last. The introductory devotional service was undertaken by the Rev. William Bowen, of Cradley, and an animated, impressive and highly appropriate discourse was delivered by the Rev. Hugh Hutton, of Birmingham. The collection and donations amounted to upwards of L.60. After the service, the annual meeting for business was held in the chapel, Thomas Thornely, Esq. M.P., in the chair. The reports of the Treasurer and Secretary were read and approved, and the meeting was addressed at some length by the several gentlemen who moved and seconded the following resolutions, as well as by the Missionaries, the Chairman, and the Rev. Mr Linwood of Brixton, Moved by James Yates, Esq., seconded by James Young, Esq., "That the Reports now read be received and approved; and that they be printed and circulated at the discretion of the Committee."-Moved by James Young, Esq.. seconded by Thomas Hornby, Esq., "That the following gentlemen be requested to fill the offices hereafter mentioned for the ensuing year :-William Wansey, Esq. Treasurer; Rev. E. Tagart, Secretary; that the Rev. Dr Hutton, Mr Preston, Mr Fisher, Mr Surridge, Mr Pett, Mr Richard Tayler, and Mr James Yates, be the Committee."-Moved by the Rev. Dr Hutton, seconded by the Rev. E. Tagart, “That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Rev. Hugh Hutton for his highly appropriate and animating discourse delivered this day."-Moved by Thomas Hornby, Esq. seconded by the Rev. G. Kenrick, "That this meeting impressed with a strong sense of the great inconvenience and disadvantages connected with the station in Half-Moon Alley, recommends it to the Committee to give their earnest attention to the means of obtaining better accommodation for the worshippers

and children of that district."-Moved by the Rev. E. Chapman, seconded by the Rev. Dr Hutton, “That this meeting rejoices in the proofs which the past history of the Society affords of its great and growing usefulness, and humbly commends its future course to the Divine care and blessing."Moved by John Fisher, Esq. seconded by James Yates, Esq. "That the cordial thanks of this meeting be given to the Chairman for his kind and valuable services in the chair."

The chief topic of interest at the meeting seemed to be the state of the room at Half-Moon Alley; and in conformity with the impressions and instructions of the meeting, the Committee of the Society have determined on an immediate appeal to the public for pecuniary aid, to assist in providing better and much wanted accommodation for the worshippers and children of that district, which is under Mr Vidler's charge.

CHRISTIAN TRACT SOCIETY.-The Thirty-third Annual Meeting of this Society was held at the office in Newgate Street, May the 5th, James Yates, Esq. in the chair.-From the Treasurer's report it appeared that the amount of annual aubscriptions for the last year was £35: 16: 6, and of life subscriptions, £15, 15s.; and for tracts sold, £29: 12: 11. After paying all the current expenses, there remained only 10s. 4d. on hand, and there was an outstanding balance of £24 188 for printing. Some expense has been incurred by stereotyping "William's Return," "James Talbot," and "Greenwood's Sermons to Children," but, as these may be regarded as standard tracts, the Committee have thought themselves justified in making rather a heavy outlay upon them, with the prospect of an eventual saving. Besides "Greenwood's Sermons," there have been added to the Society's Catalogue, "The Fireside Missionary" and the First Part of "Persevere and you must Succeed;" and, as the manuscript of the Second Part of the last-named work has been purchased by the Committee, it is expected that it will be printed in the course of the next autumn or winter. The following gentlemen were elected to the respective offices for the year ensuing :-Treasurer, James Esdaile, Esq.; Secretary, Rev. S. Wood; Committee, Revs. J. C. Means, R. K. Philp, and W. Vidler; Messrs J. E. Clennel, J. Hart, and F. Wansey; Auditors, Messrs Wansey and Bracher; Agent, Mr J. Green; Collector, Mr Wiche. It is to be regretted that so few persons attend the annual meetings of this Society. Other institutions have sprung up, the utility of which is not to be questioned, and which draw forth from the public a more vivid expression of interest; but it should be recol

lected, that some of those societies would be restricted in their means of usefulness, had they not valuable materials supplied to them by that for which we are now pleading.

