The British Friend

Opium Trade, 238-240. Lanca-
shire and Cheshire Quarterly Meet-
ing; The Peace Cause, 268. York
Quarterly Meeting; The Confer-
ence and the Prize Essays; The
Social Improvement Conference,
204. Affirmation versus Oath-
taking; The Opium Traffic; The
Conference and the Prize Essays;
A Little too Fast,
322, 324

Thoughts on the Present Condition

of the Society of Friends,

Social Meeting of Poor Elderly Peo-

ple at Birmingham,

Social Science Congress at Liverpool, 285

Spiritual Nature of the Christian

Dispensation, On the,.

Temperance Movement as an Educa-
tional Force, The,

THE BRITISH FRIEND: - To our

Readers; London Union of Friends'

First-day Schools, 14, 15. Making

bad worse: Macaulay's History;

Report of the Committee for the

Relief of Famine in Finland, 40-

43.

Christian Soldiers, 63. One

Hundred Guineas, and Fifty

Guineas; Soldiers, Slaveholders,

Distillers, &c.; Manchester Friends

Institute, 96-98. Religious Revi-

val in America; The Approaching

Yearly Meeting, 124-129.

Late Yearly Meeting, 167. New

York Yearly Meeting; American

Slavery; Boston Anti-Slavery

Bazaar, 184, 185. New England

The

67, 168, 211, 236

Votes of M.P.s' on Ecclesiastical

Questions,

Vulcanized Indian Rubber Shoes,

Warriors and Christians,

Western Yearly Meeting,

Wherefore have we Fasted,

275

285

293

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]

FRIEND

A Monthly Journal,

CHIEFLY DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

MAY not the encouraging language of the prophet to the people of the Lord formerly, be in some measure applicable unto his church at this time-" The Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land, and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

It is encouraging to believe that there are those amongst us, and perhaps not a few, whose religion is not merely a religion of sentiment and form, but a living experience of the power of Divine Life ruling in their hearts, to the purification and sanctification thereof. If we have not the Spirit of Christ we are none of his, whatever we may profess.

May it not be hoped that the disposition to cherish the visitations of Divine love to our own souls by turning the attention of the mind inward to "the still small voice" which is speaking in the secret thereof, reproving for sin, and instructing in righteousness, is more generally taking the place of the propensity to be looking too much out for the failings and shortcomings of others to the neglect of our own vineyards? As it is written, "they made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept!" Are we not persuaded that the work of salvation is an individual one, which no man can perform for another, and that we all have enough to do to watch our own hearts, and keep them in readiness for the visitations of Him who alone can qualify us for our appointed service as his instruments? Let such, then, no longer be listening to the voice of the enemy, who is seeking to turn their attention outward to the ways and doings of others, lest they receive the rebuke given by the blessed Master to one of this disposition, when he queried respecting the doings of his brother, "What is that to thee? follow thou me."

There are many wrong things in the world and in the church; but how can these better be mended than by each one endeavouring to know and overcome the besetting sin of his own heart? For the reformation to which we profess to be aiming must be an indivi

VOL. XVI.

dual work, and to our own Master must each one of us stand or fall. Is there not a danger in pursuing the enemy too far into the wilderness, of our losing our own way? and is it not therefore safer for us to abide in our tents with the blessed Master, who alone is able to destroy the work of Satan and deliver his followers from his power; for "greater is he that is in us that he that is in the world," who can change the hearts of his people as a man turneth the water-course in his field?

Oh! that we may become a more spiritually-minded people, losing all confidence in the flesh which warreth against the Spirit, then will the Lord condescend to dwell more in our midst, turning our captivity, and crowning us with his salvation, through faith in his mercy and power, which have ever been manifested to his humble followers in the way of the cross. He only knows what is best for us, and by undertaking to choose for ourselves we shall frustrate his gracious designs concerning us. Therefore, let us humbly submit to his teachings-to his chastenings and corrections, that we may know the way of peace, and be enabled to walk therein, to the glory and exaltation of the ever-blessed Truth which we profess to serve and follow.

Let us seek to be exercised before the Lord con

tinually, in humble and fervent supplication, that he will be pleased to keep us from falling-to spare his people, and give not his heritage to reproach-that he may condescend to arise and scatter all our enemies, uniting us together in the one body of which he is the exalted and adorable head. Let us cease to be looking too much out of ourselves for the occasion of our suffering, and humbly seek forgiveness for the part we have taken in bringing down the judgments of the Most High upon us; for he will graciously regard the crying of the poor, and the sighing of his needy children, who have no other hope or dependence but in him, who is mighty to save and able to deliver even to the uttermost, and is calling even to those afar off, "Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved."-Philadelphia Friend.

THE summer showers of mere sensibility soon dry up; while the living spring of Christian charity flows alike in all seasons.

FRIENDS' FIRST-DAY SCHOOL, BRISTOL, 1857.

