motives which lead to the manifestation of those good deeds, which shall be pronounced "well done" by the great and glorious Judge; and to endeavour to suggest paths of Christian usefulness which shall lead to 'glory, honour, and immortality."

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It is hoped this train of thought will be deemed by the reader, suitable to the season of the year,—its beginning; for mixed up as we are with the ever passing circumstances of this short life,—the periodical changes of day and night, of summer and winter, which continually come under our notice and affect our every interest, cannot but awaken reflection of the most practical tendency in the thoughtful mind. It is well that our glorious Creator, by his ever-moving works, as well as by his everlasting word, has thus pressed upon our attention the moral of our existence; and keeps it continually before us by the events and changes through which we pass in our journey through life.

January, a busy time in the trading world. Stock-taking, striking balances of profit and loss; beginning, closing, or resuscitating unnumbered enterprises, of a personal, domestic, and national description. It is a busy time also in the reading republic. Some Magazines have run their career, and will not breathe the air of 1858. Others are too feeble to reach the winter months, and may melt away in summer heat. Some which honour January with a start, will not find a reception in December. Full of promise, they engage to go where foot has never trod; to gather up what hand has never touched; and to make revelations in knowledge that have hitherto been wrapt in secrecy. They, like many ephemeral and inflated predecessors, make progress principally in evaporation; and add lessons from their own failure, of the folly of making performance to live only in promise, and of making vows which they cannot repay.

It is cause for great thankfulness to its friends, that the LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE stands among its peers in an erect position; hale, and cheerful withal, and not abashed by comparison. Although its heart beats with a pulse of intense generosity, yet it is temperate in its pretensions to external garnish or internal riches. Nevertheless, its position induces the sober belief, that as last year it met the sanguine expectations of its readers, this year's hopes will be as fully met. The credit which January takes, December will meet with interest.

The idea of starting well, and coming to a successful close, is sweet in the extreme, and well worth cherishing. Let us amplify and apply it in a few brief observations. Whatever may be "the work given us to do," it must be begun, or we can never joyfully sing, “I have finished the work thou didst give me to do." The haste to begin a work, should bear some proportion to its importance and urgency. Of all works, self-cultivation and self-reformation,-a getting out of the broad way of iniquity, into the narrow way of holiness,-is the most pressing. From hence is derived the growth of heart-purity and the proper stimulus of all our actions. Our Lord's figurative exhortation to make the tree

good, in order to have good fruit, has a strong bearing even in the extended view we are taking of the subject. The Apostle said, " Unto me who am the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." The Apostle's heart was the receptacle of the grace; and from hence went forth the outgoings of desire, prayer, and every imaginable effort for the salvation of the world. It is only that soul which is truly converted and sanctified to God, which can truly and consistently

"Extend the arms of faith and prayer,

In grasping all mankind."

Our works of charity may be great, and our services to the churches may be reckoned valuable; but it must not be forgotten that the whole process of religious arithmetic must not only be founded upon its fundamental rules, but must begin with units, and the writing must begin on the lowest form of the heart, inscribed by the hand of repentance, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We must first "work out our own salvation;" then shall we be qualified for exertion in behalf of others with our "works of faith, and labours of love."

The reader may have a well-cultivated mind, deeply imbued with ' the social principle, and with feelings delicately toned "to melt at human woe," and yet not be the subject of that radical change which our Saviour so emphatically pressed upon Nicodemus. It is to be feared there is a current religion which amounts to nothing better than refined humanity, and which may obtain currency, as spurious wine may pass for the pure juice of the grape. Let January witness the humble, persevering, and successful application to a throne of grace by this class, for "pure and undefiled religion."

And why may not the half-hearted and shrivelled professor feel the bracing influence of January breezes? The devoutest aspirations of the Christian world are too cold and feeble, and its joy too fitful and circumstantial. The distinctive and saving truths of the gospel are robbed of their divine power and witness, lowered down to mere inference, and wrapped up in latitudinarian creeds. True, we see lights as we pass along the Christian tents; lights, that wherever they are found, "chase away the gloom of hellish night." But they are "few and far between." The dimness of the Christian character, in fact, too often affords protection and encouragement to evils which ought to be destroyed. There are, it is sometimes said, degrees in religious experience; and too many professors are content to dwell in low latitudes. But the promise is, "He giveth more grace." "Ask and receive, that your joy may be full." Let us, then, ascend in Christian holiness and devotion, nor dream that the just occupations and pursuits of life are incompatible with an advanced state of Christian piety. Let us make a fresh start with the new year—

"And never stand still, till the Master appear."

But other exercises, in keeping with this determination, either a results or aids, will be needful. The neglect of God's house, or inattention to its requirements when there; fitfulness and heartlessness in prayer; lassitude and indifference to the guards against spiritual foesall habits of this nature, so soul-ruining in tendency, must be cut off, and, with the old year, numbered with the past, while, fresh as the new year, our strength shall be renewed to run the way of God's commandments. May we indulge the hope, that the reader has determined on "beginning" a new series in his Christian life? If so, what modes of useful employment will arise to his view, and invite his best efforts! He cannot be unmoved with the sight, but from his heart will ask,

“What shall I do to make it known,

What thou for all mankind hast done ?"

Beside the regular institution of the gospel ministry, many other plans of a truly Christian character are in active operation in our native land; all of which, to the extent of our ability, claim our prayers, our personal attendance, our official influence, and our property. It may be, some kind-hearted souls, touched with Christian sympathy, may feel almost bewildered amongst the claims of so many glorious institutions, and after considering the smallness of their contributions, may say, "What are these among so many?" But relief is at hand; good may be done by "every man in his own order," means, place, and station. Let us settle the principle of action, and its application will be easy. "To do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

The LOCAL PREACHERS' MAGAZINE has a large, a wide-spread, and an increasing number of readers. In the midst of this circle is planted an institution, called "The Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association," whose fruit makes it, indeed, the "tree of life" to many a poor worn-out local preacher. It will be no degradation to the noble principles we have been trying to make prominent, to close this paper by giving them a bearing on this praiseworthy undertaking.

