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2 F KINGDOM Os GOD AND CHURCHES OF GOD. This kingdom should not be confounded with the churches of God. as though church and kingdom all meant the same. For the kingdom of God is one, while we can say of the New Testament churches 1. The church at Jerusalem was composed, when waiting to be endowed with power from heaven, of about one hundred and twenty, both men and women, to which were added on a memorable day through preach ing as attended with the power of the Holy Ghost, about three thousand souls, who bad gladly received the word of God, and to which the Lord afterwards added dally such as were saved from that untoward generation of unbelieving Jews, and which evidently was a model church after which as a pattern other churches (to execute gospel laws) were formed in cities and country places, till it can be said now (2) “all the churches of the Gentiles,” ’ churches of Galatia,” “seven churches of Asia,” etc. But we could not Scrtptarally say so much for the king' dom of God, as though there were one of his kingdoms in Jerusalem, another at Bone, another at Ephesus, another at Thes salonica, making separate kingdoms of God thus; and then conclude by saying the king doms of God in Galatia, al) the kingdoms of God among the Gentiles, the seven kingdoms of God in Asia, etc. Would it not oe belter to consider the kingdom of God as composed of all in every age as are regeu • generated when as the wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof, but thou esc at not tell wheuce it coineth nor whither it goeth, ao is every one that is born of the Spirit, or so it has been with all these subjects of Jesus, the God manifested in the flesh? Then also would it net be bitter as above to consider the local church as at Je rusalem, or rather all these local churches as merely the judiciary bodies, composed each of believers after baptism, to execute the laws as found in the New Testament of this one spiritual kingdom that shall aland for ever instead of making their own laws to be executed by any of their appointed officers? Taking tills view of things, we can see at once the right subjects fur church member ship; not infants that can take no part in judiciary bodies, not impei.itept unbelievers —not the unregenerated enemies of Christ and of his holy laws, butpeniteut, believing, regenerated persons, males and females, whose hearts love Christ, love his word, his ordinances and his peculiar people, or each other as his people, hud fellowship with each other to keep house in each community when a sufficient number is found for such a purpose. Yes, to carry out wholesome discipline, holding forth through a faithful pastor, the word of life, under whoseadmin istrstlous the local church could receive sui table persons for membership, baptized be lievers, upon their baptism, as on the day of Pentecost, or by recommendation from other local churahes of the same faith and order, or aa commanded to do, exclude such as walk disorderly. How much more Scriptu ral would all this be than to baptize persons In order that the spirit may attend the water as applied in infancy, or in manhood or womanhood to make them the regenerated people of God, and thus to bring them into the kiugdom of God or church of God, or at least to bring them into the covenant of cir* cumcision, or of the so called covenant mer cies of God, or anything of the sort, for in such services strong delusions are placed upon old and young by which they may per ish forever, and Jesus fails to get the person al obedience of faith from each as that which would honor him most of all. God grant us such measures of grave divine as will keep from error and build us up in gospel truth I ' I. A. Goss. SOME POINTS OP COMPARISON AND CON TRAST RETWEEN THE LORD'S PRAYER AND THAT OP JABEZ. Our Lord's Prayer as recorded in Matthew is as follows; ' Ouf Father which art in heaven, hallow ed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give.naXhis day our daily bread. And for give us our debts, as we fergive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the. glory for ever. Amen." That of Jabt z as recorded in 1 Chronicles Is in these words : And Jabt z called on the God of Israel, saying, VO that thou wouldeet bless me in deed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldtsi keep me Irom evil, that it might mot grieve me 1” These prayers when brought together ad mit, in some particulars, of comparison, in others, striking contrasts are presented. As to comparison, we observe in the Lord's Prayer that “our Father” refers to the only true God—the maker and preserver of hea ven and earth, together with all beings and things contained therein. In the prayer of Jabtz the “God of Israel,” upon whom he called refers to the same being. So then the God to whom our Lord directs us to pray is the same to whom Jabiz made petition, and this is none other than He who always was, is, and will be. In him we live and move and have our being. He is the God of all grace—the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Again, the Lord's Prayer and that of Ja bi z begin and continue throughout upon the principle that God is able to grant requests. We see also in the language of both, tbe idea of God's willingness to satisfy our de sires when the same are made known in prayer. In the next place let it be noticed that in our Lord’s prayer, there is a petition for de liverance from evil. Jabiz makes the same request, and whatever may be the nature and extent of