as appears in a paper subscribed | Mr. Wilson, in his History of by them, and laid before our Dissenting Churches, states, (but committee of the three deno minations. "We add our earnest supplications, that God would accompany them with his blessing to establish peace and truth amongst us; and freely declare, that we utterly disown the Arian doctrine, and sincerely believe the doctrine of the blessed Trinity and the proper* Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we apprehend to be clearly revealed in the holy scriptures; but are far from condemning any who appear to be with us in the main, though they should choose not to declare themselves in other than scripture terms, or not in ours. "May the great and good God pour out of his Holy Spirit abundantly upon us all; and the prayers of you all be continually for us, that we may increase in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour. We are Your affectionate brethren and servants in our common Lord, "The Ministers in and about London. he does not give his authority,) that at the commencement of the debate, Dr. Calamy, Dr. Watts, Mr. Neal, Mr. Price, Mr. Hall, Mr. Bayes, Mr. Munckley, Dr. Marriott, and others, left the assembly: this perhaps accounts for the absence of their names from both the lists. (To be continued.) ̧ FUND. FOR IOTA. MINISTERS' WIDOWS. To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. No. for December, 1818, begins, THE two papers with which the deserve serious consideration, and your readers will thank the worthy author for turning their attention to the important subjects which are there brought forward. The first paper respects the assistance which it is so desirable to procure for the Widows of Ministers, and on this subject, with your permission, I will lay before your readers a few observations. Our friend's appeal to the Baptist denomination in behalf of the "Signed by me in their name and Magazine, as affording a cheap by their appointment, JOSH. OLDFIELD, Moderator. "P.S. This letter is to all whom it may concern, and therefore it is desired, that it be communicated 'to all such with the Advices." «N. B. The human words [Trinity and proper Divinity] in this declaration of our faith, are used only to notify the things we speak of; and we do not presume in the way of test, to go into any particular explications of those things, either in our own or other men's words: but for that we refer to the holy scriptures; whence it may appear, that we take the scripture account of those things to be the best and fittest we can use on such an occasion," and ready method of contributing immediate and valuable support, to the Widows of Baptist Ministers,, deserves attention, and I hope will obtain it. The plan is formed: the circulation of the. Magazine, as you have informed us, is productive of the most happy effects; and every additional number sold, adds to the provision for the widow and the fatherless. This consideration will, I trust, lead many to encourage the Baptist Magazine, who otherwise might have let it pass without their support. I should also be glad if it produces another effect; and brings forth the FUND FOR MINISTERS' WIDOWS. 57 stores of talent and information | nations, and others both donawhich the denomination possesses, in so copious a manner, as to render your Monthly Numbers increasingly pleasing and instructive. It is a very powerful motive that is presented to the mind, when the assistance that will be afforded to the widow and fatherless, is urged as a reason for helping a common cause, and for encouraging the hearts of our brethren in the Lord. But in addition to any contributions which the Magazine can ever be expected to afford, it is very desirable that some plan of effectual support should be adopted, which would banish the fear of that extreme indigence, which often appals the heart of the poor minister and of his distressed wife, whenever a frowning Providence threatens his removal. Here the question of ways and means comes forward; and this is very often not considered, because no plan presents itself to view, which might collect the benevolence of many into one common focus. tions and annual subscriptions. The congregations would generally, if proper application were made, have an annual collection for the same end. The ministers would also subscribe; and from their various sources a fund might be raised in less time than is commonly supposed, which would greatly relieve the anxieties of many a worthy family when the day of trial approaches. Whenever such a society is formed, the ministers will be of various ages; some in youth, others in advanced life. In the progress of the society the same difference in the age of the ministers will always exist. The aged may be expected to die within a few years, and their widows will then be claimants: the young may die, and their widows, who will commonly be in the earlier periods of life, not only will in most cases need assistance, but may continue on the society for a considerable time. The practical question then is, what can such an institution afford to the widows, in answer is ;-for every pound per annum which a congregation, or its individual members subscribe, the