{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_40252/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_40252","id":"gutenberg_40252","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40252","summary":null,"tags":["Baptists -- Periodicals","Category: Biographies","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality","The Baptist Magazine"],"text":"Transcriber's note:\n\nDue to the number of tables, this file reads better in a monospaced\nfont.\n\n\n\n                                   THE\n                             BAPTIST MAGAZINE.\n                                MAY, 1835.\n\n\n\n\n              MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. R. MORRISON, D.D., &c.\n                    _Missionary to the Chinese Empire._\n                 BY AN INTIMATE FRIEND OF THE DECEASED.[A]\n\n\n[Footnote A: A Sermon has just been published, entitled, \"A Voice from\nChina; a Discourse, delivered at New Windsor Chapel, Salford, on Sunday,\nFebruary 11, 1835, to improve the lamented death of the Rev. Robert\nMorrison, D.D., F.R.S., &c., &c.; with a Sketch of his Character and\nLabours, principally compiled from his own correspondence. By John\nClunie, LL.D.\" Of this discourse we are happy to avail ourselves, for\nthe purpose of presenting our readers with a brief memorial of this\ndistinguished servant of Christ; still referring them to the Sermon\nitself for some interesting extracts, and appropriate reflections, which\nwe are unable to transfer to our pages.--ED.]\n\nThe Rev. Dr. Morrison was born at Morpeth, Jan. 5, 1782, but was\nearly removed to Newcastle-upon-tyne. His parents, though in humble\ncircumstances, were industrious and pious members of the Scottish\nchurch; and they educated their family in the fear of the Lord. When a\nboy, he was, with other young persons of the congregation, frequently\ncatechised by the Minister; and this has inadvertently led to an\nerroneous report, that he was originally a Sunday School scholar. He\nwas afterwards taught a mechanical trade, which he diligently followed\ntill he left home. I believe he \"feared the Lord from his youth;\" and\nthat the pious instructions of his father's house, and the faithful\nministrations of his pastor, were so blessed to him, that at the age of\nsixteen he solemnly devoted himself to God. When engaged in his secular\ncalling, his mind, thirsting for knowledge, sought its own improvement,\nfirst by general reading, and, after a few years, by diligently\nacquiring the rudiments of Latin. He used to steal hours from rest, and\noften to work with his book raised before him, so that his eye could\ncast a rapid glance on its pages, while his hands were actively employed\nat his daily labour. Thus he at once prepared his lesson for the\nMinister who kindly instructed him, and discovered the first indications\nof that diligence and talent for the acquisition of a foreign language,\nwhich laid the basis of his future fame.\n\nAt this time, in consequence of his manifest love of study, and his\nardent desire for usefulness, his mother entertained many fears, that\nshe should soon be deprived of the object of her affections, by his\nremoval from her: but her fears, so far as she herself was concerned,\nwere groundless; for she was called to her rest, the year before he left\nhome for the Academy. Thus she neither felt the pain of his anticipated\nabsence, nor rejoiced in the participation of his subsequent honours.\n\nOn entering Hoxton Academy, January, 1803, I found that Mr. Morrison had\narrived a few days before me; and as we both regularly attended, with\nour friends, the ministry of that eminent servant of God, the Rev. A.\n(afterwards Dr.) Waugh, we were very soon intimately acquainted with\neach other: the result was an indissoluble friendship of nearly\nthirty-two years, during the whole of which period, we frequently\ninterchanged our joys and our sorrows, and reciprocated our\ncongratulations and our sympathies; while fidelity and affection\nmutually tendered, when necessary, admonition and reproof. His character\nwas even then distinguished by those qualities which subsequently\nrendered him so illustrious--the most ardent piety, indefatigable\ndiligence, and devoted zeal. His natural disposition was grave and\nthoughtful; so that, as his mind was often the subject of anxious and\ndesponding views, especially of _himself and his attainments_, he\nprobably occasionally appeared to some as gloomy and melancholy. But\nthose who knew him best were fully convinced, that most of his anxieties\narose from his deep sense of the importance of the work for which he was\npreparing, of his own utter incompetency for its faithful discharge, and\nof the consequent obligation under which he was laid, to exert himself\nto the utmost, to secure the _full benefit_ of every advantage placed\nwithin his reach. Hence he was a most exemplary student, and always\naimed at distinction, even in some branches of study for which he\nappeared very little adapted. But his chief reliance to secure success,\nwas not on any effort of his _own_, however diligently and constantly\nexerted--but on the divine blessing. Hence few ever entered more fully\ninto the great Luther's favourite axiom, _to pray well is to study\nwell_; for of him it may be very justly said, that prayer was the\nelement in which his soul delighted to breathe.\n\nHis mind had long mourned over the deplorable state of the heathen\nworld, to which he wished to publish \"the unsearchable riches of\nChrist;\" though he then knew not _how_ it could possibly be\naccomplished. But after having attended two Missionary Anniversaries in\nLondon, he saw the door effectually opened before him, and instantly\nresolved to enter on the arduous task. The appeals of Thorpe, Bennet,\nDickson, and Scott, the commentator, at the last of these anniversaries,\nwere to him irresistible; and he \"immediately conferred not with flesh\nand blood,\" but consecrated himself to the work of the Lord among the\nheathen, saying, _Here am I, send me_. No sooner, however, had he\nsignified his intention, than every objection was made, and every\ndifficulty thrown in his way; and when these failed, he was tempted by\nfavour and honour, to remain at home; but all proved equally in vain.\nThis opposition doubtless arose from a mistaken estimate of the superior\nclaims of home; as it was manifested by some of the \"excellent of the\nearth,\" who afterwards most cordially rejoiced in his success abroad.\nThus, while faithfully following his own convictions of duty, he not\nonly exhibited that decision of character which he ever displayed, but\neventually found the truth of that sacred declaration, \"Them that\nhonour me I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly\nesteemed.\"\n\nAfter the usual examination, he was most cheerfully accepted by the\nMissionary Society; and, having been affectionately commended to the\nspecial grace of God, by his fellow-students, he left the Academy at\nHoxton for that at Gosport, to enjoy the missionary training of the\nvenerable Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Bogue. Few students ever left the house\nmore irreproachable in their conduct, or more generally respected, by\nall, for their real worth, and unfeigned piety; or more beloved by those\nwho enjoyed the felicity of their faithful friendship. Though it was\nlittle apprehended that he would so soon be called to fill one of the\nmost arduous and important spheres which could be conceived; or, that he\nwould ultimately rise to such an eminence in it, as to command the\nadmiration of all classes of the christian church, and of the community\nin general; yet, it is impossible to reflect on his diligent and devoted\ncourse at Hoxton, without clearly recognizing the _incipient elements_\nof all his future success. Others, indeed, possessed more brilliant\ntalents,--a richer imagination, a more attractive delivery, or more\ngraceful manners,--but, I trust I may be permitted to say, that there\nwas _no one_ who more happily concentrated in himself the three elements\nof moral greatness already enumerated--the most ardent piety,\nindefatigable diligence, and devoted zeal in the best of all causes.\n\nThus devoted to the glory of God and the salvation of the heathen, he\nreached Gosport. To show his feelings and sentiments at that important\ncrisis, I shall quote his own words, from the first letter I ever\nreceived from him, dated Gosport, June 9, 1804:\n\n     \"Dear ----, I expect that my brother would inform you of my safe\n     arrival at Gosport, on the evening of the day I left you. Through\n     the good hand of God upon me, in answer to the prayers of my\n     relatives and Christian friends, I am yet in comfortable\n     circumstances, and enjoy something of the presence of God, and of\n     the hope of glory.\"\n\n     \"My dear brother, I hope the conversation we had when we travelled\n     together to Leatherhead, will not soon be forgotten by you or me.\n     Let the sentiment dwell upon our hearts, that it is the great\n     business of our lives, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.\n     Whether or not you and I have the happiness to labour together, as\n     it respects place, we shall, I trust, have the happiness of\n     pursuing the same end, seeking to promote the glory of God, the\n     Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the salvation of men. O that this\n     may be in truth our constant pursuit; so shall we have the\n     happiness of God's approbation through life--at the hour of\n     death--in the day of judgment--and be perfectly happy in his\n     immediate presence through eternity.\"\n\nAnd again, July 31st, he thus writes:\n\n     \"My situation at Gosport is agreeable, and the persons with whom I\n     am connected are kind to me. The Lord, who gives me favour in their\n     eyes, continues me in health. My mind is comfortable, and resigned\n     to the Lord's pleasure concerning me. I, as formerly, have to\n     'fight with sins, and doubts, and fears.' Such, I expect, will be\n     my experience while I continue in this world.\"\n\n     \"My future destination is altogether unknown to me. It is in\n     agitation to send a Mission to China. Mr. Bogue seems quite fond of\n     it. I have had some thoughts about going into the interior of\n     Africa, to Tombuctoo. I give up my concerns to the Lord. I hope he\n     will open a door of useful missionary labour, in some part of the\n     world, and give me souls for my hire.\"\n\nWith such feelings, he said \"he would have gone to _any_ quarter of the\nglobe, where the people were as yet without a Divine Revelation.\" But\nChina, most happily, was the sphere allotted to him by the Directors of\nthe Missionary Society. To that immense empire their attention had been\ndirected by their first devoted Treasurer, Mr. Hardcastle, who judged it\nhighly important to attempt the acquisition of its difficult language,\nand the translation of the Scriptures by some competent Missionary.\nThis, be it remarked, was at a time when it was quite uncertain, whether\nany Briton would be allowed to go thither from England, or permitted to\nreside even on the borders of China, if he should be able to reach its\nshores. So strong then were the prejudices, in certain quarters, against\nattempting to evangelize the East, that the Directors for a time avoided\nthe use of the term _Chinese Mission_; and actually were obliged to send\nDr. Morrison and others round by way of America. For this station,\nChina, he was eminently adapted: as it was well remarked by the lamented\nDr. Milne, that \"talents rather of the _solid_ than the _showy_ kind,\nrather I adapted to accomplish important objects by a course of\npersevering labour, than to astonish by any sudden burst of genius, were\nthe most proper for the first Missionary to China: and such exactly were\nthe talents which the Giver of every good and perfect gift had conferred\non him.\" But it was thought highly desirable that he should have a\nfellow-labourer, though subsequent events proved that this would _then_\nhave been quite impracticable in China. But every effort was made,\nespecially by himself, to prevail on some kindred soul to accompany him.\nAnd here I must be excused slightly touching on one who was more than\nhalf-disposed to respond to the call; but who was ultimately prevented,\nby what appeared to him _imperative duty at home_. But he trusts his\nheart was ever with him: and whatever sympathy and encouragement might\nbe, at any time, in his power to command, were most cheerfully rendered,\nand the act considered as his highest honour.\n\nWhat views Dr. M. entertained both of the missionary and ministerial\ncharacter, will best appear from what he desired for himself and his\nfriend. In a letter dated March 24, 1805, he thus writes:--\n\n     \"I pray God that he may pour into my soul, in rich abundance, the\n     daily washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.\n     The gifts of the Holy Spirit, my brother, are radical\n     qualifications in a minister, and in a missionary. Oh that you and\n     I may be blessed with large measures of them! Let us keep in sight,\n     my brother, our obligations to God our Saviour, who has redeemed us\n     from the lowest hell; the short term of service; and the ineffably\n     glorious reward of grace, in the kingdom of heaven; and, animated\n     by the prospect, let us 'spend and be spent' for the sake of our\n     Lord Jesus. Beloved, I wish that thou mayest prosper and be in\n     health, even as thy soul prospereth. Pray God to make me a good man\n     and a good missionary.\"\n\nAnd again, May 30:--\n\n     \"Attend, my dear brother, very particularly, to the state of your\n     own soul. Instead of saying, _pray much_, as I was just about to\n     say, be very careful that your prayers be spiritual--from the\n     heart: live by faith on Jesus Christ. I would add, I mean examine\n     yourself much on this point; for there is much danger of our--those\n     of us whose concern it is constantly to attend to religious\n     matters--I say there is much danger of our doing things, praying,\n     and exhorting, and reading, &c., as matters of course, without\n     entering into them spiritually and seriously. Allow me to say--not\n     because I am your master, but because I love you--study gravity,\n     humility, and benevolence of deportment. Consider we profess to be\n     the messengers of Jesus Christ to the children of God, and to\n     sinful, guilty man: let us always be grave and serious. You and I\n     are young, and know but little; let us be humble, considering\n     others better than ourselves. We are the followers of Christ, and\n     therefore should wish well to all, ever pleasing them for their\n     good to edification.\"\n\nAfter spending about fifteen months at Gosport, he came to London,\nto obtain some knowledge of medicine, and to study the elements of\nastronomy at the Observatory, Greenwich; from a misapprehension that\nthese, especially the last, would be essential to his success in China.\nBut however much they tended to expand his own mind, they were\nsubsequently found almost superfluous in practice: nevertheless, another\nobject was obtained by his residence for nearly eighteen months in the\nmetropolis. An amiable Chinese was found willing to reside with him, to\nassist him a little in the acquisition of the language, and in\ntranscribing a Chinese Harmony of the Gospels in the British Museum, and\na Latino-Chinese Dictionary, borrowed from the Royal Society, both\ncomposed by some unknown Roman Catholic missionaries. It was with\nreference to him, while employed on the former, that an eminent\nindividual afterwards remarked, that he then little thought, as he\npassed through the Museum, that _that_ stripling sitting at the table\ntranscribing an unknown tongue, would one day translate the Scriptures\ninto Chinese! Well may we exclaim, \"Who hath despised the day of small\nthings?\"--\"Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh\non the heart.\"\n\nWhen the time of his departure from his native shores drew nigh, as I\nwas then at the University of Glasgow, he thus took his affectionate\nleave of me by letter, January, 1807--\n\n     \"The period, my dear brother, has new arrived when I must bid an\n     affectionate, and perhaps a last farewell. On Thursday evening I\n     was solemnly ordained to the ministry of the gospel of the Lord\n     Jesus Christ among the heathen. The service was at Swallow Street.\n     Rev. John Townsend opened by prayer and reading the Scriptures.\n     Rev. G. Burder asked the questions. Mr. Waugh offered up the\n     ordination prayer. Mr. Nicol gave a charge, and Mr. Buck closed the\n     service by prayer. It was a very solemn and impressive opportunity.\n     Messrs. Gordon and Lee were ordained with me. We proceed on the\n     24th inst. in the Remittance, Captain Law, to New York; from thence\n     they take a ship to India, in all probability to Madras; whilst I\n     alone, in another vessel, sail for Canton. If permitted, I intend\n     to reside there; if not, I shall probably return to Malacca. Such,\n     at present, my dear ----, are my external circumstances and\n     prospects. With regard to success, I am not sanguine, nor am I\n     depressed. I hope--_I believe_ I may safely take the comfort of our\n     Lord's words, 'Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the\n     world;' and, with this persuasion, what have I to fear? If Christ\n     be with me, who can be against me? Let me, my brother, have\n     occasionally an interest in your fervent prayers. Pray that I may\n     not think it hard, if I fare as well as my Master! Farewell, my\n     dear young brother; the God of peace be with you! My love to my\n     dear brother Hooper.\"\n\nThus inspired, he departed for China, _instructed_ by the Directors to\nlearn its difficult language, and, if possible, compose a dictionary of\nit, and, above all, to translate the Scriptures into a language\nunderstood by a third part of the human race; and _counselled_ by a\nbeautiful letter, officially signed, but evidently composed by my\nvenerable father, Dr. Waugh. At New York he was very kindly received,\nand obtained a letter of introduction from Mr. Maddison, then secretary\nof state, to the American consul at Canton, which proved highly\nbeneficial to him there.\n\nHe reached China, Sept. 4, 1807, after a speedy but rough passage and,\nbeing a perfect stranger, he landed at Macao, with the mate of the\nship, who left him next day. He was soon known to be a missionary, and\nbecame the object of suspicion to the Roman Catholic clergy there.\nDuring that season at Canton, he lived in a cellar, in the most retired\nmanner, and laboured incessantly at the language, with very little\nsuccess, compared with what his subsequent efforts attained; for he then\nhad only an _ignoramus_ for his tutor. But hear himself from Canton,\nSept. 14th, addressed to my own beloved mother:--\n\n     \"I daily converse with Chinese, but dare not so much as hint that\n     I desire to stay here, or what my intention for coming is. Little\n     merchants and tradesmen daily come to me, to know what I have got\n     to sell, or what I wish to buy. I come to vend the pearl of great\n     value, yet without asking money or price; but dare not tell my\n     errand. I know that you will descend to the grave, praying for the\n     success of your son in the faith of Jesus.