swer "I got them, sir, from and by religion:" the reply brought tears from the eyes of that aged servant of Jesus Christ. The fourth person that had to come and speak was the companion of the young man just referred to; who had given in his experience before us, and of whom it be may said, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" About eight months ago he was living in sin of every kind; he is the husband of the first female spoke of: he was brought to attend our meeting through his wife feeling so concerned about her soul, and was met with under the sermon that I preached from the words " I will lead the blind by a way that they know not." I would just say that one and all spoke well and clearly of a work of grace upon their hearts; their present conduct and conversation also prove it true. My brother, time fails me to tell you all the good things they said. In the evening I baptised them; when, I suppose, there were not less than nine hundred persons present; some say ten hundred. Many went away weeping; two out of the four was man and wife. Making, in the whole, added to us this year, twelve persons. JOHN EVANS. HALSTEAD ANNIVERSARY. I SIGHED in my soul, and looked to heaven for help, as I hurried from the printing office on the morning of August 8, to catch the train which promised to carry me near to Providence Meeting, in Halstead, Essex. My poor brains were sore with mental labour my mind was burdened with anticipated difficulties; and my back bent a little from long-lasting struggles, and reproaches on all hands; still, when I thought of the interesting work to which I am called, the help that has been given, the many blessings conferred, I entered a little into the very spirit of the poet's holy challenge, "Let cares like a wild deluge come," &c. After engaging to preach the anniversary sermons, letters came to hand to prejudice my mind against the people to whom, and the pastor for whom, I was to preach. This cast me down a little; but something said within "Pray God to help you this day to give them a Bible remedy for imperfect preaching, and a gospel cure for unholy living. If thy labour shall be blessed of God, all then shall he well." But where shall this Remedy be found? Plenty of work for prayer, and persevering thought, was now cut out, and to these things I now endeavoured to give myself. ye I found the remedy in 1 Cor. i. 7, 8;"Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Four things gave rise to these words-and their condition: 1-Among the Corinthians sin existed; 2-It did not cause that mourning and sorrow which the apostle rightly expected; 3-The Corinthians were puffed up, proud, and boasting; 4- They had not removed the transgressor from their midst. Now, it is not for me to speak of special cases; but I will first shew that among our ministers, deacons, and churches, there is an old leaven existing. 2. I desire Scripturally to shew how it is to be purged out. First, to shew that in the midst of our churches, pastors, officers, and people, there is an old leaven existing, which spreads and makes itself known in various ways. For instance, in the first place, there is the old leaven of a fallen humanity; so that you can find no one man that is perfect; bad tempers, bad principles, bad prejudices, and things not to be named, are often to be found among them that that are going to heaven, if they are not awfully deceived. Secondly, there is the old leaven of cold formality. In the preaching and prayers of thousands, what a cold, empty and lifeless formality doth exist. Bless my heart, you'd never think that the Word of God was a fire in them; or that rivers of water ever flowed within the compass of their narrow souls. Then there is the old leaven of carnal pride and jealousy; and no small measure of covetousness and carelessness as regards the peace and welfare of Zion. But now for the remedy and this lays, 1, In the charitable administering of New Testament laws. 2, In a zealous and holy maintenance of New Testament ordinances. 3, In a faithful contention for gospel doctrines; and 4, In a discriminating, distinct, and decided declaration of the work of the Spirit in the heart, whereby the election of grace is manifest to themselves and others. The argument wherewith the apostle urgeth this exhortation was in my soul very powerful وو "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." As though Paul should say, If God the Father spared not his own Son, but called on Divine justice to smite him, because the sin of the church was imputed unto him, how much less shall we spare that idol, that undistress or disgrace the church of God! holy passion, that sinful principle, which may These thoughts so filled my spirit that I could but give vent to them; and I have hope that even a message so unpalateable might be useful under the blessing of heaven. The weather was unfavourable; but our sober, honest brother, Thomas Warren, of Braintree, preached well, and I did what I Halstead, has certainly suffered severely, but could. The cause in Providence Chapel, there is hope of a tree if it be cut down;" that old tree has been severely shaken, if not cut down; and now there is hope it will revive. We were favoured to meet some of the excellent of the earth on this anniversary day; beside many of the Lord's seeking children, there were pastors Howell, Collis, Robert Powell, &c. Some pleasant conversation we