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was literally stoned; but by the aid of some friends we have now a place of worship in it, which will contain 150 people; and if it would contain 4 or 500 it would be filled. And I am happy to say, that a gentleman from this metropolis only last week said to me, "Life is uncertain, and it becomes us to do what we can, put down my name for £100." The love of our country, when guided by wisdom and animated by piety, is a public blessing; and if the love of the christian begins at this point, it will gradually extend all around, till at length it will admit of no boundary but the world itself. The motion I have in my hand refers chiefly to Auxiliary Societies; wisdom has devised this plan, and shall charity be backward in the means of support? No: but every heart will glow with the exercise of benevolence; you will come forward in this cause, and extend the sanctifying leaven through every part of the community; and instead of the vast and dreary wilderness which you now behold, a scene of celestial beauty will rise up to your view.

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The last resolution was moved by the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, and seconded by Joseph Hanson, Esq. and carried unanimously, to which the worthy Chairman made the following reply. Ladies and Gentlemen, having already trespassed so much upon your time, I will now detain you no longer than to express my earnest hope, that each person will return from this meeting with a determination, that in the march which is pursuing by the various societies of this metropolis, the BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY shall not be the last or the least.

Thus terminated the most numerous, delightful, and productive Annual Meeting of this Society; and it is earnestly hoped, that the lively interest which was then excited, will be cherished throughout the year upon which we have entered; that the pledges given will be redeemed; and that by the divine blessing upon its friends, Missionaries and means to support them will be multiplied, until the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea The diffusion of divine knowledge by means of itinerant instructors, reading and expounding the scriptures, has, under all dispensations, received the highest sanction of human authority. It is recorded of good King Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xvii. 3-10, "That the Lord was with him because he walked in the first ways of David his father." That in the third year of his reign he sent five princes and nine Levites, " and they

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taught the people, having the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people."

Rev. JOHN HEAFFERD-Mr. Chairman, after the flow of eloquence which has proceeded from so many respectable and Reverend Gentlemen who have preceded me, I must appear before you with considerable diffidence. Nevertheless I feel encouraged by the comparison of Dr. Newman between a polished and a rough shaft. The gentlemen who have preceded me have evinced the effect which a polished shaft can produce upon a polished audience: I make no pretensions beyond that of a very rugged shaft; but the population of England will afford plenty of work for all that both can do. I have not been altogether inattentive to the gipsy race. Lately as I was on my way to a distant village, I met a camp of them, on which I looked with a feeling somewhat perhaps resembling that of our Lord when he saw the multitudes as sheep having no shepherd. I embraced the opportunity of telling the whole party their state by nature, and the way "Notwithstanding the prejudices of of salvation by Jesus Christ; and could mankind, and the indiscretions of indinot but remark that their attention was viduals, an itinerant preacher, if duly rivetted, and their tears flowed, and the qualified and sent forth, is one of the general exclamation was, "God bless most honourable and useful characters the gentleman! he wishes us well." I that can be found upon earth; and there only add, that could this assembly stand needs no other proof that, when this upon an eminence and behold the south-work is done properly and with perseern part of Oxfordshire, and view the inadequacy of the means they have for their instruction in divine things, they would perceive the great necessity of increasing their efforts.

The following observations upon this passage by the late excellent rectos of Aston Sanford, the Rev. Thomas Scott, are appropriate and instructive, and show that the objects of this Society were held in high estimation by kings and princes of other days, and by the wise and good of every denomination in

our own times.

verance, it forms the grand method of spreading wide and rendering efficaci ous religious knowledge, than the experience of the church in all ages; for great reformations and revivals of reli

