I went, and preached my first sermon from "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." I went to this place again and again-until they found I was too high for them; so they gave me my discharge. I then lay quiet some two or three months, when I was again led to speak at one place and another, until, in the providence of God, I was introduced to Greenwich by my brother Bird. In the statement given you by the church, you have the result; and I do feel it to have been God's act. I have enjoyed more liberty while preaching here than anywhere else; and often have I been led to exclaim, "Lord, it is good to be here." helped of God, and brought safely through, with encouragement to proceed in so good a work. The Secretary then read the report. From which it appeared that, during the past year forty-six cases had been visited and relieved; upon which the sum of £15 8s. 2d. had been expended. The amount received by donations and subscriptions was £16 2s. 2d., leaving a balance of 14s. in the hands of the Secretary. It further appeared from the report that, the committee had been actively employed during the whole year, as far as their means would allow, in endeavouring to soothe, comfort, and relieve the poor of the Lord's flock, by visiting Mr. Caunt then made a statement of the them at their own habitation, taking the Word doctrines and ordinances he should advocate. of God for their spiritual consolation, and the Mr. Hanks called on the Church to ratify temporal help afforded by the friends of the their call, and Mr. Caunt his acceptance. society for their pressing wants; and more The venerable J. A. Jones then rose to give especially, in those trying seasons long to be the Pastor and Church the right hand of remembered with solemnity, when the pestifellowship, which he did in a most affection-lence was walking in darkness, and taking away at the noonday; and also during the severe and trying season when the earth for many long weeks was frozen, chilly, and bare. ate manner. Mr. Hanks closed the morning service with prayer. In the afternoon Mr. J. E. Bloomfield read and offered the ordination prayer, and Mr. James Wells delivered a most able charge to the pastor. [We have the MSS. of this charge, but from its length we are unabled to insert it this month. We hope to do so in the Nov. number.] In the evening, Mr. J. A. Jones preached a sermon to the church. It was certainly a day of rejoicing to the little church at East. street, Greenwich. UNICORN YARD SICK VISITING SOCIETY. thousands Several cases of deep distress had been met with, in which it had been found that the poor saints were without food, without fire, without sufficient clothing, and passing through sufferings which none but themselves could fully enter into. Yet it had been found that grace could and did sustain, support, and in some instances, cause them to rejoice in that portion which is incorruptible and that fadeth not away. While several that had been visited and relieved by the committee, had been called to their heavenly inheritance, where their sufferings were now at an end, and no further opportuity of doing them good afforded, the committee had worked together during the year in perfect union and peace, and the blessing of God had attended their labours, for which they desired to praise and bless his sacred name. The meeting was addressed by James Blake, Mr. Messer, Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Thomas Jones, Mr. Williamson, Mr. THE friends of this truly useful society held their first annnal meeting, on Tuesday, 14th August, when several of the Lord's ministering servants kindly gave their presence and labours to strengthen the hands and encourage and Mr. Garritt, who savourily and sweetly the hearts of the committee in their endea-opened up the truth of God's blessed Word, vours to do good among the poor and afflicted of the Lord's family. A comfortable and refreshing tea was partook of, and although the company was not numerous, yet the friends found there was a union of heart among those that were present, so that there was both enjoyment and en couragement realised. About half-past six the public meeting commenced by our pastor, Mr. Banks, who presided, calling upon our esteemed brother, Thomas Jones, late of Chatham, to address the throne of grace, which he did, in solemn, earnest prayer and supplication. After which, our pastor addressed the meeting, expressing the nature and objects of the society, also some of the circumstances of trial through which the church and the Lord's people generally had been called to pass during the past year, and which had been calculated to impede the progress of its labours, notwithstanding which, the friends had been and the experience of the living family, causing many present to prove it was not a barren season, but that according to his promise," where two or three are met together, his power and presence shall be found to be." The meeting was concluded by singing the doxology, and by prayer. Reader, can you help us? The work is a good one-the poor saints need it. Christ calls you to it, and promises it shall not be forgotten, but that every cup given his children in their tribulations on earth, shall in no wise lose its reward. BRADLEY. BAPTISING IN THE SEA. AT Chelmondiston, five persons were baptised by our pastor, Mr. Carpenter, in the river Orwell, on Lord-day morning, September 9th, 1855, in the presence of a very large congregation. The address delivered by him was heard with much interest, and