Brother Thurston's minishad by the way. try was found useful; and we may anticipate a revival in this long drooping cause. Lord grant it. Amen. The The following communication has since been received, FRIEND BANKS,-I send a brief outline of Mr. Alderson, of Willingham, was then called on to address the meeting. He spoke of the beneficial effects, morally and spiritually, of Lord's-day Schools, and of the evident sanction of the Most High-adducing proofs of the elevating power of the gospel wherever proclaimed; and as with a preached gospel, signs and wonders followed, so with kindred institutions good must and would result. the cause of God at Providence chapel, Hal-interest in the school. This meeting he was sted, Essex. You are aware the church has desirous should again erect an Ebenezer to the been for some time without a pastor; the Lord honour and glory of God, who had sustained inclined the hearts of some of his servants to and blessed them as a people through varied come and break unto the few poor despised scenes, and now we had met to congratulate ones the bread of life; so the doors of the and stimulate in behalf of the rising genersanctuary have been kept open. Many have ation, in the use of means, looking to God for been the cries and groans of his living ones power to make them effectual; and, lastly, we there, that he would in mercy send them a meet on the eve of the harvest-the waving Man of God, to go in and out before them. crops and yellowing fields called for devoutest The Lord has heard the sighing of the poor praise. prisoners, and has come down to deliver us, in sending of us a servant of the Most High God, in the person of Mr. John Thurston, late of Harwick, who, I am happy to say, is the means in the hand of the Eternal Spirit, to feed the church of the living God. Blessings for ever on his dear head, he hath not left himself without a witness, inasmuch as he doth so bless the message that our minister is enabled to deliver from time to time; that there is a goodly number assemble in the house of the Lord, to hear the ever blessed gospel of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ; I can say without fear of contradiction, saints are comforted, and sinners are warned. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." We desire to be kept low and humble at his foot stool; not to be too much excited, but to say, and to feel it too, "Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy great and precious name, must and shall be all the praise." We desire to rejoice with trembling, not to idolize the man, but to act upon the principle laid down by the Apostle, to esteem him very highly in love for his work's sake, and to be at peace among ourselves. We would pray, "Send now, we beseech thee, O Lord, send now prosperity." Our minister administered the ordinance of believer's baptism last Lord's Day, the 19th of August, to three individuals, one brother and two sisters, who, previous to that solemn ordinance, gave a clear and satisfactory statement before the church, of the Lord's dealings with their souls. He baptised in the river, and truly we must say, the divine and heavenly presence was manifested towards the minister, and in the souls of the candidates, and in the souls of the living ones in Jerusalem, who were present. O, that this may be the first fruits of a great harvest. Yours for the Truth's sake, THOMAS ROOT. BAPTIST CHAPEL, SOMERSHAM. THE friends of the cause held their annual tea festival for the Lord's-day School, on Thursday, the 9th of August, in the barn kindly lent by Mr. Robert Childs, which was very nicely decorated with evergreens and appropriate mottos, by the fairy fingers and zeal of teachers. Ábout 300 friends and 95 children partook of tea. In the evening a public meeting was held in the barn. The chair was taken by Mr. Joseph Flory, pastor, who, after prayer by his venerable parent, said he felt especial pleasure in meeting his friends again so numerous, after the lapse of twelve months' labour in the pulpit, and he trusted no less attention and Mr. N. Horsley, of Chatteris, next addressed the friends, expressing his firm attachment to Sunday Schools, and was glad the day had passed away of doubt in reference to the utility and scriptural character thereof; and he could but desire such persons who doubted, and put their doubt in antagonistic position, safely landed in the fair realms above, but their number was very small, and a few obstacles might tend to make us careful and not go too far in our zeal for the training of the juvenile; for while he gave place to none in attachment to the cause, we must ever guard against latitudinarianism, that Jehovah would be disappointed if such and such results did not ensue. We could not ensure the conversion of the child though many had been, and doubtless many more would be, converted by that consecrated medium. Let our motto be" It is our's to labour-God's to bless." He could instance a case that had recently come to his notice of the conversion of a child who had been divinely illuminated at the Sunday School in connexion with Mr. Lyons of their town, and was now departed to an eternal world with evident proofs of grace's lasting work in the soul, but which was brought about by Sunday School labour. Hoping these things would tend to stimulate, he wished the friends and teachers every blessing. Mr. Whiting next addressed the friends, remarking