graze, and make himself comfortable until the man returned with an answer. "How can this be," the messenger said, when he came to the teacher's house, "the man is a white man! Where was he born, that he has no sabbath?" The missionary sent word that the command was a "fast word;" for it was God who said, "Remember the sabbathday, to keep it holy;" and that this word was binding upon all men, of every nation. The man thanked the missionary, in the name of his chief, and said that he must never be tired of teaching the Caffres, for their minds were very dark, and needed telling the same things over and Over again. He then returned, and found the chief and a large assembly waiting to hear the great word" which should decide the question between the trader and themselves. When the chief received the message, he cried, "Do you hear that now! The missionary must be right, because he has the book," meaning the Bible. The trader was then told that he must wait until the next morning, when they would be glad to trade with him, for they would have nothing to do with him on the holy day. Of the same people the missionary says, "It is truly pleasing to see them on the Lord's day, dressed in neat and clean European clothes, forming a contrast to the filthy dresses which they wore in their heathen state. They meet together in the house of God, and their worship begins by singing a hymn: they then join in solemn prayer. A text of scripture is read, and a sermon is preached, when the minister tells of the fallen state of man; or speaks of the death of Jesus as the only means of pardon and peace with God; or he shows the need of faith and repentance, and warns them to flee from sin. There is also the school for the little black children, and often classes for elder people. No worldly labour is done, the cattle are grazing in quiet. All around tells it is a day of rest in this African village. And at the close of the day may be heard, in many of the huts, the voice of prayer and praise for the mercies of another holy sabbath. May we, who are born in a Christian land, love the Lord's day as the best of all the days of the week; and may we be prepared to spend an eternal sabbath in heaven! How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend, In hope of one that ne'er shall end! Missionary Tracts. MISCELLANEA. JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. We have a large number of vour to publish in their turn; reports of Juvenile Missionary but our friends must exercise a Meetings, which we will endea- little patience, remembering that Never The Negro, showing the effects of our space is limited. We heartily commend our young friends, and the teachers and managers of our Sunday-schools, for the very zealous manner in which they are taking up the Missionary cause. Our prayer is, "God bless you and make you a blessing." He will do so. grow weary in well doing. At the close the collection was LONGTON CIRCUIT. made, which amounted to £2 committee have the pleasure to 14s. 1d.; after which the officers present to the readers of the and committee for the ensuing Instructor an account of the year were appointed, and the eighth annual Juvenile Mission- meeting was closed by singing, ary Meeting, held on Sabbath "From all that dwell below the day, February 13, 1853, in the skies," &c., and the benediction large school-room of Zion Sab-being pronounced by the chairbath-school, Longton. We had man. a truly delightful and interesting meeting, which was commenced by singing the 26th Hymn, School Melodies, "I thank the goodness and the grace," &c. ; after which, William Birks engaged in prayer. A hymn composed by the Rev. P. J. Wright was then sung, viz., “Jesus, our dear Lord, rejoices," &c. Our much esteemed and respected G. L. Robinson, Esq., was then called upon to preside, and after offering some very appropriate remarks, called upon the secretary to read the report, which was most ably moved and seconded by our young friends Robert Brian and Samuel Gordon. Both their speeches were well received and much applauded, and do great credit to our young friends. The meeting was then delightfully interested by the recital of the following pieces, interspersed with speeches : The Favoured Island, by H. Burton. The Little Martyr, by Frederick Stonier. Speech, by Joseph Goodwin. Moses the their first meeting on Sabbath- feeling, was that of our Congre- Our friends at Fenton have also had their third annual meeting on Sabbath-day, April 3, 1853, at which Rev. J. Howard presided, which was also a delightful meeting. Our young friends there seem to have en tered into the work quite in a spirited manner, which does them great credit. The following were the pieces, &c., that were recited :Juve Report, by J. Lovatt. nile Missionary cause, by Jesse Shaw. Sketch of my life, or what a halfpenny can do for Missions, by Alfred Eardley. Resolution, moved by Mr. John Hughes; seconded by Mr. D. Procter. The Unfeeling Mother, by Anna Lovatt. The Priest and the Bible, by Ann Tipping. What can you say, "Sir?" by Samuel Hammersley (who is unfortunately blind). Resolution, moved by Mr. Ralph Bagnall; seconded by Mr. Swanwick, from Store. Children of the Heathen, by H. Lovatt. Little Irish Boy, by Dawson. Boy with the Mail-bag, by Ann Gordon. Resolution, moved by Mr. William Holt; seconded by Mr. James Alcock. The collection amounted to £1 14s. 2d., being 4s. 11d. in advance of last year. Our friends at Stoke have also had their annual meeting on Easter Sunday, which was also a good meeting. Preparations are making to hold meetings in other parts of the Circuit. MOSSLEY.