supported, to rear up in habits of attachment to the doctrines and discipline of the church at whose altars they are to rainister. But these ends cannot be accomplished to any considerable extent, without the co-operation of the people of our denomination generally. The Board is the organ of the Church, designed to promote convenience impartiality and efficiency in this important concern. Its funds are composed entirely of the voluntary contributions of the friends of the cause, placed at its disposal, from year to year. And it ought to be recollected that, as this is a Presbyterian institution, and contemplates aiding those candidates only who are of that denomination; we cannot expect and do not presume to ask the patronage of any persons who do not belong to our religious connexion. We ask you then, brethren, in the spirit of fraternal confidence, to sustain your own institution. It is not local in its character, or partial in its appropriations. It has no favorite schools or colleges-in the locating of its benificiaries, for the purpose of instruction; it neither claims nor exercises any power. Its object is to aid and encourage young men, during their whole course of study preparatory for the sacred ministry, whatever may be their location, upon the receipt of satisfactory evidence, as to their character and necessities. True, our efforts in this matter, are limited to our own denomination; and so we may, perhaps, be incli ned to regard this as an objectionable trait in the character of the Board. But is it a reasonable ground of objection?— May not any denomination of christians unite, and act alone in their endeavors to promote the interests of religion, without incurring the charge of sectarianism or bigotry? We concede this right to others. We cheerfully unite with our brethren of other persuasions, in the Bible cause, and in every similar design involving no compromise of principle, or sacrifice of our own honest views of truth and duty. But in training ministers of the gospel, we verily believe, more will be done, in the aggregate, by the separate action of each sect, on its own plan, than can be accomplished by a nominal union, while there exists such a diversity of opinion among christians, in relation to ministerial qualifications, gospel order and ecclesiastical polity. These consid erations must, we think, commend themselves to every sober and reflecting man's understanding. May we not, then, count upon the assistance of our brethren, in this good work? By means of this Board and that of Missions, our denomination has now an opportunity to put forth its strength, and act with vigor, and through divine favor, with an efficiency correspondent to the space which it occupies in the American church. And never were the dispensations of Providence more propitious to evangelical enterprize than they are at present. Peace and prosperity pervade our happy country. God is pouring out his Spirit, and calling multitudes into his Kingdom. Many pious youth are offering their services, in the ministry of reconciliation, if they can but secure the requisite measure of intellectual culture. Shall we not extend to them a helping hand? There is a pressing demand for labourers, in the Lord's vineyard at present; and ten years hence, it will probably be ten fold what it now is. From every quarter of the inhabited globe, the cry is, "Come over and help us." The inhabitants of the isles are waiting to receive the Messiah's lawsthe messages of truth and grace. Let us take courage-let us have faith in the divine promises respecting the Redeemer's Kingdom-let us come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, with the prayer of faith, and those labours of love which God never fails to own and bless, for the furtherance of his Gospel. And now, brethren, we close this appeal, indulging the hope that you will foward speedily, by mail or otherwise, such contributions, as will enable us not only to sustain the young men that are connected with the Board, but to afford assistance to several interesting applicants, who are anxiously waiting to know the result of their application. A considerable number of our beneficiaries are now well forward, in their education, and will soon be off our hands, if not interrupted; but, really, we shall not be able to support them to the end of their course, without more liberal contributions than we have been receiving for the last few months. And it is grievous to be obliged to turn away applicants of good promise, with ample testimonials, when we know that thousands at home, and millions in foreign lands, are suffering a famine of the word of life. Ministers are requested to read the foregoing to their congregations, on the Sabbath, accompanied by such remarks as they shall deem proper. PLAN EDITOR. For the support of Public Charities. WE have received a circular of the 2d Presbyterian church, in the city of Albany, N. Y. with which we are much pleased, giving the outlines of a plan for the above purpose. We copy the substance of it, omitting local matters, in the hope that other churches may be indu ced to follow the example, or adopt || nevolent objects should be formed. They something of the kind, with such modifi- will not be much felt, if small, though cations as shall be deemed best suited to frequent; and yet the amount to the the peculiar circumstances of each.