that he need not attempt one word in defence of their object, the education of the seed of our race. He should direct their attention to one of the many beautiful mottos he saw around him: he referred to "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." This crown far outweighed all others, however valuable; this has no death in its connexion; it is the crown of life eternal, and which will be given unto all the dear people of God, whether the Christian minister, deacon, member, or teacher. Kept unto the crown, and then the crown bestowed. The prize always had stimulating effect in God's cause. The meeting closed by singing "All hail the power of Jesu's name," and the Benediction, after a vote of thanks for the barn and kind friends. ONE THAT WAS THERE. TUNSTALL ANNIVERSARY. Ar our anniversary, August 19th, 1855, my dear pastor, brother Poock, of Ipswich, preached the sermons. In the morning we were highly favoured with a blessed discourse from Exodus xxiv. 12, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there." I believe many precious souls were highly favoured, whilst listening to the glorious truths the preacher was then enabled to advance, under the immediate guidance and teachings of the Holy Ghost. The language of the text itself was applied with Divine power to many hearts, so that they were enabled, by the influence of the Eternal Spirit, to come up from their distresses into the mount of communion with God, and fellowship with Jesus Christ his Son." Many wept for joy. In the afternoon, after I had read a portion of Holy Writ, and implored the Divine blessing upon the word spoken, &c., the man of God again ascended the pulpit, and read as a text, Psalm xlviii, 2, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion." Some excellent and soul-profiting remarks were made from the place referred to-the situation, the beauty of the situation, and the blessedness of those who are interested in it. Bless the dear Lord, I have reason to infer from what I heard, that not a few were privileged to realize their interest in the everlasting covenant engagements of the Eternal and Sacred Three. The congregations were very large and attentive, and the collections good; and I do hope that both time and eternity will develope that much good was effected in the name of the holy child Jesus. 2, Park Terrace, Yours in Christ, J. PELLS. St. Margaret's, Ipswich. viz., the prayer-meetings; but alas! he found fallen in our streets, and equity cannot enter." the pulse beat very faint; "For truth is We call ourselves a Particular Baptist Church; but the cry of some churches around us is--"Ah, they are only half Baptists at Clare." And in some measure it is true; not that we admit any to the Lord's table without baptising; but, in my opinion, a Particular Baptist Church is not comprised in that one thing only, but a holding fast those blessed doctrines of God's truth without wavering. But alas! alas! those precious Your's THE DAMSEL. CAVE ADULLAM BAPTIST CHAPEL, NEW LAND, HIGH WYCOMBE. WE, as a Church, have great reason for gratitude for the Lord's great goodness towards us; we have reason to pour fresh oil upon the old monumental pillar, and say, "hitherto God hath helped us." Since Mr. Thring, our present pastor has been with us, we have baptised seventeen persons;-one the first Sabbath in last year, nine on the first Sabbath in May, 1855, and seven on the first Sabbath of this present month, August. All the above were baptised, as aforesaid, after witnessing a good confession first to the minister, and then to visitors appointed by the P.S. I am still residing in Ipswich, though Church, and last of all, before the assembled regularly preaching at Tunstall. CLARE, SUFFOLK. Church. I believe three out of the last seven were over sixty years of age, and three others over forty, one only about twenty. You would like to hear a little about how One of the females was brought up in high we are getting on at Clare as a church. We life, at an Inn near London, acquired an must not talk loud-only whisper; for they independency, and retired from business. say we should not tell tales out of school. I Her husband, a very gay man, after all the know you like to hear a little word or two. amusements and vanities of this world. But Well, we have no settled pastor yet. We the dear woman being, a vessel of mercy, was have had some good supplies. One good man suddenly stopped in one of her rambles. from Bury-a man sent of God, too, I hesi- Something like a dart from heaven struck her, tate not to say. The savor, the sweetness, brought her to a dead stand, her conscience the power, and the melting influence that ac- was accusing her; she did not know which companied his testimony, proved him a right way to fly, the fire of hell seemed to burn Jerusalem-blade. And they say he is at around her, and Satan accusing her. In this liberty to serve any destitute church. But state of mind it seems she went home: her "Snell" is not the man for Clare. No, no. husband thought her mad; and she said, it "For truth is fallen in the street, and equity was a great wonder he had not confined her cannot enter." The last two Sabbaths we had in a mad-house This dreadful state of mind dear Mr. Edgecombe-bless his dear soul! continued a long while; her husband used her The first Sunday the text was, " And I will very ill because she would not accompany him bring the third