the constitution of Methodism. It is at all times a dangerous and troublesome experiment, to interfere with the long-established laws and usages of any large community. And it is a piece of impertinence to persist in attempting this, when the great mass of that community have repeatedly declared their approbation of them. Year after year, for some generations now, have Methodists been governed by the same laws, and have prospered. And surely this ought to be enough to silence those who are so given to change, and who have always something fresh to propose. We have had many meddlers starting up of late, but no improvers; and we have had tokens enough of what we may expect for Methodism, if it should be moulded after the fashion of a certain party. So far as their proposal for "reform" has gone, no suggestions have been offered which would in any way better our condition. And if these persons had attended to Mr. Wesley's direction, "not to mend our rules, but keep them," it would have been much better for themselves and those whom they have led astray.

In conclusion, we may repeat the well-known maxim, that “if we keep the laws, the laws will keep us;" and in illustration of it may observe, that those Circuits and those Superintendents have now the greatest difficulties to contend with, who have been the most lax in enforcing the laws and the discipline of the Connexion.

Such are some of the things which the agitation ought to do.

THE INCOME OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY

SOCIETY.

THE encouraging statement announced in the April Number of the Missionary Notices" must have filled the hearts of our readers, as it did our own, with delight and gratitude. After a year of extraordinary trial and opposition, the Missionary income of the Society for 1850 is found to be £104.661. 15s. 6d.; or more than £500 beyond the entire income of 1848, when the Connexion was undisturbed. This we regard as no small proof of the general satisfaction of our people, as well as of their determination to let no part of Methodism suffer through the wicked combination now directed against it. true that the gross income for 1849 is more by £7,000 than that of It is 1850; but, in the former year, in addition to an unusual amount from legacies, a large number of special donations were presented to the Society, to meet the possible exigency of a short income through the attacks of our adversaries. And we doubt not, that, if the same necessity should again arise, friends would again make special efforts

to meet it.

We think it right to notice, in the pages of the " Vindicator," some of the disgraceful attempts which have of late been made to impede the operations of the Society, for the purpose of showing how utterly

futile such attempts are, and how vain and empty are the boastings of the men who make them.

The first object of assault were the executive, respecting whom the most infamous and malignant calumnies were circulated. Then it was alleged, that serious and inexplicable discrepancies existed in the Society's accounts,—the agitators discovering an enormous error in the Jamaica account; and when they found that to be their own mistake, and not the Society's, then discovering the same error in the Antigua account; and so on. The home expenditure was represented as extravagantly large; and bankrupt printers were ready to do the printing of the Society at almost half the ordinary amount. In connexion with all these and other charges, it became quite fashionable to disturb Missionary Meetings, and so diminish the collections. Now it must be admitted, that, if anything could damage the interests of the Society, and shake the confidence of its supporters, the course taken by the agitators was most likely to do it. But what was the result? Why, it seemed, as if in proportion to the impudence and malignity of the attacks upon the Society, rose the indignation of its friends, and their resolution to support it. For the income of that very year (1849) was £7,500 above that of the previous year; and the income of 1848 had also been above the income of 1847.

This, however, was unblushingly ascribed to the great efforts which the agitators had made to prevent the "sacred cause of Missions" from suffering by the agitation! They were described as the "great majority of the Connexion," and as having contributed "a very large portion" of the Society's income; though the author of "The Salt of Methodism"-whose researches, it seems, are still very unpalatabledemonstrated most ably, that the " very large portion" could not be from the "Delegates," the most respectable and influential among the agitators. It is due, however, to these Delegates, to believe that they thought that their "great majority" were the upholders of the Mission cause, and of all our other Connexional institutions; for, in order to gain their point, after "solemn and prayerful deliberation," they came to the resolution to "stop all supplies," and gave directions that this should everywhere be done. And it has been done so far as they had influence. But with what success? Notwithstanding the "great majority" have "stopped all supplies," the ordinary contributions for 1850 are more than those for 1848; and, with but two or three exceptions, more than the Society ever obtained before.

