5. Is there not good reason to think that the age in which we live is such a time? that Providence has now furnished the church with such facilities for operation, and opened such a door of usefulness, especially among the heathen nations, that we shall be greatly wanting in duty to our Master, if we do not endeavour to avail ourselves of these opportunities of doing good, which were never so abundantly afforded to any other age?

6. Is it not evident that the distribution of evangelical TRACTS is one of the most effectual methods of disseminating the truth of God? and has not the blessing which has hitherto attended this enterprise, both in christian and heathen lands, warranted the conclusion that it is one of God's chosen means for the accomplishment of his purposes and predictions relating to the conversion of the world?

7. The prosecution of this object obstructs no other benevolent operation, but is a necessary auxiliary to all others; while, then, other societies, as particularly bible societies and missionary societies, are engaged in making extraordinary exertions, ought not the friends of the TRACT society also to move forward with renewed zeal and enlarged plans of operation?

8. Can the genuine disciples of Christ, who possess the means of promoting this cause, hold back, when so loud a call is addressed to them from almost every quarter of the globe for the bread of life?

9. Ought not mercantile enterprises now entered on for the purpose of making gain to be applied also to the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom? And should not those whose efforts to increase their prosperity God has signally blest, make a freewill offering of a portion of their profits to his service?

10. Would not the consecration of first-fruits, redemption for the first-born, and tenths laid upon the altar of God, probably bring down a blessing on all their possessions?

11. When a contest is going on in our minds between selfishness and benevolence, is it not the part of wisdom to lean to the side of benevolence?

12. When was it known that any man was impoverished by giving to the Lord? And if the time should come when men shall become poor by giving all their goods to promote the cause of Christ, will they not become infinitely rich by such a blessed poverty?

13. Is not the time for doing any thing in this cause short? Ought we not therefore to work while it is called to-day? Is it not certain that we shall never have another life upon earth? Ought we not, therefore, to do the best we can with the talents committed to us, that when our Lord shall come to reckon with us, he may say, "Well done, good and faithful servants?"

Extracts of Correspondence.

FOREIGN.

Questions proposed to Tract Distributors. PHILADELPHIA.-Dear Friends :-Do you make it a rule to commence this work in your closet, and on your knees, before the throne of God's mercy; humbly asking for grace and strength to enable you to discharge your duty with fidelity?

When you go to your work, do you feel and realize that you are the bearer of the great truths of the blessed gospel of God our Saviour to the families you visit, and that their receiving or rejecting those truths may fix their everlasting destiny?

When you present the tract, is it done in a kind and affectionate manner, and is your heart lifted up to God in earnest prayer that the Holy Spirit would be pleased to accompany this message of salvation to the conviction and conversion of those who receive it?

Do you endeavour to have conversation with the inmates of the houses you visit, on the infinite importance of the great things of eternity; of keeping holy the sabbath; attending the worship and sanctuary of God; sending their children to à sunday school; and reading the holy scriptures?

And do you rejoice when a monthly or quarterly prayer meeting arrives; and are you careful to let nothing prevent your attending, with your fellow-labourers, on those occasions, and uniting in imploring the blessing of Almighty God to accompany this work of faith and labour of love?

If so, my dear friends, blessed and happy are you; continue to persevere, and your labour will not be in vain; yours will be the rich and glorious reward of those who are made the honoured instruments of turning many from darkness to light yours shall be the crown that never fades away.

DOMESTIC.

The late Rev. Joseph Hughes, A. M.

THE following letter, from the Rev. C. F. A. Steinkopff, was read at the annual meeting of the Religious Tract Society:“I regret most sincerely that a severe attack of illness will prevent my personal attendance at the anniversary of the Religious Tract Society. I wished to say a few words in memory of our late invaluable friend, Mr. Hughes. It is upwards of thirty years ago that, at a committee meeting of this excellent institution, I first formed a personal acquaintanee with one, with whom I had afterwards the honour and privilege, for a series of years, to co-operate, to travel, and to