part through the fire," &c. in his play-going. She then tried the And you may depend upon it, he preached the Wesleyans; they set her to work, and she people right out of their knowledge. Some worked willingly and very hard for a time, of the poor little things kept saying, "This is but could get no ease from her burden, and different isn't it?" Aye, and would God ultimately her husband turned her into the we could always have such! The dear old street, where she wandered about, and at last, servant said, when he goes into a fresh by an unseen hand, she was led to hear church he always likes to feel the pulse, then Mr. Isaacs, and the Lord made his preaching he could tell in a measure how the body is- 'like a hammer, which knocked off her chains and set her at liberty, and now she is found BAPTISING IN THE RIVER, AT ROADE. ON Lord's Day morning, Aug. 5th, at halfpast eight o'clock, after singing and prayer, an interesting and appropriate address was delivered by our esteemed brother Rogers of Trowbridge: after which, our beloved pastor, Mr. F. Pearce, baptised in the river at Roade, Somerset., seven persons, namely, two males and five females, on a profession of their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the presence of fifteen hundred or two thousand spectators. In the afternoon of the day, the baptised were added to the church, in accordance with Acts ii. 42. Our chapel each time during the day was crowded with attentive hearers; and truly the Lord was in our midst. C. SAUNDERS. GRAVESEND. AT Zoar chapel, on Wednesday evening, July 25th, 1855, Mr. Stringer baptised nine believers-four males and five females, one of which was at the good old age of seventy-four. All made a good profession (and confession) before many witnesses. says, SHEERNESS. MR. EDITOR,-The royal prophet of Israel July 30, 1855. UCKFIELD. OUR little cause is in a peculiar state-our pastor is not able to do any thing, but adminter the Lord's Supper, he being ninety-five years of age; the church numbers about twelve-pastor, deacons, and all. We are necessitated to have supplies to conduct the services of the Lord's Day; this begets itching ears and fluctuating congregations. Those who speak are all men of sterling worth, as far as we know; but not being all gifted alike, do not obtain the same popularity. We are very poor-none of us much beyond the capacity of servants. We have a nice little chapel that will seat about 200 closely packed. This we hold a lease of, at one shilling a year rent. The Lord enabled me-a poor worm-to defend his own appointed ordinance faithfully and scripturally, at the head of the pool, from John i., part of 31st verse; from which two things were dilated upon: first, the servant's mission; secondly, the Saviour's manifestation. Much was said on both departments. The Lord was there; the word was blessed; THE many were edified and comforted-while some despised and reviled. What a mercy to be able to say, "None of these things move me,' but in all we do, to aim at the glory of our God, and the good of his people. Gravesend abounds with error, form, and profession; so that we at Zoar, both preacher and people, are branded with the appellation of "DANGEROUS," and we form a target for all the rest to shoot at; but, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" And he has said, "Them that honour me, I will honour." And so he does, and shall have all the glory. On Monday, Aug. 13th, we had our anniversary. The place was crowded, we hope with living hungry souls; our brethren, J. Foreman and J. Wells, preached blessedly to us the word of life. We were fed with the finest of the wheat, edified, and refreshed. The Lord was with us indeed, and of a truth. A great number of friends took dinner and tea with us; the collections were excellent; the friends cheerful; and at home, it was a real good day, both in temporals and spirituals. To our gracious God be all the glory. T. S. PETER DRUMMOND-the publisher of the Stirling Tracts, in Scotland, has put, as we think, the crown upon the head of all his efforts, by issuing an original and beautiful edition of "The Life and Experience of Margaret Bruce, a Scottish Peasant Girl." We have commenced a thorough notice of this ancient but inestimable piece of biography in our little "CHEERING WORDS," but THE EARTHEN VESSEL must not be silent. The "Prefatory Note" by Peter Drummond himself will better introduce what we have to give of this "Scottish Peasant Girl," than anything we can write.. First then our friend Peter says "The following narrative of the religious experience of other days may appear to some rather antiquated, and in need of something in the shape of notes to modernize it, and to make it more generally understood. But on reflection we have concluded that it is better to let it tell its own story, and produce, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, its own effect. | recollect that my parents had devoted me to If the reader will only peruse it with calm, the Lord in Baptism, and was well pleased prayerful desire to profit by it, and not shy at with what they had done. I was sensible even the most peculiar of its doctrinal or that it was now full time for me to take these experimental statements, it will prove, as a engagements on myself; and I accordingly whole, to the soul "a feast of fat things." entered into covenant with the Lord that day Its high-toned spirituality