evil as mentioned in one, we are to understand that the evil mentioned in the other is of the same' nature and extent. In the one it is, “deliyer us from eyil,” in lhe other, “Ke<p me Irem evil." We judge that all evil is meant in both peti tions. The prayers are alike in another particu lar ; and that is they both refer to temporal good. In the Lord's Prayer temporal good is alluded to when it is said, “give us this day our daily bread." In the prayer of Jabez we have doubtless the same idea in the words, “and enlarge my coast, and that tbine hand might be with me." Let us look now at these petitions in view of the points of contrast between them : We have ia the one, “our Father,” in the other, “God of Israel.” When we say “our Father," fears subside, anxieties flee away, dread of lhe “Judge" is banished, we are composed, cheerful and bold. It is “onr Father," and we know he pities us, we real ize that he protects us, wfl. know that he loves us. A father is patient, gentle and long- suffering. When we say “our Father," we get very near to God. Jabez called upon the “God of Israel,” and saw in him a strong deliverer. He had learned of him through Sinai’s lightnings and thunders. Jabizknew God as judge of all the earth, infinite in wisdom and power. He who can say, “our Father,” is much nearer to God than he who must needs say, “God of IsraeL” In the prayer of our Lord, a desire for the interest of God’s kingdom is made promi nent, indeed this seems to be the chief de sire. In this petition we “seek first the THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1881. kingdom of God.” Our wants are to be sup plied, but we are to ask for these seconda rily, and iu the seeking we are not to be for getful of other*. Mark here the force of the pronouns “us" and “our” io our Lord's prayer. He who prays “after this manner” recognizes all men as bis brethren. He is as careful of tbe interests of others as be is of bis own. He is not satisfied with a sup ply for himself alone. He feels for the race, and brings not only his own wants, but the wants of all others along with bis, and makes supplication for the satisfaction of the whole. How broad, how deep, how complete this prayer. How unselfish the spirit that reigns throughout its every sen tence. It is not manifest from the language of the prrv< r ui Jabez that he feels any inter est at all in the establishment and promo tion of God’s kiugdom. There is no “let thy kingdom come” in it. Jabez does not seem to have any brethren. He is not in sympathy with others. He brings nobody's wants along with his own to the "God of Israel." His prayer does not even rise to the dignity of the brother's, who, when he prayed, said : "Lord bless me and my wife, my son John and his wife, we four and no more”—no, he did not even contemplate the wants of four—no, nor of three, nor of two. No, be only bad in view the wants of Jabez. Mark iu this connection the force of the pro nouns “me” and “my.” All lines converge here, “Lord bless me. enlarge my coast," etc. The whole prayer is tucked in at every corner by "me." How extremely narrow, how selfish ; what a contrast here! In the model prayer temporal good is asked for, barely enough though for one day, no surplus, no abundance, no enlargement is contemplated. But Jabez wants the hand of the Lord with him, and desires the en largement of his coas l. Now the Lord's prayer has been repeated every day doubtless tor more than eighteen hundred years by thousands of Christians. Volumes would not contain its repetitions, lhe young, tbe old, the illiterate, the learn ed, all see to same extent the propriety of praying “after this manner." Nevertheless the prayer has never been answered. No man's faith has ever been strong enough to bear up this petition. No man's faith to day is sufficiently enlarged to receive in all the fulness of a just interpretation tbe words of the model petition. If any of the most obscure of God's children were to offer this Crayer, nothing doubting, the world would e immediately converted. God's omnis cience giving direction to God's omnipotence would bring instantly into the field all agen cies necessary for tbe accomplishment of the end without delay, and the day would ap pear when we would rejoice not that a na tion was born, but that the world was libe rated from the powers of darkness. The prayer of Jabez so far as we know was never prayed but once, and then not by thousands, but by Jabez alone, and though narrow, shallow, incomplete, and by .no means a model, it nevertheless was answer ed, for it is written that God granted him that which he requested. Our prayers then may be all comprehen sive, perfect as to form, exactly in accordance with God's will, and yet not be answered. On tbe other hand, our prayers may embrace very little, may be very faulty, and yet be answered. It is tbe prayer of faith that is answered, and faith is the gift of God. How helpless we are. By grace are ye saved. H. R. Bernard. Athens, March 30, 1881. THE STATE CONVENTION. That the opproaebing session of the Con vention may be profitable is desired by every Christian among the churches connected with that body- Some weeks ago sugges tions appeared in Ths Index as to the man ner in which that result is to be secured, The object of this short communication Is tbe same with that ot Chose suggestions. Ist. Let us fully realize the changed con ditions under which the Convention now meets. The time was when large sums of money were collected for the general and regular enterprises of that body ; that time has passed. The time was when much new information wa? imparted at ihese meetings to delegates and visitors in reference to those enterprises; but the religious newspaper, more largely circulated and more efficiently directed, has largely affected that condition. The time was when the plans of the Conven tion reached only the few, but now those plans are adapted to reach all. A faithful ministry with such plans cannot fail to reach all who can be reached. What then re mains for the Convention to direct its ener gies to? 2nd. Let the prayers of all be directed to and concentrated upon one object—that the meeting may be a blessing to its members, and to the church and community with which its session may be held, that conver tions of unbelievers may he realized during its session. Conversions ought to attend every such large gathering of God’s people, they would, if thev were desired, and ex pected. Superficial and indistinct religious impressions, to be deepened and made dis tinct by subsequent wise labor and preach ing ought not to satisfy tbe desires of so large a oody. On one occasion several breth. ren on their way to the Convention agreed among themselves that while there t.ey would pray especially for the family who might entertain them and that, if there were such members, they would seek opportunity to talk to the unconverted of them. It hap pened that they were assigned to a family where there was bnt one member of the church. It was soon ascertained that of the others, a married daughter and her husband were both concerned; conversations were had, at least, with the husband, in which finally there was a declaration of bis hope, and that also of his wife, and the purpose of both of them to unite with the church, which was consummated during tbe follow ing summer. If a singular course shall be adopted generally, similar results may fre quently be realized. 3rd. Tbe other main suggestioq is that the prayer and effort of every one be directed to securing greater vigor in the prosecution of the plans of tbe Convention. No plan is as good as the best if it be neglected. What is needed is an earnest purpose to press the plan. A revival in the Convention upon the matter of its peculiar work will be pro moted by carrying suggestion first into effect, and nothing in addition to that will be need ed but a little direct attention to suggestion second. If a larger measure of the influence of the Holy Ghost shall be carried away from the city of Athens than is brought to it by the Convention, the next year will show larger results of our work than the present. Deleoatk. REMINISCENCES OF MERCER. NTMBER 11. When I entered the Freshman Class at Mercer in the spring term of 1851, the Senior Class which was to graduate at the ensuing commencement, numbered twelve. Well do I now remember the impression ‘hey pro duced upon me. Each and every one of them I regarded as a model of dignity and a prodigy ol learning, and it seemed a very long height that I should have te climb if I ever attained tbe elevation upon which they stood. Every Freshman, I presume, has had such thoughts about his Seniors. But though I have since been along there myself, and nave learned by experience that one may be a Senior and stiii know very little, tbe impreesion that this was an exceptional class has not been wholly eflaced. In tbe firat place, they were all men. The oldest was reputed to be near thirty, the youngest was more than a boy. It followed thence both that their minds were prepared for the grave studies that they were required to dis- cuss, and that in their intercourse with tbe "boys" below them, thev could u nine “le Srande air” which impressed a high idea of aeir dignity. This impression was render ed tbe stronger by tbe fact that most of them were fine looking men. Then there were nearly twice as many of them as had ever been in any former graduating class. They bad pledged themselves a year before that they would unless providentially bin di-red, remain together and take their diplo mas from the Alma Mater which had edu cated them. This resolution of theirs had a treat effect on the history of tbe Institution. It ceased to be a fa-hiou for students to v ithdraw at tbe beginning or middle of the senior year, and give some college of greater name the credit of their graduation. After tbe commencement of 1851, it was consid ered as creditable to graduate at Mercer, as at any college in the country. Her diploma became an “open sesame” to any position t> which sound and accuratescholarship wes a prerequisite. Is it a wonder that tbe class winch did so much to extend the fame of the University should have been highly es teemed by the Faculty, and the citizens of the village should have so much “gloried in their spunk" as to give to them Jhe sobri quet ol “the immortal twelve? ’ Apart from these considerations, tbe talents of its members were such as to make this a class of fine promise. The records would doubtless show that its grade of scholarship was high, and that those who bore off the honors nad no easy task. In the two litera' ry societies —those microcosms in which the boys foretell the men—most of them were good debaters. But their ability is better proved by their future histories. One half of them were called to pass over thft River before they had time to do much work or win many honors. But of the six who sur vive, every one has done something in the world. Only one close politics as his voca tion, and in it he has achieved a distinction, both brilliant and rapid, proving an excep tion Dr. Holmes' rule that the black horses always make the best speed during the first heat.