THE FORTIETH general meeting of the LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Annual Meeting of the Society was held at Exeter Hall, where, as usual, the friends of the Society began to arrive at an early hour. The large hall being inadequate to the accommodation of the numbers who attended, the lower hall also was opened, where an abstract of the Annual Report was read, and several ministers, and other gentlemen, delivered appropriate addresses. But even this additional accommodation proved insufficient, and some hundreds were obliged to return, as on former occasions, without sharing in this part of the privileges of the anniversary.

The meeting was both respectable and numerous, and was characterized by a delightful manifestation of those feelings of sacred joy and gratitude, which the communications made on such occasions are so well fitted to inspire in the mind of the Christian.

The recognition, by the meeting, of those great Scripture principles which constituté, under God, the spring of vigorous and persevering efforts in the cause, was distinct and cordial; while the evidence, afforded by the Report, of remarkable coincidence in the movements of Divine Providence with the object in view, and of important actual results attending the operations of the Society, seemed to add fresh warmth to the missionary zeal already enkindled.

The design of the Directors still further to extend their operations, both in the east and in the west, particularly among the hundreds of thousands whom the British Legislature has recently freed from the chains of slavery, was hailed, on the part of the meeting, with expressions of approbation calculated to inspire the fullest confidence, that the means requisite for carrying the same into effect will be liberally and abundantly supplied.

In reference to this subject, however, the Directors would respectfully remind the members of the Society, that the TWENTY additional missionaries proposed to be sent out, during the current year, will occasion, besides the expense necessary for their outfit, passage, &c., a very considerable addition to the permanent expenditure of the Society, which will, of course, require an equally considerable augmentation of its per

manent income.

The sermons delivered at the late anniversary were excellent and appropriate. These we proceed more particularly to notice.

SURREY CHAPEL.

The prayers of the Church of England were offered up by the Rev. Elisha Newth. The Rev. William Jay prayed from the pulpit, and delivered a discourse from John i. 17-Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The preacher began by noticing the connexion of the text, but waived the comparison between Moses and Jesus. Christ, suggested by the context, that he might confine his attention to the words immediately before him; in discussing which he observedI. That truth came by Jesus Christ under the four following characters:-(1.) By performance in distinction from engagement; (2.) As the truth of reality, in distinction from prefiguration; (3) As the truth of certainty, in distinction from falsehood and error; (4) As the truth of importance, in distinction from all other trath. II. Truth came by Jesus Christ in the four following ways:-(1.) As he revealed it: (2) As he is the effect of it; (3) As he was the medium of it; (4) As he was the exemplifier of it. III. The preacher inculcated the obligation resulting from this manifestation of the truth and grace which thus came by Jesus Christ, and which he described as threefold. It is the duty of Christians-(1.) To receive the grace and truth so revealed; (2.) To exemplify them; (3.) To diffuse them.

In reference to the last of these particulars, the preacher remarked, that there were hundreds of millions who had never heard that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world-that being of the same nature, and in the same fallen condition, they had, consequently, the same spiritual wants, as ourselves-that the command of our Saviour, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations," &c., was, as to the principle, equally obligatory upon us as it was on the primitive disciples-that there is nothing to be overcome, in the enterprise, which has not been overcome already-and that we have the same blessing to look to as the apostles had, with superior means, to secure the success of our efforts. Thus every Christian is bound, by an imperative obliga. tion, to assist in the dissemination of the gospel: some by their direct labours, or otherwise, among the heathen; others by their efforts, in various ways, at home; almost all, according as God hath prospered them, by their substance; and every one, without exception, by his prayers and influence.

TABERNACLE.

After prayer, the Rev. Robert Burns, D. D., one of the ministers of Paisley, delivered a sermon from Mark xvi. 15-Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. The object of the discourse was to consider some of the indirect benefits of the missionary enterprise.-I. It has enlarged and rectified our views of the actual state of man. II. It has led to the successful culture of some important branches of intellectual and religious inquiry; alluding particularly to the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in different languages. III. It has enriched the world with certain distinguished specimens of moral and religious excellence. IV. It has proved eminently beneficial in securing the essential rights and liberties of mankind. Reference was here specially made to the influence of missions on negro-emancipation, and the state of the slave colonies. V. It has helped forward the cause of civilization and general improvement. In the application of the discourse, the preacher addressed some suitable suggestions to the friends of the missionary cause in general, the Directors of the Institution in particular, and the missionaries in the field, or who are preparing to enter on the great enterprise.

