is simple. Now, as a physical opening is not contended for, this subject may be dismissed at once. And as to open the mind means to enlighten, so to open the heart, where it means anything more, means to influence, to act. More than this phrase, "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things spoken by Paul," resolves itself into the more literal and simple expression-whom the Lord influenced to attend to what Paul said. This is

clearly the meaning of the phrase; at least, more than this its terms will not safely import. Now, the question is, by what means did the Lord influence Lydia to attend or obey? That he did, it is certain; and equally as certain is it that he influenced the Corinthians to obey, and the Eunuch to obey: but the question is, by what means? Mr. Jeter thinks he influenced Lydia to obey by a "gracious, inward, efficacious influence of his Spirit." Doubtless the influence, whatever it was, was a very gracious one, for we can conceive of no other; quite inward, too, since it affected the woman's heart; very efficacious also, since it induced her to obey; and very certain that it was of the Spirit, but very uncertain whether it differed from the Truth, or was anything more than the Truth.

Now, it is clear, 1st, That the Spirit was present speaking to Lydia, speak ing through the Apostle; 2nd, That she heard what it said; 3rd, That there is an immense motive-power in the Truth; 4th, But not one particle of evidence that the Spirit was operating on Lydia in some other way than through the Truth, or exerting more power than is in the Truth. To what conclusion are we then forced? To the conclusion simply that the Lord influenced her to obey, by the light and motives of the Gospel.

The expression, "whose heart the Lord opened" can safely mean no more than this:-That the work was of the Lord. Certainly it does not assert the exertion of a special influence, neither does it necessarily imply it; hence, there is no ground on which to infer it. It merely asserts a fact, leaving the mode of its occurrence wholly unexplained; and in all such cases, it is certainly better to ascribe the fact to the causes known to be present and acting, than to such as are purely imaginary.

M. E. L.

WORKING AND THINKING. It is a no less fatal error to despise labour when regulated by intellect, than to value it for its own sake. We are always, in these days, trying to separate the two; we want one man to be always thinking, and another to be always working, and we call one man a gentleman, and the other an operative; whereas, the workman ought often to be thinking, and the thinker often to be working, and both should be gentlemen in the best sense. As it is, we make both ungentle, the one envying, the other despising his brother; and the mass of society is made up of morbid thinkers and miserable workers. Now it is only by labour that thought can be made healthy, and only by thought that labour can be made happy, and the two cannot be separated with impunity. All professions should be liberal, and there should be less pride felt in peculiarity of employment, and more in excellence of achievement.-Ruskin.

BOOK-MAKING.

THE brains of our people have been, for the last few years, fed upon such very light material, that they may be said to be in a state of collapse for lack of nutriment. Vapid sentimentalism, inflated passion, vulgar narrative, and bombastic verse, have each and all done their unwholesome work, till the critic may be justly likened unto that feline creature said to be endowed with nine lives, when placed under an exhausted receiver. The immense mass of material variously compounded is now, however, floating down the placid stream of oblivion.

A disposition to read something more solid and of substantial import, at present manifests a more wholesome mental appetite. History, biography, and travels, not records of the vanity of idlers, but records of people and places, are growing into every-day demand. As yet we have little deserving the name of biography, most of our lives" being literally taken hurriedly up to meet the demands of publishers, without the pretence of a philosophical basis. Our people cater so much to the immediate, that most of our books are without high moral influence.

BELFAST.

Another month has passed since I last wrote to you, but I cannot as yet report that some have been added to the saved. Still I

Last

am not without hope that some good has been done. Our meetings are better attended. The room where the church meets, I fear, will never do much good for meetings. It is not in a visitable neighbourhood, in my judgment. I have commenced a cottage meeting in Sandy Row, the place mentioned in my last. night the room was well filled, and the people were very attentive. I also preached in the open air on Sandy Row, on Sunday afternoon, aud had a large, and to all appearance, an attentive audience. I intend to speak at the same place next Lord's day, if spared, and weather permit. Our conference meetings keep up pretty well. We have had the subject of Baptism for the last three weeks

1. Do the Scriptures teach infant baptism? Two nights.

2. What is the action called baptism? One night. They seemed to have enough of it, although one man said, I had not brought one proof that it was dipping. Another said, he believed both sprinkling and immersion to be right. Several acknowledge that we are right, but have not courage to act upon their convictions. The man that said he believed both sprinkling and immersion to be right, at first made very light of baptism; but, now, he considers it a very important subject; for, he says, if our position be true, then they are all without the church. I gave him the full benefit of his own admission.

3. The design! That is for to-night.

I don't know that I have anything else to say about Belfast that would be interesting to you. The brethren at Castlewellan expect me to visit them, and if I have only another month to be here, I must make arrangements to do so as soon as I hear from you. May the Lord use us for the promotion of his glory.-Your's in hope of eternal life,

November 12, 1857.