the whole service was evidently attended with tokens of Divine favour; no congregation could be more orderly. The ordinance was shewn to be of Divine authority, exemplified by the practice of the apostles and all the churches of Christ for nearly the first 300 years, about which time infant sprinkling was introduced, with other deadly errors, by the church of Rome; since which time baptismal regeneration, so called, has been maintained by that church and the church of England, as contained in the book of Common Prayer. The Baptist demonination was then vindicated from the charge that it consisted of a few poor illiterate and despised people, by declaring that Jesus Christ himself being baptised is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession; that our practice is admitted to be apostolical; that as a denomination we had more uniformly adhered to the truth as it is in Jesus; that we had led the van in the crown of martyrdom; that we were even now more prosperous than any other division of the church, having increased the last year more than 8000; and finally, that we practice the only "ONE BAPTISM that can have any gospel signification. In the afternoon of the day our chapel was thronged, to witness the newly baptised party being received into church-fellowship, in the hope of obtaining eternal glory through our Lord Jesus Christ. "LESS THAN THE LEAST." SUTTON, ISLE OF ELY. On Tuesday, August the 21st, the ordinance of believers' baptism was administered in the river, by Mr. J. Wilkins, of Cottenham, to four persons-three for Sutton, and one for Ely. The weather was fine, and a good concourse of people assembled from the neighboring villages. At half-past two, Mr. Markwell gave out a hymn; Mr. Fish, of Gidding, engaged in prayer; and Mr. Whiting, of Needingworth, delivered a most appropriate address on the nature and rite of believer's baptism, and their obedience to the Saviour's command, when Mr. Wilkins led the candidates into the water, and immersed them, upon a profession of their faith. In the evening a public service was held in the chapel; Mr. Horsley, of Chatteris, gave out the hymns; Mr. Thomsett, of Somersham, read part of Acts viii., and engaged in prayer, and Mr. Wilkins preached an admirable sermon from Rev. xiv. 4—“These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth;" noticing, 1st, The Lamb and his position; 2nd, His followers and their characteristics; 3rd, Their privileges and obedience. The services of the day were solemn and deeply interesting; and we believe the impressions made, the sweet savour enjoyed, and the presence of the dear Master realized, will not soon be forgotten. BEDMONT, HERTS. DEAR BROTHER, I wish to say we have just had another addition at Bedmont, Herts. I baptised two believers at Redbourn, (as we have no baptistry in our own place, we go to Redbourn to baptise, a distance of seven miles,) on Lord's-day morning, August 19th. I attempted to preach from the words of our great Head-"By what authority doest thou these things, and who gave thee that authority?" (Matt. xxi. 23,)-attempting to shew from Scripture what authority we have for administering the ordinance of baptism to those that desire it: and I trust the Divine presence was with us on the occasion. We spent a very happy day, and returned after the evening service. Several of our Bedmont friends were present; and there seemed but one mind existing among us. They were united with the church on Lord's-day, Sept, 2nd, when a goodly number sat down to partake of the emblems of the body of eternal life, even "Jesus, who is our life." He is the spiritual life of every believer-all_our life centres in Christ-it is all treasured up in Christ, "for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." H. HUTCHINSON. We THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN CLARE. MR. EDITOR,-In justice to our Baptist cause at Clare, we are compelled to notice an article in your September number; being a communication from this neighbourhood, anonymously signed the "Damsel." envy not the feelings of the writer, nor shall we attempt to analize the insinuating character of the statement, but as the deacons of the church, we should be chargeable of neglecting a positive duty, did we not reply. The charge is grave, serious, and solemn: viz, "Truth is fallen in our streets, and There is a very strong equity cannot enter." here against this statement, as well as with feeling amongst the members of the church ourselves, and we are quite prepared to deny that any one of its members could have been the statements, and should not have thought capable of promulgating such an untruth. those false impressions from the mind of the We feel ourselves called upon to remove public, which it is likely to produce. Articles of which are the distinctive doctrines Our cause here has existed 54 years. of The church, and that to the fullest extent of the grace, our practice that of a Strict Baptist term. Our pastors have, in every instance, been men of truth. We, as a church, have had our seasons of have never had to deplore any acrimonious trial, similar to every other church, but we differences in sentiment or usuage; never has there been any attempt made at any of ter, depart from, or give up, any of those our church meetings, or elsewhere, to alblessed doctrines or ordinances as given to us in the volume of Divine truth, and as at first received by this church more than half a century ago, consequently exempt from divisions. The whole truth, and