- whole congregation, will be great.The plan was adopted, it appears, These, however, who prefer paying for in this instance, at a joint meeting of the three, six, or twelve months at once, Trustees and Session of the church. In will of course, do so. explaining their views of the necessity of some such measure, they say :-"It may be proper to observe, that the reason for proposing a new plan is, that there is great expense and inconvenience in the common method of taking subscriptions and making collections. It is also supposed that the ordinary mode of soliciting funds is attended with bad effects on the cause of christian charity, and perhaps, also, at times upon the hearts of the con tributors. If an Agent is employed to raise contributions, he must be constantly travelling, at no small expense; and yet he can hardly address more than one or two congregations in a week. In the mean time, an able minister is thus taken from other duties. There is, therefore, a great loss, or misapplication of ministerial labour, and a portion of the funds raised must go to support the Agent. But, when we recollect, that, no one Agent, for one object, could go through all the churches in the land in many years; and, further, that there are many different objects, for which funds are to be raised, it becomes quite manifest that there is too great a sacrifice of money and of valuable time, in the method of Agencies, as generally practised. Furthermore, the present system is inadequate, in its operation; it is inefficient and often oppressive on individuals. A call may happen to be made on a man of business at a moment of pressure and difficulty. Many calls for extra efforts may be made within a few months. It seems right that every one should, upon calm and serious deliberation, survey the several objects of public charity, and set apart such sum as he thinks proper for each; and it is better that this be done deliberately, than under the influence of urgency, or importunate solicitation. To remedy these inconveniences, it is proposed, that, for the public charities hereafter proposed, no public collections be made, nor subscriptions encouraged; but, instead thereof, the following course be pursued, viz: 3. A committee, appointed by the congregation, is to have charge of collecting and applying the funds thus raised; of which an account is to be rendered once a year. 4. Every subscriber can withdraw or vary his subscription at pleasure. 5. It is recommended to parents to enif the sums be very small. This is an courage their children to subscribe, even important item of christian education. Then follows the list of objects, such as the distribution of the Bible,-Education for the ministry,-Missions,-Distribution of tracts,-Sunday Schools, &c. with a form of subscription, and MEMORANDUM, demonstrating, that a congregation of fifteen hundred individuals, can raise $3.435 per annum, by contributing according to their various circumstances, from one cent to one dollar a month thus This is certainly a feasible plan; and if generally adopted by our churches, it is easy to see what an amount of money might be raised, even if no one in our communion should pay more than twelve dollars a year. On the plan hitherto pursued, if indeed it may be called a plan, many individuals are harrassed and oppressed, while the great mass of the people do almost nothing;—and some of our best institutions are languishing and ready to die for want of adequate support. The prejudice againt soliciting agencies is very strong. Some change in our mode of operation seems necessa 1. That there be a list of objects made out and agreed upon; and let each mem-ry. Perhaps we shall do well to revert ber of the congregation determine what sum he will appropriate monthly, to any or all of these objects. He can give to all, or to such only as he deems most im portant. 2. Let the sums subscribed be monthly: it is thought best that the habit of making frequent appropriations to be to primitive usage. Paul's plan was a weekly appropriation. "Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as the Lord hath prospered him, that there be no gathering when I come." Extract of a letter from a Clergyman in || dence of the Board and of the CommitN. Jersey to the Rev. Dr. Green of tee, and prepare the matter for the Ed Philadelphia. ucation Register, monthly, endeavouring to make it both profitable and popular. "In looking over the contributions to the Board of Education, I am grieved to see the beneficiaries of the Board, to visit 5. To exercise a pastoral care over all that the amount is so small; and afflicted by them as often as practicable, at least once being informed