CROSSGATES.

JOHN CORRIE.

Since the first time we met as a church in this place, which was on the 22nd October, 1848, we have had many additions to our number by confession and obedience to the command of the Lord, "Be baptised for the remission of sins." Up to the 24th May, 1854, forty-one had been thus added by means of the truth being clearly and forcibly presented to the minds of those resident in and around the district, by different brethren. But, of this number, nineteen have been caught in the

ness.

snares of the wicked, thus verifying what the Apostle says, "They are like the dog turning to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." In this position they continue, which is a proof that they do trasted with the error in which the people of not see the importance of the truth, as conthe world take pleasure. But there is a time the Lord, as well as those who, having concoming when those who have not acknowledged fessed him, afterwards rebelled against his authority, must be overtaken in their wickedAs the tree falls, so it must lie. How, then, should all the children of God so guard against what is opposed to and unauthorised by the Word of God. Happy only are those who know the truth and abide in it. From the last mentioned date, May 28th, 1854, to the 9th of August, 1857, we had no additions by baptism, four only being received from churches of the 19 referred to. Since that time, howin other parts, and one restored, but not one and encouraged in our feeble efforts by seeing ever, up to the present, we have been chcered the young and middle-aged, with whom the brethren frequently conversed on the all-imtion of the human family, coming boldly forportant subject of God's plan for the redempward, confessing their faith in the all-atoning in the ordinance of baptism, through which the sacrifice, and their determination to obey Jesus promise of the remission of sins is made. Seven have thus come forward, namely, one young woman on the 9th of August, and two on the 25th of October, one the wife of a brother; one young woman on the 1st of November, and a young man on the 8th; then, again, two on the 15th, a young woman and the husband of one of the sisters: thus, in two instances, husband and wife are joined in one mind to the Lord

faith which they have confessed, always proMay they all continue steadfast in the gressing in the knowledge of the Lord, by which their faith and hope will be strengthened for pressing on in the divine life towards that perfection of character which is holy and blameless. Another young woman was to be added on the 22nd instant, should circumstances permit. Your's in love for the truth,

LIVERPOOL.

The brethren in Liverpool feel under a deep debt of gratitude to the brethren of the Nottingham Committee, for so kindly responding to their earnest request for assistance, to bring ing Brother Rotherham to labor in this part of the Lord's vineyard. Since our brother's arrival, on the 4th inst., we have been busily engaged distributing handbills, at public meetings, and in the neighbourhood of the chapel. These have been useful in bringing a good many strangers to the place, and I have no doubt, the means we are taking, and others we are determined to adopt, will be attended with results that will cheer the hearts of all who truly love the Lord Jesus. Give me leave, my dear brother, on this occasion, to assure the brethren everywhere, that there are in the church in Liverpool those who will spare no exertion-who are prepared to put forth all the energies of warm loving hearts, for the extension of the Redeemer's Kingdom. But they need to be supported by the sympathy and aid of the brotherhood, in giving publicly to their meetings, and free circulation by tracts, pamphlets, and otherwise, to the principles we so ardently long to see prevail. We must endeavour to innoculate society with the desire for the pure word, and the pure practices inculcated by Christianity. We have too long been elbowed into a corner. The sects do all they can to ignore our existence. Our duty is to make them acknowledge it by making them feel it. Such is our determination, as far as we have strength and opportunity given to us in Liverpool, and with the powerful aid of Brother Rotherham, I am sanguine as to the result. Will the brethren help us by the word of encouragement, by earnest prayer to God, and by the liberal things devised by liberal loving souls ?-Your's, &c. November 20, 1857.

G. Y. TICKLE.

LOUGHBOROUGH,

MANCHESTER.

Since I wrote you about this time last month we have been moving on in our usual way. We have had, in this city, good meetings, although surrounded by efforts and attractions far more numerous and powerful than when we were here before, for now Churchmen and Nonconformists seem bent upon doing something for their respective denominations, and we, in the general effort, minus the little unauthorized tricks to which they condescend, are, consequently, less likely to be seen and heard. You will, however, be glad to hear that I have immersed into the ever availing name, four males and one female. The four have been received into fellowship in the Manchester church, and the one with the brethren in Stockport. We have also added to the church here, one who has been long without Christian fellowship, though some years an immersed believer. We are at present holding in or near Manchester, not including the meetings of classes named last month, but counting the Lord's day engagements, eight meetings in the week.