* Os the three “black horses” of this class, one for many years a Doctor of Di vinity, occupies the first Baptist pulpit in Georgia; another, also a D.D., is perhaps the most prominent Baptist minister in his portion of the State; the third, a valued member of the corps of instruction at bis Alma Mater, says he might be made a D D. if he were more dull in his preaching, and we think be might be if his modesty or his vis inertae did not came him to starve the public on his eloquence. Os the otherdwo. one is a physician of marked ability, and the other deemed while at college tbe most brilliant of the twelve, is holding briefs, and we hope is making his way to emminence in the eourts of the West. So stands the record after tbe lapse of three decades. But we did not set out to speak of them as they are now—men grap pling with the stern realities of life. It was rather to recall our r< collection of them as students, full of romantic enthusiasm, and dreaming the sweetest dreams of that life upon which they were about lo enter. If they were not giants in reality, they were so to our Freshman imagination. The University has since sent forth classes considerably larger, and many of her later graduates have done credit to her training. But no class has ever done her a more signal service. Their grad uation was the close of her leaden and the ushering in of her silver age- When they entered her halls as Freshmen, it was with half a blush that they so owned themselves. After the commencement of 1851, no young man was ashamed of being a student of Mercer University. In effecting this great rise in her reputation we are by no means inclined to underrate the labors of the sixg eminently gifted and higtly cultured metw who constituted her Board of With such professors, her ultimate success was assured. It came however all the soon er because the course pursued by this ‘ im mortal twelve” made the practice of run ning off to some other college to get a diplo ma “more honored in the breach than tbe observance.” L. L. V. [Written for The Christian Index-] SKETCHES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES. FRANCE. President of the Republic: Francis Paul Jules Grevy; born August .sth, 1813; elected by the Assembly January 30th, 1879. Capi tal : Paris. Population, 1,988,748. The most westerly State of Central Europe; bounded on the north by the channel and straits of Dover, which separate it from Eng land. Its circumference is estimated at about 3.000 square miles, and its present area at 204 196 square miles. The territory lost, in 1871, 5,603 square miles, France is divided into eighty-six depart ments, including the Island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean Sea, off the west coast of Italy. The principal rivers are the Seine, Loire, Garonne and Rhine. The principal forests are the Ardennes, Compiegne, Fon tainebleau, Vosges and Orleans ; consisting, principally, of oak, birch, pine, beach, elm, chestnut, and cork-tree in tbe south. Fruit trees abound, and are very productive : the principal being the olive, chestnut, walnut, almond, pear, apple, citron, fig, plum, etc. The vine is cultivated to a very great extent, as the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Cham pagne, etc., etc., evidence. The chief agri cultural products are wheat, barley, rye, maize, oats, potatoes, beet-root, for tbe manufacture of sugar, hops, etc. Its mineral resources are great. Iron is found nearly all over the country. Copper, lead, silver, an timony and coal, also exist. The most im, orlant manufactures are of metals, ; ot tery, watches, jewelry, cabinet work, carv n glass, chemicals, dyeing, paper-making, woolens, carpets, linen, silks and lace, its oyster fisheries are a very important indus trial feature. The population, in 1879, amounted to thirty-seven millions—about six hundred thousand were Protestants, and fifty thous and Jews. The effective strength of the army, under the colors, is 502,866 men ; but, in time of war, including all reserves, 3,750,000 men. The navy consisted, in 1880, of two hundred and fifty-eight vessels, of which sixty-six were iron-clads. The educational system is governmental, aud presided over by a Minister of Instruc tion, part of the expense being defrayed by the State. In addition to the Faculties of theology, law and medicine, the Lycees, the Colleges, the naval and military schools, aud the Ecole Polethechnique, the State supports numerous establishments for instruction in special branches of knowledge. The system of railways in France is very extensive, they are entirely cocedees, that is thfcy will become State property after tbe expiration of the concession. Tbe entire length open for traffic in 1880, was 14,735 miles. The lergth of telegraph wires, 34,- 754 miles. The principal exports are haberdashery, silks, woolens, silk and cotton manufactures, apparel of all kinds, jewelry, silk (raw), skins, tanned and curried, etc., wine, metal wares, tools, fruita and spirits. The princi pal imports are cotton (raw), silk and floss silk, wool (raw), timber, coal and coke, coL fee, hid« and skins, silk, woolen and cotton manufactures, grain, cattle, etc., etc. Revenue for 1880, $549,943,110. Expendi ture for 1880, $690,000,000. Public debt. 1879, $4,700,000,000. Total value of imports, $720 000,000. Total value of exports, $640,- 100,000. The French colonies, foreign possessions, and protected lands of France in