nothing less than the truth in doctrine, experience and practice, will satisfy us as a people; and we have endeavoured to have supplies (being now without a pastor) who will not compromise the truth, but, at the same time, to avoid those of a bitter and censorious spirit. The motives of the "Damsel" to us are evidently not peaceful, and we certainly think it would be much more consistent with a diffident grace-taught young woman, as we hope her to be, to avoid being the means of originating the seeds of dissension by communications of this kind,-we did hope that her time had been better occupied, instead of assailing a church that has been honourably preserved in the truth for so many years. As a young girl, it would have been much more commendable had she been thinking of what she might do in promoting its peace and prosperity; but we leave her to reflections that may prove salutary. Trusting that these few remarks may suffice: the insertion of which, in your October number, will oblige the church here. Your's in gospel bonds, Deacons. CHARLES HALE, WILLIAM INCE, [The "Damsel's" letter was inserted on account of its spiritual tone: the objectionable sentences ought to have been erased. We are glad the deaeons have furnished so able a negative. We do not hold ourselves responsible for every sentence which our correspondents may write; but we do consider ourselves bound to refute any errors that may creep in through ignorance on our part. Upon this principle we insert the letter as above.-ED.] THE GOSPEL MINISTRY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED. unto. How powerful is Joseph Hussey's testimony respecting the ministry which God gave him! He says of myself, therefore his grace hath been suf"As my ministry was to be of Christ, and not blown over, another beat upon my soul; that ficient for me. When one temptation had off from the Arminianism of my natural mind, was respecting my own insufficiency to keep without which all Calvinism and orthodoxy is but form and notion: I felt that the power of grace was necessary to possess and fill up, in vital principle, all orthodoxy or dry doctrine, the soul, all sound notions of it. Without this is but a dead burden." 66 the head which, during the last quarter of a and deceitful bows. Much of the correspondence with which we have been favoured, adverse to the views we have taken, raises objections upon these two grounds. "It is a second-hand ministry, deep IN CONNECTION WITH A BRIEF REVIEW OF ly tainted with an Arminian spirit." This is New Park Street Pulpit. THIRD PAPER. Ir is two o'clock in the morning, of Sept. 21, We promised to set "The evidences of a heaven-born and of a God-sent ministry," clearly before our readers. the conviction of many. But we require proof. A minister is to be highly commended for research and reading. There never was a man of extensive and of permanent usefulness in the church, who was not an extensive and a constant reader: the material they gather, is of great advantage in a stated ministry; to call such a ministry "second-hand," is no more correct, than it is to attribute the bursts of an anxious heart to do good, to an Arminian spirit. But we are wandering. Our business is to produce the evidences of LIFE-DIVINE LIFE-in the ministry at New Park Street; and we increasingly hope that those evidences will be more and more prominent, and so inAuential that the fears of our fearful brethren It is plain enough to be gathered from may be removed, and a happy, a holy, a useful JOSEPH HUSSEY's Preface to his work, en- union formed; a union embracing all who, in titled, "God's Operations of Grace, but no principle and in practice, in doctrine and in Offers of Grace," that he in the earlier discipline, carry out the great essentials of that stages of his ministry-"laboured to varnish dispensation which JESUS of Nazareth estabhis faith with human testimonies:" he thought lished; which his immediate disciples perpet he had done but poorly if he did not quote a uated-which the New Testament enjoins, whole string of the fathers, from "The Two which the Holy Ghost has honored and conClements," down to “Chrysostum, Auz,” and, firmed in every age. A union between the says he, "I do not know how many more." living and the dead, never can exist between This system—this fetching fire from old forges, those who know and love THE TRUTH, and this garnishing the mind with the testimonies those who are unacquainted with and haters of of men-and, in a measure, attempting to be THE TRUTH, there never can be an associaindependent of God the Holy Ghost-he tion. It is a union founded in LIFE, cementfound to be deceitful, unprofitable, and unac-ed by LIFE, and maintained by the unceasing companied with that blessing which maketh the soul of the minister, and the hearts of the living people, rich; adding no sorrow there flowings and undying powers of LIFE, that we so much desire to see established, and flourishing, for the mutual edification and prosperity of all Zion's faithful watchmen, of | have a parallel-deceitful above all things all Zion's new-born sons. One of the evidences of LIFE-the life of God in the soul, is "a crying out against ourselves," as Paul doth in the seventh of the Romans. The law in the members, warring against the law in the mind, caused the apostle to cry out most bitterly, "Oh, wretched man that I am! WHO shall deliver me from the body of this death?" What was the real cause of Paul's thus crying out? Let him answer for himself— "I (saith Paul) was once