\"\n\nHe subsequently resided in the factory of some American agents at\nCanton, who showed him great kindness, and promoted his views to the\nutmost of their ability. At first he conformed to the Chinese manners,\nboth as to eating and dress, from an erroneous idea that this would\nrecommend him to their kind notice; but when he discovered his error,\nhe resumed the manners of a European. But so anxious was he to learn\nChinese, that he prayed even in secret in it, when he was but very\nimperfectly acquainted with its idioms. He quite secluded himself from\nsociety for months, till his health began to suffer; and the first time\nhe ventured out into the fields was in a moonlight night, under the\nescort of two Chinese.\n\nIn the beginning of 1809, he married Miss Morton, the eldest daughter of\na medical gentleman there; and, accepted an appointment in the Company's\nfactory, as Chinese translator, which unquestionably facilitated his\nperfect acquisition of the language, and added much to his domestic\ncomfort. Such diligence and perseverance could not fail of success. From\nMacao, December 28, 1810, he thus writes:--\n\n     \"I believe I was in Canton when I last wrote to you, via., the\n     beginning of this year. I continued there till March, carrying on a\n     discussion with the Chinese government respecting the alleged\n     murder of a Chinaman. I obtained great ecl\u00e2t, by the public\n     examination of witnesses. Every body was astonished, that in two\n     years I should be able to write the language, and converse in the\n     Mandarin and vulgar dialects. In consequence of that, three of the\n     Company's servants determined to begin the study of Chinese; and I\n     have during the summer been a regular Chinese tutor. I pray that\n     the Lord may soon grant to me some from among the heathen, who will\n     faithfully join in the promulgation of divine truth. I wish you had\n     come with me to China: I want some humble, persevering\n     fellow-labourer.\"\n\nHe regularly spent six months alternately at Macao and Canton, in\ncompliance with the requisition of the Chinese policy, whose jealousy\npermits few foreigners to reside in the \"celestial empire,\" as they\nproudly denominate it; but which, in consideration of an annual revenue,\ntolerates the Portuguese settlement on the insignificant island of\nMacao.\n\nIn a letter dated December 29, 1811, he states:--\n\n     \"Sir George Staunton, who is very friendly to me, leaves the\n     Company's service this year; and I am appointed to his place, as\n     Chinese Secretary. This will confine me in Canton six months of the\n     year. The Missionary Society judge it proper that I should be in\n     this employment. It is far from being congenial with my taste or\n     wishes, considered in itself. I greatly prefer entire devotedness\n     to my missionary labours, and the perfecting, for future\n     missionaries, a dictionary of the language.\"\n\nThis appointment, however, greatly increased his comforts and influence,\nand enabled him to perform some of those noble acts of Christian\nbenevolence to be hereafter noticed.\n\nAbout this time, though he had before been turned out of a miserable\nhouse, because its owner said he had converted it into a chapel, he\ncommenced his exercises on the Lord's-day, by reading the \"Harmony of\nthe Gospels;\" and afterwards continued it, by exhorting a few Chinese\nwho attended, principally from his own household. These humble efforts\nwere rendered, under the Divine blessing, the means of enlightening and\nconverting several who are now actively engaged in the dissemination of\nChristian knowledge among their pagan countrymen. In 1810, he tried the\npracticability of printing the Scriptures, by revising and publishing\nthe Acts of the Apostles, which he had brought out with him; for\nprinting which he had paid the large sum of a dollar per copy--the price\nat which the whole New Testament has since been published--on account of\nthe personal risk which those who engaged in it were supposed to run.\nYet he was encouraged; and next year he finished his Grammar, and sent\nit to the press at Serampore, where the East India Company afterwards\nhonourably defrayed the expense of its publication. About the same time\nhe published his own translation of Luke's Gospel, and a tract which the\nMissionary Society had requested him to write, on \"The Redemption of the\nWorld,\" and a catechism for the use of the Chinese. Thus he proceeded,\nstep by step, till, in 1813, he finished his translation of the New\nTestament, having thus successfully toiled six years alone at the most\ndifficult language on earth, and done what was quite enough to\nimmortalize his name. The whole expense of the mission and translation\nhad hitherto been borne by the Missionary Society; but about this time,\non the presentation of a copy, first of one of the Epistles, and then of\nLuke's Gospel, translated into Chinese, the British and Foreign Bible\nSociety twice voted \u00a3500. And soon after, on the presentation of the\nwhole New Testament, they voted the noble sum of \u00a31000; and this was\nsubsequently munificently repeated, at different times, till, on the\ncompletion of the whole Bible, it amounted to the princely sum of \u00a35000,\nwithout which, the work of translating the entire Scriptures would,\nprobably, not have been accomplished.\n\nJust before this, Mr. Milne rejoiced his heart and strengthened his\nhands by coming out from England and joining the mission; and having\ncommenced under _very_ different circumstances, he soon acquired the\nlanguage, and greatly assisted Dr. M. in his subsequent translations and\nlabours. But the jealousy of the Portuguese very soon drove Mr. Milne\nfrom his embrace, and obliged him to retire, first to Canton, and then\nto Malacca. This, however, eventually turned out for the furtherance of\nthe gospel, by the establishment of the Malayan mission, and thus\npreparing the way for the establishment of the Anglo-Chinese College\nthere, for the instruction of Chinese youths in the principles of\nChristianity and the cultivation of Chinese literature in general,\nwhich, by the numerous publications that have issued from its press,\nhas proved of incalculable value to the populous nations around.\nFrom Canton, December 19, 1812, he thus writes:--\n\n     \"The Chinese receive with much readiness the books which I\n     distribute among them. I can give but few with my own hands, as I\n     am not admitted to the interior; nor could I give them openly in\n     the streets. The method which I take is, to give them to the\n     booksellers, who will not destroy them, but be induced to put them\n     into the hands of persons, for the sake of what they can make by\n     them.\"\n\nIn 1814, he happily completed the first part of his Chinese dictionary;\nand the whole work was generously published at the expense of the East\nIndia Company, in three thick quarto volumes. It was the first ever\npublished in the English language; and it must remain a lasting memorial\nof his astonishing diligence.\n\nIn 1816, he went as interpreter with our ambassador, Lord Amherst, to\nthe imperial court of Pekin; and subsequently published an account of\nthat unsuccessful embassy. He founded the Anglo-Chinese College, already\nmentioned, in 1818, and liberally presented \u00a31000 for its establishment,\nand \u00a3100 per annum, for five years from its actual commencement. In\n1819, he completed the translation of the whole Bible, having been\nassisted in several parts of the Old Testament by his late excellent\ncolleague, Dr. Milne. With great propriety he once observed in\nconversation, \"_I could have died_, when I had finished the Bible.\"--On\nthat memorable day he wrote a long memoir, in which he described the\nprinciples which he had adopted, and the plan which he had pursued, in\nits execution; and concluded thus:\n\n     \"To have Moses, David, and the prophets--Jesus Christ and his\n     apostles--declaring to the inhabitants of China, in their own\n     language, the wonderful works of God, indicates, I hope, the speedy\n     introduction of a happier era, in these parts of the world; and I\n     trust that the gloomy darkness of pagan scepticism will be\n     dispelled by the _day-spring from on high_; and the gilded idols of\n     Budh, and the numberless images which fill this land, will one day\n     assuredly fall to the ground, before the force of God's word, as\n     the idol Dagon fell before the ark.\n\nIt is painful to observe here, that during a considerable portion of his\nunwearied labours, he was visited by the heaviest afflictions. His own\nhealth suffered exceedingly at different periods, under a most painful\ndisorder; his beloved wife also was, for several years, still more\ngrievously afflicted; and just before he had the happiness of finishing\nhis Bible, the wife of his colleague was early taken away, leaving four\nfatherless children to mourn their unspeakable loss.\n\nAs Mrs. Morrison's complaint appeared to baffle the medical skill there,\nand as it was quite impossible for Dr. Morrison to leave the sphere of\nhis important labours, she was obliged, in 1815, to visit England,\naccompanied only by her two children. Having sojourned amongst us\nseveral years, and finding herself greatly improved in health and\nspirits, she returned with the same charge to China in 1820, to his\nunspeakable delight. But the following year, she was suddenly removed,\nafter an illness of a few hours, and he was once more, and for ever\nhere, separated from \"the wife of his youth.\" He had formerly lost his\nfirst-born, on the very day it saw the light; and the Portuguese had\ncruelly refused permission to inter the child of a heretic in their\nconsecrated ground. He was therefore obliged, under the shades of night,\nto carry his own babe under his arm, attended only by a servant; and to\nfee some of the Chinese, to let him pass the brow of a hill which was\nbehind his house; where he dug a grave, and buried his dead, purposing\nin future an occasional visit to the interesting spot. And now he wished\nto lay his beloved wife by the side of her babe; but the Chinese\nthreatened to oppose force, if he attempted it; and the Roman Catholics\nwere as inveterate as ever. But that kind Providence which had in so\nmany instances appeared for him, roused the indignation of the gentlemen\nof the factory at Macao; and they subscribed and purchased a plot of\nground, just outside the walls, and devoted it as a perpetual Protestant\nburial-ground. There he honourably buried her.\n\nNext year, 1822, he was deprived of his able and beloved colleague, Dr.\nMilne, who, on the 2nd of June, fell a sacrifice to his close and\nunwearied application, and left the Anglo-Chinese College, of which he\nwas the Principal, the mission in general, and Dr. Morrison in\nparticular, to mourn his almost irreparable loss.\n\nHaving visited the College, and made every possible arrangement for its\npresent emergencies; and having some time before fully accomplished the\nthree great duties assigned him--either of which was almost enough for\nany ordinary man--to learn the language, to translate the Bible, and to\ncompose a Dictionary, Dr. M. felt himself now at perfect liberty to\nvisit his native country, which he reached in the spring of 1824.\n\nAs Dr. Morrison had been so much and so deservedly anticipated by his\nfame, an intense anxiety was every where manifested to see and hear him.\nHence he was expected to appear at every public meeting of the\nMissionary and Bible Societies: and to preach on almost every occasion.\nFrom the long prevalence of retired and studious habits, and I may add\nof Asiatic manners, this was no easy or pleasant task for him; and it is\nnot wonderful, if, on some occasions, he disappointed the expectations\nexcited. But you, my Christian friends, can testify the powerful appeals\nwhich he made here, and how much his soul was evidently inspired with\nzeal for China; wherever he was, this was his ruling passion. Hence he\nwished all _to love China_, and to seek her evangelization by every\nmeans in their power; and not to mind silver or gold, friends or\ncomforts, except as they might become the honoured means of promoting\nthe Redeemer's kingdom. And it is highly gratifying to state, that his\nvisit was productive of considerable zeal and exertion on behalf of the\nsame. The greatest attention and kindness were every where shown him, by\nall ranks of the community. He was honoured by being introduced at\ncourt, where he presented to his Sovereign a copy of his Chinese Bible,\nwhich was most graciously received, as was also a large Map of China,\nwhich he subsequently transmitted. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal\nSociety, and of several other literary institutions, both at home and\nabroad; and he had, some years before, in the most handsome manner, been\ncreated Doctor in Divinity by the University of Glasgow, for his\ndistinguished labours. He prolonged his stay in England a second year,\nin order to instruct some missionaries and others in Chinese; and to\npromote the interests of Oriental literature, in connexion with\nmissionary efforts.\n\nAbout this time, he again entered into the marriage state, by leading to\nthe altar Miss Armstrong, of Liverpool, well known to many of you: in\nwhose recent and unspeakable sorrows, I am fully convinced, you will\nmost deeply sympathize.\n\nHaving sent to the press his \"_Parting Memorial_,\" he left, for the last\ntime, his native shores, with Mrs. Morrison, now his disconsolate widow,\nand an infant, and his two elder children, in January, 1826, to return\nto China, \"the land of his adoption,\" as he called it; with the\nintention of preparing a short Commentary on certain portions of the\nScriptures, and such other elementary Christian Essays as appeared\ndesirable for the right understanding of the word of God, now in\nextensive circulation there. These works he was enabled, to a very\nconsiderable extent, to accomplish before his decease.\n\nBut I must read you an extract from his last letter to myself, which I\nreceived only eight days before his death, dated Macao, February 24,\n1834:--\n\n       \"MY DEAR FRIEND,\n\n     \"Two days ago, your welcome letter, accompanied by a report of your\n     kind Association for our poor college, arrived and afforded me much\n     joy; for I had several months been wondering at your silence. The\n     death of Milne and Collie, and the removal of Kidd and Tomlin, were\n     impediments to the prosperity of the institution. But I am happy to\n     say that, judging from Mr. Evans's letters from the College, he\n     will soon restore it to all that piety, learning, and zeal can do\n     for it. I have been depressed about it of late, but my hopes now\n     revive.--The American missionaries in Canton are persevering in the\n     good work, without any immediately great results. They are more\n     zealously supported from America, than we are from England.--The\n     church of Christ on earth, and also in heaven, is from all nations,\n     and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues. It should know nothing of\n     earthly nationalities. The kingdom under the whole heaven belongs\n     to Christ, our blessed Saviour, of which I hope, my dear--we are\n     citizens. I love the land of my descent, 'Canny Scotland;' the land\n     of my birth, 'Old England;' and the land of my sojourn--my\n     adoption, although not recognized by it--China. I would not set up\n     one against the other. O that in point of fact (as in point of\n     right they are) all the kingdoms of this world may soon become the\n     kingdoms of our God and of his Christ! At present I am engaged on\n     Notes on the Gospels, with marginal references in Chinese. My\n     progress is but slow. My strength for labour has much diminished;\n     and I have many calls on my time from various quarters. Adieu.\n\n     \"My dear brother and faithful friend, ever yours affectionately,\n\n                                                     ROBERT MORRISON.\"\n\nThis was his last salutation: and the spirit of the whole is so truly\nworthy of him, that to offer any comment would only be to weaken that\nimpression which I am convinced it has made so powerfully, as not soon\nto be forgotten by many--for _he, being dead, yet speaketh_.\n\nThe particulars of Dr. M.'s lamented decease, were announced in the\nCanton Gazette, and in an excellent letter from his son,[A] who long\nworshipped with us here, to the Directors.\n\n[Footnote A: An extract from this letter--supplying the melancholy part\nof this memorial--will be found in our number for March, p. 107.--Ed.]\n\nHe expired at his residence in the Danish Hong, on the 1st of August,\n1834. His remains were followed from thence to the river side by Lord\nNapier,[B] and all the Europeans, Americans, and Asiatic British\nsubjects in Canton. The corpse was forwarded to Macao, and attended to\nthe grave by about forty European gentlemen, on Tuesday evening, August\n5th, and interred in the private Protestant burial ground in that\nsettlement. The service of the church of England was read by the Rev.\nMr. Stevens, seaman's chaplain in the port of Canton, who was present at\nhis decease, and affectionately ministered to his comfort in that trying\nhour.\n\n[Footnote B: How singular, that he should so soon follow him to \"the\nhouse appointed for all living,\" and earnestly request to be buried near\nhim!]\n\nHear then the voice from _the tomb_: _Be ye also ready!_ His work of\nfaith and labour of love were ended. The day of Jubilee to Africa, was\nthe day of mourning to China! Then its first Protestant Missionary--its\nfirst translator of the sacred volume--its devoted apostle--not to say,\nhe who unlocked the treasures of its literature to the western world,\nwas summoned to his glorious rest--his eternal reward! Then he was\nhailed by the voice of his Saviour: \"Well done, good and faithful\nservant: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord:\" while he joined the\nchorus of the redeemed; \"Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy\nname give glory, for thy mercy and thy truth's sake.\" Only a month\nbefore, the venerable Carey, the apostle of India, ascended to his\nglory; and with what rapture must they have embraced each other, in the\npresence of their common Lord!--But, if no talents, no zeal, no labours,\nno usefulness, can elude the sentence of death--should not _we_ then\n\"prepare to meet our God?\n\n\n                         THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR.\n                _To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine._\n\nHow admirable is the candour and frankness of Christianity! In other\nsystems and pursuits it is usual to conceal difficulties and dangers,\nand to exhibit nothing, openly, but prospects of advantage. Not so the\nCaptain of our salvation, and those who had learned of him. They call\nfor self-denial, engage in a life of conflict, and glory in having the\ncross to bear. Like an experienced general, the apostle, having rallied\nhis fellow-soldiers to the onset, reminds them that they had to contend\nagainst no ordinary competitors: not against flesh and blood, (q. d.)\nnot against them _only_, or _chiefly_, but against beings who were\noriginally of a higher order, and _even now_, in their fallen state, are\npowerful, crafty, and malignant. Whether we consider their nature, their\nnumber, or employments, they are formidable adversaries to man.\n\n_Their nature._ They are wicked spirits, who once were in the presence\nand in the service of God; but \"they kept not their first estate;\"\nhaving fallen by rebellion, and being reserved for the judgment of the\ngreat day, they, like their prince, are \"going about seeking whom they\nmay devour.