The prayer after sermon was offered by Rev. Joseph Gray, Chelmsford.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On Tuesday, May 6th, the thirty-fourth anniversary of this much-honoured Missionary Society was celebrated, at Exeter Hall; the Marquis of Cholmondeley in the chair. Long before the hour of meeting the Great Hall was crowded to excess. Rev. Mr. Jowett opened the meeting by reading a form of prayer. The report contained much gratifying intelligence, though it opened with a note of lamentation over the decease of some of the earliest and most devoted of the friends of the society-such as Lord Teignmouth, Lord Galway, Mrs. Hannah More, and Mr. Wilberforce. It then stated the income of the society last year to be £52,922 1s. 9d., a sum exceeding that of the former year by £3572. The legacies left during the past year have been £3700. The entire expenditure of the year; including a sum of £2000 to the disabled missionaries fund, has reached the amount of income, leaving only £934 in the hands of the treasurer, During the past year the society, by the kind aid of divine provi dence, has been enabled to enlarge its operations in the Mediterranean, in Ceylon, and in the South Sea Islands. In Western Africa the mission seems to languish. In Sierra Leone the prospects of usefulness increase. In Greece and Smyrna the labours of the society are greatly honoured of God. A Turkish school has been opened for boys; and though the schoolmaster has been imprisoned by the authorities, yet such is the thirst for the instruction of their children among the Turks, that it is hoped that present difficulties will, in due time, be surmounted. In Egypt and Abyssinia the work of the Lord advances. In Calcutta, though a spirit of infidelity has been in active operation, the mission is there proceeding hopefully. At Madras a native female convert has shown a constancy in the faith of Christ worthy of primitive times. In New Holland the gospel is making way; but the degraded state of the population, and the awful condition of domestic life, present great barriers to the triumph of truth. In New Zealand a glorious work is advancing, and Sabbath attendances on the word would, in many instances, shame the inhabitants of Great Britain. A printing-press has been sent to that place for the use of the mission. In the West Indies the society has felt the stimulus which all other missions have done in connexion with the late measure of government for the emancipation of slaves. Upon the whole, the report is very encouraging. The meeting was much edified by the enlightened speeches from the Bishop of Winchester, Colonel Phipps, the Earl of Chichester, the Rev. J. W. Cunningham, J. P. Plumptre, Esq., M. P., the Rev. H. Stowell, the Rev. Professor Scholefield, the Rev. J. H. Stewart, Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., M. P., and the Rev. E. Bickersteth. The spirit of the meeting was in a high degree Christian, and displayed nothing whatever of a sectarian virus.

WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

This noble institution, which has received honour of God in a degree equalling that of any other Christian mission, held its anniversary, on Monday, the 5th of May, at Exeter Hall, Thomas Fowell Buxton, Esq., M. P., in the chair, who opened the meeting in a very impressive appeal on behalf of the West Indies, to which he was anxious the Wesleyan Missionary Society should send at least one hundred missionaries. He expressed a strong desire, also, that schoolmasters should be supplied in great abundance, to teach the negroes to make a right use of the liberty about to be conferred

on them. He also intimated his conviction that the Society, and other similar institutions, would, by the moral melioration they would promote, hasten on the crisis of the emancipation of millions of slaves in Cuba, Brazil, and America, and would ultimately contribute to the entire destruction of the slave trade. As the nation had given £20,000,000 for the emancipation of the slaves, he hoped it would not be wanting in affording the necessary means for their speedy instruction in the truths of the gospel. The Report, which was read by the Rev. Jabez Bunting, expressed deep regret on account of the death of the Rev. Richard Watson, and paid a just tribute to his splendid talents and Christian graces. The account of the Society's missions this year, is remarkably encouraging from all parts of the world. Its stations now amount to 166; the members of the Society belonging to these stations are 45,786-an increase of 1907. The children in the mission schools are 27,676. The income for the year has been £48,800. The Report concluded by a strong statement of the want of missionaries in many parts of the world, and by an appeal to some of the more experienced ministers of the connexion to elevate themselves to this glorious work.

