for their children. Dear Sir, praise and give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for these new visits of mercy, that it may be continued; and that I may have grace and strength given me to improve it for myself and them, to the glory of God; and that in this "accepted time and day. of salvation," we may not "receive the grace of God in vain.' All these are awakened without those painful effects upon their bodies, which have been (though unjustly) objected against in other cases.

There were also, about three weeks ago, about ten boys in the town of Kilsyth, who of themselves associated for prayer: some of them had been the most wicked in the place. They are reformed, meet twice a week, and are in a hopeful way. The Lord has done all this for us, for his holy name's sake, and hath shewn himself to be the hearer of prayer. And when for three months he had proved that I could not awaken one soul with all my earnest endeavours, he hath done it when I was not looking for it; and manifested that it is altogether his work, and it should be wonderous in our eyes. At Cumbernaud, a door great and effectual is kept open, though there are many adversaries, and great opposition made by some.

At Cambuslang, I hear they observed Friday the 18th, congregationally; and there was a great concern and uncommon motion among the people; but have heard no particulars. I have accounts this week that the awakening continues at Gargunnock, in some degree, and at St. Ninian's; and that every thing proceeds hopefully in these congregations. I have learned also this week, that this blessed work has entered into other congregations about Muthel; but having uo particulars, I have written to Mr. H. from whom I expect soon to hear. It is certain the work is in some degree in Kilmarnock, near Dum

barton.

I have thus given you what occurs to me at this time: you'll doubtless, when you see Mr. Whitefield acquaint liim of this, and that I remember him frequently in prayer. I long for your meeting with Count Z. and to hear some particulars of it. I have a kindly and warm heart toward the Moravians. Wherein they are otherwise minded, I hope the Lord will enlighten, and shew it unto them.

To the above I add (from the same hand) an Extract from the Parish Church Session Records.

Mans of Kilsyth, March 19, 1751. "The session being met for prayer, by appointment, the names of above an hundred persons were read, who were brought to the knowledge of God in that singular work of God, in this parish, in the year 1742 and 1743. Five of their number are safe landed, having finished well, and left an honourable profession to posterity of the grace and power of God in their

souls. The rest are now alive, and do honour to their profession, by an exemplary holy life and conversation."

The above extract is signed by the parish-clerk, six elders, and deacons.

N. B. Here were nine years proof of the grace of God having changed their hearts, in keeping then unspotted in the world. O for such glorious gospel-days again in that land, once so highly favoured with gospel-messengers, and gospelgrace! I am, Sir, yours, J. DUNCAN.

Pimlico.

DEAR SIR,

PROTESTANT UNION.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF WIDOWS, &c.

To the Editor.

WHILE the concerns of the soul are incomparably more important than those of the body, a due attention to the temporal welfare of our fellow-creatures is indispensable to that philanthropy which originates in the love of God our Saviour. I rejoice, therefore, that, among the various plans for the Lord's glory and the benefit of human kind, which the Evangelical Magazine has been instrumental to promote, that of the Protestant Union, for the support of ministers' widows and children, is to be numbered. I rejoice also to learn, that so benevolent an object has succeeded, in one respect, beyond the hopes of its most sanguine friends; so that, within little more than four years from its institution, a prospect arises of increasing the annual support that may be allowed to the widows of deceased ministers.

The plan of this society may, therefore, be considered no longer as merely an experiment, but so demonstrated to be ef fectually adapted to the advantage of its members. The firmer its foundation, and the more beneficial its consequences, the more earnestly it is to be wished that a greater number of necessitous, yet respectable persons, might share its happy effects. These are, at present, extremely circumscribed; and I apprehend will become still more so, in proportion to the duration of the society, except an essential error in its original regulations can be seasonably corrected. Having consulted with some of the most active members of the Protestant Union on the subject, it appears that such an amendment cannot properly be adopted, without the implied consent of the subscribers at large. I have, therefore, by the recommendation of other friends of the institution, resolved to urge so important, a measure upon the general attention, by the channel of your Magazine, that the members of the society may be prepared for its discussion at their approaching annual meeting.

The present number of those who are likely to de ive benefit from this excellent institution, is very small, compared with