gion have generally been thus effected., It is especially sanctioned by the example of Christ and his apostles, and recommended as the divine method of spreading the gospel through the nations of the earth; itinerant preaching having almost always preceded and made way for the stated ministry of regular pastors. But it is a work which requires peculiar talents and disposition, and a peculiar call in providence, and is not rashly aud hastily to be ventured upon by every novice who has learned to speak about the gospel, and has more zeal than knowledge, prudence, humility, or experience. An unblemished character, a disinterested spirit, an exemplary deadness to the world, unaffected humility, deep acquaintance with the human heart, and preparation for enduring the cross, not only with boldness, but with meekness, patience, and sweetness of temper, are indispensably necessary in such a service. They who engage in it should go upon broad scriptural grounds, and dwell chiefly upon those grand essentials of religion, in which pious men of different persuasions are agreed, plainly proving every thing from the word of God, running nothing into extremes, and avoiding all disputes, however urged to it, about the shibbo leths of a party. In this way itinerant preaching is a blessing, which all who love the souls of men must wish to be vouchsafed to every nation upon earth. And if those who are in authority were to employ select men, of known and approved piety and ability, protected and countenanced by them, to go from city to city, and from village to village, through the kingdom, teaching in every place the plain acknowledged truths and precepts of the Bible, immense good might be done. Those stated teachers who have been grossly negligent or profligate, must either be disgraced or reformed; others might be stirred up to use greater diligence; and the instructions of stated faithful ministers would receive an additional sanction, which could not fail of producing a happy effect. Thus it was in the days of Jehoshaphat, and thus it will be wherever or whenever God shall please to stir up the hearts of kings, princes, and minis ters, to teach the people in every part of their territories according to the word of God. This is also the proper way of promoting public peace and prosperity, and it will prove a better protection of nations than an increase of powerful navies and armies, though it may very properly be connected with the ordinary methods of defence. Persons in authority have much business to which they

ought to attend, and they should consider that stable peace, and increasing numbers of well-maintained and orderly subjects, are more honourable than the most successful wars, and whatever ability any man possesses, he should willingly devote himself to God, and serve him with it."

Happy will it be for Britain, if Home Missionaries such as these are multiplied, and her numerous clergy become such as the amiable author of the preceding comment; then indeed as it regards churchmen and dissenters, Ephraim will no longer vex Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim."

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Donations and Subscriptions for the BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SoCIETY will be thankfully received by WILLIAM DAY, Esq. Treasurer, 99, Newgate-street, and by the Rev. JoнN EDWARDS, Secretary, 21, Thornhaugh

street.

P.S. I am instructed gratefully to acknowledge, through this medium, the receipt of an anonymous letter, addressed to the Treasurer, containing a donation of £10 to this Society. July 12, 1821. J. EDWARDS, Sec.

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COMMEMORATIONOF GEORGE III. I made for it through the day. The next

BY THE

Port of London Society, for Promoting

Religion among Seamen.

Association will be held at Whitchurch, September 12. The brethren Saffery, Draper, and Clare, are appointed to preach the former on Tuesday evening. On the 4th of June, the anniversary As it will be the annual meeting of the of the birth of George III. the support- Assistant Mission Society, it is hoped ers of this Society met on board the that the churches will forward good col Floating Chapel to commemorate the lections, remembering the immediate emerpaternal reign of that excellent Mo-gencies of the Mission, and solicitous to narch.

The Right Hon. Admiral Lord Gambier, attended by the Treasurer, R. H. Marten, Esq. was conveyed on board in a handsome barge. On his arrival the ship showed her new colours, and he was received in the great cabin by the Rev. Dr. Collyer, the Rev. J. Townsend, Lieut. Somerville, R.N. the Committee, and many of the subscribers.

The service in the chapel began with a bymn of praise; the Rev. J. Towns end read suitable portions of the Holy Scriptures, and prayed. The Rev. Dr. Collyer ascended the pulpit, and after a short introduction, called his auditors' attention to the last verses of the first

book of Chronicles, which record the death of that illustrious Hebrew Monarch David, of whom were recorded all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries."

The Rev. Mr. Chapman of Greenwich concluded by prayer. At the close of the interesting service, the Treasurer addressed the assembly on the very encouraging prospects which the Society had of succeeding in the great object of its institution.

Admiral Lord Gambier was landed at the London Dock Stairs, and visited the London Dock, its warehouses and vaults; and, accompanied by the Treasurer, proceeded to view the New Custom House, in Thames-street.

ASSOCIATIONS.

HANTS AND WILTS. APRIL 18, 1891, the churches which constitute the Hants and Wilts Assistant Society in aid of the Baptist Mission, met in association at Broughton. Mr. Bulgin preached from Luke xv. 10; Mr. Draper, from Rev. i. 12-18; and Mr. Millard, the preceding evening, from 1 Cor. ii. 14. The brethren Ayliff, Bulgin, Clay, Davies, Franks, Headden, Knight, and Saffery, conducted the devotional services. The afternoon was occupied in the business of the Itinerant Society. The Secretary read an encouraging report, and collections were

provide for its widening plans of success. fal operation in the heathen world.

OXFORD.

Ár Cheltenham, June 12, 13.