that the Board are compell-in every year, and to hold corresponed to decline increasing the number of their dence with them as frequently as circumbeneficiaries for want of funds. stances may require, so that the ComTo aid in supplying every destitute fam-mittee may always be fully informed reily in the U. States with a Bible,-in plant specting them. ing Sunday Schools over the great Western Valley, and in sending forth missionaries to every unoccupied region, is doubtless incumbent on every christian. But without a great increase of educated ministers, your missionary operations must be cramped, and, without the influence of the living teacher, the Bible will produce, comparatively, little effect, and Sunday Schools will languish and die. If then, we wish Sunday Schools to flourish, the Bible to be read, studied and loved-and the light of the gospel to be carried to every dark cor. ner of our land,-let us sustain our Education Board. The prejudice existing, against the expense attending necessary agencies, I deem unreasonable. If the principal part of the salary of your General Agent were raised by specific contributions this prejudice might be allayed. Twenty individuals, giving $50 each, would be sufficient. Cannot that number be found in the Presbyterian Church? Please to appropriate the amount of my order ($50) to the use of the Gen. Agent of the Board of Education." The writer has our sincere thanks not only for the substantial proof of his zeal in the Education cause enclosed, but for his judicious remarks. We trust his sugges. tion, in relation to the prejudice referred to, will be duly regarded. It is, indeed, -unreasonable; but as it exists, and is exerting a pernicious influence, all occasion for it should be removed if possible. Duties of the Corresponding Secretary • and General Agent of the Board of Education. 12.-1. It shall be the duty of the Corresponding Secretary and General Agent, to take special care of the office. 6. To take the direction and guidance of the various Agents which may be employed by the Executive Committee, maintain a constant correspondence with them, and keep the Committee fully advised of their proceedings, and 7. To do whatever may be necessary, under the direction, and with advice and consent of the Executive Committee, to secure and advance the prosperity of the education cause, The following since; viz: ance 2. To keep the books of minutes, and all the necessary registers of beneficiaries Judge Darling, Reading Pa. do. their names, recommendation, place of education, stage of education, date of Wm. J. Williams of 6th Church, Phila. do. reception, and amount of aid rendered.. 60.00 10.00 100.00 33.00 5.00 $305.31 $17.75 10.00 00.621 5.00 20.00 30.00 $83.87 JOHN STILLE, Treasurer. 3. To prepare all the regular business for Conrad Hanse do, do, do, THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. MAY, 1831. Religious Communications. LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED TO YOUTH. LECTURE LVI. We now proceed to the consideration of the tenth commandment, which is thus expressed "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." This commandment requires "full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour and all that is his;" and it forbids "all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions or affections toward any thing that is his." You are aware, I suppose, that as the Papists dispense with the second commandment, because it manifestly prohibits their use of images; so, to keep up the number ten, they divide the one now before us,-taking the first clause, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife," for the ninth commandment, and the remaining clauses for the tenth. To justify this, they say that the first clause of this precept relates to property, or interest; and the rest to pleasure or gratification. VOL. IX. Ch. Adv. But besides the absurdity of such a distinction, in regard to one and the same sinful emotion-that of coveting the thing asserted is not true in fact; for the ox and the ass of our neighbour, to say nothing of his servants, are as much parts of his property as his house. Besides, it is evident, beyond reasonable controversy, that the inspired lawgiver did not intend that this precept should be thus divided, because the two first clauses, which furnish the whole ground of the distinction contended for, are used interchangeably by himself, in two places, in which this precept is recorded. In Exodus, xx. 21, the commandment begins with the words, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house;" but when Moses recites the decalogue to the children of his people, on the borders of the promised land, [Deut. v. 21,] he introduces the tenth precept thus "Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife," and then goes on with the other parts, which chiefly relate to property. In truth, this Popish distinction is so absurd, that it is scarcely worthy of serious confutation. A point far more worthy of attention is, to