\" Still they are angels that excel in strength, whose wisdom\nis corrupted into cunning and craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to\ndeceive. Being _spirits_, they are invisible, and tempt without being\ntired. Were they seen, they might be shunned: were they flesh and blood,\nthey might become weary in their work; but these \"rulers of darkness\"\nhave continued the work of wickedness ever since they were cast down\nfrom the heavenly places.\n\nTheir _number_ also renders them a terror to the children of men; and\nalthough under restraint, they are permitted to unite their counsels and\nforce against us. If, in the days of our Lord, seven had cutered the\nperson of _one_ unhappy sufferer, and _legions_ into _another_, we may\nconclude the gross number greatly exceeds that of the human race.\n\nThe devil and his angels are represented as a king and his subjects;\nwhence we may infer that they act in concert, and that, whilst they sow\ndiscord among men, there is an awful concentration of power and of\npolicy amongst themselves.\n\nTheir usurped _dominion_, and constant _employment_, are often referred\nto in the holy Scriptures; and not an instance of extraordinary\ndegradation of character, of disaster of condition, but is traced to\nthe influence of the wicked one, who is emphatically called the \"ruler\nof the dark ages of this world.\" He blinds the mind--hardens the\nheart--leads captive at his will--resists the prayers of the\nsaints--stifles the cry of the sinner--and (as in the case of Job) puts\nforth a dreadful power by the destructive elements of nature: and were\nit not for the restraints of divine Providence, and the operations of\ngrace, the history of man would be a record of continual crime, and\nconsequent misery.\n\nWe are here particularly admonished to \"stand against the wiles of the\ndevil.\" Open violence might excite alarm, especially were it understood\nfrom whence it proceeded; but secret stratagem has proved more\nsuccessful, both in drawing men into sin, and preventing their return\nto God.\n\nIn presenting temptation, he diligently studies human character, and,\nobserving the weakest side, and waiting the unguarded moment, obtains\nadvantage over us without awakening suspicion.\n\nThus, in the case of Eve, the only thing she could desire in Paradise\nwas more knowledge; of Judas, more money; and of Ananias, more honour;\nand for these objects, Satan, by his wily representation, induced the\nfirst to eat the forbidden fruit; the second, to betray the Lord of\nglory; and the third, to lie unto the Holy Ghost.\n\nHence the proud, the passionate, the polluted, the timid, and the\nmelancholy, are easily approached through the medium of some common\nfailing, or constitutional infirmity; and no one suspects that a devil\nis near them, till the iniquity is committed: and the deed once done,\nthe tempter laughs at their calamity, and becomes their tormentor. The\nsame policy may be observed in the _seasons_ selected by him to ensnare\nand overthrow the unwary. As a cunning adversary considers when the\ntroops are fatigued, scattered, asleep, or intoxicated; so the devil\nassaulted the Saviour when alone, after fasting forty days, and just\nbefore his crucifixion. As the pirate and the robber pass by and spare\nthe empty vessels, and the poor, but watch for those that return laden\nwith treasure; so this malignant foe resisted Joshua at the throne of\ngrace, sifted Peter as he descended from the mount, and sent his\nmessenger to buffet Paul when he had been caught up into the third\nheavens. His wiles may be also seen in the _instruments_ employed: they\nare such as have authority, influence, or reputation; so that a man's\ndeceiver shall be among his friends, \"and his foes those of his own\nhouse.\"\n\nThe artifice of this great adversary is not less manifest in _the\nmeans employed to prevent our return to God_. Like a strong man armed,\nhe keeps his palace, and his goods are in peace; and to secure the\ncaptive, he more frequently has recourse to fraud than to force, and\nsucceeds rather by stratagem than by strength.\n\nTo prevent alarm, he will suggest every mitigating circumstance\nrespecting their guilt; represent that it is an easy matter to repent\nand obtain mercy at the last moment of life; or, if he cannot compose\nthe alarmed conscience with such opiates, he will change his course, and\nrepresent their sins as peculiarly aggravated; their case as singular\nand desperate; their day of grace as past; and that, having committed\nthe sin against the Holy Ghost, it is in vain for them to repent, or\nexpect forgiveness! Thus, from the pinnacle of presumption, he will\nprecipitate them into the gulf of despondency. Were it in his power to\nprevent it, there would be no more joy in heaven at the repentance of a\nsinner, and the light of hope, on earth, would be extinguished for ever.\n\nNor does he rest with having misrepresented the character and condition\nof the sinner to himself; he will distort and conceal the true character\nof God: at one time representing him as too merciful to punish any one\neternally for such faults as theirs; at another, that the insulted\nMajesty of heaven meditates vengeance, and his holiness and justice\nwould be dishonoured if their multiplied and heinous offences were\nforgiven; diverting their attention from the peculiar discoveries of the\ngospel, he will, as in the conflict of our blessed Lord, bring the\nScriptures themselves to confirm his wicked suggestions, and, by a false\napplication of difficult and detached passages, hide from us the divine\nperfections, as harmonizing and glorified in our redemption by Jesus\nChrist.\n\nOne other stratagem may be mentioned, which, for the subtlety of its\nnature, and the frequency of its use, requires especial notice. Satan\nwill often transform himself into an angel of light, and by means of\nsome popular minister, or talkative professor, promise a speedy growth\nin divine life, but, in reality, will _divert from all proper thoughts\nof God, and of themselves_. He will draw the young convert into some\nmatter of doubtful disputation, either of doctrine or discipline in the\nchurch. He will either explode some important truth, or carry it into an\nimproper extreme, turning spirituality into mysticism, or liberty into\nlicentiousness. Having thus entangled the inexperienced in some\nlabyrinth of error, Satan cares not, if, under a profession of religion\nhe can but lead away from the simplicity that is in Christ; and\nsubstitute for the spirit of the gospel a spirit of pride, and of\ndiscord, in which all the angry passions find their element, and the\nsouls of men are lost for ever, amidst furious contentions about\nreligion. \"Where-fore, take unto you the whole armour of God.\" Seeing\nyou are placed in circumstances that will require the faithful use of\nevery part of it, see that nothing be wanting to your steadfastness.\n\nThe armour is chiefly of the defensive kind, by which we may maintain\nour standing in the Christian warfare.\n\nThere is an \"helmet\" for the head, a \"breastplate\" for the heart,\n\"shoes\" (or greaves) for the feet, a \"girdle\" for the loins, a \"shield\"\nthat may be moved for the defence of every part that may require it, and\na \"sword\" by which deadly wounds may be inflicted on the enemy. Of these\nwe cannot now speak particularly, but shall hereafter, if God permit.\n\nWe close with three observations:--1. There is no preparation for the\nback: hence we are to understand that we are to face the foe; and should\nany think to flee for safety, they expose the unprotected part to the\nenemy, and become an easy prey. 2. No direction is given for those who\nshall use this armour aright, and yet be vanquished: from which we infer\nthat such a case cannot occur. This is an armour _of proof_, which never\nhas failed, and, if used in the strength of the Lord, is sure to be\neffectual. Let the Christian army know that Satan, with all his power\nand subtlety, shall never finally prevail against them. Thus armed,\n_their head shall be preserved from error, their heart from iniquity,\nand their feet from falling_. 3. This is expressly GOD's armour, and we\ncan receive it at the hands of no one but the Captain of our salvation.\nAs, when God decreed the destruction of Babylon, we are told that \"the\nLord opened his armoury, and brought forth the weapons of his\nindignation;\" so, when Christians are called to fight the good fight, to\nresist Satan, and overcome the world, a suitable armour is provided, and\nwe are directed to put it on, that we may war a good warfare,--\n\n  \"Till, crowned with victory, at his feet\n   We lay our laurels down.\"\n\n  _Clapham._                                                     J. E.\n\n\n                         THE REV. J. BERRIDGE.\n                 _To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine._\n\nIn your last month's magazine I was not a little pleased to meet once\nmore the signature of my late excellent friend, John Sutcliff, of Olney.\nThe story, also, related by him concerning the pious Mr. Berridge,\ndelighted me much; to see such zeal and firmness in his great Master's\ncause, persevered in, even to the end; and to perceive how wonderfully\nthe Lord protected and delivered him, amidst the most inveterate\nenemies. Is not here a striking display of a good Master, and a faithful\nservant?\n\nOn reading this pleasing and interesting anecdote, it immediately\noccurred to my mind, that a long time since I paid a visit to this\nexcellent man, of a most pleasant kind; it was in the summer of 1777,\nwhen on a journey from Yorkshire to London, through St. Neot's, where I\nstopped to supply the congregation of Independents two Sabbaths. Everton\nbeing but a short distance from thence, I felt a strong inclination to\ntake that opportunity of paying a visit to this good old man, who I had\nseveral times heard preach at the Tabernacle in London, and for whom I\nfelt no small degree of respect. Consequently I rode over to Everton,\nand was kindly invited by the old gentleman to dine with him; on this\noccasion, I well remember requesting him to inform me of his adventures\nas an itinerant preacher, for I knew he was employed in such services.\nThe following case Mr. Berridge narrated to me: \"I had been preaching in\na village near Cambridge, at a time when there was a strong opposition\nin that neighbourhood to preaching out of doors. Having fixed upon the\nplace, and being furnished with a little table for my pulpit, while I\nwas engaged, I thought I felt something moving under me, but was not so\nmuch incommoded as to interrupt or hinder me in my work. Having\nconcluded the service, I retired, safely, from the crowd, into the\ncottage of a poor woman. I had not been there long, before some person\ncame to the door, who wished to see me; but the poor woman was so\nalarmed, that she dared not at first open the door, for fear I should be\nill-treated. I desired her immediately to open the door, and not be\nafraid. Soon after a man came in, trembling, and most earnestly and\nhumbly begged my pardon, for he fully intended to throw me down, but\nfelt himself powerfully restrained from doing so.\" Mr. Berridge was not\na little affected by his confession, and said to me, I had him under my\ntable as my prisoner, for he dared not stir to hurt me: and he hoped\nthis might be followed by happy results to this convicted culprit.\n\nAs he rode upon a high horse, which he showed me, he was often\ndiscovered at a considerable distance: and the rude people commonly\ncried out, \"Here comes the old devil of Everton!\"\n\nOn the top of Mr. B.'s clock, this remarkable motto was written, \"Pay\nme short visits.\" This, I think, was no bad caution to his numerous\nvisitants.\n\nTo conclude my story: Soon, soon all these oppositions to the invaluable\ngospel will cease, and the faithful labourer will enter upon his\neverlasting rest, when the truly wise shall shine as the brightness of\nthe firmament, and they that have turned many to righteousness (which,\nI doubt not, was the happy case of this faithful servant of God) shall\nshine as the stars for ever and ever.\n\n  _K._                                                           R. H.\n\n\n        ON THE USE OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN DISSENTING CHAPELS.\n                _To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine._\n\nTwo pieces have lately appeared in your excellent periodical on this\nsubject. Though the former considered the use of Instrumental Music, in\nDissenting Chapels, inconsistent with the simplicity of our worship, the\nground is fairly open, I conceive, for further investigation. Believing\nthat truth is promoted by free discussion, and that your magazine is\nfriendly to both, I also rely upon your candour, for the admission of\nthe following observations on the impropriety of Instrumental Music in\nthe worship of God.\n\nIt is, in my opinion, opposed to the spirituality of the New Testament\nworship. When the Christian dispensation took the place of the Jewish,\nit swept away the load of carnal rites and ceremonies with which that\nnation was burdened. Of these carnal ordinances it is universally agreed\nthat Instrumental Music was a part: with them, therefore, it is finally\nabolished; nor do I see how we can reinstate it in the worship of God,\nwithout violating his kingly prerogative, and impairing the spirituality\nof his worship, by the introduction of grosser materials, which he has,\nby direct appointment, excluded.\n\nInstrumental music appears to me to be a departure from the practice\nof the primitive church, as well as a soil upon the spirituality of the\nNew Testament worship. It has, from time immemorial, been the custom\nof innovators upon divine worship to construe the silence of the\nscriptures, concerning their innovations, into consent. Every one who\nunderstands the principles of Protestant Dissenters knows that their\nsilence in such a case is a loud condemnation. No better reason, I\nbelieve, can be assigned for banishing any thing from the worship of the\nsanctuary, than the fact, that it is not sanctioned by the command of\nthe apostles, nor by the example of the early Christians. Where, allow\nme to ask, is Instrumental Music sanctioned in the worship of the\nChristian dispensation? The apostle Paul exhorts us to \"teach and\nadmonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.\" The same\napostle, when in jail with Silas at Phillippi, \"prayed and sang praises\nunto God.\" Pliny, in his celebrated letter to Trajan, A. D. 106, or 107,\nsays of the Christians in his time, that they were \"accustomed, on a\nstated day, to assemble before sunrise, and to join together in singing\nhymns to Christ, as to a deity.\"\n\nBut where have the apostles sanctioned Instrumental Music, by precept or\nexample? When and where did the primitive Christians employ it in the\nworship of God? The truth is, as all who are acquainted with\necclesiastical records know, Instrumental Music is a piece of popish\ntinsel and show; and moreover a comparatively recent invention of popery\nitself. That musical Instruments were not used, says the author of the\nBiblical Cyclop\u00e6dia, even in the Popish Church, in Thomas Aquinas's\ntime, about the year 1250, appears from the passage in his questions:\n\"In the old law, God was praised both with musical instruments and human\nvoices; but the Christian church does not use instruments to praise him,\nlest she should seem to judaize.\"\n\nIf, Mr. Editor, there is any justness in these observations; if\ninstrumental music is an inroad upon the spirituality of the New\nTestament worship, and a departure from the example of the primitive\nchurch; then it is not its \"tendency to create a unison of voices, which\nmust tend so materially to produce a unity of feeling;\" nay, it is\nnothing less than the direct command of God that can authorize its\nintroduction into his worship.\n\nSome may think this paper attaches too much importance to Instrumental\nMusic, especially when discreetly and soberly used, in divine worship.\nBut the use of it at all, involves a dangerous principle; and if the\nchurch of Christ allows one erroneous form to encrust itself upon her,\nthat will soon attract to itself other evils of the same kind, until\nthe whole is degenerated into one common mass of corruption.\n\n                                                         ANTI MUSICUS.\n\n\n                                POETRY.\n\n                                STANZAS.\n\n  While, through the regions of the skies,\n  Unceasing Alleluias rise,\n  Why are the songs on earth so few?\n  And why not here unceasing too?\n  O Thou, whom there they praise, once slain,\n  But, living, and shall ever reign,\n  In copious streams thy Spirit pour,\n  And waken man from shore to shore;\n    Then universal joy shall rise,\n    And earth shall emulate the skies.\n\n  Oh! the glad morning! when the song\n  Of heavenly praise shall flow along,\n  From beauteous field, and hill, and dale!\n  When cedar mount, and olive vale,\n  Shall burst in glorious singing forth;\n  When east and west, and south and north,\n  Have but one theme, The Lamb who died!\n  The Conqueror, though crucified!\n    Then rays from heaven on earth shall shine,\n    And make these regions too--divine!\n\n  _Homerton._                                          JAMES EDMESTON.\n\n\n                               REVIEWS.\n\n\n     _Memoir of the Late Rev. Joseph Hughes, A.M., one of the\n     Secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible Society._ By JOHN\n     LEIFCHILD. pp. 498.--Ward.\n\nWe are not aware that we can commence our notice of this instructing\nvolume better than by citing the words with which it concludes: \"The\nmemory of the just is blessed.\" But then \"memory\" must be enriched and\nrefreshed by the knowledge of facts which illustrate the principles and\ncharacter of \"the just;\" and if, with such assistance, it becomes\nstrengthened and sanctified to enlarge and perpetuate the exercise of\npractical piety, it must be \"blessed\" indeed.\n\nThat the perusal, even of the most eminently pious biography, may have\nits disadvantages, we are prepared to admit; yet, judicious reflection,\naccompanied with progressive experience, will effect much towards\npreserving the considerate and devout reader from concluding that human\nexcellence in the present state, however elevated, can be entirely\ndetached from some qualifying alloy, or that the less distinguished may\nnot be raised to the possession of \"the best gifts,\" by that sovereign\nbenevolence to which every creature, whether in earth or in heaven, is\nindebted, for whatever measure of natural superiority or moral greatness\nhe may obtain.\n\nIt remains, therefore, our unshaken conviction, that, upon the whole,\nthe amount of benefit arising from a suitable regard to such works as\nthis now before us, vastly preponderates over the influence of certain\nobjections which, were they allowed to operate beyond suggesting a\nsalutary caution to the reader, might deprive us of some of the most\npowerful _stimuli_ to noble enterprise, and some of the richest sources\nof sacred enjoyment.\n\nMr. Hughes was born, we learn from his own account contained in this\nmemoir, in London, Jan. 1, 1769. His father was a native of Wales; his\nmother, of Lancaster. A few months after his birth, he was put, for the\nbenefit of country air, to Mrs. Edwards, a nurse residing at Cuffley, on\nEnfield Chase, with whom he remained several years. Afterwards his\nparents placed him under the instruction of an ancient matron, of the\nname of Hudson. At a very early period he assumed a manner and\nappearance far above his years. \"Joseph,\" one said to him, \"do you love\nplay?