Africa, are Algeria Senegambia. the Islands of Bourbon (Re-union), St. Mane, Mayotte and Noasibe, In the Indian Ocean, and Gaboon, on the coast of Guinea, with a population of 3,296,- 916 souls. In South America, are tbe Is lands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and St. Bartholomew. In tbe West Indies, French Guinea or Cayenne, with St. Pierre and Miquelon, near Newfoundland, with a popu lation of 367,347 souls. In Asia, tbe Indian settlements of Pondicberey, Mahe, Karikat, Yanaon.Gbandernsgore and French Cocb n China. In tbe Pacific Ocean are two group*, the Marquesas and Liberty Isles, tbe Island of Clipperton and New Caledonia, with 77,- 645 inhabitants. Tbe countries over which France claims a protectorate are tbe King doms ot Cambodia in Asia; Tahite and some other ialands in Oceanica, with 900,000 nhabitania. The chief cities of France are: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Calais, Cherbourg, Ajaccio, (Corsica), Dunkirk, Havre, Marseilles, Nantes, La Rochelle. Nice, Algiers, Oran, Bone, Martinique, Reunion, Saignon, New Caledonia, Cayenne. The Sunday-School. International Sunday-School Lessons. [Prepared specially for Ths Index by Rev. 8. H. Mlrick, of Washington, D.C.) Lesson COVETOUSNESS. Luke XII. 13-21.—A D. 29. Neither the time nor tbe place of this inci dent are certainly known. Most probably it occurred in Judea and shortly after our last letson, toward the close of our Lord's ministry. By some it is placed iu Galilee and about one year earlier. OUTLINE. I. A request, v. 13. 11. A reply, v. 14. 111. A warning, v. 15. IV. A parable, v. 16-21. NOTES. I. A request. V. 13- “One of the company.” One of the great multitude (v. 1) in whore presence he was addressing his disciples. “Master.” Teacher. The man is respectful. “Speak to my brother that he divide,” etc. The man is far more intent on his personal in terest than on profiting by tbe instructions of Jesus. For some reason tbe brothers could not agree about their inberitance, and this one thought Jesus might by his in fiueuce over the other, put an end to the strife between them. We need not suppose that this man asked any more than simple justice from his brother. 11. A reply. V. 14. “A judge or a divider." Deciding what is right t>nd executing the decision. Tbe reply of Jesus, while it shows no perso nal displeasure against the man, does con vey a gentle reproof. He tells him that he did not come to settle personal disputes about secular matters. In what follows he shows him that be came to announce prin ciples which would promote tbe mutual ex ercise of justice among men. 111. A warning. •V. 15. "Tb«m.” The disciples, while the man, and, perhaps, bis brother are still within hearing. “Take heed and beware.-’ The double admonition indicates that covet /ausnes, against which he warns them, is a great danger, by which one may be unex pectedly overcome. Covetousness.” A cra ving desire for more. “A man’s life.” etc. That is, large possessions neither give, fnor continue, nor make lifte. The true |ifo of man is fils character, not his posses sions. Life even in its sense, depends not on possessions, but on (he will of God. IV. A parable. V. 16. By this parable our Lord illustrates the folly of covetousness, and we may well observe that the illustration is taken not from tbe case of one who accumulates by injus tice, but one who obtains his wealth by the gift of God, obtaining it from the ground it self. The man isw wealthy farmer, blessed with a productive foil and favorable seasons. ‘ Ground.” The original word implies a large estate. V. 17. “He thought within himself." Selfish altogether and with no regard to God. “What shall I do? ’ Perplexed and anxious as to what he shall do with his increasing treasures, he does not even think of doing anything for those in want. It is still self. He has no idea that he is a steward of God. V 18. "This will I do.” The common decision of worldly men, who do not take God’s will into account. “Pull down my barns and build greater." The barns were subterranean vaults or pits, walled so as to be dry, in which grain was stored. Tbe man would pull dowh the walls and enlarge the pits. “These will I beetow, ’ etc. Hoarding, not using. Unused property, while it does no good, is subject to deterioration in many ways. My fruits and my goods.” No ac knowledgement of God who gave them. “All my fruits.” A completely selfish de cision. V. 19. “Soul." The living principle.the seat thejof sensibilities. "Thou hast much goods laid up for many years.” He counted on a long life, and that that life would be free from care and anxiety because of his abund ant possessions, “Take thine ease, eat drink and be merry.” Sensual enjoyment is his highest idea of life What a portion is this for an immortal soul! V. 20, “But God said.” Man is not an independent body. He may plan, he may purpose, he may commend himself, but God controls, after all. “Thou fool.” God’s opinion of him is directly opposed to his opinion of himself. Ke thought himself possessed of prudence and foresight. God thought him wanting in these characteris tics. "This night.” Instead of after the many years which he had promised himself. “Thy soul,” which be had called upon to take its <are and be merry. “Shall be required cf thee." His life was the loan of God, who rightly might demand its return when he would. Literally it is, “they require thy soul,” that is the messengers, whom God should send. We may notice, too, that the soul of this man is "required,” as from one unwilling to