us that as the Bible, the first production of the press, is the emblem and embodiment of all truth and light, so we are to accept and use this mighty instrument, as the gift of God, for the advancement of truth and light in the earth. This is, therefore, our plea for engaging in the work of advocating a pure primitive Christianity by the press. We have no better reason to offer. With any reasonable man, we need mot argue the necessity and propriety of such an undertaking. We rejoice to know that others here and there, are engaged in the same noble work of advocating the claims of the primitive gospel, and of the emancipation of our fellow-men from the ignominious bondage of a corrupt, traditionized, humanized Christianity. It is our wish, humbly and faithfully, to co-operate with all these in this noblest enterprize of human ambition, for thereby, more than in any other way, can we, under the guidance of God, advance His glory and honor and the best interests of humanity. We know and feel our own weakness, but to Him we look for wisdom and strength, and we humbly pray God to guide and direct us in our work, and to accept of our feeble endeavors to serve Him in advancing the cause of His truth in the earth. C. L. L.

DECLARING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.

BY ALEXANDER CARSON, LL. D.

"Diminish not a word."-Jeremiah xxvi. 2

DIMINISH not a word! Why should a message of the allwise Jehovah need such a caution? Shall a servant among men dread the consequences of tampering with the contents of a message to the friends or the enemies of his master; and shall the servant of the King of kings, compromise his duty, through fear, affection, or interest? The caution supposes then the temptation, and expe rience proves that the servants of the Lord are under the strongest solicitations of an evil heart to be unfaithful in declaring without reserve the will of their Lord. When the truth delivered is of a disagreeable nature, it exposes the messenger to the same hatred, as if he himself was the author of the threatened calamity. The messenger of good news is received with favor, but the messenger of evil news is an object of horror.

But the messengers of the Lord are not only exposed to the same displeasure with other messengers of evil, they are charged as malignant persons, who delight in the evil which they denounce as from the Lord. Men do not generally, in words, attack the Almighty, when they are displeased with his message, nor directly bring him to account for what is offensive; they bring the charge directly against those who deliver the message, or who urge them to con sider it in all the relations of the children of Israel in the wilderness. They murmured against Moses, and instead of laying the blame of their calamities expressly on Jehovah, they brought them directly in

charge against his servant Moses. In this way they gratify their resentment against the evil which they dread or suffer, and hide from themselves their awful guilt in calumniating the Almighty.

The things denounced by Jeremiah were exceedingly disagreeable to the people of Judah. Though mercy was always held out to repentance, yet, as they were wedded to their idolatry and sins, they despised the divine favor, or the way of a return to his service. They must have mercy, and have their own way. When the utter destitution of their temple and cities were presented, they were maddened with rage, and the hatred which they in reality indulged against God, was vented against the deliverers of his message. To encourage the prophet not to falter, Jehovah, here, in the most authoritative tone, charges him to diminish not a word. Neither must a tittle of the threatening be concealed, nor the language in the least softened.

The misconduct against which Jeremiah is here warned, is frequently exemplified in every age, in delivering the message of the Lord from the scriptures.

How many of the professed servants of the Lord, tamper with his message to the children of men! How many of them conceal a part of that which they know to be the will of God, in order to avoid giving offence.

This craft is by some openly avowed and gloried in, as an instance of holy guile, which is supposed to be a great accomplishment in a paster. Have we never heard of ministers of the gospel, who boast that they dexterously avoid the doctrines of scripture that relate to the sovereignty of God, and the deep things of the divine counsels ? How awfully wicked is the presumption! They condemn the wisdom of God as folly, and profess to have discovered a way of dealing with man more likely to be useful. The truths of the divine word are not to be taken out of their proper place. By pressing them in a view in which they are not exhibited in the divine word itself, evil may be done. But to suppose that any thing is revealed in scripture which it is wise to conceal, is an evidence of atheistical profaneness.

No part of the will of the Lord is to be concealed or testified for any purpose, on any account whatever. • Diminish not a word." Is the Lord more jealous with respect to the message to be delivered by Jeremiah, than he is with respect to the truths of the New Testament? Yet in how many moulds has the gospel been put, in order to form it in a manner suitable to the pride of man, so as to make it less offensive to the carnal mind? How many modifications have been given to the doctrines of faith, justification, &c., in order to reconcile the word of God, and the wisdom of man! How many ponderous volumes of commentary have been written, in order to effect what will never be effected-a cordial union between the natural lusts of man, and the statements of the book of God! All the contortions of scripture language, may be traced to the same source. The great bulk of those who are engaged in explaining the Bible, employ their efforts in endeavoring to destroy the features of divine wisdom, and make the book of God a favorite with the world: The ordinances of the house of God, have experienced the same

treatment. By the institutions of the great apostacy, all the ordinances of the New Testament have been either laid aside or modified by human wisdom. There is not one portion of the divine inspiration which has not been tampered with. And the Lord's people, when they have been allowed to return from Babylon, have in many instances, even thought it prudent to bend to circumstances, and by a holy guile, to persevere in those alterations and modifications which were introduced by the man of sin. How few churches dare take the New Testament in their hand, and go through it with this fearful caution before their eyes! Have not almost all of them, either added or diminished, or modified? While we are bound to rejoice in all who hold the truth, and should receive them in all things in which we are agreed, we should not cease, boldly and loudly, and constantly, to make this charge" tingle in the ears" of all our brethren, "Diminish not a word."

PITTSBURGH infirmARY.

First Annual Report of the Pittsburgh Infirmary, under the care of the institution of Protestant Deaconesses. Presented to the Board of Visitors, January 13, 1851.