\" to which the grotesque little urchin, as he calls himself,\ndemurely replied, \"_I did, formerly!_\"\n\nIn his tenth year he was received as a pupil and boarder in the family\nof Mr. Smalley, minister of a Presbyterian congregation at Darwen, near\nBlackburn, in Lancashire. Here he continued for a few of the most\nimportant years of his life. From Darwen he was removed to a free school\nat Rivington in the same county. He was baptized by the late Dr.\nStennett, and a few months afterwards was placed upon Dr. Ward's trust\nas a theological student in the Academy at Broadmead, Bristol. Dr. Caleb\nEvans was President; Mr. James Newton, A.M., Classical Tutor. Here he\ncontinued the usual term, with a view of completing his course in\nScotland. Mr. Hughes thus speaks for himself:--\n\n     \"Before quitting Bristol for Scotland, I enjoyed the advantage of\n     hearing, as the assistant of Dr. Evans, Robert Hall, who also took\n     part in the tuition of the students. The genius and attainments of\n     the last individual would be ill pourtrayed by me. They command\n     admiration wherever he is known; and if his pen had been as busy\n     as his mind is capacious, ardent, and sublime, they would have\n     commanded the admiration of distant ages. No one, before I had\n     listened to him, had translated the classics in my hearing, with\n     equal grace and spirit; no one had given me such an impression of\n     intellectual nature: but he seems never to have formed the same\n     lofty estimate of himself as he must have known that all his\n     acquaintance held most tenaciously. The paucity of his publications\n     must be ascribed to this. 'On what subject,' he has substantially\n     said, 'can you recommend me to write, on which better things have\n     not already appeared than it is in my power to produce?' Hence we\n     may account for his diffidence, amounting to anxiety, when he has\n     espied among his public auditors, a Parr, or a Mackintosh. Having\n     been asked what he thought of the famed John Henderson, he said,\n    'I felt myself to be a mere child in his presence.'\" p. 37.\n\nIn October, 1787, Mr. Hughes set out for Aberdeen, with his\nfellow-student, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) John Evans. Here his literary\nacquisitions were enriched, and his religious character much improved.\nSome attachments and friendships were formed, which, in following years,\nwere ripened to maturity. Having taken his degree, he spent one session\nat Edinburgh, where he was most affectionately received by the venerable\nDr. Erskine.\n\nIn 1791, he was solemnly called to the ministry, by the church at Wild\nStreet, and invited to fill the situation of Classical Tutor at the\nBristol Academy. Dr. Evans dying in August this year, Mr. H. continued\nto preach at Broadmead during the remainder of that and nearly the whole\nof the following year. About this time he renewed an attachment formed\nwhile a student at Bristol, between himself and Miss Esther Rolph,\nyoungest daughter of George Rolph, Esq., a respectable solicitor at\nThornbury: who afterwards became his wife, and who lives to lament her\nloss.\n\nIn December, 1792, Mr. Hughes accepted the office of assistant minister\nat Broadmead; Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Ryland, having become the Pastor and\nPresident of the Academy. In this connexion, however, after a time, Mr.\nH. encountered difficulties and discouragements which at length\nterminated in his removal to Battersea in July, 1796. In the following\nyear, he was ordained: the service was attended to in the Independent\nchapel, at Clapham. Mr. Josiah Thompson, his early patron, delivered the\ncharge, and Mr. Dore preached to the people. Other parts were taken on\nthe interesting occasion by Mr. Liddon, of Hemel Hempstead, and Dr.\nRippon, who has survived them all.\n\nThe \"Religious Tract Society\" was instituted in 1799, of which Mr.\nHughes was appointed Secretary, and which office he retained to the\nperiod of his death. But it was as the Secretary of the \"British and\nForeign Bible Society\" that he was universally known and admired. This\nnoble institution, which he seems, in conversation with the Rev. T.\nWaters, of Worcester, to have admitted originated in a suggestion from\nhimself, was publicly formed March 7th, 1804, at the London Tavern,\nCheapside; Granville Sharp, Esq., in the chair. To the discharge of the\ndelightful but onerous duties of this honourable office, he consecrated\nhis distinguished talents and eminent piety, during nearly the last\nthirty years of his life.\n\nTowards the close of his life, in consequence of some trying occurrences\nat Battersea, certain efforts were made to remove him into the\nmetropolis. This movement, however, called forth renewed feelings and\nexpressions of mutual attachment between himself and the persons who had\nso long enjoyed his ministration; and he respectfully declined the\noverture which had been made to him from London.\n\nFor a considerable time before his death, Mr. Hughes had been afflicted\nwith a pain in one part of his foot. This did not at first occasion any\nalarm; but early in July 1833, having set out on a long journey to\nWales, and other places, on behalf of the Bible Society, the affection\nin his foot so increased, and, by the necessary exertion in prosecuting\nthe object of his journey, became so aggravated, that he was obliged to\nretire to the house of a friend in the vale of Abbey Tintern, and give\nup what remained of his projected tour. This sickness was to be unto\ndeath; rest and retirement did not mitigate the symptoms of his\ncomplaint. Amidst great suffering he was removed to Bath; and when it\nwas found that little hope remained of a cure being obtained, he was\nconveyed in an invalid carriage from Bath to the house of his son,\nwhere, after continuing a few days, he was taken to his own residence.\nThroughout his affliction, though his sufferings appear often to have\nbeen exceedingly acute, he discovered the most exemplary patience and\nresignation; the frame of his mind seems to have been uniformly devout\nand serene, and his confidence in the person and work of the divine\nRedeemer, strong and unwavering. At length, the time of his departure\narrived. On the evening of October the 3rd, 1833, in the sixty-fifth\nyear of his age, he peacefully left these mortal shores.\n\nThe character of his mind, of his studies, of his conversation, of his\noratory on the platform, and of his sermons from the pulpit, Mr.\nLeifchild has delineated with the hand of a master, having possessed all\nthe advantages of personal and confiding friendship. The mental and\nmoral excellences of Mr. Hughes were unquestionably very exalted; but\nhis communications often appeared to suffer from what, perhaps, might\nnot improperly be denominated, a constitutional coldness of manner,\nwhich seemed to impose a sort of reluctant constraint on his own\nfeelings. We remember a gentleman of the Tract Committee remarking, \"I\nadmire Mr. Hughes--I hear him,--I see him--I want to _feel_ him.\" It was\nevident that, in himself, he felt intensely here; and, doubtless, he now\nburns with all the holy ardour of a seraph in the celestial world.\n\nWere it practicable, we should have peculiar satisfaction in gratifying\nour readers, and enriching our columns, with lengthened extracts from\nthis interesting volume; but we must confine ourselves to two, which, we\nare sure, both on account of what they contain, and the high respect in\nwhich the writers of them have been long and deservedly held, will be\nmost acceptable to our readers. The first is from the pen of Mr. Jay.\n\n     \"Mr. Hughes was often and much at Bath, formerly, supplying several\n     years at Argyle Chapel, for six weeks together, while I was in\n     town. I have been intimately acquainted with him for upwards of\n     forty-three years, and have exchanged more mind with him than with\n     any man I ever knew, except my friend and tutor, Cornelius Winter.\n     With regard to religious things, we only differed as to baptism;\n     and if we did not love each other the more for this difference, I\n     am sure we did not love each other the less. We disagreed, too, a\n     little with regard to composition and preaching: he too squeamish,\n     and I too careless; he labouring for correctness, and I for\n     impression (in grasping which I sometimes erred); he too satisfied\n     if he could abide criticism, and I too careless of critical\n     judgement, if I could secure effect. Yet, though he was often\n     kindly finding fault with me when we were alone, he was always\n     seeking opportunities to hear me; and I cannot be ignorant how much\n     I shared his commendation, as an author and a preacher. I am\n     thankful for my intimacy with him. My esteem of him always grew\n     with my intercourse. _I never knew a more consistent, correct, and\n     unblemished character._ He was not only sincere, but without\n     offence, and adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.\n\n     \"His mind was full of information; his conversation, singularly\n     instructive, and very edifying; and while others _talked_ of\n     candour and moderation, he _exemplified_ them. In his theological\n     sentiments he was firm, yet sober and liberal, and not too orthodox\n     (as I have often known this,) to be evangelical. But why do I write\n     this? you know it as well as I, and will describe it better.\"\n     p. 143.\n\nThus Mr. Jay, concerning the lamented Mr. Hughes. But now we introduce\nMr. Foster's letter, addressed to him while languishing into death. \"The\nletter referred to,\" says Mr. Leifchild, \"as forwarded to him by his\nfriend, Mr. Foster, the editor is happy in being permitted to\nsubjoin;--a letter which leaves it hard to determine, whether the\nfeelings of the writer, or of the receiver, were most to be envied.\"\n\n                                     \"_Stapleton, September 18, 1833._\n\n     \"In conveying a few sentences for the last time to my dear old\n     friend, I wish to be allowed to say why such a token of sympathy\n     and affection is so late.\n\n     \"Returning from a long excursion in North Wales, very near the time\n     of your removal to London, I was surprised and grieved at the\n     report of your seyerely afflicted situation at Bath. My impulse to\n     go thither was repressed by the information that no one was\n     admitted to see you. After hearing successive accounts, I wrote a\n     few lines of inquiry to Mr. Evill; and was answered that you had\n     just been removed to London,--with a promise of sending me the\n     information they should receive; which has been done. During the\n     subsequent time, I have withheld from writing to you, partly by\n     information that your great weakness rendered every unusual\n     intervention painful to you, and partly by a report confidently\n     affirming that you had left this world. But at last, and previously\n     to receiving yesterday a message from you through the hands of Mr.\n     R. Cottle, I had determined to write to Mr. George, and put it at\n     his discretion whether to show you the letter.\n\n     \"The thought of my dear and ever faithful friend as now standing at\n     the very verge of life, has repeatedly carried me back in memory to\n     the period of our youth, when, more than forty years since, we were\n     brought into habitual society, and the cordial esteem and\n     attachment which have survived, undiminished, through so long a\n     lapse of time, and so much separation. _Then_ we sometimes\n     conjectured--but in vain--what might be the course appointed us to\n     run; and how long; and which might first come to the termination.\n     _Now_ the far greater part of that appointment has been unfolded\n     and accomplished. To me a little stage further remains under the\n     darkness; you, my dear friend, have a clear sight almost to the\n     concluding point. And while I feel the deepest pensiveness in\n     beholding where you stand, with but a step between you and death, I\n     cannot but emphatically congratulate you. I have often felt great\n     complacency in your behalf, in thinking of the course through which\n     Providence has led you,--complacency in regard to the great purpose\n     of life, its improvement, its usefulness, and its discipline and\n     preparation for a better world. You are, I am sure, grateful to the\n     Sovereign Disposer in the review of it. You have had the happiness\n     of faithfully and zealously performing a great and good service,\n     and can rejoice to think that your work is accomplished, with a\n     humble confidence that the Master will say, \"Well done, good and\n     faithful servant,\" while you will gratefully exult in ascribing all\n     to his own sovereign mercy in Jesus Christ.\n\n     \"But, oh, my dear friend, whither is it that you are going? Where\n     is it that you will be a few short weeks or days hence? I have\n     affecting cause to think and to wonder concerning that unseen\n     world; to desire, were it permitted to mortals, one glimpse of that\n     mysterious economy; to ask innumerable questions to which there is\n     no answer: What is the manner of existence--of employment--of\n     society--of remembrance--of anticipation--of all the surrounding\n     revelations to our departed friends. How striking to think that\n     _she_[A] so long and so recently with me here, so beloved, but now\n     so _totally_ withdrawn and absent--that she experimentally knows\n     all that I am in vain inquiring!\n\n     [Footnote A: Mrs. Foster.]\n\n     \"And a little while hence, you, my friend, will be an object of the\n     same solemn meditations and wondering inquiries. It is most\n     striking to consider--to realize the idea--that _you_, to whom I am\n     writing these lines, who continue yet among mortals, who are on\n     this side of the awful and mysterious veil--that you will be in the\n     midst of these grand realities, beholding the marvellous\n     manifestation, amazed and transported at your new and happy\n     condition of existence, while your friends are feeling the\n     pensiveness of your absolute and final absence, and thinking how,\n     but just now as it were, you were with them.\n\n     \"But we must ourselves follow you to see what it is that the\n     emancipated spirits, who have obtained their triumph over death and\n     all evil through the blood of the Lamb, find awaiting them in that\n     nobler and happier realm of the Great Master's empire; and I hope\n     that your removal will be, to your other friends and to me; a\n     strong additional excitement, under the influence of the Divine\n     Spirit, to apply ourselves with more earnest zeal to the grand\n     business of our high calling.\n\n     \"It is a delightful thing to be assured on the authority of\n     revelation, of the perfect consciousness, the intensely awakened\n     faculties, and all the capacities and causes of felicity of the\n     faithful in that mysterious separate state and on the same\n     evidence, together with every other rational probability, to be\n     confident of the re-union of those who have loved one another and\n     their Lord on earth. How gloomy, beyond all expression, were a\n     contrary anticipation!\n\n     \"My friend feels, in this concluding day of his sojourn on earth,\n     the infinite value of that blessed faith which confides alone\n     in the great Sacrifice for all the sole medium of pardon and\n     reconcilement, and the ground of immortal hope. This has always\n     been to you the very vitality of the Christian religion: and it\n     is so--it is emphatically so--to me also.\n\n     \"I trust you will be mercifully supported,--the heart serene, and,\n     if it may be, the bodily pain mitigated, during the remaining\n     hours, and the still sinking weakness of the mortal frame; and I\n     would wish for you also, and in compassion to the feelings of your\n     attendant relatives, that you may be favoured so far as to have a\n     gentle dismission; but as to this, you will humbly say, 'Thy will\n     be done.'\n\n     \"I know that I shall partake of your kindest wishes and remembrance\n     in your prayers--the few more prayers you have yet to offer before\n     you go. When I may follow you, and, I earnestly hope, rejoin you in\n     a far better world, must be left to a decision that cannot at the\n     most be very remote; for yesterday completed my sixty-third year. I\n     deplore before God my not having lived more devotedly to the grand\n     purpose; and do fervently desire the aid of the good Spirit, to\n     make whatever of my life may remain much more effectually true to\n     that purpose than all the preceding.\n\n     \"But you, my friend, have accomplished your business--your Lord's\n     business--on earth. Go, then, willing and delighted, at his call.\n\n     \"Here I conclude, with an affecting and solemn consciousness that I\n     am speaking to you for the last time in this world. Adieu, then, my\n     ever dear and faithful friend. Adieu--for a while! May I meet you,\n     ere long, where we shall never more say, farewell!\n\n                                                          \"J. FOSTER.\"\n\n    _A Beacon to the Society of Friends._ By ISAAC CREWDSON.--Hamilton,\n    Adams, and Co. pp. 155. 12mo.\n\n    _A Defence of the Doctrines of Immediate Revelation, and Universal\n    and Saving Light: in Reply to some Remarks contained in a work,\n    entitled \"A Beacon to the Society of Friends.\"_ By THOMAS HANCOCK,\n    M. D. pp. 92. 12mo.\n\nThe Beacon ought to be read with serious attention, and with an honest\ndesire to know \"what is truth,\" by every member of the society, to whom\nit is addressed. Members of that society cannot need to be informed\nby us of the absurd and impious vagaries, advocated with an air of\nsolemnity, as shocking as it is ridiculous, by certain members of their\nbody in America, the leader of whom was Elias Hicks, a man of\nconsiderable acuteness and energy, but who evinced a degree of mental\nperversity truly appalling. Members of other societies cannot be\nexpected to feel any great interest in the sentiments,--if sentiments\nthey can be called,--avowed with so much complacency by that fanatic, or\neven in the rapid progress which they made in America. It were wholly\nunnecessary, therefore, even if our limits allowed it, to furnish our\nreaders with any account of the ultra-mystic theology of Hicks. It will\nsuffice to say, that there is scarcely a doctrine of revelation which it\ndoes not discard or explain away. The peculiar tenets of this sect were\npublicly denounced by the English Quakers at their yearly meeting, held\nin London, May, 1832; but we hesitate not to affirm--what we can easily\nprove--that the tracts of Elias Hicks are clearly deduced from the\nfundamental principles of Quakerism; that many of his statements bear a\nvery close resemblance to those of the early Friends; and that, however\nthey may be opposed to those writings which possess divine authority,\nthey are fully borne out by others, which are of _almost_ equal\nauthority in the estimation of some members of the Society of Friends,\nand which, although that sect acknowledges no creed, are generally\nregarded amongst them as standards of religious doctrine.