Its

We are unwilling to clog our remarks with figures, and give them such a financial aspect as to make the reader feel as a debtor in bonds; yet, a few facts may be allowed to show the urgency of the claims of this institution. It has been in operation upwards of eight years. number of members is now 2,580; 486 of whom are honorary members, who do not expect to receive benefit from the Association. The number of sick members averages about 300 a year, the allowance to each being 8s. a week; and £8 is allowed for funeral expenses. There are about 95 annuitant members, the greater part of whom receive 4s. per week. The total amount paid since the formation of the Society, is as under:To sick members, £4,863 14 1; to annuitants, £4,665 18 10; for deaths, £2,042 17 0; Total, £11,572 9 11.

The above statements tell their own tale without any adorning, and "point a moral" which all must feel. The 2,580 members are part of a large class, technically called local preachers, that is, preachers exercising their ministry in the localities in which they live; who, without financial provision or remuneration, go forth on the Sabbath day to preach the gospel of Christ to hundreds of thousands of their fellow-sinners. Many of them are among the poor of this world, and well know the meaning of the word adversity. To the weary labour of six days they add with cheerfulness that of the seventh, consisting of "journeyings often," "and perils" of various kinds. The wear and tear of clothes, the expenditure of physical strength and mental energy, are among the items of personal cost and sacrifice that must be placed on the credit side in favour of even the poorest brethren, and to overlook them or regard them with indifference, would indicate a cruelty which we believe characterises none of our readers.

We have no wish to make comparisons that would cast the least reflection on the stated and separated ministry of God's word. The man that devotes his time and talents to the work of saving souls, is richly deserving of temporal support, such as will save him from worldly anxiety, and give efficiency to his ministry. But surely, when that is done, some margin is left in behalf of those brethren who have no stipendiary provision on which to rest,-if not to meet their current expenses, yet to aid them in affliction, and cheer them in their passage to the tomb. It would be impossible fully to estimate the value of this voluntary agency in pulpit effort. Its worth would be told more impressively by its loss. Were the local preachers of all denominations to leave the pulpits to be supplied by the stated ministers, it would be something like the rank and file of an army withdrawing from the field in the day of battle, and leaving the victory to be obtained by the officers.

It is not our business now to inquire why such an institution was not begun sooner: even its late commencement causes thankfulness. May it grow and prosper! So say our readers. Then let us give proof of our sincerity by complying with the injunction, "Bear ye one another's burdens." The members contribute twelve shillings a year each; but that cannot make the institution self-supporting in any degree commensurate to the amount, which as ministers of salvation they have a right to expect.

"Begin" then this good work of contributing to the Local Preachers' Mutual-Aid Association, if you have not done 30: either as honorary members, by donations, by collections in public service, and at tea meetings, or by any other means. We shall thus be encouraging the hearts of those "who bring good tidings on the mountains,” and aiding in the world's regeneration. But let January witness our "good beginning," and all the months of the year rejoice in the increase of charity and devotion to God.

T. H.

GEOLOGY; OR, THE BOOK AND THE ROCKS.

OUR readers ought to be informed upon all the leading topics of the day; that portion of them especially who minister in holy things, ought to be "well up" in all matters that bear upon the teaching of theology. And if any newly discovered science seems to bear hard upon any long established interpretation of scripture truth, it is the duty of all who have means to do so, to investigate the subject thoroughly, and then to impart to the rest of their brethren the results of their studies. For want of this, complaint has often been made that the pulpit is behind the age, and that the press and the platform are the real enlighteners of the world.

It is not a sufficient answer to say that the pulpit's glory is to reveal a future state, and to show that through the Saviour's love mortals may become immortal: that is doubtless true, but it is not all the truth, nor has it ever been so since the world began. Those who have taught men for eternity, have also been able to teach many, if not most, of the great truths necessary for earthly life. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, Daniel excelled all the wise men of the Chaldeans, David had more understanding than all his teachers, and his son Solomon's wisdom is proverbial to this day. Comparatively ignorant men,-herdmen and gatherers of sycomore fruit,—were occasionally called to the prophetic office, but a special enlightenment of mind appears to have resulted from their intercourse with the inspiring Spirit, so that these old seers were enabled to utter words of wisdom, which confounded their adversaries. Under the Christian dispensation, it was at first the same; "unlearned and ignorant men" were called to be pillars in this glorious temple, but they did not long remain "unlearned and ignorant;" the brightness of the Holy One shone upon their minds, and at once they spake with other tongues, becoming at once more perfect linguists than Oxford or Cambridge could ever boast of. St. Paul was able in the Areopagus, the most learned of the learned assemblies of that age, to preach Christ as philosophically as if he had been brought up at the feet of Socrates or Plato. When sending for his luggage he does not forget "the books, especially the parchments," nor does he fail to encourage his younger brethren in the ministry to diligent study; he wanted not ignorant bunglers at gospel labour, but workmen well skilled, who could rightly divide the word of truth.

If ever there was a time when the followers of Jesus,-the believers in the one living God,-needed to bestir themselves, it is now. Science thrusts her probe into every form of matter, and the results are as astounding as the touch of Ithuriel's spear. Reason endeavours to examine in the light of truth every opinion and belief, however ancient; and woe be to that which cannot stand the test. The inquiring spirit of the age, like a monstrous locomotive, moves grandly on, and vain are the gossamer threads of error that stretch across its path.