alive without the law;' I thought myself a brave man, I was somebody, my conscience never troubled me, I knew not my disease, while the law stood aloof off, and I was without the law. (Not that Paul had not the law both written in his heart, and in his book: for as a Pharisee he was bred up among the commentators of the law) but he was without it, or, he was but at the out-side of it (though I give it not for the proper meaning of the place, yet in that sense also), he was without the law, he had not travelled through the length and breadth of it: 'But (saith he) when the commandment came,' when it came in the spiritualness of it, and I saw in some measure what holiness was couched there, I was then in a woful condition, I saw myself a lost man, 'then sin revived, and I died;' and 'sin by the commandment became exceeding sinful;' that is, when the commandment was cleared to me, then I saw that I was extremely sinful, or felt the violent motions of my sin. My sin being discovered by that light, began to spit out its venom, either provoking me with fresh and unwearied assaults to commit it, or terrifying and vexing me for what I had committed." This "crying out against ourselves," from a deep and painful sense of "the plague of the heart," is, indeed, an evidence of two things: THE LIFE OF GOD IN THE SOUL, and THE LAW OF GOD in the conscience. Is there anything of this kind in "The New Park Street Pulpit? There certainly is. Speaking of one thing that is a source of grief to all real Christians, more or less-their proneness to forget the Lord-Mr. Spurgeon says, "We forget him, because we carry about with us the old Adam of sin and death. If we were purely new-born creatures, we should never forget the name of him whom we love. If we were entirely regenerated beings, we should sit down and meditate on all our Saviour did and suffered; all he is; all he has gloriously promised to perform; and never would our roving affections stray; but centred, nailed, fixed eternally to one object, we should continually contemplate the death and sufferings of our Lord. But alas! we have a worm in the heart, a pest-house, a charnel-house within, lusts, vile imaginations, and strong evil passions, which, like wells of poisonous water, send out continually streams of impurity. I have a heart, which God knoweth, I wish I could wring from my body and hurl to an infinite distance; a soul which is a cage of unclean birds, a den of loathsome creatures, where dragons haunt and owls do congregate, where every evil beast of ill-omen dwells; a heart too vile to and desperately wicked.' This is the reason why I am forgetful of Christ." We will fetch out another expression, proving acquaintance with sinful self. The preacher is on "the smoking flax." Says he, "To me, no odour in all the world is so abominably offensive as smoking flax. But some say, 'How can you speak in so low a style ?' I have not gone lower than I could go myself, nor lower than you can go with me; for I am sure you are, if God the Holy Ghost has really humbled you, just as offensive to your own souls, and just as offensive to God as a brusied reed would be among the pipes, or as smoking flax to the eyes and nose. I often think of dear old John Bunyan, when he said, he wished God had made him a toad, or a frog, or a snake, or anything better than a man, for he felt he was so offensive. Oh! I can conceive a nest of vipers, and I think that they are obnoxious; I can imagine a pool of all kinds of loathsome creatures, breeding corruption, but there is nothing one half so worthy of abhorrence as the human heart. God spares from all eyes, but his own, that awful sight, a human heart; and could you and I but once see our heart, we should be driven mad, so horrible would be the sight." A perfect knowledge of what we really are as sinners in the fall, is one powerful demonstration of life and light in the inner man. A minister without this is deceived in himself, and will deceive others; a minister without this, can never trace out the experience of quickened souls, nor can he comfort poor tempted saints. We know this is the dark side of the ministry, but it is a necessary side: this may be called a negative and a questionable evidence; nevertheless, it is one that has many promises for its consolation, for "the Lord is nigh to them that have broken hearts; and saveth such as are of contrite spirits.” When the enlightened eyes are turned within, three things are then discerned ;enmity, impurity and infidelity, or unbelief. When the enlightened eye of faith is led to look to the LORD CHRIST, there is LOVE to melt away our enmity; there is BLOOD to cleanse away our impurity; and there is the promise of the Spirit, so to reveal Christ as to assure our consciences of their part in the Redeemer's sacrifice. And when these two paths are daily and hourly trodden in by a minister, his labour will not be in vain. We are too much borne down with trial to go any further this month. We must abruptly close our third paper; but in some future numbers we wish to embody the sentiments of Hussy, Huntington, Toplady, Gill, Goodwin, Owen, and others, respecting the ministry. Our impression still is, that to a very serious extent, the true Gospel ministry is on the wane. Ministers have been more numerous than ever-but they have not waxed more valiant in fight, nor more fruitful in service. The Word is beautifully styled, "the sword of the Spirit." May the blessed Spirit again unsheath that sword, and wield it in the hand, and