\n\nLet us illustrate this: Elias Hicks speaks with great apparent\ndevoutness, as well as energy, of a way of salvation, which Christians\nin general would imagine peculiarly his own, of which the most assiduous\nand prayerful student of the Scriptures would have no conception, and\nwhich, as far as we can learn, never entered the minds of Paul, and\nPeter, and John. He says, \"It is only by gathering to this light (the\nlight within) that we can gain a place in his favour; and by\nendeavouring that all our actions should proceed from the movings of\nthis life in the immortal soul; and as this comes to be our case, _we\ngain reconciliation_ with the Father.\" This short sentence will appear\nto our readers to contain a sufficient quantity of mysticism for any\npurpose, and what is worse, a capital error on a point of vital\nimportance. The Scriptures represent, _not the light within_, but\nCHRIST, \"who was delivered for our offences, and rose again for our\njustification;\" as \"our peace, who hath made both (Jews and Gentiles)\none,\" and hath \"reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross.\" When\nthe apostles were asked, by an awakened sinner, \"What shall I do to be\nsaved?\" they, without any hesitation, replied, \"Believe on the Lord\nJesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.\" They always directed men to\nJesus Christ for salvation, for pardon, and for purity, for light and\nfor life; they believed that Christians are complete in him; but that,\nseparated from him, they can do nothing. They affirmed that \"there is\nsalvation in none other; neither is there any other name under heaven\ngiven among men, whereby we must be saved.\" But, if Elias Hicks were\nasked by a poor sinner, conscious of his pollution and guilt, but\nignorant of the hope set before us in the gospel, \"What shall I do to be\nsaved?\" he would reply, \"It is only by gathering to the light--this\nsaving light that is within us all, that we gain a place in his favour.\"\nHe never thought of directing sinners to Jesus Christ for salvation; his\ndirections uniformly pointed another way: \"Oh, then, let us be\nindividually endeavouring to gather to the light, and wait on the Lord,\nthat we may see his counsel.\" But this _anti-christian_ statement, this\nopposition to the word of the truth of the gospel, is in perfect\naccordance with the avowed and acknowledged principles of Quakerism.\n\nOne of the fundamental principles of the system is, \"that there is an\nevangelical and saving light and grace in all,\" and that \"this light\nenlighteneth the hearts of all in a day, in order to salvation, if not\nresisted; nor is it less universal than the seed of sin, being the\npurchase of his death, who _tasted death for every man; for as in Adam\nall die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive_.\" This is the\nlanguage of Robert Barclay, the able apologist of Quakerism; and,\nperhaps, some of the Friends may tell us, how many degrees _below_ the\nauthority of Paul and Jesus they hold the Apologist. It must be evident\nto every one, at all conversant with the past history and the present\nstate of the society, that the Friends have ever been, and are still, in\nmany instances (by far too many), accustomed to direct men, not to Jesus\nChrist, who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come to God by\nhim: but to the principle of light and life within, which \"enlighteneth\nthe hearts of all in a day, in order to salvation, if not resisted.\"\n\nClosely connected with the doctrine of inward light, is that of\nimmediate revelation. But the veneration of men for the authority of\nScripture decreases in exact proportion to their zeal for immediate\nrevelation. Elias Hicks received revelations quite as important in their\nnature, as abundant in their measure, and as immediate in their mode of\ncommunication, as any with which the apostle Paul was favoured. He is\ntherefore entitled to disregard the authority of Scripture! He has in\nhimself a higher authority! and he is commissioned to direct men to a\nbetter, in every respect a better, guide, than that sure word of\nprophecy to which the first Christians were exhorted to take heed, as to\na light shining in a dark place! This is his language: \"It is through\nthis comforter that _all our_ knowledge of God must come; and all that\never was among rational beings under heaven, came through this medium,\nand none other. But, by our believing that we can help ourselves to\nheaven by the aid of the Scriptures, _a mere written book_, at the same\ntime that we understand it so diversely, sets us to warring and\nquarrelling. Has not this been long enough the case, for every rational\nbeing to be instructed and to see, that _instead of its being a\nsufficient rule of faith, and practice, it is the reverse, for while it\nis depended on as such, it hinders from coming to the truth_. The\nScriptures never told us that they were a sufficient rule, but they\nrecommend us to that from which they themselves bad their origin--the\nSpirit of truth.\" If this be not infidelity, we really know not what is.\nHicks does not even speak of the sacred Scriptures with that decent\nrespect which one would consider due to the writings of a _brother_\nprophet: \"The Scriptures a mere written word, which, instead of being a\nsufficient rule of faith and practice, is the reverse, and hinders from\ncoming to the truth!\" Such language must draw a sigh from every\nChristian breast. But is such language utterly strange in the annals of\nQuakerism? Is it unusual in that society to speak of the Scriptures in\nterms of disparagement, compared with the teaching of the Spirit, and\nimmediate revelation? Barclay affirms, that \"the _Scriptures_, '_being\noutwardly written_,' are the law which brings _condemnation_, and\n_kills_; but that the _gospel_ is the _inward_ spiritual law which\n_gives life_.\" He affirms, that \"inward, immediate, objective revelation\nis the only sure, certain, and immovable foundation of all Christian\nfaith;\" and that \"the principal rule of Christians under the gospel is\nnot an outward letter, but an inward spiritual law; therefore the letter\nof Scripture is not, nor can be, the chief or principal rule of\nChristians:\" and our good friend, Dr. Hancock, represents those in the\nsociety, who \"are turning the eye of the mind outward instead of\ninward;\" that is to say, who are looking to the Scriptures, instead of\nto the light within; as \"after beginning in the Spirit going back to the\nletter,\" and thus \"leaving the fountain of life itself, and 'hewing out\nto themselves _broken cisterns_, that can hold no water?'\" Are these the\nwords which are able to save our souls, to make us wise unto salvation\nthrough faith in Christ Jesus? or are these the terms which a Christian\nfeels himself authorized to apply to those words?\n\nMuch might be said, and most justly, of the evil tendencies, and the\npernicious fruits, of this capital error, respecting immediate\nrevelation, and the consequent disparagement of the living oracles of\nGod; but we can now simply advert to that grand axiom, which is in the\nmouth of all orthodox Friends, and which, they fancy, renders their\nnotion of the Scriptures as stable as the pillars of the creation, and\nas clear as the light of heaven. The axiom, in simple terms, is this:\n\"The author is greater than his work; the Spirit which gave the\nScriptures is greater than the Scriptures which he gave; therefore the\nSpirit, and not the Scriptures, is the first and chief foundation of\ntruth, ground of faith, and rule of conduct.\" This would seem all very\nplain; but it is very fallacious. The author is greater than his work:\nvery true; but when you (if we may for a moment address ourselves to\nFriends), when you plead for \"immediate revelation,\" as the surest\nfoundation of all Christian faith, and \"the principal rule\" of Christian\nconduct, you are not placing the author above his work, but _one work_\nof the author above _another_ of the works of the same author; you are\nnot placing the Spirit above the Scriptures, but you are placing the\nprivate and personal revelations of the Spirit to you, above those\nrevelations of the same Spirit which he gave to apostles and prophets,\nfor the instruction and salvation of the human race. It is generally\nadmitted by you, that the \"Scriptures were given by inspiration of God;\"\nthat they are a revelation from God to man; that they are words which\n\"holy men of God spake and penned as they were moved by the Holy\nSpirit.\" Though we were to admit, therefore, that you have in\nreality--we believe no such thing--revelations from the Spirit of truth,\nit would be absurd to say, that because the author is greater than his\nwork, these private revelations are a firmer foundation of faith, and a\nmore certain rule of conduct, than the revelations contained in the\ninspired volume: it is not the Spirit which you have, but, at best, a\nrevelation from the Spirit; and this revelation you place above the\nScriptures, which you acknowledge to be divine--which you admit to be a\nrevelation from God to man.\n\nIt may be vain in us, but we think this remark worthy the attention of\nFriends: if we are mistaken in our view of this subject, we should be\nhappy to be put right; but if we are correct, the main pillar of\nQuakerism is overthrown, and the edifice must, as in that case it would\ndeserve to, fall.\n\nOf Dr. Hancock's work, it may, perhaps, be enough to say, that it\naffords a poor defence of notions which many of our readers will believe\ndo not merit a better. Like some other \"defenders of the faith,\" the\nDoctor makes up for a lack of argument, not indeed by an exhibition of\nthe sword, or the stake, but by positive assertions, by dogmatism, and\nby a condemnatory spirit. The unfortunate author of \"The Beacon\"\nappears, in Dr. H.'s opinion, to have committed an almost unpardonable\noffence against the society, and, in this opinion, we are sorry to find\nthe Doctor is by no means singular. It is melancholy to witness the\nbitter spirit of intolerance and persecution, which the well-intended\neffort of Mr. Crewdson has raised in the Society of Friends--the\npeaceable, the nonresisting Friends. It is questionable, even now,\nwhether the publication of his little volume may not lead--in violation\nof one of the fundamental principles of the Society, as stated and\nadvocated by William Penn, in his address to Protestants, and in\ncontempt of the spirit of religion, and, happily, of the age in which\nwe live,--to the exclusion of Mr. Crewdson from the Society of Friends.\nAlas for poor human nature! whatever else may change, this is always\nthe same--the same, whether under a bishop's mitre, or a Quaker's\nbroad-brim. The \"Defence\" may certainly appear a powerful thing to those\nwho entirely agree with the author: those who differ from him will\nprobably be of another mind. A few short extracts will suffice to show\nthe _clearness_ and _consistency_ of the author's statements. In page\n17, he says, \"I consider every opinion which has not their (the\nScriptures') support must fall to the ground;\" but in page 8 he says,\n\"If nothing of divine influence, in the days of Fox and Penn--nothing, I\nsay, but the light and knowledge of Scripture, had operated on the minds\nof men, then, I believe, _our religious Society would never have had\nexistence_, for they were taught immediately _by_ Christ, and they\ndirected all _to_ Christ.\" Every opinion not supported by Scripture must\nfall to the ground: then Quakerism must necessarily sink; for, according\nto the Doctor's own showing, that system owes its very existence, not to\nthe Scriptures, but to something else--to immediate revelation. In page\n22, he says, \"_Neither the opinion of Robert Barclay, nor that of any\nother man, would weigh with me_, if I did not consider that it was\nfounded on a correct and enlarged view of Scripture doctrine:\" very\ngood; but then, in the very next sentence, he adds, \"I quote the Apology\nof Robert Barclay, concluding, that one who is now _a minister_ (Mr.\nCrewdson), _in outward fellowship in the same society with myself, can\nhardly be supposed_ TO HAVE THROWN OFF THE AUTHORITY OF A WORK _so\njustly esteemed as it is amongst us_; for this would imply, that his\n_departure from the ground of our testimonies_ was greater than I am yet\nwilling to believe it to be.\" The opinion of Barclay has no weight: yet\nno man in the Society of Friends can be supposed to have thrown off the\nauthority of Barclay's Apology! We cordially congratulate the Society of\nFriends on the appearance of the \"Beacon;\" and sincerely pray, that a\nspirit of inquiry may be universally excited, and that the divine\nauthority of the Scriptures, as the sole and sufficient rule of faith\nand practice, may eventually, and even speedily, be established in the\nmind of every individual amongst them. Of Dr. Hancock we know nothing;\nand of that gentleman, personally, we cannot, and will not, say anything\nbordering on disrespect; but we heartily wish the Mystics and Quietists\nall the joy, to which they are _fairly entitled_ from his Defence.\n\n\n                               OBITUARY\n\n                           REV. R. COMPTON.\n\nThe Rev. Robert Compton, late minister of the General Baptist church and\ncongregation, at Isleham, Cambridgeshire, was born at Withybrook, near\nMonk's Kirby, in Warwickshire, on the 21st of February, 1780. He had the\nunspeakable privilege of being the son of parents decidedly pious. His\nfather died more than thirty years ago; but his mother, whom he visited\nfor the last time in August, 1833, survived until some time early in the\nspring of the last year; when, in a good old age, she slept in Jesus,\nand entered into her rest, preceding her son to glory only a few months.\n\nMrs. Compton, lik Eunice, possessing \"unfeigned faith,\" discovered great\nconcern for the spiritual welfare of her children, not only praying for\nthem, but conversing with them on the most important and deeply\ninteresting subject that can engage the thoughts of young persons,--the\nway in which mercy is extended to sinners. Her anxiety that her children\nmight walk in the paths of peace led her, in conversation with Christian\nfriends, freely to express her views in reference to their religion.\nWhen about seventeen years of age, our late friend overheard his mother\ntelling a person that she had some hopes of the piety of her son George,\nbut had none respecting her son Robert. This, connected with the\ncircumstance of his brother John, about the same time, becoming decided\nfor the Lord, very powerfully wrought upon his mind, and he could not\ndislodge the thought--\"If my brothers should go to heaven, and I should\nperish!\" From this time he began to seek the Lord by prayer, and reading\nthe holy Scriptures with a new and peculiar delight. Before he was\neighteen years old, he made a public profession of his repentance and\nfaith, being baptized in company with his brother John, and several\nother persons; and became a member of the General Baptist church at\nHinckley, in Leicestershire.\n\nHaving now found a Saviour suited to his own circumstances as a guilty\nruined sinner, he was anxious to direct other guilty and ruined sinners\nto the same refuge; and being encouraged by his friends, he began to\npreach the gospel in the neighbouring villages.\n\nA few years after Mr. Compton began to explain the Scriptures in the\nvicinity of his native place, he removed into Cambridgeshire, residing\nfirst at Harston, then at Sawston; and preaching frequently to the\ncongregations at Ashwell, in Hertfordshire, and at the latter mentioned\nplace of his residence. From Sawston, he came to reside at Isleham, in\nthe year 1816, and was ordained pastor over the General Baptist church\nand congregation here, October the 29th, 1817, where, with fidelity and\ngreat affection, he continued to labour almost to the time of his death.\n\nSoon after Mr. Compton came to Isleham, he was called to mourn under a\nsudden and most painful stroke, in the death of his kind and endeared\ncompanion, who left behind her five children, at an age when they were\nalmost unconscious of their loss. A kind Providence, however, soon\nrepaired his loss, by leading him to contract a second marriage with the\nhighly esteemed lady who survives him.\n\nMr. Compton was, a few years ago, a strong man; formed as if for\nvigorous, persevering, and unwearied effort. A little more than three\nyears since, evident symptoms of consumption appeared; and in each\nsucceeding spring they increased, and threatened to put an end to his\nfaithful and successful labours. During the spring and summer of 1834,\nhe appeared fast hastening to the grave. His emaciated countenance, his\nfeeble and almost inaudible voice, and his increasing debility, clearly\nindicated the near approach of death. Not only did his weakened frame\nshow the nearness of the last enemy, but the detachment of his mind from\nthe world--the calm and serene composure of soul which he enjoyed--the\nstrength and firmness of his hope and confidence in the righteousness of\nJesus Christ, gave satisfying evidence that he was ripening for glory.\n\nHe did not attempt to preach for some weeks before he died, but was not\nprevented; the whole of any Lord's-day during his affliction, from going\nto the meeting-house. Only two days previous to his death, he\nadministered the solemn and interesting, but too much neglected,\nordinance of the Lord's Supper to his beloved people. Oh! it was a time\nnot to be forgotten, when he took his affectionate farewell of all the\nmembers of the of the church who were present! The writer of this\nmemorial well remembers seeing several of Mr. C.'s friends returning\nhome from the meeting-house on this occasion, whose countenances\nevidenced a strong persuasion that they should never see the face or\nhear the voice of their beloved pastor again in this world. The pleasing\nand delightful state of his mind, in the last days of his life, will be\ndiscovered in the following communication to the writer of this sketch\nfrom the pen of a near relative.\n\n\"During the whole of his illness he maintained the greatest calmness and\ncomposure; the enemy was not once permitted to disturb his peace, or to\nshake his confidence in God. On one occasion, a short time before his\ndeparture, he said to a friend, 'The Lord is very kind to me; for while\nhe afflicts me with one hand, he supports me with the other; yes, he\n_always_ has been good to me, he _never_ has forsaken me;' and with his\ncharacteristic energy added, 'And nobody shall make me believe that he\nwill ever forsake me now.' When conversing with another friend on the\nbright and glorious prospect he had of future bliss, he said, 'I am very\nambitious, for I am striving for a crown; and it is one which will never\nfade away.' His family did not perceive him to be materially worse,\nuntil the Saturday previous to his death; but from the evident change\nwhich then took place, they urged his staying at home on the\nsabbath-day; to this he replied, 'I have a great wish to go, perhaps,\nfor the last time.' His wish was complied with, and, propped up with\npillows in an easy chair, he, for the last time, distributed to his\nweeping church the memorials of the Saviour's death; and, with wonderful\ncomposure, although with feeble steps, he walked round the aisles of the\nchapel, and took leave of all the persons present. On the Monday he\nappeared fast sinking into the arms of death; and, on a friend saying to\nhim, 'The conflict will soon be over,' he replied, 'Do you think\nso?