REPORT.

60 Bibles and 53 Testaments have been supplied during the year. The number of deposits in the Savings' Fund has much increased. The advantages of the

The average attendance for the past year has been fund have been extended to that adult class; but it is

as under, viz.:—

Morning School and Meeting,
Afternoon School,

Average number in the School,

Admitted since the commencement in 1810, 5310 The above statement exhibits a considerable in

crease, both in the attendance of the boys, and in the average number on the books since last year's report, and the teachers are thereby encouraged to believe that the usefulness of the school has been extended. They are also glad to remark the applications for admissions have been from older boys than in previous years, and that the upper classes in the school

are now full.

In consequence of the attention of some of the teachers being especially directed to the want of means of instruction for adults who have been without the advantages of an early education, it was determined to open, in the first month last, a class for men in connection with the school, in a room fitted up for the purpose, adjoining the passage from the meeting-house to the weir; the attendance has been satisfactory, although the heat during the last few months has, from the situation of the room, been thought to have had considerable influence in reducing the average.

50 26

The number now in the class is The average attendance has been These numbers are not included in the preceding statement of the boys' school.

It may be interesting to mention that a general canvass of the city and neighbourhood, similar to those which have been so successful in London, Birmingham, and some other large cities, has been undertaken by the teachers and friends of the schools of various denominations in this city (and in which some of our teachers have joined), for the purpose of inducing those parents who have not sent their children to any First-day school, to do so, as it is calculated that there are 9000 or 10,000 children in this city who are not in attendance at any of the Firstday schools, whilst in the different schools there is immediate room for 5000 more than at present attend. In the Fourth Month last the parents of the children in the boys' and girls' school were invited to a tea party, in which the teachers of both schools took part. Three hundred and fifty-seven parents were present, all of whom appeared pleased with their entertainment, and listened with great interest to the various addresses which followed the tea. The chief object in view in thus bringing them together, was to induce them to unite their influence with that of the teachers in carrying out the objects of the school for the benefit of their children. An improvement of the attendance, and we think in the behaviour of the boys since the meeting, has satisfied the teachers of its useful

ness.

The annual meeting of the Friends' First-day School Association, held at Ackworth during the General Meeting, was attended by three of our number as representatives, from whom we have received some interesting particulars of the proceedings. We are glad to find the attention of Friends is more generally turned to the subject of First-day schools than heretofore; and that the deputations referred to in our last report, have been continued with considerable benefit.

The Bible Fund continues to be the means of distributing copies of the Holy Scriptures to the scholars;

particularly wished that the fund should in no way interfere with the Savings' Bank to which, in preference, the men are strongly recommended.

The number of books circulated in the school by means of the library, during the past year, has been 2497.

count of the expenses of the adult class beyond the The extraordinary outlay for the past year, on acamount of the special subscription, as well as for the purchase of a stock of hymn books, has resulted in a balance due to the treasurer of £18, 18s. 3d. The teachers have therefore earnestly to solicit the increased liberality of their friends, in order to meet the special outlay of the past year, and greater annual expenditure, which will necessarily result from the they would express their hope that their efforts have enlarged operations of the school. In conclusion, been accompanied by the continued blessing of Him, without whom they who build the house will surely labour in vain.-On behalf of the Teachers, THEODORE FRY, Secretary.

BRISTOL, 10th Month, 14th, 1857.

FRIENDS:

THEIR ORIGIN, DISTINGUISHING PRINCIPLES, AND PRACTICES.

(Continued from page 253, Vol. XV.)

Ir appears, then, that there are two suppers recorded in the Scriptures; the one enjoined by Moses, and the other by Jesus Christ.

The first of these was of a ceremonial nature, and was confined exclusively to the Jews; for to Gentile converts, who knew nothing of Moses, or whose ancestors were not concerned in the deliverance from Egyptian bondage, it could have had no meaning.

The latter was of a spiritual nature. It was not limited to any nation. It had been enjoyed by many of the patriarchs. Many of the Gentiles had enjoyed it also. But it was essentially necessary for all Christians.

Now the question is, Whether Jesus Christ, when he celebrated the passover, instituted any new supper distinct from that of the passover, and in addition to that which he had before enjoined at Capernaum, to be observed as an ordinance by the Christian world?

Friends are of opinion that no institution of this kind can be collected from Matthew, Mark, or John. Matthew mentions the celebration of the passoversupper in the following manner: And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave to his disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my body. And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom" (Matt. xxvi. 26).

Mark gives an account so similar to the former, that it is unnecessary to transcribe it. Both mention the administration of the cup; both the breaking and giving of the bread; both the allusion of Jesus to his own body and blood; both the idea of his not drinking wine any more but in a new kingdom:-but neither of them mentions any command, nor even any insinuation by Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they should do as he did at the passover-supper.

« 上一頁繼續 »

圖書

The British Friend, 第 16 卷