give it up. The good man willingly and cheerfully commits his soul to God. r ‘Then whose shall those things be ? ’ Those things in which this man’s life consisted. A starts ling question surely. The idea is not so much who should possess what he,had laid up as that he should lose it. What more pitiable sight is there than that for a man, all whose energies have been devoted to the acquisition of wealth, for its own sake, to find himself in the moment of great success, laid upon a dying bed, with the assurance that all his possessions cannot add one hour to his life. V. 21. "So is he." Jurt such a fool. There are two methods of laying up treasure, due tinguished by the object for which the labor is expended. The one is laying up for self and the other laying up for God. He who lays up for himself alone, shall sooner or later awake to the terrible reality that l:e has made an awful failure. The judgment of infinite wisdom will be that he is a foo? REMARKS. How poor a rich man may be. God’s thoughts are not like the thoughts of men. “The mournful fate of the man who gathers treasures to himself, and is not rich toward God; 1. painful discontent; 2. increasing anxiety ; 3. delusive hope ; 3. irreparable loss." The Lord knows the thoughts of men. Tbe covetous lose the life to come. “The poor Rich Fool comes before God's Judgment with a lost name, with a lost soul, with a lost world, with a lost heaven." Missionary Department. REV. J. H DsVOTIE. M>-. I WMon REV. C. M IRWIN. jaonora. Minion Board ot tbe Georgia Bsptirt Conven tion—Offioeta: Rev. R. B. Hendden, President: Rev. J. H. DeVotle, Corresponding Secretary «nd Treasurer; Rev. V. C. Norerors, Recording Secretary. Members-Revs. D. W. Gwin, A T. Spalding, H. C. Hornady, F. M. Daniel, V. C. Norcrow. Dr. J.a 8. Lawton Atlanta; G.A. Nun nally. Rome; D. E. Buller.Madison: J. O. Ryals aud R. B. Ileadden, Carteisvllle-; J. H. De Vote. Foreign Mission Board ot the Southern Baptist Convention.—Rev. H. A. Tupper, D. D., Corres ponding Secretary, Richmond, Va. Home Mission Board ot the Southern Baptist Convention—Rev. Wm. A. Mclntosh, D.D., Cor responding Secretary, Marion, Alabama. THE WORK OF MISSIONS. Rev. J. V. N. Taimags, by arrangement, preached before “tbe General Conference of Missionaries," held in Shanghai May. 1877. Hie tbeme was "The Work of Missions,” founded upon the Commission as recorded by Matthew 28: 18-20. We make a few extracts from this sermon, which we hope will be interesting to the readers of our mission column. Dr. Talmage Bays.: "The duty of evangelizing the whole world is explicit. But duty may be performed as drudgery. Better so —infinitely better—than that it be not performed at all. From the performance ot duty there can be no absolu tion. Yet, our Lord does not mean us so to perform our duties to him, especially the most blessed of all duties—tbe duty of saving men—of saving the world. Hence, this Commission is not simple assertion of au thority, followed by imperative command. It closes with promise most gracious. Lo, I am with you alway.' What more could we vk to make our work pleasant or successful ? What more could be given us ? Tbe gracious presence and tbe efficient help of our Lord 1 Christ with us, we can bear all things! Christ with us, we can do all tilings! "I look upon China as the most difficult missionary field in the world, aud therefore, to mere human calculation, the most hope less. This, I think, is the reason why God, when re-kindling the missionary spirit in His Church in modern times, allowed China to be so long closed against missionary ef fort. The church was not ready immediate ly to grapple with such a foe as she should meet here But however great the difficulties, they do not at all dishearten us. See what God, in his providence and grace, has done for this land during one generation. I remember well when the burden of prayer for China was that God would break down the great wall which kept tbe gospel out Os this land. That prayer has been answered. When I arrived in China, thirty years ago, there were only five places open to missiona ry effort, and only about the same number of Christian converts. Nowpreaching places are numbered by the thousand, and Chinese Christians by tens of thousands. If tbe pres ent generation has seen all this, what may not tbe next generation see? ... . “And now, my brethren, look forward a moment to the work accomplished. China Christianized I Abd not only China, but India also; yea, all of Asia and Europe, and Africa and America, and the Islands of the Sea—the whole world Christianized I Not nominally merely, but really 1 Shall all this ever be accomplished? Eighteen hundred years have passed away since the issuing of this Commission, and still the larger portion of our race is in rebellion. Why is this? Because the Church has failed in obedience. Without obedience to the command, we may not claim the fulfilment of the promise. Fulfilment has always kept full pace with obedience. Oh, that tbe Lord would make us faithful, and His whole Church faithful I Then should the gospel soon be preached to every creature, and the preaching be made effectual, and all the nations Christianized. Shall the Church of Christ ever come up to this standard of duty ? Yes, I think so. He who gave the command to preach the gospel, has power to give efficacy to the command as well as the preaching. Surely He will do it. He has begun to do it already. Look at the signs of tbe times. See you not the argel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and