society can afford to allow £4 per annum as an annuity to the minister's widow: and in case his wife die before him, and on his death a family of children are left unprovided for, the so Much may be done, and in some districts is done, by a num-proportion to its income? The ber of individuals and congregations, forming a society, expressly for the purpose of assisting the widows and children of Dissenting ministers. I doubt not many of your readers understand the subject better than I do, but as none of your contributors have noticed it, if the following observations are deem-ciety can afford to appropriate ed of any value, they are much at your service. the sum of £40 for their assistance. This important relief might Suppose then, the ministers and be rendered immediately, if needcongregations of a county or as-ed, without waiting a number of sociation, to unite for this pur-years for the accumulation of a pose; many of the most opulent fund. individuals, who support our common cause, would instantly subscribe; some would offer do VOL. XI. To illustrate the above principle by an example; suppose the number of congregations in a I 58 FUND FOR MINISTERS' WIDOWS. county, district, or association, who agree to form such a society, to be 20. Of these 20 it is to be expected that the richer congregations would contribute more than the others; but doubtless they would all assist according to their ability. Suppose also, that on the average, they contribute £5 per annum each, making the annual receipt of the society £100; when any of the ministers died, £20 per annum could be afforded for his widow; or if he left no widow, but left a family of orphans, £200 might be appropriated, as it was wanted, for their support and education. And should it be the case, that any of the ministers should die during the first year of such a society being formed, still the society may, at its next meeting, vote the specified supply for the widow without fear; provided the members keep up their subscriptions. At the formation of such an institution, it will be very desirable to solicit the wealthier members to contribute towards a fund, which would be a supply in hand in case any unexpected appeal should be made to the society; and which, if favoured by Providence, through the lives of the ministers being continued for a course of years, before any number of claims came forward, would accumulate by the yearly addition of interest, and thus render the powers of the institution more effective, when the demands might become more than usually pressing. number of widows would be many; and the institution would seem to grow needlessly rich. It would then appear to some persons, that the funds could afford more, that it might extend its benevolence to other objects,that it was acting too much on the prospective plan, by looking forward to futurity; and many would call in question the justmess of the theory, and suppose that an important error had been made in the calculation. The reply to these observations is, that according to the usuał course of mortality, TWENTY/ ministers will leave THIRTEEN WIDOWS; and THREE of them will leave ORPHANS: so that in time, SIXTEEN appeals may be expected to be made to the benevolence of the society; and these appeals will not amount to their greatest number till between 50 and 60 years from the time when the society was begun! As an outline, it may be suggested, that in one institution of this nature, with which the writer of these remarks is connected, the subscription of one guinea per annum, or a donation of ten guineas at one time, constitutes a person a member; except in the case of ministers, whose subscription is 10s. 6d. per annum : or, if they pay £5 5s. at one time, they are then members for life. The society meets once a year to transact business, and has a small standing committee, which may be called together, and which have a limited portion of power committed to them, inIn the common course of case any peculiar exigency, deevents, it would generally hap-mands immediate attention. pen, that for some years, the deaths would be few; and as there would be no claimants on the society at its formation, it would be some time before the This institution has received very important support from liberal donations towards its fund, besides subscriptions and collections: and whenever such a CALVIN'S society is formed, it is very desirable that this valuable source of assistance should not be overlooked. Many who can afford it, will contribute to the fund, and be annual subscribers also; others who are not able to subscribe, will be desirous of shewing their approbation of the design, by a donation according to their ability. The ground-work of the calculation offered to your notice, in the above remarks, is clearly laid down in Dr. Price's Treatise on Annuities; and is justified by a plan acted upon in Scotland, which embraces the whole number of the parish ministers, and the professors of the universities in that kingdom. It is settled by an Act of Parliament, and having been in operation a great number of years, it presents a broad basis of fact, from which we may reason with tolerable certainty. In Scotland, the annual payment is £5 58. from each minister and professor, and the annuity to the widow is £20 per annum, and £200 to a family of orphans. The plan suggested in this paper, supposes only £5 per annum, on an average, paid by each of the congregations. So that the risk is rather more on this system, than on that of our northern neighbours; but many circumstances might be mentioned, which would enable an institution formed on the principles now submitted to your notice, to make the provision before specified. I have trespassed so far already, that I must not enlarge: but I have no objection to resume the subject, if you think that any additional observations of mine are likely to be useful. I am your very humble servant, JOSEPH US. COMMENTARIES ON THE SCRIPTURES. IN answer to Epenetus's Inquiry concerning the above work, we do not know that the whole of Calvin's Commentaries have been translated into English. We have in our possession his Commentary on the Galatians, entiled, "Sermons of M. John Calvine upon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians. Im printed at London, by Lucas Harison and George Bishop. 1574." We do not know what other Commentaries of his Mr. Fuller had seen: but he possessed his Commentary on the Acts, entitled, "The Commentaries of Mr. John Calvine upon the Actes of the Apostles, Faithfully transkated out of Latine into English, for the great profite of our countriemen, by Christopher Fetherstone, Student in Divinitie. Londini: Impensis G. Bishop. 1585." -On a blank leaf at the beginning, Mr. Fuller wrote in 1787 as follows: "202 years this book has been printed, and it seems but little use has been made of it; much less, I think, than it deserves. Perhaps the style of the translator may have been one reason. At that time the English language was very different from what it now is. But this should not make us overlook the excellent matter contained in it, which I think is exceeded by no exposi for whatever. I wish all Calvin's Commentaries were translated into modern English. A. F." We have also heard Mr. Fuller speak in the highest terms of the Commentaries of Calvin. AN ADDRESS Delivered to the Teachers of the AT THE BAPTIST CHAPEL, MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, ..IT was with considerable reluctance, as you well know, that I undertook to speak to you on the present occasion; being well aware that you did not need to be informed as to the principal points of your duty. I am happy, however, on many accounts, that we are met together. By no means assuming the formal attitude of your instructor, I would rather wish to be regarded by you as a beloved companion and fellow-labourer, who would fain be the humble instrument of animating you to all that is amiable, valuable, and holy. For this purpose I would remind you of two things:-You are zealously engaged in well-doing; — you should diligently persevere in the noble pursuit. I. You ARE ZEALOUSLY ENGAGED IN WELL-DOING. out making some effort at the same time for the relief of his spiritual necessities. You, my dear young friends, will be solicitous to do as much good as possible to the bodies, as well as to the immortal souls of the dear children committed to your care. Indeed your plan necessarily includes in it a diligent attention to their present as well as their everlasting welfare. It must have been with consi derable exertion and zeal that you have been able to collect and superintend between six and seven hundred poor children. To teach them to read the sacred scriptures, which inform them of the God who made them ;—that he ought to be worshipped" in spirit and in truth;"that his favour is "better than life;" that they have souls of more value than the world, which are in danger of being lost because they are sinners;-that the great Being whom they have offended has provided a Saviour, who is infinitely able and willing to save the most unworthy;-that nothing but an "unbelieving heart, and Genuine Christian charity is a an ungodly life, can ever sepavery comprehensive duty, and rate them from the endearments there are many mistakes, very of his love;"-that though the common in society, on this im- body die, the happy spirit, reportant subject. Some imagine deemed by the precious blood of that if they occasionally relieve the Son of God, shall exult in his the temporal distresses of a fel- blissful presence everlastingly;low-creature, they do all that is this, my dear young friends, is incumbent on them; whilst, per- your work; and surely this is a haps, there are others, who as sublime plan of well-doing. To vainly suppose, that their frequent watch and pray unremittingly for wishes and exertions for the spiri- their welfare; to teach them to tual welfare of the human race, venerate the day of God, and to are all that is required by the sabe the means in the Divine Hand cred scriptures. The union of of early kindling in their youthful both of these constitutes true bosoms the flame of elevated Christian benevolence. It is said piety;-in a word, by the most of the admirable Doddridge, that awful sanctions to enforce on he never relieved the temporal them "whatsoever things are wants of a fellow-creature, with- true, honest, just, pure, lovely, |