Engaged; Messrs. Beetham (Hool Norton), Brown (Cheltenham Chapel), Gray (Chipping Norton) Isai. xxxiv. 16, Hinton (Oxford), Howlett (Burford), seph (Alceston), Pryse Richard (Coate), Jayne (Chipping Campden), Price Jo Smith James, Steane (Student from Bristol), Taylor Samuel (Shipston on Stour) Eph. ii. 8, Thomas (Oxford), Walton (Cheltenham), Wright Increase of Members 41. The next Association is to be held at Chipping Norton on Whit Monday and Tuesday, 1822. The Circular Letter is to be drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Thomas

Character." The church at Blockley is On the just Proportion of the Christian admitted into the Association.

NORTHERN.

THE Northern Association of Baptist Churches held their annual meeting at Hamsterly in the county of Durham, June 12 and 13, 1821. Moderator, the Rev. R. Pengilly. Sermons by the Rev. Messrs. Haigh, Gal. iv. 4, 5; Sample, Psalm Ixxxiv. 11; Harbottle, Jun, Matt. v. 6; Williamson, John iii. 30; and Pengilly, Luke xv. 7. Devotional services by Rev. Messrs. Pengilly, Wil liamson, Fisher, Sample, Belcher, and Ruston; also by Messrs. W. Angus, J, Angus, G. F. Angus, Potts, &c. The congregations were very numerous, and the services highly interesting. The churches are in peace, and several of them have had very pleasing additions.. The Circular Letter On Prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, was drawn up by the Moderator. The next Asso ciation is to be held at South Shields, in the county of Durham, on Monday and Tuesday in Whitsun-week, 1822.

* We recommend that the churches over which ministers preside be inserted in Breviates of Associations; and also a List of the Churches and Ministers in each Association. We have been ob liged to insert some places above conjecturally-Secretary.

ORDINATIONS, &c. 1821, January 31, a meeting of the trustees, neighbouring ministers, and several other friends, was held at the Bull Inn in High Wycomb, Bucks, for the purpose of considering what steps could be taken to revive the cause of religion in the Baptist congregation there, which, from various causes, had fallen into decay.At this meeting, the Rev. J. N. Goulty of Henley was called to the chair; and after the Rev. Ben jamin Godwin of Missenden had entreated a divine blessing upon the proceedings of the day, the trustees unanimously requested the assistance of the friends present, and a variety of resolutions were proposed and adopted, tending to promote the desirable object of the meeting. It is confidently hoped, that the measures now resolved upon will, under the divine blessing, auswer the end proposed. The harmony and unanimity which prevailed on the occa sion were truly pleasant; and the conduct of the worthy Chairman, in particular, deserves the most honourable mention. It was, indeed, a most gratifying proof of christian candour, to see an Independent minister ably presiding at a meeting, the professed object of which was, to revive the interests of religion in a Baptist congregation; nor less so, that he was assisted by the two brethren of his own denomination residing in Wy combe. May the mutual indications of this catholic spirit become more and more frequent, till the whole family of God be indissolubly compacted in one!

April 19, the Rev. G. B. Drayton was ordained pastor of the Baptist church meeting in the City of Gloucester.-The service, which commenced at four o'clock in the afternoon, was conducted in the chapel belonging to the late Countess of Huntingdon, which was kindly lent for the occasion. The Rev. W. Bishop, Independent minister of the town, began by reading and prayer. The introductory address, describing the nature of a gospel church, and giving our rea. sons for dissent from the establishment,

and the views we entertain as to the

presiding officers in a christian assembly, was delivered by the Rev. T. Coles of Bourton-on-the-Water, in a plain, convincing, and liberal manner; at the close of which he proposed the usual questions to the church and Mr. Drayton, which were briefly but satisfactorily replied to. The Rev. D. Trotman of Tewkesbury offered up the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands. The Rev. W. Winterbotham of Horsely gave an impressive and faithful charge to the

newly elected minister, from 2 Tim. ii. 15; and the Rev. H. Page of Worcester preached to the people from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13;;-a discourse well worthy of perusal in a printed form. The Rev. J. M. Byron, Wesleyan minister of the town, closed by prayer a meeting which interested the spectators, which edified those immediately concerned, and which we pray may be followed by a lasting blessing to the church, the minister, and the congregation, to whom it had parti

cular reference.