people and tongue ? Never, since the days of the apostles, has this vision been so plain as during this generation. What Christ begins, be sure He will carry through. Was he manifested to destroy the works of the devil, and will He not do it ? He will do it, and His name shall have the praise lorever.” I. A TRIP IN SOUTHERN ITALY. LETTER FROM DR. G. B. TAYfoR. Brethren Editors : I have just returned from a trip, of nearly three weeks, to our stations in Southern Italy. It was very pleasant to have brother Eager along, for, though I had become accustomed to my long solitary journeys, a congenial companion was none the less welcome. A week was spent in Naples—not in sight seeing, but in matters strictly pertaining to our work. The nightly and sometimes daily services of the sanctuary were truly consol ing, and I found it, as ever, a pure joy to lift up my voice, announcing the “great salva tion.” It was also refreshing to see cherished friends, some of whom (the family of Mr. Duncan, and Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs, of Calvary church, New York) I had not expected to meet. But the adjusting of difficulties, and arranging the “affairs” of our work was any thing but agreeable. The brethren of our little church, after a Sunday morning meet ing, requested me to wait, to hear their views and wishes as to what ought to be done, for they were aware that the discontinuing of the station, or the merging it Into another mission, had been considered. So we re' mained together till a late hour in the after noon, and they stated that, while our work was small, it was genuine, and that they would be deeply grieved were it cither total ly abandoned or absorbed. They were satis fied with the evangelist, but did not enter into certain existing difficulties, and were ai xious that, whether he or some other man, or no minister at all, labored with them, they be permitted to have the locale and to continue their organization. The result was a decision, on my part, to take the locale, at least for another year, and since that, it has been decided that the present evangelist re main at least until the coming autumn. In the above described conversation, when the plan of a fusion was suggested, with its ad vantages, the principal speaker, who was once in a municipal office, but is now a no» tary, replied, “Timeo Danaos et dona ferens tes,”» which I hesitate to give, for fear of brother Pendleton ; but that familiar quota tion was never more aptly cited, and it showed the culture and wit of the brother making it. A ride around the flaming mountain—on, on, through the valley of Benevento, so ad mired by Dr. Jeter, and over the vast plain around Foggia, with its countless herds, and we And ourselves across the Peninsula, on the Adriatic coast, and in the midst of the vineyards and olive groves and almond trees, covered with peacn-like blossoms, which surround Barletta. Two hours more, still southward, with the sea on the left, and we are at Bari, very ancient, but, at the same time, a thoroughly modern, thriving, rapid ly growing city. As Venice is the “Queen of the Adriatic," let us call Bari, first Maid of Honor. For the first two days, Big. Volpi, our ac tive evangelist, was absent, on one of his missionary tours. We repeatedly visited his wife, who, with her four interesting little girls around her. grieves none the less for her babe, whom the tender Shep herd has recently taken to bim«elf. I thick that si • found oar sympathy and words peculiarly consoling. Two xer vices of he cl arch were attended by us, and tbe Sunday-school. This last is in 'the hands of the pastor, and we could see how well tbe children are taught. The congrega tions were good and attentive, and from what I thns saw, as also in private, I felt that the state of the church and of our work in Bari is healthful and encouraging. The brethren greatly desire a good locale of their own, which could be bought for $2 500, and which would give also rooms for tbe minis*- ter. One of them said to me, “It is hard for us to draw tbe better sort of people to such a place as ours. All the different trades have their unions, and every union has its hall, and even the waiters of Bari have now a ball much nicer than ours." I saw from that remark better than ever before, how real and great is tbe need. And if one only asks, why the church can’t get a hall as well as tbe waiters, the answer is, that tbe former are far more numerous and far more able than are the latter, who yet do something, such as for instance, pay for their lights and sexton and help their poor. One or two incidents interested me. We were deciphering a Latin inscription on a wall, not very successfully, I must confess to brother Pendleton, when a well-dressed and unusually bright little boy of ten or eleven years came up, and we entered into conversation with him. Finally brother Eager gave him John’s Gospel, which was received with thanks gracefully offered and a touch of the cap. Then tbe 16th verse in the third chapter, “God so loved the world,” etc., was commented to him, and he repeat ed it several times in his masical tones. Then he looked at the little page and saw, “London: American and Foreign Bible So ciety,” and his countenance changed, and he courteously but decidedly refused to re ceive the book. Nay, he turned propagator, and declared that Saint Nicola was the pro tector of Bari and his protector, adding that the body of tbe Saint was in the Cathedral and wrought miracles, even offering to ac company us thither. He evidently