Another course is now opening up before the agitators. Not having succeeded in their object, by assailing the characters of the Society's official men at home, they have now undertaken to attack the Missionaries themselves, and have given currency to a number of falsehoods respecting them also. The mean and dastardly attack that was made, a short time since, upon the memory of a young Missionary, who died in Western Africa in 1843, after only three years of hard but generous toil, will be fresh in the recollection of most of our

readers. That having failed, the next victim selected is a faithful and highly-valued Missionary, who, besides exercising his ministry for three years in Leeds, has been the devoted servant of this Society for nearly thirty years in South Africa. He has been charged with such dishonourable and dishonest conduct in the town where he resides, that, if true, no society whatever, either religious or civil, would ever again regard him with favour. But what is the fact? He stands as high in the esteem and favour of the inhabitants as ever he did. A communication from him has recently reached this country, and is published in this month's Notices; in which he gives an account of the opening of a new chapel recently built in his own locality. From this communication, an extract of which we subjoin, it will be seen that he has the respect of all classes of the inhabitants :—

I could not induce (he says) the Trustees to excuse me from conducting the first service, as I had preached the first sermon in the two chapels which preceded this in this town. I therefore submitted myself, and preached from the words, "Our holy and our beautiful house." The building was completely filled at this first dedication-service. We had the attendance of many of the principal officers of Government, civil and military, most of the professional men in the town, and, besides our own numerous congregation, a great number of our fellow-Christians of various denominations. It was indeed refreshing and encouraging to the mind to behold, in this distant corner of the earth, a congregation of at least fourteen hundred English assembled in one place, to worship the God of heaven, and dedicate a noble and beautiful building to His service. The collections on this occasion amounted to £157, probably the largest public collection ever made before, at one service, in any place of worship in Southern Africa.

This is William Shaw's answer to all the foolish and wicked stories circulated respecting him. And it is satisfactory to know, that, neither at home nor abroad, can the enemies of this Society find any ground for their infamous slanders.

We have read the admirable address at the conclusion of the April "Notices," and earnestly recommend our readers to circulate it as widely as possible. The executive of the Society, confident of their own integrity, appeal to their friends for the adoption of a more Missionary spirit. And we believe that that appeal will be responded to. We trust, also, that at the coming Anniversary Meeting, at which we rejoice to find that our faithful and highly-esteemed Treasurer is to preside, the friends of the Society will demonstrate that their attachment to Methodism and the great cause of Missions is in no degree abated.

A MISSIONARY'S ANSWER TO THE CRY OF "STOP

THE SUPPLIES."

TRUE, a great cry from England is heard by us,-“ Stop the supplies!" Yes, the roar of this mutinous cry falls heavily on our shores. But, my dear fathers and brethren, it is not for you to be alarmed at this cry, except that you are alarmed for the sons and brothers you

have equipped for the work, and sent into the field. If any party be alarmed, it is we—the Missionaries-who ought to be startled. But are we frightened? No! Take, at least, the testimony of a single Missionary, I am not frightened. When God "counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry," all I asked of the church was, “Send me to the Heathen." They committed me to "faithful men," who were set apart to "teach others." And you are witnesses I never asked for supplies. You fulfilled my joy in sending me to labour on the field of Missions, and you have kindly attended to my wants. Nor am I afraid that you will be unable to assist me; for the true and literal interpretation of the cry, "Stop the supplies," is, "MISSIONARIES, COME HOME! LEAVE YOUR WORK, AND ABANDON THE FIELD!" My answer is, “I will not leave my work: God employs me, and God will supply me." Courage, my dear fathers and brethren! your Missionaries are not alarmed, and why should you fear?-Rev. John Brewster, Newfoundland.

PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SUPPORT TO BE GIVEN TO CHRISTIAN MINISTERS.