The meeting was addressed with much piety and zeal by Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart, M. P., James Stephen, Esq., Sir Andrew Agnew, Bart., M. P., the Rev. Dr. M'All, the Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, the Rev. William Shaw, W. Evans, Esq., M. P., the Rev. Theophilus Marzials, Lancelot Haslop, Esq., Lord Mountsandford, and the Rev. J. Wood.

The speeches of Dr. M'All and Mr. Noel produced a most thrilling effect on the assembly. The sermon preached by the former on Friday, the 2d of May, will be long remembered by those who had the happiness of listening to it.

View of Public Affairs.

EUROPE.

The most recent intelligence from Europe which has reached this country, is from London of the 4th July, from Havre of the 2d, and from Antwerp of the 3d of the same month.

BRITAIN is agitated by the subject of church reform. A serious struggle has commenced between those who wish to dissolve, and those who wish to preserve the connexion between the church and the state. In the foregoing department of our work, we have exhibited the movements of the Dissenters. But on the other side of the question, it appears that on the birth-day of the British monarch, the Bishops waited on him with a congratulatory address, which was presented by the Primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury. "After a short conversation (says the Standard newspaper of the 29th of May) in which his Majesty said among other things, "I now remember you have a right to require of me to be resolute in defence of the church," the king proceeded"I have been, by the circumstances of my life, and by conviction, led to support toleration to the utmost extent of which it is justly capable; but toleration must not be suffered to go into licentiousness; it has its bounds, which it is my duty, and which I am resolved to maintain. I am, from the deepest conviction, attached to the pure Protestant faith which this church, of which I am the temporal head, is the human means of diffusing and preserving in this land. I cannot forget what was the course of events that placed my family on the throne which I now fill. These events were consum. mated in a revolution which was rendered necessary, and was effected, not, as has some times been most erroneously stated, merely for the sake of the temporal liberties of the people, but for the preservation of their religion. It was for the defence of the religion of the country that was made the settlement of the crown, which has placed me in the situation that I now fill; and that religion, and the Church of England and Ireland, [Ireland with peculiar emphasis,] the Prelates of which are now before me, it is my fixed purpose, determination, and resolution, to maintain. The present Bishops, I am quite satisfied, (and am rejoiced to hear, from them and from all, the same of the clergy in general under their governance,) have never been excelled at any period of the history of our Church by any of their predecessors in learning, piety or zeal, in the discharge of their high duties.-If there are any of the inferior arrangements in the discipline of the Church, which however I greatly doubt-[the expression of doubt was again delivered by his Majesty with great emphasis]-that require amendment, I have no distrust of the readiness and ability of the prelates now before me to correct such things; and to you, I trust, they will be left to correct, with your authority unimpaired and unshackled.

"I trust it will not be supposed that I am speaking to you a speech which I have got by heart. No, I am declaring to you my real and genuine sentiments. I have almost completed my 69th year; and though blessed by God with a very rare measure of health, not having known what sickness is for some years, yet I do not blind myself to the plain and evident truth, that increase of years must tell largely upon me when sickness shall come. I cannot therefore expect that I shall be very long in this world.

"It is under this impression that I tell you, that while I know that the law of the land considers it impossible that I should do wrong-that while I know there is no earthly power which can call me to account-this only makes me more deeply sensible of the responsibility under which I stand to the Almighty Being, before whom we must all one day appear. When that day shall come, you will know whether I am sincere in the declaration which I now make of firm attachment to the church, and resolution to maintain it.

"I have spoken more strongly than usual, because of unhappy circumstances that have forced themselves upon the observation of all. The threats of those who are enemies of the Church, make it the more necessary for those who feel their duty to that Church to speak out. The words which you hear from me are indeed spoken by my mouth, but they flow from my heart."

"His Majesty was affected to tears during the delivery of this declaration, and concluded the interview by inviting the Prelates to partake of the Holy Communion with him at the Chapel Royal, on Tuesday the 22d of June."