GENERAL BAPTIST ASSEMBLY.-The General Assembly of General Baptist churches was held at the meeting-house in Worship Street, London, on Whit-Tuesday, May 17. There were present friends from Bath, Trowbridge, Warminster, Godalming, Portsmouth, Saffron Walden, Cranbrook, Headcorn, Bessels Green. The business commenced not long after nine o'clock-Mr Stephen Blundell, of Cranbrook, in the chair. Mr J. L. Short, of Warminster, opened the meeting with prayer, and the letters from the churches were then read. The most cheering were those from Trowbridge, which reported an addition of fifteen members by baptism, and from Saffron Walden, which reported an addition of six.-The public service commenced at eleven o'clock. Mr Short read the Scriptures and gave out the hymns; Mr John Marten, of Saffron Walden, prayed; and Mr Squier, of Deptford, preached from 1 Cor. xiii. 13, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."- After the conclusion of the business, the members of the Assembly and their friends dined together at the White-Hart Tavern, Bishopsgate Street-Mr John Marten, of Saffron Walden, in the chair. Several sentiments were proposed by the Chairman and responded to by Messrs Evans, Squier, Mardon, Blundell and other friends.-The company then returned to the meeting-house to tea; and after tea, Mr Smallfield was called to the chair, and the friends present were addressed by Messrs Chapman (of Godalming), Short, Vidler (of London), and Saint (of Headcorn), on subjects suggested by appropriate passages of Scripture, J. C. M.

We have just

The work enables us

WILSON'S CONCESSIONS OF TRINITARIANS.received this large and highly interesting volume. contains 624 pages, and so far as a cursory glance to judge, is well arranged. We again commend its purchase to our readers. Its indefatigable and excellent author merits every encouragement; and seasonable aid may be rendered to him on commencing business for himself, as well as the holy cause of Christian truth be promoted, by a rapid and extensive sale of this valuable volume.

THE

CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

No. 193.

SEPTEMBER 1842.

VOL. XVI.

THE CHRISTIAN MIRACLES, AND THE PLACE THEY HOLD IN THE GOSPEL EVIDENCE.

(Continued from p. 362.)

I REPEAT, that miracles have had the effect of arousing men's attention to Nature. In the acknowledgement of a miracle there is, and must be, an implied reference to Nature, as the basis of the comparison by virtue of which it is believed to be a miracle. In those who were eye-witnesses of the Christian miracles, and in us who read of them as they are historically recorded, the belief, or the examination even, of the alleged miracle, implies a tacit comparison, or else leads to a more express one, with the known powers and operations of the natural world. And thus, even in the frequent denial of miracles by scientific men, I read the fact to which I am pointing, that the miraculous claims of the Gospel, whether true or false, have led to a more lively perception of the hidden wonders of God in Nature and Providence. And when this perception is accompanied with a really devotional habit of mind,-when the student of the laws of Nature traces in them the perpetual operation of the all-working and all-beneficent Father, -however I may differ from his opinion that the Divine Author of those laws has bound Himself absolutely to their observance, I must rejoice to find that he derives the same devotional influences from his spiritual contemplation of the works of God in Nature, which come to another's mind from Nature and miracle harmonized together in his thoughts. That state of mind which views the majestic laws of Nature as the perpetual acts of God (not idolizing the laws themselves, as a mere

material philosophy, somewhat prevalent, is wont to do), and which deems it the perfection of Divine wisdom so to have ordained those laws, as never to have occasion for additional modes of action,-this state of mind, which belongs to many a philosophical religionist, is to me a beautiful illustration of the essential analogy of design that subsists between the Gospel miracles and the standing marvels of the world. The great design is fulfilled in this case, as well as in that of him who derives the same devotional influences partly from his belief in miracles. The spiritual perception of both is cultivated; the devotional taste of both is drawn forth into worship and love. They are both RELIGIOUS men; and this is the design of God respecting them.

And here let us observe, that the mere belief in the miracle, is not the ultimate state of mind required to be produced in him who believes it. Ask what the better the Christian's mind ought to be for this his reception of the miraculous history of his religion? And, apart from its influence upon his understanding as connected with the Gospel evidence (in which view we have already considered the matter), the moral influence of his belief in miracles plainly is, to open his spiritual perception of the invisible things of God, whether in the Gospel or in the world; and to lead him to worship, and love, and serve God, as in all, and over all His works. Its influence consists in making him sensible of the often forgotten truth, that in God we live, and move, and have our being. It realizes the presence, the authority, and the perfections of the heavenly Father to his thoughts. It teaches him to see God in what is natural as well as in the supernatural. It inspires him with practical, habitual devotion. This, then, is the moral purpose of the miraculous in Christianity. And whether it be by its means, or by the natural dispensations of God's works and providence, that this devotional habit of mind is produced, the spiritual developement of the mind is in either case promoted. Different minds, be it remembered, need to be educated in different ways. The same set of truths and their evidences present themselves to different intellects with various degrees of force; but our moral developement,