pray, in uninterrupted union and harmony, as a colleague in the office of secretary to the Religious Tract, and British and Foreign Bible Society. O how many important, instructive, profitable, blessed hours was I favoured to spend in his endeared society! How often had I occasion to admire his indefatigable zeal, the holy ardour of his mind, the soundness of his judgment, the eloquence of his lips, the discretion of his conduct! How often was I edified by observing his fervent love to Christ and to his people; his truly catholic spirit, his unfeigned modesty in preferring others in honour to himself; his meekness, patience, and active benevolence! How attractive his gentle spirit proved to my mind; the amiableness of his temper and deportment, his warm attachment to the word of life and salvation, his anxiety to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things, his peculiar talent for conversation, his desire to improve present opportunities for the glory of God and the good of his fellow-men, his affectionate regards for young people, and his skill in addressing them so as to arrest their attention and conciliate their affection. If I add to this, the calmness and composure, the serenity and cheerfulness, of his well-regulated mind, his delight in private communion with God, and in public acts of devotion; his self-abasement and contrition of soul; his disinterested and steady friendship; his readiness to forgive injuries; his tenderness in judging others; and the enlargement of his views, desires, and wishes for the good of all mankind, I cannot but praise God for having blessed me with such a friend, and society in general with such an unwearied labourer in the cause and kingdom of our adorable Redeemer. It may be truly said of him, 'Having served his generation, by the will of God he fell asleep; and again, 'The memory of the just is blessed.' May God raise up many faithful labourers in the place of those whom we have lost, and may he continue to bless the Religious Tract Society!"

From a Lady in Gloucestershire.

A LADY (I am not at liberty to mention her name) was on her sick bed; I was requested by her husband to visit her, which I did, and found her quite destitute of any comfort arising from well-grounded hopes for eternity. I endeavoured to point her to the only refuge for guilty sinners. She listened with attention; and I sent her, with a few lines of encouragement, the account of Miss P., by Mr. Knill. The interesting narrative seemed written for her: she told me afterwards it was many times taken up before she could get through with it, her feelings were so deeply impressed by reading. Their early histories had been very similar; both had enjoyed a gospel ministry, an eminently pious mother

and to both the world had proved a snare: they had sought its friendship, been led away by outward prosperity, and to both it was reserved that the riches of sovereign grace should be more known in the solitude of the sick chamber, and on the bed of death. At a following visit I found the tract, No. 285, Peace in Death, had proved very edifying. Although she had been accustomed to hear the gospel from a most faithful minister, yet her mind was far from being clear in her perceptions of the way of a sinner's enjoying peace of conscience, or any thing like an assurance of pardon or acceptance with God: the warm, yet simple statements of the poor old man were honoured to perform this work. Led, I trust, by God the Holy Spirit, she reposed, after many weeks of conflict, all her hopes of salvation on the atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer, and died in peace, imploring all around her to seek the Lord while he was to be found, and not to defer the great work to a dying hour. I cannot easily forget the anxiety with which she spoke, while her tears flowed fast, of her past neglect of the Saviour, and her great desire to be found right in the sight of God. Here is another proof of the suitableness of your publications for almost all circumstances. Thus alike in the Gottage of the poor, and the parlour and the sick room of those in higher walks of society, their kind silent messages speak powerfully to the heart and conscience, lead the soul to Christ, and are messengers of peace and hope for eternity.

From the Surgeon of a Convict Ship.

BEING just returned from Van Diemen's land, I desire to offer my thanks to the committee of the Religious Tract Society, for the tracts furnished for the convicts on board the I wish I could now positively state to the committee, (as what would gratify them more than any acknowledgments of mine,) that, in any instances, a decidedly serious impression had been made by the perusal of the pieces supplied me. To persons so depraved, and generally of confirmed bad habits, with a particular disposition to practise deception, one is very slow in giving credit to pretensions to the semblance of piety. Yet, I may have, in a few cases, carried this scepticism too far. Nothing could exceed the avidity with which the tracts were looked for every Sunday, and other favourable days that I distributed them. The narrative tracts were, as was to be expected, in greatest request; but all that I gave were read, and seemingly with attention, either by individuals who would read themselves, or by a person who could, to a group that could not; the teachers of the school classes during the week being appointed to read the tracts, &c. on Sunday afternoon, and arrangements being made, both on the upper and lower deck, for this being done without disturbance.

THE FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES.

THAT our Saviour might approve himself every way beneficent, he, that had filled the souls of his auditors with spiritual repast, will now fill their bodies with temporal; and he, that had approved himself the universal Physician of his church, will now be known to be the great Householder of the world, by whose liberal provision mankind is maintained. He did not more miraculously heal, than he feeds miraculously.

The disciples, having well noted the diligent and earnest attendance of the multitude, now, towards evening, come to their Master, caring for their repast and discharge. It well becomes even spiritual guides to regard the bodily necessities of God's people. But this is all that the worldly minded commonly look after; measuring their pastors more OCTOBER, 1834.

L