--I'm afraid not.' The restlessness of death was evidently now upon\nhim, and on being assisted up stairs, a distressing fit of coughing came\non, accompanied by difficulty of respiration, and the loss of all power\nto expectorate: this continued with but little cessation during the\nnight. A highly esteemed friend visiting him early in the morning of\nTuesday (the day on which he died), he said, 'Well, Madam, we have often\ntalked together about heaven, I hope I shall soon be there,' adding,\n'but, perhaps, you will pray with me once more on earth?' This was most\nkindly complied with. My mother asked what passage of Scripture she\nshould read; he promptly replied, 'The 116th Psalm;' many parts of which\nwere strikingly and beautifully adapted to his own circumstances at that\nmoment. After prayer, he said to the same friend, 'If I get safe to\nheaven, and should hear that you are coming (and am permitted) I will\nwelcome you there.' On being asked if Christ was precious to him, he\nsaid, 'More than any thing else; the world is nothing to me now; death\nhas lost its sting, and the grave has no terrors.' Repeatedly, during\nthe day, he said, 'Oh! how gladly could I lie down and die!--O that I\nhad wings like a dove!' &c. To his highly esteemed brother, Mr.\nReynolds, he said, 'Well, Sir, when I am gone, I shall want you to bury\nme;--do not say much about me, preach to the people, and tell them to be\nstedfast,' &c. On one of his family coming to his bedside, he said:\n'Love not the world, nor the things that are in it; set your affections\non things that are above, and trust in the Lord at all times.' To\nanother, 'Live near to God, put your trust in him, and he will carry you\nthrough.' To his youngest daughter he affectionately said, 'Remember\nyour Creator, my dear Betsy, in the days of your youth, perhaps you may\nnot live to be old.'--His end was peace: he was not the subject of\necstasies; but he possessed a stable confidence, of which the approach\nof the last enemy could not deprive him.\"\n\nAt the comparatively early age of fifty-four years, this devoted servant\nof Christ left this transitory world, about five o'clock in the\nafternoon of Tuesday, the 5th day of August, 1834; calmly and serenely\nfalling asleep in Jesus.\n\nOn Monday, the 11th, his mortal remains were conveyed to the\nburying-ground belonging to the meeting-house, and there interred and\nleft to moulder into dust, until the voice of the archangel and the\ntrump of God shall raise them.\n\nAgreeably to the request of our departed brother, Mr. Saunders, of\nBarton-Mills, delivered an address at the grave; and the people then\nassembled in the meeting-house to hear the funeral sermon, which, at the\nrequest of his beloved brother, was preached by the Particular Baptist\nminister residing in the same village, from 1 Cor. xv. 58: \"Therefore,\nmy beloved brethren, be ye stedfast;\" &c. Prayer was offered at the\ngrave by the Rev. J. Jarrom, of Wisbeach; and the brethren Mays, of\nFordham, and Buckpitt, of Burwell, prayed in the meeting-house. As an\nevidence of the high esteem in which Mr. Compton was deservedly held,\nthese services were numerously attended from the neighbouring\ncongregations, although it was in the midst of harvest, when every hour\nis of great importance.\n\nThere was in Mr. Compton, a combination of excellences; a happy\ntemperament of mind, a cheerfulness of disposition, and a great flow of\nanimal spirits; these being under the influence and regulation of divine\ngrace, he was calm and unmoved by events that would have overwhelmed\nmany other men.\n\nAs a neighbour, benignity and kindness emanated from his heart, dwelt\nupon his countenance, and were expressed in his words and actions.\n\nAs a Christian, integrity and uprightness, consistency of character,\ndeep humility, fervent devotion, liberality of feeling and conduct\ntowards those who differed from him on some points of doctrine, an\nardent love to Jesus Christ, to his word, and to his people, were\nfeatures by which he was eminently distinguished.\n\nZeal for his Master's cause, love to the souls of men, active,\npersevering, and laborious efforts to make known the word of life to his\nperishing fellow-creatures, characterized the public ministry of our\ndeparted friend.\n\nAs a pastor, he was diligent, faithful, and affectionate. As a husband\nand a father, his worth was known and appreciated by his bereaved widow\nand children.\n\nMr. Compton had the unusual pleasure and satisfaction to know, before he\nleft this world, that all his children were walking in the fear of the\nLord. Six of his own, and five others, for whose spiritual and eternal\nwell-being he most deeply felt and most fervently prayed, were all\ndevoted to the Lord! O ye Christian parents! let this encourage you to\npray earnestly and constantly for your children.\n\nThe above is, much of it, extracted from the funeral sermon, the\npreacher of which did not know, when he referred to six of Mr. C.'s\nchildren as walking in the fear of the Lord, that his eldest daughter\nhad entered into heaven more than three weeks before her father, and was\nthen with his glorified spirit in the presence of Jesus, where hope and\nfear had issued in never ending fruition.\n\nMrs. Mary Ann Goadby, eldest daughter of our departed brother, and wife\nof the Rev. J. Goadby, General Baptist Missionary at Cuttack, in Orissa,\nleft England, with her husband, in July, 1833, and landed in India some\ntime in the month of December.\n\nDuring the months of May and June last year, she experienced great\nlanguor and debility from the influence of the climate, and on the 13th\nof July her deathless spirit took its flight into the presence of Jesus,\nthere in triumph to welcome the arrival of her father's on the 5th of\nAugust.\n\n                                                                 J. R.\n\n\n                       RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.\n\nANTI-SLAVERY DEPUTATION, FROM THE UNITED STATES TO EUROPE.\n\nWe have great pleasure in informing our readers, that the Rev. Dr. Cox,\nProfessor of Theology at Auburn seminary, in the state of New York, has\nbeen deputed by the Executive Committee of the American Anti-slavery\nSociety to visit Europe, in conjunction with the Rev. Joshua Leavitt,\nthe talented editor of the New York Evangelist, _for the purpose of\neffecting a union of the abolitionists of the two Continents, in efforts\nto extinguish slavery and the slave trade throughout the world_. Dr. Cox\nis already well known to the Christian public of this country by his\nprevious visit. His distinguished companion enjoys the reputation among\nChristians of all denominations in the United States. The paper he so\nably conducts stands first among the religious journals of his country.\nThese gentlemen are expected in London the beginning of this month; and\nwe are informed that, as soon after their arrival as possible, the\nCommittee of the $1 will convene a public meeting to receive\nthem, of which due notice will be given.\n\nTo the Christian philanthropist it will afford the greatest satisfaction\nto learn, that the glorious cause of emancipation is rapidly advancing\nto its consummation in the United States. \"The people are rousing--the\npulpits are opening--the cities are shaking--the press is speaking--the\nCongress is acting; and, soon, the topic of slavery will be the text of\nthe clergyman--the theme of the patriot--and the subject of prayer and\nexertion of the philanthropist and the Christian.\" Thus writes a\ndistinguished individual from America, whose labours have been eminently\nblessed in this field of Christian benevolence. May the Lord hasten the\ntime when every yoke shall be broken, and the oppressed in every land\nshall go free!\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n        PREMIUM OFFERED FOR A PRIZE ESSAY ON THE LOVE OF MONEY.\n\nIt is the opinion of many of the wisest and best of men, that the\nbesetting sin of professors of christianity is _the love of money_; and\nyet, there is no subject on which so little has been written well. The\nlate Andrew Fuller says, \"It will, in all probability, prove the eternal\noverthrow of more characters among professing people, than any other\nsin; because it is almost the only crime which can be indulged, and a\nprofession of religion at the same time supported.\"\n\n_One Hundred Guineas_, besides the profits of its publication, will be\npresented to the author of the best essay on this subject. Preference\nwill be given to the most spiritual, poignant, and affectionate appeal\nto the judgment and consciences of those who professedly recognize the\nauthority of revelation, on avaricious hoarding, and unchristian-like\nexpenditure, to gratify the lust of the eye, and pride of life, whilst\nthey avow their obligations to redeeming mercy, and profess that\nthemselves, and all they have, is not their own, but belongs, and must\nbe accounted for, to Him who has said, \"Occupy till I come,\" and then\n\"Give an account of thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer\nsteward.\" The work wanted, is one that will bear upon selfishness, as it\nleads to live to ourselves, and not for God and our fellow-men.\n\nIt is requested that reference may be made to the different estimates of\nman who blesseth, and of God, who abhorreth, the covetous (Ps. x. 3);\nand to the tremendous consequences of this sin, which is associated with\nthe vilest of crimes which exclude from the kingdom of heaven. (Eph. v.\n5.) The manuscript is to be sent to Dr. Conquest, 13, Finsbury Square,\non or before the 1st of November, 1835; with a sealed letter, containing\nthe address of the writer. The Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel and the Rev.\nDr. Pye Smith have kindly engaged to be the arbitrators. The reward will\nbe adjudged on the 1st of May, 1836.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n       BRIEF HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, KEIGHLEY, YORKSHIRE.\n\nThe Baptists were first introduced into Keighley by a Mr. John Town, who\nwas a member of the Baptist church at Haworth, under the care of the\nvenerable and Rev. Miles Oddy. Keighley was at that time beginning to be\na large and populous place. The clergyman in the establishment was an\nirreligious character, and the Independent church and congregation were\nnearly extinct.\n\nAt first the ministers were permitted to preach in the Independent\nmeeting-house; but after some time a Mrs. Sunderland offered her house,\nuntil Mr. Town could fit up a room for constant worship. The ministers\nwho kindly assisted in the formation of the infant cause were, Messrs.\nSteadman, D. D., Shuttleworth, Trickett, and Shaw.\n\nIn the year 1809, or 1810, four persons were baptized by Mr.\nShuttleworth, pastor of the church at Cowlinghill: and on the third of\nJune, 1810, a large upper room in the house of Mr. Town was opened for\nworship by Mr. Shepherd, from Bradford, who preached on this occasion\nfrom Solomon's Song, vi. 10. The congregation increased; others were\nbaptized; and in the year 1812 the church was formed. In 1813 it was\ndeemed necessary to erect a chapel. A piece of ground was provided by\nMr. Town; and on Easter Monday, 1813, the first stone was laid; but the\nchapel was not opened until the 29th of March, 1815; when Mr. Lister, of\nLiverpool, Mr. Stephens, of Rochdale, and the venerable Dr. Steadman, of\nBradford, were engaged. At this period the church consisted of eighteen\nmembers. The chapel cost something more than \u00a3990; and will seat about\n615 persons.\n\nThe first pastor of the church was Mr. Joseph Shaw, who came to Keighley\nin 1814. During the years 1816, 1817, and 1818, little is said: but in\n1819 the members amounted to 33; and some uneasiness originating with a\npart of the church and the minister, a separation took place, and a new\nchapel was erected by the party attached to Mr. Shaw, at Slacklane, from\ntwo to three miles from Keighley. This circumstance left the church at\nKeighley very small, and greatly diminished the congregation.\n\nIn 1820 Mr. Thomas Blundell took the oversight of the people in the\nLord. The members again numbered 32. In 1824 a large portion of the debt\nwas removed; soon after which, the pastor was taken ill, and on July\n1st, 1824, resigned his spirit into the hands of Him who gave it. During\nthis year four members were also removed to the world of spirits; among\nwhom were Mr. Town and his wife, who died within ten days of each other;\nand whose remains were deposited in the burial-ground adjoining the\nchapel; and to whose memory a handsome tombstone has been erected by the\nfamily.\n\nThese strokes of mortality appear to have been sanctified--a spirit of\nprayer has been excited--and a morning prayer-meeting established to\nseek divine direction in the choice of a pastor. And on Sunday, Aug.\n15th, 1824, the present pastor, Mr. Abraham Nichols, then under the care\nof Dr. Steadman, and a member of the church at Rawden, under the care of\nMr. Hughes, preached his first sermons at Keighley, and baptized two\npersons at Turkeymill. From this time his visits to Keighley became\nfrequent; and on the first of November, he received an invitation to\nbecome pastor. On the 30th of January, 1825, he accepted the invitation,\nand preached from Rom. xv. 30, to the end.\n\nThings now began to wear rather an animating appearance. Some gentlemen\nwere at the expense of fitting up a baptistry; and Mr. Jos. Town,\nyoungest son of the above-mentioned Mr. Town, presented the minister\nwith a Bible and hymn book for the pulpit. This gentleman is a deacon of\nthe Baptist church at Leeds, under the care of the Rev. J. Acworth, A.M.\n\nA subscription was also entered into for the liquidation of the debt\nupon the chapel; and on the 25th of December, 1825, the friends, at the\nclose of two sermons by Mr. Stephens of Rochdale, realized the sum of\n\u00a3166 0s. 6d., including \u00a330 each from the two Mr. Towns, \u00a315 from a\nsister, and \u00a310 from a brother-in-law; with many other equally noble\nsums, according to the ability of the parties.\n\nOn the 15th of August, 1826, Mr. Nichols was ordained, when Mr. Mann,\nlate of Mazepond, London, stated the nature of a gospel church; Mr.\nHughes offered the ordination prayer; Dr. Steadman delivered the charge,\nfrom 2 Sam. x. 12; and Mr. Godwin addressed the church, from 1 Thess. v.\n12, 13.\n\nIn 1829 the singing gallery was altered, and the bottom of the chapel\npewed; also, a very substantial and convenient house was built for the\nminister, which cost about \u00a3260, towards the expense of which there was\n\u00a3188 (duty off) left as an endowment by J. Holmes, Esq., of Stanbury,\nnear Haworth, and which could be appropriated to no purpose but for the\nadvantage of the minister.\n\nIn 1830, the burial-ground having been enlarged on each side, a portion\nof the debt was removed.\n\nIn 1834 and 1835, the ground was again enlarged, by the addition of 312\nyards; and a new school-room erected, towards which, including a grant\nthrough the British and Foreign School Society, the subscriptions and\ncollections, &c., have amounted to about \u00a3220.\n\nThe Sabbath-school contains near 100 children; the congregation,\nincluding 91 families or parts of families, will average from 300 to\n400; the number of members, near 70.\n\nThe following persons have been deacons of the church, viz.:\n\nJohn Beadley, who died July 20th, 1827; funeral sermon from 1 Cor. vii.\n29, 30. Jonas Rhodes, who died Oct. 11th, 1832. Samuel Clapham, who died\nMarch 24th, 1833. (There is a short account of each of the two latter in\nthe Baptist Tract Magazine, for 1833.) Joseph Milner, who died April,\n1834; and who had been deacon from the formation of the church.\n\nThe present deacons are,--Mr. John Town, Turkey-Mills; Mr. Joseph\nLaycock, Knowl; and Mr. Joseph Hall, North-street.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n              STATE OF THE BAPTIST INTEREST AT LYNN.\n\nFrom our personal knowledge of Mr. Poile, and of the circumstances of\nthe following case, we respectfully recommend the perusal of it to all\nwho feel the necessity, and who are in any measure enabled to assist in\nthe support of a sound evangelical exhibition of the unsearchable riches\nof Christ.\n\n                                         W. H. MURCH, Stepney College.\n                                        W. BROCK, St. Mary's, Norwich.\n\nIt is extensively known that the Baptist interest at Lynn Regis has been\nfor many years in a depressed condition--a fact which has been much\ndeplored by the friends of the denomination on the spot, and by those\nwho have been acquainted with the circumstances of the case. In\npresenting it to the notice of the friends of the Redeemer, with the\nhope of securing their Christian sympathies and assistance, a brief\noutline of the case will not be deemed unnecessary.\n\nThe Baptist church at Lynn appears to have been formed about the year\n1760, by Mr. Chesterton, who was succeeded in the pastoral office by the\nRev. W. Richards, M.A., and afterwards by Mr. Durrant, who gratuitously\nlaboured among the people for several years. The place of worship,\noccupied until nearly the close of Mr. Durrant's ministry, was a small\nhired chapel in Broad-street, which was afterwards purchased. About this\ntime it was deemed advisable by the friends to erect a new\nmeeting-house; and for this purpose a piece of land was bought adjoining\nthe old place. The purchase of the ground and the erection of the\nbuilding, capable of seating 300 persons, amounted to \u00a31269 8s.; to the\nreduction of which, Messrs. Durrant and Brindley gave \u00a3200 each; \u00a347\n16s. were collected in Lynn; leaving a debt on the place of \u00a3821 12s.\nThe pulpit having been occupied for a short period by different\nministers, the church was induced to invite one of respectable talents\nto become their pastor, whose connexion with them, in consequence of his\nadoption of doctrinal errors, extended to no longer a period than twelve\nmonths. During that period a large and respectable congregation was\nattracted; the greater part of whom, however, having imbibed the errors\nwhich have been referred to, left the place with the minister, and\nerected a Socinian chapel; thus giving occasion for regret, not only\nthat error was propagated, but by those to whom the Baptist cause was\nlooking for support. From that period to the present many efforts have\nbeen made to revive the cause; and the debt, in 1812, by means of an\nappeal to the friends at Lynn, Dereham, Yarmouth, and Norwich, was\nreduced to \u00a3702 9s. A great variety of ministers have laboured, with\nmore or less success, some of whom are now occupying important stations\nin different parts of the country.\n\nA combination of causes occasioned the removal of many, apparently well\nsuited to raise the interest; but that which seems more than any thing\nelse to have deprived the church and town of the labours of devoted\nservants of Christ, was the _legal_ and _pecuniary_ embarrassments of\nthe place. It will easily be conceived that, amidst events thus adverse,\nthe church was frequently threatened with extinction, and the cause\nnearly given up for lost by those who hoped even against hope.