the multitude who are able to feel the need of its relief: and even this small number is most probably composed, in a principal measure, of those persons who would be less affected than others by the want of it. These remarks derive confirmation from the comparatively few ministers who have subscribed, that their surviving families might reap the benefits of the institution; and from the probable proportion of those among them, who possess some property, independent of their salaries as ministers. I venture to ascribe these facts to an error in the original regulations; an error which was foreseen and pointed out, at an early period, by some of the trustees; and which, I apprehend, has now received full demonstration from experience. While ministers were required to pay a sum, from five to three guineas, annually, in order to procure a future and contingent advantage to their families, the trustees were conscious that the usual salaries of Evangelical Ministers, whether in or out of the established church, are inadequate to such a sacrifice. In a note annexed to the rules of the society, it was therefore observed, that "these sums were expected to be raised by collections in the congregations whose ministers became members of the Protestant Union." Its founders seem to have been led to this expectation, by a charitable supposition, that congregations were animated by disinterested liberality; for it is evident that such collections would produce no manner of benefit to the congregations that raised them, if their minister should remove to another; which so frequently occurs, that it may always be reasonably apprehended. It is also to be considered, that evangelical congregations are seldom very rich, It is often difficult for them to raise the miserable pittance by which their ministers, who have families, are preserved from starving. They might indeed be excited to club their weekly pence, to insure themselves against seeing the widow and children absolutely perish before their doors, at a future period, when it would be out of their power to help them; but it is wholly uncert in, at present, whether their exertions would prevent such a catastrophe, After contributing for tén or twenty years, their minister might remove (for it might in some cases be his duty); and if he should be succeeded by a minister disqualified to become a member of the Protestant Union, all their past sacrifices would be ineffectual. In some cases, they doubtless might raise, among them, bis subscription to the fund, with no great inconvenience to themselves; and I hope, for the honour of the gospel, that such instances are to be found: but I know not a single case, in which a congregation has subscribed for their minister. Every poor minister, within my own knowledge, who is member of the Protestant Union, has been enabled to become so by external and incidental assistance. If there are exceptions, they deserve to be honourably distinguished; but I do not see how they are to be

made known, for the imitation of others, while the minister only can be acknowledged as the subscriber.

On these grounds, and on more than your limits will admit me to allege, I would earnestly recommend to all the members of the Protestant Union, to enlarge the sphere of its usefulness, by admitting congregations to subscribe, as distinct bodies, upon the terms that the widows and children of those ministers, whoever they may be, that terminate their labours in a stated connexion with them, shall reap the benefit accruing from their subscriptions. The ministers who remove from such congregations, may be allowed to continue subscribers in their own names, if they are able to do so, and were not individually disqualified previous to the subscription of their congregations. Ministers who are already, or who may hereafter become members of the Protestant Union, if they form a connexion with such congregations, will of course be relieved, for the time they remain in that connexion, from their personal subscriptions. If any congregation, through particular circumstances, should prefer to raise at once a sum that may entitle them, without farther subscriptions, to the relief of their ministers' family, four times as much as the annuity that would be due to his widow, may be accepted in full of all demands.

If I could foresee any disadvantage, or hazard, liable to arise from such an alteration in the rules of the society, I would fairly state it; but I am not aware of any. If any such should occur to others, I beg them seriously to consider whether it is not greatly overbalanced by the following obvious benefits that would result.

1. The plan of the Protestant Umon would be rendered consistent with what is evidently its fundamental principle. It depends for its main support, not upon disinterested beneficence, but upon reciprocal advantage. Its members are called upon to make a moderate present sacrifice, in the hope of an adequate future benefit. Yet it calls for support from congregations at present, without affording any security for such a retribution. This inconsistency will be obviated by the proposed alteration. Congregations, like other subscribers, will become interested in its support.

2. It will be established and enlarged in its sphere of usefulDess, by increasing (I trust very greatly) the number of stated contributions. Supposing that, exclusive of other denominations, there are 1200 dissenting congregations in Great Britain, and that one half of these should become subscribers, in an equal proportion of the different classes, it would add 2400 guineas to the income of the Society. Every one may diminish or augment this calculation, according to his own judgment. No one, I imagine, will dispute that the additional support would be considerable.

3. It will increase its real usefulness in a still greater propor-.

tion than its apparent success, because the relief thrus adminis tered will be afforded to those persons who are in the most urgent need of it, and not to families that possess independent property, as is probably, in a great measure, the case at present.

4. It will excite many persons to new exertions of beneficence. Supposing the sum above-mentioned to be added to the funds of the society, five-sixths of it, or 2000 guineas, may be fairly considered as clear gain to the cause of liberality, and to the support of ministers of the gospel. The annual subscriptions that congregations would raise, to prevent the fature incumbrance, or want, of the families of their ministers, will not, without such a motive, be raised to increase the salaries, greatly as such an augmentation is required by the increase of unavoidable expences.

5. It will tend to promote the harmony, and to establish the union of ministers with their people, by their reciprocal benevolence and interest.

6. It will open a door for many ministers to derive advantages from the Protestant Union, who are otherwise irrevocably excluded from it, merely because they were incapable of becoming members within the limited time after its establishment, or after their own ordinations. This, I apprehend, will be not merely of advantage to them, but to the Protestant Union likewise; as there is, at present, a strong inducement to form similar institutions for their relief.

7. It will afford encouragement to young ministers to qualify themselves as subscribers before the proper term elapses, because they may expect, that when an increase of their families renders it most difficult for them to continue their subscriptions, they will be relieved from that burden by the congregations with which they settle; and because they will then be authorized to renew the subscriptions in their own name, if they should find it necessary to remove. RABKASHER.

ANECDOTE,

RESPECTING THE FRENCH PROTESTANTS.

AN English minister happening to be in France, in the year 1683, when Louis XIV. destroyed the religious liberties of The Protestants, gave the following account of a day of humilation, kept at Charenton:- They met early in the morning, and continued their worship till night, ministers and people being under the deepest impressions of sorrow and fear. Towards the close of the day, an eminent minister described to them, in a lively manner, the excellency of that pure and undefiled religion which they had so long enjoyed, and the dreadful loss they were likely to sustain. Floods of tears disabled