On Lord's day afternoon, November the 1st, I delivered the first of four discourses in a room hired by the few brethren in Ashton, their own room being too small and out of the way. Some twenty brethren came over from Manchester, in the afternoon, to give us the comfortable support which is ever derivable from the presence of those who love the Lord; but, as they did not all take the precaution to arrive an half-hour before the time announced, some half of them, with a large number of Ashton people, were unable to obtain admission, the room evidently not holding more than one half of those who made the effort to hear. On the Lord's day following, the large and fine Hall newly built by the Odd Fellows was in our possession, and a much larger and considerable company listened with profound attention to our discourse upon the Philosophy of Christianity, in relation to the love, power, and guilt of sin." On the Wednesday evenings following these discourses, we have had the brethren's usual meeting-room filled, when I heard and answered questions and objections relating to the discourses. These meetings have been quite animated, but at the same time kindly in feeling-the people much more disposed to go on than to go out, and not at all disposed to allow me to escape in time for

the last train.

R. M.

I purpose (D.v.) to visit Birmingham, according to the wish of the Annual Meeting, for a few days. I think to do this near the end of the year, and then to return to Manchester till the first or second week in Febru

hope to pass on to Birmingham, and to find there a good field. If, however, that should

not prove to be the case, I rejoice to know that Ashton and places near Manchester, will repay in fruits, for all the time and means to return and cast forth seed, which we may have at command.-Your's in love, D. KING.

MARYPORT.

I rejoice to inform you that the Church of Christ here had an accession of four beloved brethren from the Baptists last month. We greatly rejoice in this, for, as regards Christian intelligences and character, they certainly will adorn the church of our Lord Jesus the Christ, and assist us greatly in accomplishing the purpose of our Heavenly Father, that in the new dispensation of the fullness of time, he would gather in one all things in Christ-all the heaven and all the earth-even in him. This is the grand object of our being-this is the will of God to be done on earth. No other

name under heaven is to be the name, but the name of Christ; his is the name that is above every name; He is the Prophet, Priest, and King; his is the word we have to hear and obey in all things, and cease from man whose breath is in his nostrils. If all would do this, the purpose of God would soon be accomplished and all who will not do so are found fighting against God. Jesus says "Every one who is of the truth heareth my voice," &c. John says, "He that is not of God heareth not us." The voice of God is a unit, so that if searched and obeyed, unity is the inevitable consequence. But the voice of man is discord, so that when listened to and obeyed, it produces all the divisions in the Church of Christ that we behold in this age. I would earnestly exhort all who bas ears to hear, to listen to what the Spirit sayeth to the church.

October 28, 1857.

MOUNTSORREL.

J. FERGUSON.

On Lord's day, October 25th, a believer was immersed into the name of the Father, Sou, and Spirit, for the remission of her sins. The brethren at Loughborough allowed us the use of their baptistry on the occasion. There were a goodly number of strangers present, who appeared to be greatly interested, and from the conversation which took place after the service, I have reason to expect that others will follow the good example, and obey the Saviour. R. M.

FOREIGN ITEMS.

TOUR IN THE SOUTHERN STATES. - Bro. A. E. Myers, writing under date of August 4, furnishes a most interesting account of a tour made by him through a portion of the Southern States, for the proclamation of the Gospel. He says The cause of Primitive Christianity, is, wherever it is fairly presented to the people, onward and upward; and a more general feeling of confidence in the position, which we as a religious people, havetaken, has never before pervaded the heart of the brotherhood. Some two or three years since, under the constaut attacks from the Presbyterian rauks, headed by N. L. Rice; the violent assaults and misrepresentations by the Baptists, headed by Graves, Jeter, and Co., together with an under current constantly forced along by the clergy of almost every religious party in our country; and last, but not least, with the deflection of a few of our own brethren, and an apparent uneasiness on the part of some others, on the subjects of church organization, missionary efforts, &c., our brethren seemed for a moment to slack their efforts in order to a reexamination of our position, and the whole of the premises on which the effort rests. And we thank God that after this re-examination the whole brotherhood, with here and there an isolated exception, are settling down on the same great principles suggested and urged by our more venerable brethren, when they, near half a century since, began to urge their fellowcitizens and religionists of all classes to take their stand upon the Bible alone, as a rule of faith and practice, to take a Bible name-in short, to unite and worship together, as the first Christians did, under the guidance of the holy apostles of the Lamb.

Under this settled feeling, that our position is impregnable, our brethren have again entered the field with renewed energy, and victory already begins to perch upou the bauner of peace. No season since the commencement of the effort to return to the ancient order of things, has given the Christian heart more just cause for rejoicing than the present; from the accounts thus far, a much larger number has been added to the church than foe many years past, during the same season. In fact the news is cheering from almost all quarters,

The Evangelist's work is being better understood and appreciated by botn teacher and tuught, and hence the local ministry of the congregations is being elevated by a more Scripturally qualified class of persons being placed in these offices. Thus we are, by the help of the Lord, approaching that state of perfection which will secure success to the cause of our Master. Hence we thank God and are couraged.

During my journey I beheld many signal triumphs of the cross, the most noted being at

the company of Bro. W. Moore.