By the act of Assembly incorporating the Pittsburgh Infirmary, the undersigned were constituted a " Board of Visitors," and charged with the duty of meeting annually, on the second Monday in January, "to examine and report for publication the condition and management of the institution."

In obedience to the injunction of the legislative authority, the undersigned met at the Infirmary buildings on the second Monday of the present month, and organized by the election of Thos. M. Howe, as President of the Board, and the appointment of C. Zug, as Secretary.

The Director of the Infirmary, the Rev. W. A. Passavant, submitted a report of the condition of the institution, which was ordered to be published. For this most interesting chapter upon the inception, progress, and future prospects of usefulness of this infant institution, as well as for the interesting report of the attending physicians, the Board of Visitors would bespeak the earnest consideration of their fellow-citizens. A statement of the receipts and expenditures was also submitted, and having been carefully examined by a committee of the Board, and found to be correct, was likewise ordered to be published.

The buildings, and all the departments and wards thereof, were thoroughly inspected by the several members of the Board, and found to be in excellent condition. The cleanliness order and decorum which pervaded the entire establishment, and the administration of its affairs, was equally a matter of surprise and gratulation. From the untiring zeal of the worthy Director, we had been led to

expect much, but our expectations were more than realized. Instead of a hospital where medicines were doled out, and the common dictates of humanity heeded as a matter of duty, we found an asylum for the sick and disabled, and a home for the invalid stranger, where the kindest sympathies of our nature were clustered, as around the domestic hearth.

The plan upon which this institution is organized and conducted, for the details of which we refer to the accompanying report of the Director, commends it most strongly to the liberal patronage of a Christian public. Its internal economy, and particularly the care of the sick, is entrusted to females, previously qualified by a course of education and training for this especial object. Here there is no distinction of creed, or color, or country. The penny less stranger receives as cordial a welcome, and his wants are as carefully provided for, as the possessor of thousands. There are no rules which exclude from this sanctuary the unfortunate victim of the most pestilential disease. While the doors of other institutions are closed against him at the time of his extremest need, here he gains ready admittance and the tenderest care. In the self-devoted nurses of this institution, he finds a substitute for mothers and sisters. It is, indeed, a noble charity, and as such, deserves to be most abundantly cherished and sustained.

No adequate provision of a permanent character has yet been made for its support. From the voluntary offerings of our benevolent citizens, the means have hitherto been provided for defraying its current expenses; and from the same source has also been raised the necessary funds for meeting the several installments as they have become due upon the purchase of the Infirmary buildings. Other payments have yet to be made, amounting in the whole to $3,000; of this, $1,000 falls due on the first of April next. The treasury is empty, and the Director, in addition to his other selfsacrificing efforts to carry successfully forward this noble enterprise, is now, as he repeatedly has been before, in advance of money from his own slender revenue, to buy bread and other necessaries for the dependent inmates of the institution. A small sum contributed annually, at stated periods, by one or two hundred of our fellowcitizens, would contribute greatly towards relieving the Director from many and perplexing difficulties, which he has hitherto been compelled to encounter; and to this end a committee has been appointed, whose appeal we hope and believe will be most cheerfully responded to.

And may we not also indulge in the hope, that not a few of our wealthy citizens, who owe much to the bounty of a kind Providence, will regard this institution with especial favor; and when they have gained the common heritage of all, will have left behind them some memorial that the PITTSBURGH INFIRMARY has not been forgotten. THOS. M. HOWE, GEO. W. JACKSON, WM. LARIMER, Jr., J. H. SHOENBERGER, WM. HOLMES, JAMES PARK, GEO. WEYMAN, Allen KRAMER, GEO. W. BLACK, HENRY GRAFF, ROBT. BEER, C. ZUG, J. K. MOREHEAD-Board of Visitors.

[This is a great and good work, originated by one of the most

valuable and benevolent ministers of the Lutheran Church, and worthy of the efficient smiles and efforts of the humane and benevolent of all Protestant communities. It disarms the Romanists of much of their sickly and selfish schemes of sectarian aggrandizement, in their boasted charities to the poor and the wretched Protestants, forsaken by themselves in times and circumstances of great calamity and distress. Poor Protestants preferred to poor Romanists, by Romanists themselves, is good sectarian policy, and avails much to their efforts at proselyting. Our Bro. Passavant merits the encouragement and co-operation of all Protestants in this great enterprise, so charitably commenced and so indefatigably and successfully prosecuted. We may notice its scheme and operations at a more convenient season..—A. C.]

DANCING.

CARLISLE, Ky., June 9, 1851. Brother Campbell: It is now some seven years since I felt myself called upon, in view of the increasing disposition to frivolity in our churches, to prepare and publish a discourse against dancing, as an amusement. But however that and kindred efforts from the pulpit and press may have checked the evil, most certainly it is still on the increase in this section of Kentucky. For years past, many persons of wealth and influence have been advocating dancing as a social amusement-as innocent, elegant, healthful, and every way improving. But they have been much hindered, hitherto, by the old-fashioned sort of Christians, who have not so learned Christ; and the preachers, too, have all been against them.

But my brother, (would you believe it?) a popular preacher has come out in two numbers, in the "E. Reformer," in favor of instrumental music in churches, and social dancing in our families! Hear him: "That the fashionable dancing of the day should be denounced by the churches, is not strange; but social dancing affords a very healthful and elegant exercise for the young, which, in itself, is entertaining, improving, and inoffensive." E. R. for June 1, 1851.

"Watchman, what of the night?" I call upon you, my dear Bro. Campbell, in the name of God—in the name of the crucified one— in the name of poor, bleeding Zion; upon Bros. Richardson, Pendleton, and every editor and every scribe who can lift a pen, and every orator in this Reformation, to speak out in a voice of thunder,