believed what he said, and I could not butadmire his intelligence and zeal, tempered with courte sy, while I grieved for the errors by which he seemed enslaved. Afterwards I met him as he was walking with his school, in charge of an ecclesiastic, and I understood the case better. Whether the words spoken to him will ever bear fruit, time, or rather eternity, alone, can reveal. A counterpart picture to the foregoing, I will now try to paint. We were in the little store of one of our aged members, in front of the counter, and around a scaldino whose hot ashes sent up a grateful warmth. “We” means brother Eager and I, a oolporter of the Bible Society, who is a member of our church, Mrs. Volpi, and tbe storekeeper and his wife. He is In delicate health, and can rarely go out to meeting, but, as will appear, is far from inactive or unuseful. He has a singularly fine face, of the Dante style, with sharply defined and well chiseled features, and bis appearance was rendered more im posing by the beretto, or skull cap, which be wore, while his voice, deep, but, from his disease, somewhat hollow, was strangely impressive. Ah 1 there were others present, who almost escaped my attention, one being an elderly man who sat a little apart, and was a quiet sptetator; the other a little girl of eight or nine years, and small for her age, . who was waiting on customers, and per forming other services. We had been talk ing of the gospel, when at a pause, the old brother, whom I have described, calling the girl, said to me, “I will show you a little of what I have taught her." The child stood up, as is the custom in Italy in reciting, and With folded bands awaited the recitation, the handkerchief, turbaned on her head in the style of the peasants, uniting with her sober face, to give her a singular, womanly appear ance. First, she recited her catechism, which began with “the chief end of man,” "to serve God on earth, and to enjoy Him forever,” and was truly excellent. Then, a creed, which was the substance of evangeli cal doctrine, was recited; then, the Ten Commandments, the Lord’s prayer, several C assages of Scripture, and finally two or three ymns. All was said without mistake and without hesitation, but intelligently and not at all in a parrot-like way. In the mean time, several customers had entered, whom the wife had quietly Served, and who went . ut as quietly, not to disturb the impromptu gospel meeting which was going on, with a little child as the preacher. But not all went out; for an aged woman paused to listen, and as she looked down upon the little maiden, the tears slowly stealing down her rugged, weather beaten face,her countenance might have been a study for an artist. It was a study for me, but whether it expressed sympathetic admiration for the child, regret that her day had passed without such op portunities, or joy tn the sweet truths which were being in so unique away set forth, I could not tell. God knoweth. I know that our Lord Jesus hath said, that “out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast per fected praise.” And it was a little servant girl who had been thus taught by our aged brother, who evidently believes, with Spur geon, that there is no better work than to teach even one poor little child tbe word of God. Hear it, O reader, whoever thou art, and if thou hast the opportunity, fail not to follow the example of the venerable invalid of Bari. Ah 1 I fear there is many a child of Baptist parents in the United States, who could not repeat the Lord’s prayer and Ten Commandments, not to speak of other things; and Sunday-schools can never rid us of the obligation nor deprive us of the privilege, of putting a heavenly seed in a youthful soul, whenever God, in his providence, gives the opportunity. As so much freedom seemed to exist, I proposed a song, and we sang, "Safe in the Arms of Jesus,” and other like pieces. I said, when we had concluded, “They express the very core and heart of the gospel.” “Yes,” replied the old man, “that He who was infinitely worthy suffered for me, who am infinitely unworthy, and by His suffer ing brought me salvation.” When we left, I expressed my surprize that our ft lends felt so free and independent in the midst ot a Roman Catholic popula tion, on which they depended for patronage. In reply, it was stated that they had decided in the beginning to be as frank Protestants as they had been Catholics, and take the consequences; and that at first they were persecuted and left alone, but afterwards people had come to respect their straight*- forward consistency, and to treat them as before; a very good lesson, surely, for every body. I had thought to write everything in one letter, and that a not very long one, but I find myself compelled to clcse, with the promise to follow this immediately with an other letter about things in Bari, and in the region round about, which was also visited by us. Gao. B. Taylob. Rome, Italy. »“I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.” An Old Doctor’s Adviob.—lt was this: “Trust in God and keep your bowels open.” For this purpose many an old doctor has advised the habitually costive to take Kid ney- Wort— for no other remedy so effectually overcomes this condition, and that without the distress and griping which other medi cines cause. It is a radical cure for piles. Don’t fail to use it.—Translated from the New York Zeitnng. That white tongue needs immediate atten* tion. Nothing so quickly regulates the sys» tem and keeps it pure as Warner’s Safe Kid ney and Liver Core.