GIVE the ministry your earnest prayers. Remember that the very men who were called to this work by the immediate and extraordinary interposition of Christ,-men who were endowed for their work by the plenary effusion of the Holy Ghost,-asked for these intercessions. If Paul could feel it necessary to say, "Brethren, pray for us,” (1 Thess. v. 25,) what must be the need of your Pastors! It is common now for persons to be particularly anxious lest Ministers should betray their trust, and abuse their powers. If there is any ground for this anxiety, and if men are faithful to their principles, let them seek protection and strength for the pastorate in fervent prayer to God, rather than in shackling it with jealousies, suspicions, and penal laws. Pray earnestly, fervently pray, for the Ministers of the Gospel, that the "word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified." (2 Thess. iii. 1.) Support the Minister also by supplying his temporal wants. Place him above the reach of want or care who has given himself to you by the will of God, who is your servant for Christ's sake. You partake of his spiritual things: let him receive of your carnal things. And do not defeat the object and end of the ordinance of God by giving grudgingly, and in such a manner as must pain the Minister's mind. The design of the ordinance is to preserve, not only the time and bodily strength of the Minister, but also, and more particularly, his soul's affections, and his mental attributes and energy, for the service of the church. The man, therefore, who gives, but in a manner which harasses and distresses the Minister's mind, defeats the design of the contribution. Support the Minister, as far as possible, by a hearty religious co-operation. Put the best, and not the worst, construction upon his purposes and plans. Remember that he has a responsibility which you cannot feel. Do not, therefore, stand upon

unimportant points of difference. Do not unnecessarily distract his attention by irrelevant matters. Help him in his work. See the world before you white unto the harvest, teeming with immortal souls. Hell is raging; the world is clamouring; unfaithful professors cast stumbling-blocks in the way; the cause of God and His church, the destiny of souls, demand your aid. Rally, then, around God's great appointed agency,-the Christian ministry. Give it your hearty, zealous, constant support.

Discountenance all systematic attacks upon this ministry, whencesoever they may come. Of all the forms of persecution to which the church has been exposed, there is none more dangerous to the cause of religion, none more Satanic in its nature, than those which have assailed the character of the Christian ministry. I do not, of course, speak now of any charge fairly brought against an individual Minister, but of general, sweeping reflections upon the body of the ministry. This is a course which, I may boldly say, a good man cannot take. He, whoever he is, who assails or maligns the Christian ministry under any plea of zeal for God, is a hypocrite. Exercise, then, I beseech you, a sound discretion in this case; and treat all such assaults in the character of direct aggressions on the religion of Christ, as, indeed, they really are.

Let it be remembered, that Christ still exercises sovereign sway in His church. His people are not called the "kingdom of God" by a figure of speech. It is a great fact. Christ reigns supreme. His influence is felt in every spiritual church, not merely in individual conversion and experience, but in the administration of its affairs. Am I told that errors of detail exist, that many things are wrong? Let this mode of cure be attempted. Let the sovereignty of Christ be more distinctly recognised, more fully acknowledged. Let the whole case be treated as His, and every measure be regarded in this aspect. Let men learn to act with a single eye, and to be guided by this principle of allegiance, and many evils will be cured, and many more be obviated. Men will find, in an improved judgment and state of heart, a remedy for a thousand evils over which a morbid melancholy previously gloated as affording cause for murmuring discontent.

Let the evangelical piety and judgment of our land be thus brought to bear upon the church; and then, notwithstanding the monstrous aggressions of Popery, the giant-strides of error in the Anglican Church, and the revolutionary clamours of religious Chartists, I have no doubt that the sterling intellect and judgment of our country will more and more adopt sound scriptural views on this subject, and, under the guidance of enlightened religious principle, will, in the several sections of the church, rally round a humble, pious, and evangelical ministry, and esteem it as one of the greatest blessings which God in His mercy has continued to the church and the world.Smith's Christian Pastorate.

LONDON PRINTED BY JAMES NICHOLS, HOXTON-SQUARE.