-Dear Sir,-I have the pleasure to inform you that the second annual Juvenile Missionary Meeting in connection with our Sabbath-school at Mossley, was held on Lord's day afternoon, March 27, 1853. The meeting was opened by singing and prayer, after which our worthy friend Mark Andrew, Esq., was called upon to take the chair, who, after making a few preliminary remarks, called upon the secretary to read the report. Suitable addresses were then delivered by our worthy minister the Rev. T.W. Ridley, Messrs. J. Taylor (superintendent of the school), T. Halkyard, S. Holt, E., W., and F. Newberry (sons of the late Rev. Francis Newberry), and T. Hannam. An appropriate dialogue was also recited, entitled "The Missionary Clock," by S. Barnes and S. Wrigley. The meeting was a very interesting one, and I believe has had and will have a salutary effect upon the minds of the children, which are already deeply imbued with the missionary spirit. At the close of the meeting a collection was made, which amounted to the handsome sum of £8 18s. 44d., which, added to £6 19s. 24d. collected by cards and missionary boxes, makes the total amount £15 17s. 7d.; less 10s. 1d. deducted for expenses; being an increase of £8 0s. 6d. over last year's collection. This induces me to say that Mossley will accept the challenge of London, viz., to raise £1 extra the ensuing year for the Australian Missions. JAS. LEES HAIGH, Sec. NEWCASTLE CIRCUIT. On Saturday March 12, a tea-meeting was held at Seaton Burn. The Wesleyan school-room was kindly lent for the occasion. As this was the first meeting of the kind held by our Seaton Burn friends, they had looked forward to the day with much interest. The tables were set out in tasteful style, and well supplied with suitable provisions. The company began to assemble at four o'clock, and after a succession of sittings down-the tables being removed-the room filled well up. Our esteemed friend Mr. John Waggott was voted to the chair, and discharged its duties with a good deal of credit and familiar good humour. together with some other appropriate pieces. This part of the evening's engagements excited considerable interest, and the zealous efforts of these little girls were recommended as an example worthy of the imitation of all dear children. After a report of the state of the Missions, four little girls, from ten to twelve years of age, stepped up to the platform, and The meeting was afterwards each of them presented a sealed efficiently addressed by the envelope addressed "For the Messrs. R. Nesbitt, W. Soulsby, Methodist New Connexion Mis- and T. Davidson, and the Revs. sions," and enclosing half-a-T. G. Robey and D. Sheldon. crown, the product of their The proceeds of the tea efforts during the last few amounted to 16s., which, with months. There was also en- the sums collected by the chil closed in each envelope a suit-dren, will exceed the sum raised able passage of Scripture, with a last year. T. G. R. verse of a hymn selected and written by the girls themselves. These they severally repeated, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, THE EDITOR'S DESK. QUERIES AND ANSWERS. QUERY 1.-ON THE PUNISH-|| MENT OF DEATH FOR MURDER. DEAR SIR, Having on various occasions derived much information from perusing your able and valuable answers to many interesting queries, you will not, I think, consider me an intruder in asking an answer to the following question in that invaluable publication, the JuVENILE INSTRUCTOR. Is the penalty attached to wilful murder, recorded in Genesis ix. 6, to be regarded as a moral law? If so, Why is it that God did not inflict that punishment upon Cain for the wilful murder of his brother Abel? The answer, dear sir, will much oblige yours truly in Jesus, WM. G. FREAKLEY. ANSWER.-The denunciation of death for the crime of wilful murder, as commanded in the above passage of Scripture, is certainly not of the ceremonial law; for though the life of a beast was taken away as a part of the ceremonial service, yet not the life of man,-it is too sacred It must therefore be a moral law. Here the life of man is so sacredly guarded against human malice, that death is to be the punishment of him who murders a fellow-creature. The reason assigned for thus sacredly guard ing human life against malicions violence, is the most solemu and important one that can be given; and it is this," For he is made in the image of God." That is to say, man's existence is infinitely im I portant; for, like God, he has a spiritual and immortal nature. This solemn and weighty reason is one which necessarily applies to all countries and all ages. As to the question, Why did not God inflict this punishment upon Cain? we answer, Whether or not God did ultimately inflict an untimely death as a judgment apon Cain, we cannot determine; for though sacred history s silent about his end, yet it is ot at all improbable that a udgment of God carried him way; though not immediately, et suddenly and violently. It true God did not require any ne to put Cain to death; for if had, it seems that Cain's own ther must have been his exeationer; and when that father's eart was already broken with ief on account of the murder it was not likely that merciful God would add to his rrow by requiring him, with $ own hands, to destroy the her. In such a peculiar case, od chose to deal with the urderer himself; and what his id was no one knows. one son, UERY 2.-ON A Vow MADE BEFORE THE ANGEL. DEAR SIR, I feel much liged to you for the answer have given to that portion Scripture in Ecclesiastes, v. 6, der the title of "Rash Vows." ut allow me to say, I feel rather sappointed in not having an planation on the whole verse. believe, however, the fault was myself in not quoting the hole at the time I wrote to u. As the latter clauses apar more difficult than the rmer, I shall feel greatly obliged if you will explain it as soon as convenient. It reads thus: "Neither say thou before the angel that it was an error; wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?" I remain, sir, respectfully, CHARLES COCKER. ANSWER. The word angel means messenger. It is applied to a class of happy beings in heaven because they are employed as God's messengers, and are ministering spirits to the people of God, Hebrews i. 14. But the same word is often applied to other messengers as well as to angels; namely, to God's ministers. Rev. ii. iii. &c. Now, in the passage before us the word is, we think, applied to the officiating minister at the temple, who instructed the people in their duty, and presented their offerings to the Lord. Thus, if a person made a vow, it was usual for him to go to the public sanctuary to perform it; but if a person made a rash and improper vow, instead of fulfilling it, he would have to go to the temple, and there confess his error, and entreat God's mercy to forgive him, and release him from the obligation of his vow. He would have to say before the angel (the officiating minister) that his vow was made in error, and by prayer and supplication obtain mercy and deliverance from sin and liability to punishment. Such appears to be the meaning of the passage, and hence the caution against all rash vows, which would subject him to such a deprecatory course. |