May 29, the Rev. W. Brand, late of Castle Dorrington, was ordained to the pastoral office over the General Baptist church meeting in Clarence-street, Portsea. Mr. Neave of Portsea commenced the public services by reading the scriptures and prayer, Mr. Tilly of Forton delivered the introductory address, Mr. Sexton of Chesham asked the questions of the church and the minister,-offercd the ordination prayer, and gave a most excellent charge from 2 Tim. iv. 5, and Mr. Griffin of Portsea (Independent) concluded. In the evening, Mr. Aruot of Portsea prayed, Mr. Miall of Portsea preached the sermon to the people, and Mr. Mead of Downton concluded the interesting solemnities of the day.

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To Mrs. Frearson, Lowick Green, on the Death of Mr. Jonathan Dixon, Fifty Years a Member, and upwards of Thirty Years a Deacon, of the Baptist Church at Tottlebank in Lancashire, who departed this Life Sept. 30, 1820. "The memory of the just is blessed."

THE

A pilgrim that my pen could name
Has left our dark abode to claim

His lot in Canaan's land;
Pure was his soul, through Jesus' blood,
Awhile on Jordan's brink he stood,
Then calmly cross'd the swelling flood,
To dwell at God's right hand.
Thus like a shock of ripen'd corn,
His ashes to the grave were borne,
Bedew'd with sacred light:
So "Abraham wept" when Sarah dy'd,

EARTHLY TABErnacle DissolvED, And to the sons of Heth he cry'd,

AND THE

Promised Possession inherited.

"For we know that if our earthly

house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Cor. v. 1.

I SING the grace whose heav'nly light
Dispels the hovering shades of night,

That gather round the tomb:
I sing the great Redeemer's love,
Who left the bright abodes above,
And dy'd and suffer'd to remove

The sinner's fiery doom.
The sympathetic Saviour wept,
Oe'r the cold tomb where Laz'rus slept
The common sleep of all;
But short his rest in Death's cold bed;
When Jesus spake, (tho' he was dead,)
The vital spirit that was fled,

Return'd at Jesus' call.
So when this tenement of clay
In dissolution shall decay,

And moulder in the dust,
It shall assume a change divine,
And meet the waiting soul to shine,
Where pleasures never shall decline,
If Jesus was its trust.

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We know that when this mortal frame
Shall cease on earth to have a name,
Our souls shall dwell above:
Bright are the mansions that await
The happy spirits in that state;
Their pleasures how immensely great!
How consummate their love!
But 'tis a task beyond my pow'r,
To paint the feelings of that hour

;

Which shall complete their bliss When the last trumpet shakes the skies, The new-form'd body then shall rise On-wings of triumph as it flies

To meet its partner there.

"Give me a burying-place to hide

My kindred from my sight."
Farewell, departed saint, farewell,
A little season, and we dwell

With Jesus and with thee:
Thy languid body that we saw,
So lately in this vale of woe,
Another pain shall never know,
To all eternity.

Thus one is taken:-we remain
Awhile upon this stormy plain;

But Jesus is our shade :
Assist our heavy feet to run;
Be thou our light, O heav'nly Sun,
So when our journey here is done,
We shall be conqu❜rors made.
Oct. 1820.
SYDNAS.

"God is known in her palaces for a
refuge."-Psalm xlviii. 3.

WHY wakes that moan of deep distress
In Pharaoh's halls of state,
Pealing through ev'ry long recess

In accents desolate?

The monarch views his lifeless heir,
And trembles :-Israel's God is there.
A sound of revelry by night

Is heard in Babel's towers,
Where impious freaks of wild delight
Disturb the list'ning hours;
The jealousy of Judah's Fear
Wakes, and 'tis silence deep and drear.
Sublime on Sion's holy ground

A sacred fane appears,
And many a bulwark stretch'd around
Its massive front uprears;
There God is for a refuge known,
And there, on all the earth alone.

Commingling then with choral lays
Sabæan perfumes rise;

The frequent victim there pourtrays
That future sacrifice,

Whose blood for human guilt should flow,

"The time is short"-
-our days are few; And let the trembling culprit go.

As transient as the morning dew

Before the rising sun :
The tender blade precedes the ear,
And then the full corn does appear,
The deadly sickle crowns the rear;
So soon the work is done.

Salem, exult! thy God displays

His adamantine shield;

Fearless thy habitant surveys

The widely tented field;
The spoiler marks thee with his eye,
Scowls in despair, and passes by.

B.

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