ascertain why this commandment was given at all; since the whole of the decalogue relates, not merely to outward actions, but in every precept, is spiritual in its nature and extent, reaching to "the thoughts and in 2 F tents of the heart;" and the eighth commandment, when thus viewed, would seem to prohibit that coveting of our neighbour's property, from which actual theft and all similar enormities proceed. In other words, when viewed spiritually, how does the tenth commandment differ from the eighth? The learned and eminent Pictêt, one of the successors of Calvin before the Genevan school became corrupt, has gone at some length into this subject, thinking, as I certainly do, that it is one of great importance. I will give you the substance of what he says, on the inquiry specified.* In order, he • There is a real difficulty in explaining this commandment perspicuously, from the fact that the English verb, to covet, used in the prohibition, does not convey at once, the true meaning of the precept. The original word (hamed), by the consent of all the Lexicographers, and by its manifest and frequent use in the Hebrew Scriptures, signifies to desire earnestly, lust after, take pleasure in, delight in, covet. This word is, in the Septuagint, translated by the Greek verb duμ (epithumeo), which signifies to desire, long for, or lust after, both in a good sense and a bad one; for to lust after or against, is sometimes taken in a good sense, as Gal. v. 17, the Spirit "lusteth against the flesh." From the verb buusa, is derived the noun buμa, which strictly signifies any desire of the mind, either good or bad; for both the verb and the noun have their origin from Buμos (thumos), the mind. Now these two words επιθυμεw and επιθυ Mia-the former used sixteen times in the New Testament, and the latter no less than thirty-eight times-are, in the common version, translated in three or four different ways; and we will not say that, in any instance, the translation is a bad one; because the translators have manifestly sought to characterize the mental affection, when evil, by some sin gle term, denoting a bad affection, which could scarcely have been done, if they had kept, as the original does, to the use of two terms only. The verb ea, is five times translated to desire; five or six times to lust, or to lust after; not more than twice, or thrice, to covet; and once it is translated he would fain;—" he would fain (ouu, epithumei,) have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did states, to set the matter in its proper light, we should observe, 1. That in relation to every action, eat." The noun, is between thirty and forty times translated lust; three times desire; and three times concupiscence; and not in a single instance is it translated covetousness. The original word for covetousness, which is pretty frequently used, is always soveği (pleonexia); and there is one remarkable text which shows clearly, that μ and gia, do not, at least always, denote the same, but different affections of the mind. It is Coloss. iii. 5, "Mortify thereearth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate fore your members which are upon the affections, evil concupiscence (μIZV xaxи epithumian kakeen), and covetousness, (TV Tovar teen pleonexian), which is idolatry." Here μ and Tove are placed together as distinct items in the enumeration of vices: there is therefore a difference in their meaning. To translate buμiv xax, evil concupiscence, must be regarded as a pleonasm, and perhaps was intended to be so, because concupiscence, by itself, signifies an evil desire; the real meaning of nann is evil desire, generally, in regard to any object whatever; and thus it is distinct from sevežia, covetousness, which is specifick, relating only to an unlawful desire of property. We may now ascertain what is the true import of the verbrendered covet, in the tenth commandment. As we have shown above, it primarily denotes, both in Hebrew and Greek, to desire, or earnestly to desire, and nothing more. But the desires of the soul, even earnest desires, are not necessarily sinful. The desires of the human soul are its moving springs; without them, man would make no improvement, if indeed he could even continue his existence. It is not unlawful for me even to desire the property of my neighbour, provided he is willing to sell it, and I am willing to give him what he asks for it. Without something of this kind, no fair bargain is ever made. Now, as the tenth commandment is expressed in the prohibitory form, it must relate to an evil desire. To indulge an evil desire towards any thing that belongs to my neighbour, whether it relate to his house, his wife, his servants, his cattle,-THIS it is to covet them, in the sense in which this word must be taken in this commandment. The evil desire, in order to be sinful, need not proceed to the length that it did in the case of Ahab, in relation to Naboth's vineyard; or in that of Herod, in regard to the wife of his brother Philip. Nay, such sins |