and deep Christian devoting myself to God in Christ, and engaged experience will, doubtless, prove a solemn myself to him in the strength of his own rebuke to the formality and shallow religion grace, and essayed, by faith, to embrace the of many, and may thus, by the quickening Lord Jesus Christ in all his offices, as my grace of God, lead to great searchings of Prophet, Priest, and King. I then resolved heart, much brokenness of spirit, and deep to renew my engagement at the first comhumiliation before God. There is in our day munion occasion, and could have been conan alarming amount of surface religion,-a tent that I had opportunity to do so just at lamentable want of " experimental" godliness; that time. I continued frequently praying and we earnestly pray that the Lord would from day to day, pleading that I might be bless this effort to bring the piety of the past prepared for that holy approach to God. And to bear upon the profession of the present, so I was allowed in particular with freedom to that his own great name may be glorified. plead that word, that God would revive his work in the midst of these years.' 66 PETER DRUMMOND." This Margaret Bruce was born in 1723, and died soon after she attained her twenty first year. In her younger years, she watched her father's flocks, and in those retired seasons her mind was wrought upon to a great extent. Her life and her experience were peculiar. The true grace of God came to her in early life; and deeply chastened her heart, purified her affections; and led her soul up to God. One specimen of her experience, as taken down from her own lips, we here give. After speaking of her more childish days, she says "I can say little more of myself till I was about thirteen years of age. When I was one day reading my Bible in the fields, that word, 'As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' (1 Cor. xv. 22) made great impression on my heart, and at reading of these words then, and many times after, I got a sense of my lost condition by the fall in Adam; and again, after that, when I was reading on a Sabbath-day in the Bible that word, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ve have no life in you.'-John vi. 53.) And several other expressions in that chapter made a deep impression on my soul; but especially what Christ says in the sixty-third verse, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life,'-at the reading of which I thought spirit and life were first put into my heart, at least in a sensible way, so as to feel my heart sensibly drawn up to heaven, and drawn out in love to Christ. At the same time I had great longings to go to the communion-table, which I accordingly did the summer thereafter. But before the sacrament occasion came about, one Sabbath-day that I did not go to church, I went out to the fields alone, and falling to read my Bible, and reading in the thirty-sixth chapter of Ezekiel, I felt an inexpressible sweetness and power come along with many of the promises in that chapter, and light came along that explained the meaning of them to my heart, and applied them to me in particular, especially these words in the twenty-fifth verse, Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean,' &c.; and from that to the twenty-ninth verse. I was now made to "When that solemnity came on, I was made to hear the word with much sweetness and delight on the several days, and thought by the marks I heard of those who had a of those invited to the Lord's table. I did, right to come, that I was among the number however, conceal all that I had met with so closely, that I scarce told anything of it to any body at all. But though I had a strong inclination to come, I wanted not some doubts and fears about myself at some times, and on Saturday after sermon, was once thinking to have gone away home without asking a token in order to my being admitted to the Lord's table. But when I was turning away, I was quickly made to return again by that word darted into my mind with power,It is surely good for me that I draw near to God, for all that are far from him shall perish. after I had got a token, I fell into a great disorder and confusion: my heart turned very dead and hard. Going home, I went off the way a little to secret prayer, but could hardly get a word spoken to God. A terror fell on me lest satan would appear and devour me, and I continued hard-hearted all that night; when I essayed prayer I could get no liberty or access to God. I thought myself very unfit for a communion, and continued in that sad condition lamenting my case." But The death of this peasant girl was strikingly solemn and profitable. We give the following paragraphs, because we are persuaded many will read them with much enlightenment of mind as regards the valley through which we all must pass; and with some confort of soul. In the account of her death, the following occurs "The following is only a few imperfect notes of that discourse gathered together, a little after her death, from some of the best memories then present, precisely in her own words, or as nearly as could be recollected: "Come here, come here,' said she, all ye that fear God, and I'll tell you what he hath done for my soul. Is this the death I was afraid of? This is not death,-it is wrong named; this is not death, but life,-life to my soul, life for evermore. Oh! I am in the suburbs of glory,-I am in heaven already! |