\n\nIn September, 1832, the writer of this article acceded to the request of\nthe church to pay them a visit, by the advice of his tutors, and\nreceived, at the expiration of a month, an unanimous invitation to spend\na longer period, with a view to a settlement. An assurance that the\nlegal difficulties would speedily be settled, and the hope that his\nlabours might be blessed, induced him to comply. Various efforts were\nmade to hasten this, without avail, until July, 1833, when it was\nthought by the friends generally, that it would be much to the advantage\nof the cause if a new place could be erected in a more eligible part of\nthe town; and it was determined, by the advice of the Rev. W. H. Murch,\npresident of Stepney College, to ascertain its practicability. The\nsmallness, however, of the resources at home, and the promises from\nabroad, rendered such an attempt unjustifiable; so that nothing could be\ndone, but either to use every effort to secure the old place, or to give\nup the cause entirely. The former step was finally decided on; and the\nwriter consented to struggle, with the church, until a faithful God\nshould answer the prayers of his people. After much trouble and anxiety,\nthe _legal_ business was settled on February 19th, 1835, and \u00a3100 was\npaid, which had been collected in the town. Lord's-day, 21st, was held\nas a day of thanksgiving, and the season improved by sermons from Ps.\ncxv. 1, and Ps. cxviii. 25. It was a day that will long be remembered by\nmany present.\n\nThe number in the church in 1832 was 30; since that time 27 have been\nbaptized, to whom several others expect shortly to be added, who are\naffording proofs that they have given themselves to the Lord. The\ncongregation is now good, and harmony prevails in the church. There is a\nSunday school of 250 children, an adult class, two Bible classes, and an\necclesiastical history class. On Friday, March 6, the foundation-stone\nof a Sunday school-room, 44 ft. by 34 ft. (to be used also as a\nday-school), was laid by Mr. Wilson, missionary of the Sunday School\nUnion. The cost of the building will be \u00a3170, of which \u00a360 have been\ncollected, principally in Lynn; and it is earnestly hoped that the\nfriends of scriptural education will give their generous aid towards so\ndesirable an object amidst 15,000 inhabitants. The necessity of\nrepairing and cleaning the chapel, to make it _tenantable_, will be\nobvious when it is stated, that scarcely any thing has been done to it\nsince it was built, 26 years ago. To do this, and render it commodious,\nwill require upwards of \u00a3200. The debt which the friends will be obliged\nto remove as speedily as possible, so as to be able to carry on the\ncause, is \u00a3500, leaving a mortgage on the place of \u00a3600, at 4 per cent.,\nthe interest of which the rents of property will nearly meet.\n\nAs nothing now appears needful to render the Baptist cause at Lynn,\nunder the Divine blessing, a useful and respectable interest, but the\nunited aid of the friends of the Redeemer, it is earnestly hoped that a\nfaithful statement of facts will not only meet the eye of those who have\nit in their power to assist, but that the evil _so much_ and _so\ngreatly_ to be deprecated--a minister leaving his people to travel for\nmoney, may in this case be dispensed with; and that, instead of the\ncause at Lynn being a matter of deep regret to the Christian church, it\nmay become a praise in the earth.\n\n                                                          W. F. POILE.\n\n\n                             ASSOCIATIONS.\n\n              THE HALF-YEARLY WEST HANTS. MINISTERS' MEETING\n\nWas held at Bewley, April 8th, 1835. The afternoon was spent by the\nbrethren in conference and prayer.\n\nThe public service took place in the evening. Brother Burt, the pastor,\nbegan by solemn prayer. Brother Turquand read the Scriptures, prayed,\nand spoke on \"Perseverance in doing Good.\" Brother Burnett followed him\nin prayer, and mentioned some of \"The principal Sources of Encouragement\nand Consolation.\" Brother Yarnold succeeded him in prayer, and\nillustrated \"The Practical Influence of the Gospel.\" Brother Ford\naddressed the Divine Majesty, and made some remarks \"On the Importance\nof Growing in Grace.\" Brother Adams, also, offered supplication, and\nshowed the intimate connexion between doctrinal and practical godliness.\nAnd brother Draper closed the protracted but interesting services of the\nevening, by prayer, and a brief address \"On the Blessings entreated for\nthe Ephesians by the Apostle,--that they might 'know the love of Christ,\nwhich passeth knowledge; and be filled with all the fulness of God.'\"\n\nThe next meeting to be held, by the Divine blessing, at Romsey,\nWednesday, Sept. 9th, 1835.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n                    LONDON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION.\n\nThe Annual Meeting of this Association was held on Wednesday, April 22,\nat the Rev. Mr. Overbury's chapel, in Eagle-street, Red Lion Square.\nLetters from the associated churches were read by their respective\npastors, detailing their circumstances during the past year; after which\na circular letter, drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Steane, was read, approved,\nand ordered to be printed for the use of the churches. The Rev. J. E.\nGiles was chosen Secretary, and T. Pewtress, Esq., Treasurer, for the\nyear ensuing.\n\nIn the evening, a public service was held in the same place; when the\nRev. Mr. Price delivered a serious and practical sermon, \"On the Duties\nof Church Members towards the Young.\"\n\nThe next Quarterly Meeting to be held at Camberwell, July 23rd. Mr.\nDavies, of Tottenham, to preach.\n\n\n                           NOTICES.\n\nThe Southern Association of Hants. will take place this year in Meeting\nHouse Alley, Portsea, June the 9th and 10th. On Tuesday evening the\nletters from the churches will be read; and brother Hancock, of\nYarmouth, will preach. Wednesday morning, brother Millard is expected\nto preach; and some other brother in the evening.\n\n                                                  T. TILLY, Secretary.\n  _Portsea, April 15, 1835._\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe Annual Meeting of the Bedfordshire Association of Baptist churches\nwill be held at the Old Baptist Meeting, Rushden, in Northamptonshire,\non Tuesday, May 19th; on which occasion the Rev. Messrs. S. Fordham, of\nHale Weston, J. Upton, of London, and J. Jenkinson, of Kettering, are\nengaged to preach.\n\nThe ministers and messengers of the churches are requested to meet at\nhalf-past nine o'clock.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe Association of Baptist Congregational Churches, in Oxfordshire and\nadjacent counties, will hold their next annual meeting at Cirencester,\ninstead of Fairford, on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Whitsun week, June\n9th and 10th. The letters from the churches will be read on the Tuesday\nevening, at half-past 5 o'clock.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe next meeting of the Northamptonshire Association will be held at\nKettering, on the Tuesday and Wednesday in Whitsun week. The services\nwill be conducted as usual, commencing at 6 o'clock on the Tuesday\nevening, when the letters from the churches will be read. Mr. Gray, of\nNorthampton, and Mr. Craps, of Lincoln, have engaged to preach. Put up\nat the White Hart (not the White Horse, as misprinted in the last\nyear's Circular Letter).\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe churches connected with the Bristol Association are respectfully\ninformed, their next meeting will be held at Counterslip, Bristol, on\nthe Tuesday and Wednesday in Whitsun week, June 9th and 10th, 1835\n(instead of Wednesday and Thursday), in consequence of the annual\nmeeting of the Bristol Education Society, on Thursday, 11th of June.\nBrother Jones, of Frome, to preach the Association sermon. Brethren\nSaffery, of Salisbury, and Newman, of Shortwood, to be the other\npreachers. Brother Summers to write the Circular Letter; the subject,\n_The Second Coming of Christ_.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe fifty-sixth Anniversary of the Kent and Sussex Association of\nBaptist Churches will be held (Providence permitting), at Lewes, Sussex,\non Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2nd and 3rd. The brethren Rogers and\nMatthews to preach. The Annual Meeting of the Kent Auxiliary Baptist\nMissionary Society will be held on Wednesday evening. Put up at the\nCrown Inn, Market Street.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe Anniversary of the Baptist chapel at Staines, Middlesex, will be\nheld (D.V.) on Wednesday, the 20th of May. The Rev. T. Binney stands\nengaged to preach in the morning; the Rev. Edw. Steane in the afternoon;\nand the Rev. J. Smith in the evening.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe next Anniversary meeting of the Bedfordshire Union of Christians\nwill be held at Bedford, on Wednesday, May 27th; when the Rev. J. J.\nDavies, of Tottenham, is expected to preach in the morning; and the Rev.\nG. B. Phillips, of Harrold, in the evening.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nThe annual meeting of \"The Protestant Society for the Protection of\nReligious Liberty\" will be held at the City of London Tavern, on\nSaturday, May 16th, at 11 o'clock precisely. Some distinguished Peer is\nexpected to preside.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nOn Wednesday, the 20th of May, the Rev. C. B. Woodman will be set apart\nto the pastoral office over the church assembling in Artillery-street\nchapel, Bishopsgate, London. The Rev. Messrs. Isaiah Birt, Thomas Price,\nof Devonshire Square, J. E. Giles, of Salter's Hall, with other\nministers, have engaged to officiate on the occasion. Service to\ncommence at 6 o'clock in the evening.\n\n\n                             RECENT DEATH.\n\n                           REV. J. WHEELER.\n\nDied, on Friday, the 27th of March, aged 62, the Rev. J. Wheeler, pastor\nof the Baptist church, Bugbrook, Northamptonshire. His funeral took\nplace on Wednesday, the 1st of April. The Rev. T. Wake, of Thislingbury,\nread a suitable portion of the Scriptures, and prayed; the Rev. W. Gray,\nof Northampton, delivered the address, and on the following Sabbath, to\na crowded congregation, preached the funeral sermon, from Jude 21:\n\"Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.\" A\ntext expressly chosen by the deceased.\n\nMr. Wheeler had been settled with his people for nearly 32 years; and it\nis pleasing to notice, that some of the last years of his ministry were\nthe most successful. Twelve months he was laid aside from his public\nlabours; and in the sick room, and on the bed of pain, illustrated and\nmagnified those principles which, for successive years, he had preached\nto others.\n\n\n                           NEW PUBLICATIONS.\n\n                           _Just Published._\n\nMemoir of the Life and Writings of the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, late pastor\nof the church in Eagle-street, London, and twenty years Gratuitous\nSecretary to the Baptist Irish Society. By Rev. George Pritchard.\n\nParts I. to VI. of the Biographical Sketch of the Rev. Edward Irving.\nEdited by William Jones, M.A. To which is added, Thirty Sermons,\npreached by Mr. Irving, during the first three years of his residence in\nLondon.\n\nIn 32mo. A Memoir of J. Howard Hinton, who died at Reading, Jan. 10,\n1835, aged thirteen years and seven months. By his Father.\n\n                            _In the Press._\n\nReminiscences relating to the Rev. John Ryland, A.M., of Northampton,\nthe father of the late Rev. Dr. Ryland, of Bristol. By William Newman,\nD.D.\n\n                      _Preparing for Publication._\n\nThe History of Protestant Nonconformity in England, from the\nReformation, under Henry VIII., to the Accession of the House of\nHanover. In two volumes, 8vo. By THOMAS PRICE. The Work will be founded\non an extensive and careful investigation of Original Authorities, and\nwill be designed to exhibit the Progress of Opinion as well as the\nCourse of Events.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\nErratum: P. 141, l. 6, for _a final_ read _an efficient_.\n\n\n\n\n                            IRISH CHRONICLE.\n                               MAY, 1835.\n\n\nAt the particular request of the Rev. J. Allen, and for the satisfaction\nof those friends who have kindly and liberally assisted towards\ndefraying the debt incurred by the erection of the Chapel at Ballina,\nthe statement of the entire account, and the several sums contributed,\nappear in this number of the Chronicle. As the funds of the Society are\nnot at all applicable to the building of places of worship, but as their\nerection has, in more instances than one, become indispensable, and such\nnecessity, it is hoped, may recur again and again; it is certainly due\nto those liberal persons, who thus aid the cause of the Redeemer,\ndistinctly and gratefully to acknowledge their Christian benevolence.\n\n                          _To the_ SECRETARY.\n                                            _Ballina, March 19, 1835._\n\nMy dear Brother,\n\nIn this packet, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favour of\nthe 10th instant, and herewith forward to you the Journal of the Readers\nfor the past month, as also the account of schools, &c., for the present\nquarter. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of several sums of\nmoney, towards the liquidation of the debt upon the Meeting-house in\nthis town, which you will find upon another part of this sheet. The sum\nactually expended is now \u00a3328 10s., and the contract for finishing, \u00a391\n10s., making in all \u00a3420. Of this I have received, clear of expenses,\n\u00a3232, for which, as well as for the acts of personal kindness shown to\nme when in England, I beg, through the medium of the Chronicle, to\npresent my warmest thanks. I had hoped to have heard, ere this, what sum\nthe Building Fund, on which this case has been admitted, was likely to\nproduce. My best thanks are due to Mrs. Holland, of Bristol, especially,\nwho kindly, and without any solicitation, forwarded us \u00a35. If some of\nour wealthy friends in England, bearing in mind how injurious it must be\nfor an individual to be absent for any length of time from a missionary\nstation, and an infant cause, would imitate her example, it would not\nonly confer a personal favour, but essentially serve the interests of\nthe Redeemer's kingdom in this place. The trust deed, by which the\nproperty has been made over to the Baptist denomination, has been\nexamined by the respectable solicitor of the London Building Fund, and\nis approved.\n\nIt is in your recollection, probably, that the late Government ordered,\nsome time before they left office, a new census of the population of\nIreland; in which was to be shown the relative numbers of Protestants,\nRoman Catholics, and Dissenters; as also the number and kind of schools\nin each union or parish. One of the Commissioners was here on Tuesday\nlast, and, as a proof of the awful extent to which superstition\nprevails, it appeared, soon after an amended census had been produced\nand sworn to, by the Protestant clergyman, that not more than one out of\nthirty, in this large union, can be considered even as nominal\nProtestants. And, in a conversation with the priest, on the following\nday, as a confirmation of what I have frequently stated, \"I am perfectly\nsure,\" said he, \"that if you go round any day to all your schools, and\nours, and the minister's, you will not find in the whole of them 100\npoor Protestant children.\" In the examination of our schools, before the\ncommissioners, though we have invariably insisted upon the introduction\nof the Scriptures, yet they were scarcely inferior to any, and, in the\ngeneral, superior to most, both in numbers and regular attendance. Let\nit not be said in future, then that the Roman Catholics, the children of\nwhom compose the bulk of our scholars, would not, unless violently\nopposed by the priesthood, be anxious to possess and study the word of\nGod. And let our friends, whilst they have it upon the testimony of the\npriest himself, that it is his flock we are educating in our schools,\nbe more earnest and zealous in this good cause; hoping and praying\nthatthrough the instrumentality of these schools, the present race of\nchildren may be delivered from the superstition of their fathers.\n\nI have, since my return, preached at Easky, Mullifarry, and Crossmolina;\nat the two former places to large and attentive audiences. The people on\nall sides are exceedingly desirous to hear. On Sunday last, I again\nadministered the ordinance of Baptism in Ballina. The Lord, I trust, is\npreparing others to submit to the dictates of his blessed word. Oh that\nhe would make us, who are engaged in this blessed work, more humble,\ncircumspect, watchful, and zealous! and then we might hope for larger\nand more extensive success. Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may\nhave free course and be glorified.\n\nI am, dear Sir, affectionately your's,\n                                                          JAMES ALLEN.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n             _To the_ SECRETARY OF THE BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY.\n                                         _Limerick, March 20th, 1835._\n\nMy dear Sir,\n\nI just returned from Croagh, about sixteen miles from here, in the\ncounty of Limerick, to inspect the Koppel-street school; the poor\nchildren were delighted to see me, and I was greatly pleased to see them\ngo through their school discipline with such precision and order. They\nspelled remarkably well in three different ways. I am not aware that you\nare acquainted with the plan of spelling and reading, particularly\nspelling, which I have devised long since, which arrests the undeviating\nattention of the children, and almost wonderfully facilitates their\nprogress. A fine testament class of 36 got up and read, in general, very\nwell, and repeated 224 chapters, which they committed to memory since\nthe last quarterly inspection. There are 148 on the list, 98 spelling,\n50 reading the scriptures, 8 protestants and 4 reformed, who are the\nmaster's children, of whose attention to his school, and good conduct,\nI cannot say too much; He is also a sabbath reader, and, I believe, very\nuseful. A number of the girls got before me to the door, and requested a\nfemale school; they showed me some very nice work, taught them by the\nmaster's daughter. I said I would lay their request before their friends\nin England. The progress some of them made in writing and figures rather\nsurprised me: the little premiums I gave them the last time had a great\neffect upon them, in removing prejudice, and convincing them who their\nreal friends are, and in winning their affections to the love of the\ntruth, in spite of priestly influence. The countenances of the children,\nin all the schools, brighten up, and smile, when they see me. I lectured\nin the evening, at Finchley, the seat of their worthy and pious patrons,\nMr. and Mrs. Finch, who pay for a good school-house for them, and\nsubscribe to the society. The society has done inconceivable good. How\nmuch more if it had sufficient means!\n\nI was going to say, the Bristol school, at Balleycar, county of Clare,\nsixteen miles north west from Limerick, is a tremendous one. I went\nthere immediately after my last communication; gave several lectures to\nRoman Catholics and Protestants, in the house of our afflicted friend,\nMajor Colpoys; I tried to comfort and encourage his mind in the prospect\nof eternity--he is \"looking unto Jesus.