Received by the Rev. P. J. Saffery and not previously acknowledged.

Received on account of the DEBT of the Baptist Missionary Society, up to
June 17, 1847,-Continued from April Herald.

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1 10 0

LANCASHIRE.

Salford, George Street... 200 Carmarthen, Tabernacle 4 00

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by William Brodie Gurney, Esq., and Samuel Morton Peto, Esq., Treasurers, or the Rev. Joseph Angus, M.A., Secretary, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street, LONDON: in EDINBURGH, by the Rev. Christopher Anderson, the Rev. Jonathan Watson, and John Macandrew, Esq.; in GLASGOW, by Robert Kettle, Esq.; in CALCUTTA, by the Rev. James Thomas, Baptist Mission Press; and at NEW YORK, United States, by W. Colgate, Esq. Contributions can also be paid in at the Bank of England to the account of "W. B. Gurney

and others."

THE GREAT DUTY.

Ir often happens that Christians will throw more vigour and liberality into the discharge of minor duties than they can be induced to display towards the performance of the more important. We do not stop to inquire into the reasons of this fact-but that it is a fact no one can deny who has had much to do with our religious institutions.

What a striking example we have had of it in the various Relief Funds which have been subscribed to help the Irish poor! Churches who have scarcely ever sent any contributions to assist the schools, the readers, or the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, have given large collections to the Relief Fund; and most of those churches who regularly support the mission, have collected double, often treble, and, in not a few instances, quadruple the amount they ever subscribed to help the Committee in their endeavours to diffuse the light of the gospel in benighted Ireland.

And this seems the more remarkable when we consider that it was done without effort. There were no deputations, no circulars, not even the usual machinery put into operation. No one required any stimulus. Facts and correct information were asked for. When these were supplied, the collections were made at once. There was not only liberality, but spontaneity. It almost seemed as if churches tried to outrun each other in the endeavour to snatch the hungry and starving from the death!

We

But some will exclaim, "Do you blame us for this?" By no means. rejoice in your liberality. It is a proof of how much you are affected by Christian principle. But we ask you in return, how is it that the Mission Fund has never reached one half the amount of the Relief Fund? "These things ye should have done, but not have left the other undone;"-for the other, after all, was the great duty.

But they were dying, you will say; we could not bear to see them perish when we had some power to help. True, and the spectacle was indeed most deplorable. No Christian could look upon it without anguish.

this time?

Suffer us, however, to ask you,—is not the spectacle of millions of your fellow creatures, near at hand, your neighbours, citizens of the same government, perishing eternally, sadder still? That you have seen for a much longer period. Have you gazed upon it so long, that you have become familiarized with it, and then gradually insensible? Possibly; but where have been your love to Christ, your desire to advance his glory, by seeking the overthrow of a system which bears his name only to dishonour it, and your professed compassion to souls, all Have they been extinguished in reference to Ireland? No indeed, and you remind us of the seven thousand pounds subscribed by our churches. We must take the reply still further, and say it is now quite evident, you can help if you will. The mission need not be crippled by debt, and its efficiency so deeply injured by the want of adequate means. You have nobly discharged the lesser duty. You have saved thousands from present death. Will you not then give us your devout prayers, and your pecuniary aid more freely, to save their souls from eternal death? Surely this is the greater duty.

A GOODLY ARRAY.

We have often called attention to the our friends to increased liberality and signs of the decline of priestly power, prayer. and superstitious prejudice, which show themselves from time to time in all the districts where the agents labour. Let the following examples be noted, and surely they cannot fail to encourage

Very many, says JOHN NASH, whom I have observed much affected by the reading of the word in past times have died lately. Many