There has been some questioning in the British papers, as to the authenticity of this speech; and some variation in a few of the expressions said to have been used; but there seems to be no ground to doubt that King William spoke for substance as above stated-He, of course, stands pledged to oppose the dissenters, and all who unite with them, in the attempt to put all religious denominations in Britain on the footing of equality, as to legal enactments.-This conflict will be arduous, but we believe the day is nearly past, when religious establishments by law, or secular authority, will be endured-The Irish church reform has led to some change in the ministry; but the character of the cabinet remains substantially the same as before the change. It is however the opinion of many, that the Gray ministry will not be able long to keep its ground-it is affirmed that this ministry do not answer the expectations of the public, in several matters of reform-The Queen it appears is going to pay a visit to her German relatives.

We find we have miscalculated our space, and can therefore give little more than a summary of the remainder of Public Affairs. In France the result of the elections for Deputies shows that the government will be supported by a much larger majority in the new Chamber, than in that which preceded it-the Liberals are a small minority -The Chambers will be called for the 31st of August, but not proceed to business till January-The King is about setting out on a tour through the southern part of France. Spain and Portugal-The conflict for the crowns of these kingdoms is decided, and the young Queens have triumphed. Don Carlos and Don Miguel (par nobile fratrum) have both capitulated, and their armies are dispersed. Don Carlos has arrived in England, and Don Miguel has gone to Genoa-intending ultimately, it is said, to make Petersburgh the place of his permanent residence. The Queen Regent of Spain has, in person, reviewed a large corps of troops. The Spanish Cortes were to meet on the 14th of July. The patriot Mina is by a special act of grace permitted to return to his country. Don Pedro has sequestred to the state the property of all monasteries, awarding certain sacred utensils to poor churches-It is expected that the Pope will hurl his anathemas at Pedro-there has been one meeting of the consistory of Cardinals on the subject already-The Portuguese Cortes are to meet on the 15th of August. Russia it is said has some difference with the Turk-and Britain and France are watching the movements of the emperor Nicholas, who they know wishes to add Turkey to his empire. The Sultan is dissatisfied, and likely to have a new quarrel with the Pacha of Egypt, who refuses two years tribute affirmed to be due.

On our own continent, Mexico is still in a revolutionary state. Santa Anna has declared in favour of sustaining the Roman Catholic church, as a state institution. He may succeed for a time by his military force, but his cause must ultimately sink-In our own country the spasmodic cholera has appeared in a number of places, but, except at Montreal and Cincinnati, the number of deaths has not been great-We never remember such a series of days of unbroken heat, as those connected with the day on which we now write. Yet, through the great goodness of God, the general health of our country has seldom been greater at this period of the year, than at the present time.

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

SEPTEMBER, 1834.

Religious Communications.

CHRIST A ROCK.

1 COR. x. 4.-"For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ."

By figurative representations some of the most important instructions of divine revelation are communicated. Under the typical dispensation of Moses especially, there was scarcely any public act, occurrence or institution, which did not import more than at first appeared; and while it served some obvious present purpose, did not point also to some more remote and hidden, but yet more spiritual and important object or end. This spiritual signification of the ancient Jewish symbols, though it was often perceived, and was highly beneficial to the believing Israelites, was not intended merely, nor perhaps principally, for their benefit. It is under the gospel dispensation that the intention of all the types is most clearly unfolded; so that by viewing them in retrospect, and with the advantage derived from the light of the gospel, more may be discovered by a Christian than could be known to a Jew. To aid us in this useful investigation, the inspired writers of the New Testament often become our teachers and guides. They frequently advert to the Hebrew scriptures for the illustration and enforcement of what they deliver: and thus by a kind of double revelation, the wisdom of God is most conspicuously displayed, the faith of believers most powerfully confirmed, the beauty of sacred truth most engagingly exhibited, and its whole design most fully accomplished. Among innumerable passages which show the truth of this representation, the text is one of the most striking.

The apostle labours in the context to excite a holy circumspection in the Corinthian Christians, lest slighting or misimproving their peculiar privileges, they should lose the blessings which these privileges were calculated to convey. With this view, he points their attention, both for encouragement and warning, to the history of the people of Israel under the conduct of Moses in the wilderness. Speaking, in this connexion, of the miraculous supply of water which followed them on their journey, he denominates it "spiritual drink;" and then to explain the reason of his giving it this appellation, he says "For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ." By a figure of speech, too frequent in its use and too obvious in its import to be misapprehended, the people are here said to have drunk of the rock that followed them, instead of the water which flowed from it; and Ch. Adv.-VOL. XII.

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