mightily nerve the arm of all his servants. Then shall the glory of God in the Gospel ministry be seen. A SERMON preached by Mr. T. Stringer, at Zoar Chapel, Gravesend, and published by J. Nichols & Son, is now before us. He said to me, "Christ is my All; his blood and righteousness is my soul's dependence." This was spoken with faltering lips, but with a cheerful countenance, and a believing heart, before his departure. Some few things were spoken by him, that assured those then with him, that he was gone to be with Him whom he loved and served here below-even Jesus. "Peace be with you all." Amen. The late Mr. Gumbrell was for many years a hearer of the gospel at Zoar Chapel, Great" Alie Street, London; but at the end of July last, was called to his final home. As we glanced over the discourse referred to, we truly rejoiced at the noble, the scriptural, and the experimental manner in which our esteemed brother Thomas went through his work. The preaching of the Gospel after this manner must be useful: it is the Holy Ghost that gives the ability, the faith, the knowledge, and the freedom; and he will make powerful and precious the testimony thus delivered. Go on, Thomas Stringer; go on, good brother, ploughing into the deep things of God-penetrating the hearts of sinners and saints-pleading much and unceasingly the precious promises at the mercyseat-publishing the salvation which is in Christ Jesus-obeying the Master, and feeding the people; and truly thy reward will be great. Shut in, as we are, in London smoke, and Bermondsey perfumes, we quite envy the bishop of Gravesend the sweet air he breathes, and the freedom he enjoys. "The Lord knoweth the way we take, and when he hath tried us, we shall come forth (we hope,) like gold." The closing portion of the sermon is all we can give. The preacher said Our brother Gumbrell sleeps in Jesus; he is at rest; he has done fighting and fearing for ever. He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, he kept the faith;' and now in the sunshine of Jehovah's everlasting and blissful presence, he wears his immortal crown. May it be said of us when we exchange worlds, as we may say of him, "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." The Lord bless you, and his truth to you, for Christ's sake. Amen. Most of you know our brother Gumbrell lived in this locality for many years and through that grace which made him what he was, (a Christian) he was a kind, social, liberal, commiserating man towards his fellow men, always ready to every good work, an honest, humble, upright follower of the Lamb, whose character and conduct corresponded with his christian profession. I have known him several years, and in conversation with him, it generally amounted to this, I am ready to halt,' but he never did halt he was "faint yet pursuing." I had the pleasure of visiting him on his death bed, I found him gloomy in his mind, perplexed, and dismayed, Satan's darts flew fast at him, and he concluded he should be lost. I conversed with him on the faithfulness of God-the truth of the promises-and the sufficiency of the atonement of Christ. The Lord blessed it to him; he was cheered up, revived, and strengthened in mind, and comforted in soul. The Pathway of Providence; or, Recollections of my Pilgrimage. By ELIZABETH SEARLE, Authoress of Noon-day Meditations." London: W. H. Collingridge, Long Lane. THIS is another volume produced at the "Bonmahon Industrial Printing School," in Ireland. The frontispiece gives a most pleasing representation of the person of Miss Searle; and indeed any one may see she was a Christian-a cheerful, a contented, a pathat Miss Searle left this world for the better tient saint. It is a singular circumstance one on the very day that her little volume truly a monument of great mercy: her mewas completed. This Christian lady was ing benefit to the churches-not only of an moirs comprehend much that will be of lastexperimental, but also of an historical kind. In the October number of "CHEERING WORDS" (a half-penny Magazine, to be had of Houlston and Stoneman, or of any bookseller,) we have given a beautiful extract from this work, entitled "The Pathway of Providence;" a work, we think, no Christian lady will rest content without possessing. Its contents are sweetly varied andt hrillingly interesting. Memoirs of Augustus Toplady, A.B. London: W. H. Collingridge, City Press, Long Lane. MANY of our readers will be glad to learn that a good number of the original editions of Toplady's choicest works have lately fallen into the hands of Mr. Collingridge, the GospelDivinity Publisher of the City Press, in Long Lane, West Smithfield. Some of them are the genuine editions published by the late Walter Row, well and extensively known as the faithful editor of "The Gospel Maga zine." Copies of all these works are now in our hands; and, as some of them were never issued but in the editions now in Mr. Collingridge's hands, they are but very little known; nevertheless they are exceedingly choice, pure, and likely to be of considerable value to those members of the Christian family whose conversation is in heaven; who are looking unto Jesus, while in thorny paths they tread. We purpose to notice these works specially and separately; particularly his "Devotional Retirement," his "Contemplations on the Sufferings and Resurrection of Christ," his "Doctrine of Predestination," &c. It is, to us, a pleasing fact, that some hundreds of copies of Walter Row's original edition of "Memoirs of Augustus Toplady," |