\" The school is in a very\nflourishing state; 224 on the list, 146 present, 120 spelling, 104\nreading the Scriptures; about 30 committed to memory, and repeated 153\nchapters this quarter: they made great progress also in writing and\nfigures, which they are very fond of learning. There are only two or\nthree Protestant children in this school. It often excites the warmest\ngratitude in my heart to God, that has put it into the hearts of his\npeople, to afford such great and important blessings to those who would\nperish in ignorance and superstition. Oh what a mercy to see so many\nchildren rise to read the word of life, and to commit it to memory, and\nread it in the hearing of their poor benighted parents! At the close of\nthe examinations I give a little lecture on the advantages of a\nScripture education, on the love of God, on the sufferings of the\nSaviour, and on the influence of the Holy Spirit, to bless all to their\npresent benefit, and eternal salvation. I find I can say a great deal,\nand go a great length, without endangering the schools, which I know,\nand am informed, would not be borne with from others. I try, also, to\nimpress their minds with gratitude to their kind friends in England, and\nthey appear very grateful and pray for them.\n\nThe Seven Oaks school, at Bushy Park, county of Tipperary, about\nthirty-five English miles north east from Limerick is in a prosperous\nstate: the number of chapters the children repeat from memory frequently\nsurprises me: the children of a poor Baptist brother there, near Burris\nO' Kane, are mighty in the Scriptures. The school discipline gave me\ngreat satisfaction, and the spelling, reading, writing, and figures,\nvery pleasing: 74 on the list, 66 present; 62 spelling, 12 reading the\nTestament, and repeated 63 chapters from memory. The master is a very\ninoffensive and attentive man; I trust, truly pious.\n\nIn the Mary's Philanthropic school, Mount Shannon, county of Galway,\nabout thirty-five English miles from Limerick, north north east, there\nare 98 on the list; 60 present, 39 spelling, 21 reading the Testament,\nand repeated from memory this quarter 150 chapters: always a good\nschool, having more very poor Protestants in that village and\nneighbourhood than many others, and not so subject to vary from priestly\nattacks as some others.\n\nIn the Norwich school, at Birr, fifty English miles east from Limerick,\n56 gross; 34 spelling, 22 reading the Testament; they repeated 47\nchapters from memory. It was not so numerous this quarter as usual, from\nthe extreme severity of the weather, and the nakedness and want of the\nchildren, still it is a good school, and taught by a worthy, pious, poor\nwoman, with a large family.\n\nThe Cardigan school, at Kilbaron, is doing as well as could be expected,\nfrom the unceasing exertions of the priest there, more than usually\nexcited in consequence of obtaining a complete victory over his champion\nin controversy, in presence of a number of people. The master was a very\nintelligent, clever man.\n\nMy dear Sir, your time and mine would not admit of my writing an account\nof each school under my superintendence. I send the quarterly statement,\nin which you see them with one view. The above I send for the\nsatisfaction of those kind friends who support or contribute to the\ncongregational schools. I also want time, and, indeed, inclination, to\ngive any statement of my own humble labours. Though the weather has been\nextremely severe, since the 1st of February, I have been out the greater\npart of the time, and preached in very distant places, and in various\ncounties, and sometimes under very trying circumstances. I preached at\nBenagher, King's county, sixty miles from Limerick, twice to the house\nfull, at Walshpark, after travelling fifty miles, and preaching\nand administering the ordinance at Cloughjordan; gave a lecture at\nOrmandview, county of Galway; preached at O'Brien's Bridge, and several\ntimes at Castle Connell.\n\n                                   Ever yours, most affectionately,\n                                                       WILLIAM THOMAS.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n                          _To the_ SECRETARY.\n                                          _Ballina, March 20th, 1835._\n\nMy dear Sir,\n\nI shall feel obliged to you, at your earliest convenience, to\nacknowledge the receipt of the following articles, kindly sent for the\nschools in this district.\n\nA box of articles collected by Mrs. Thomas Allen, Birmingham, containing\ntwo packets of books from Mr. Groom; some tracts, workbags, &c. from\nMrs. Glover and Miss Mansfield, Spring Hill; books, rug-worsted, and\npatterns, from Mrs. S. Cocks, Camp Hill; a small round stand, from Ann\nHusband; pin-cushions, from Mrs. Rogers, Bull-street; canvass, from Mrs.\nJohnson, Deritend; cotton-balls, from Mrs. Warner; patchwork, from Mrs.\nWhite; a blue bag, from Miss R. Simmons; a number of small books, from a\n\"Well-wishing Friend to Ireland;\" and numerous little rewards, from Mr.\nThomas Allen and family; and from Rev. J. Smith and Sons, Astwood, 1000\nneedles. Since the above articles were kindly forwarded to me, Mr. Allen\nhas received a parcel from Mr. West, containing some useful books, from\n\"Dorcas,\" for the Library at Ballina; a parcel of books from Mrs.\nHawkins, Stroud; and a number of pin-cushions, balls of rug-worsted, and\na few workbags, and boxes of little fancy articles.\n\nN. B. I regret to say, that in the last acknowledgment of articles from\nBirmingham, I omitted to mention some poetical cards, kindly sent by Mr.\nF. Deakin. The pair of six-inch globes, kindly offered by Mr. Mogridge,\nand the patchwork by Mrs. White, will be very acceptable; and if sent to\nRev. J. West, 26, Little James's street, Dublin, will be forwarded by\nhim to Ballina as soon as he has an opportunity of sending them.\n\nWishing you every blessing, both of a spiritual and temporal nature,\n\n                                   I remain, my dear Sir,\n                                         Yours very respectfully,\n                                                              A. CAVE.\n\n\n                            CONTRIBUTIONS.\n\n\nBy Rev. J. Dyer:\n                                                            \u00a3  s. d.\n  Haworth, first Church, by Rev. Jas. Flood                 3  0  0\n  Friend in Somersetshire                                   1  0  0\n\nBy the Secretary:\n\n  \"A Friend to Missions,\" by the General Post               5  0  0\n  \"A small per centage, upon last year's profits,\" do.      5  0  0\n\nBy the Treasurer:\n\n  E. D., by W. Cozens, Esq.                                10  0  0\n  For the Rye School, by Mrs. Crosskey, Treasurer           5  0  0\n\nCollected by the Rev. S. Davis, for the Society:\n\n  At Devizes                                               11  5  0\n     Downton                                                6  9  0\n     Romsey                                                 3 12  2\n     Stockbridge                                            2  0  0\n     Andover                                                4  9  6\n     Whitchurch                                             4  9  6\n     Newbury                                               15  2  0\n     Abingdon                                               3  0  0\n     Farringdon                                             2 10  0\n     Fairford                                               0 10  0\n     Circencester                                           8  5  6\n     Tewkesbury                                            13 17 11\n     Cheltenham                                            13 14  6\n\n\t       *       *       *       *       *\n\n                        BALLINA BAPTIST CHAPEL.\n\n    _An account of Money collected for this purpose, by Mr. Allen,\n    in 1833, 1834, and 1835._\n\n                                                            \u00a3  s. d.\n  Ballina                                                  45 10  0\n  Sligo                                                    12 18  6\n  Dublin                                                   26  3  0\n  Birmingham                                               14  6  0\n  St. Albans                                                4  0  0\n  London                                                    7  5  0\n  Arnsby                                                    2  0  0\n  Oadby                                                     1 13  0\n  Guilsborough                                              1  0  0\n  Naseby                                                    0 16  0\n  Clipstone                                                 1 14  6\n  Theddinworth                                              1  0  0\n  Bugbrook                                                  3  6  0\n  Kettering                                                 6 11  6\n  Cambridge                                                 3  0  0\n  Market Harborough                                         1  0  0\n  St. Ives                                                  2  4  0\n  Thrapstone                                                2 19  6\n  Leicester                                                13 18  0\n  Coventry                                                  7 11  3\n  Leamington                                                0  5  0\n  Stratford-on-Avon                                         3 16  0\n  Alcester                                                  2  9  6\n  Astwood                                                   2  8 10\n  Pershore                                                  2  7  6\n  Worcester, with friends from Bourton                      6  9  0\n  Bilston                                                   3  7  6\n  Coseley                                                   0 16  6\n  Dudley                                                    1  2  6\n  Bradford                                                 18 18  6\n  Leeds                                                     6 15  0\n  Middleton Teesdale                                        4 10  0\n  Hamsterley, Rev. Mr. D.                                   0  5  0\n  Romalkirk                                                 1  0  0\n  Barnard Castle                                            1  0  0\n  Stockton                                                  7  5  0\n  Darlington                                                8 16  0\n  Manchester                                               19  8  6\n  Saladine Nook                                            12  0  0\n  Liverpool                                                16  8  6\n  Bristol, Mrs. Holland, per Rev. S. Davis                  5  0  0\n\nSubscriptions received by S. Marshall, Esq., 181, High Holborn; Mr.\nP. Millard, Bishopsgate Street; Messrs. Burks, 56 Lothbury; Rev. G.\nPritchard, 4 York Place, Pentonville, gratuitous Secretary; by Messrs.\nLadbrokes and Co., Bankers, Bank Buildings; by Mr. H. D. Dickie, 13 Bank\nStreet, and Rev. Mr. Innes, Frederick Street, Edinburgh; and P. Brown,\nEsq., Cardigan.\n\n         LONDON: J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE-STREET, FINSBURY.\n\n\n\n\n                          MISSIONARY HERALD.\n                          CXCVII. MAY, 1835.\n\n\nThe Treasurers of Auxiliary Societies, and other Friends who may have\nMonies in hand on account of the Society, are respectfully reminded that\nthe Treasurer's account for the year will close on the 31st instant,\nwhich renders it necessary that all payments intended to appear in the\nAppendix to the next Report, should be made in the course of the present\nmonth. It is requested, therefore, that the respective accounts may be\nsent, properly balanced, to the Secretary, No. 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch\nStreet, accompanied by the list of Subscribers, &c., in alphabetical\norder.\n\n_Particular attention is solicited to this notice; for as all the\nSociety's accounts for the year are examined and audited, by the\ngentlemen appointed for that purpose, in the first week in June, and the\nReport will, it is expected, leave the press in a few days after the\nAnnual Meeting, it is clearly impossible that payments can be included,\nor lists of particulars inserted, which come to hand after the time\nspecified._\n\nThe Committee have pleasure in stating that their esteemed brethren,\nthe Rev. SAMUEL SUMMERS, of Bristol, and the Rev. BENJAMIN GODWIN, of\nBradford, have engaged to preach the Sermons at our next Annual Meeting.\nFull particulars, as usual, may be expected in our next Number.\n\n\n                        FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.\n\n\n                                CUTWA.\n\nFrom Mr. William Carey to the Secretary, dated Cutwa, October 26, 1834.\n\n     I am sorry to find that it is a long time, and much longer than it\n     ought to have been, since I wrote to you last. The only reason is,\n     that I have had to go through much affliction. Mrs. Carey has been\n     very ill at times, and I have not been well. Our beloved father has\n     also been removed to a better state, and one or two others\n     connected with the family. In such things, and at different times,\n     has the Lord seen fit to afflict us; but the Lord is good, and his\n     strokes are lighter than we have deserved; yea, all his ways are\n     mercy.\n\n     I am happy to say that since I wrote last the work of the Lord has\n     been going on as usual. I think I have baptized eleven persons,\n     some belonging to the Christian families, and some from the\n     heathen. The Mella's have also been visited, and the surrounding\n     villages as usual; great numbers of tracts and books have been\n     distributed; people upon the whole have been very attentive. The\n     native preachers are out almost every day, and are well received. I\n     have now two inquirers; an Hindoo woman and a Mussulman man; how\n     they may turn out I cannot say.\n\n\n                                SOORY.\n\nFrom Mr. Williamson to Mr. Dyer, dated Soory, October 14, 1834.\n\n     You will be gratified to hear that we have been meeting with some\n     little more encouragement of late. A short time ago I had the\n     pleasure of baptizing seven persons; three young men, and four\n     young women. They are all of Christian parentage. One young woman\n     (a Miss W.) is the daughter of the head English writer at this\n     station. After finishing her education in Calcutta, she returned\n     with us to Beerbhoom, about three years ago; and was then a very\n     thoughtless girl, but for some time past she seems to have\n     undergone a decided change of mind. She has been in the habit of\n     attending our English worship on Lord's day and Thursday evenings;\n     and occasionally at other times. These opportunities, together with\n     reading of religious books and tracts, and occasional converse with\n     us, appear to have been blessed to her. I trust she has made a\n     sincere profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that she\n     will continue to walk in him. All the others belong to our native\n     Christians, and have given us reason to hope well concerning them.\n     Two of the young men having received a superior education, may\n     therefore be expected to be of more eminent service in this land of\n     darkness.\n\n     You will also be happy to learn that one of the highest or monitor\n     class girls of the Central School, from conviction of the Christian\n     being the only true religion, has given up her caste as a thing in\n     her estimation of no value, and cast in her lot with the followers\n     of Christ. A short time ago, when she first made known her\n     intention, Mrs. W. examined her respecting her motives; she said\n     that our shasters were good, and our people were good; and that she\n     could not live among her relations, who were idolaters and\n     drunkards, &c. When Mrs. W. again asked her whether she thought she\n     would be better off by becoming a Christian, the girl replied that\n     she was already sufficiently well provided for, and that her sole\n     intention in becoming a Christian was to obtain salvation. The\n     first time she came with the intention of giving up her caste\n     (which was just as the noise of the doorga pooja commenced), her\n     parents dragged her away, and watched her narrowly for a few days,\n     during which period she had no opportunity of making her escape;\n     but as soon as their vigilance relaxed a little, she improved the\n     first opportunity granted her of regaining her liberty. Her father\n     threw away all her books and tracts, and is highly displeased with\n     me for having betrayed the trust he had reposed in me. The girl is\n     about sixteen years of age, and is pretty well versed in the\n     gospels and scripture history. She has been latterly under a\n     Christian teacher, and was employed as a monitor, which accounts,\n     in part, for her having remained so long in the school. Another\n     girl, belonging to the same class has a good mind, we hear, to\n     follow her example, but has not as yet been able to muster\n     sufficient resolution. May the Lord draw her and many others to\n     himself, with the cords of his divine love!\n\n     Our three schools (Bengalee boys', Bengalee girls', and English\n     school) were all lately examined by the ladies and gentlemen of the\n     station, who, I am happy to inform you, expressed themselves highly\n     gratified with the progress the children and youth had made during\n     the year; particularly with that of the higher classes of the\n     English school: one class, in the course of six months only, having\n     made themselves perfectly masters of the principles of English\n     Grammar. I am inclined to hope much from the English school. As for\n     the two Bengalee schools, on account of what has lately taken\n     place, I am afraid they will be much diminished for some time,\n     especially the girls' school.\n\n     To aid me in the great work of preaching the gospel among the\n     heathen, I have now four native assistants, for whom I draw 25 Rs.\n     in addition to my salary of 150 Rs. per month. They are out daily,\n     morning and evening, in the neighbouring villages, preaching and\n     distributing tracts. They tell me that prejudice is fast declining,\n     and that they have had repeated proofs of the tracts they give away\n     having been read. I always take one of them with me, in my daily\n     visits to the bazar of this place, when we have generally a pretty\n     good congregation of attentive hearers. The season for our more\n     distant excursions is now approaching, and will allow us to extend\n     on all sides our hitherto confined labours. May the Lord assist us\n     faithfully and fully to make known his glorious gospel among those\n     who are perishing for lack of knowledge, and make us the savour of\n     life unto life, unto many precious souls! \"The harvest truly is\n     great, but the labourers are few.\"\n\n\n                                JAVA.\n\nIn the following extract of a letter from Mr. Bruckner, dated Samarang,\nNovember 12, 1834, our readers will observe an affecting allusion to the\nmassacre of two missionaries from the American board, who lately fell\nvictims to the revenge or the suspicions of the Battas, in the northern\nparts of Sumatra. When our late friend, Mr. Burton, resided, for many\nmonths, among the same people, he felt quite secure, and made long\njourneys into the interior of the country. But the power is now wielded\nby other than British hands; and we greatly fear the change will operate\nas a very serious obstruction to the cause of the gospel in these\nbeautiful islands for many years to come. But we rejoice in the\nassurance that every obstacle must in the end be surmounted; and in the\nbelief that events, in different parts of the world, are concurring to\nhasten onward that blessed event.\n\n     Since I wrote you last, I have drawn up another tract in Javanese,\n     under the title, \"The Son of God in the World.\" 1500 copies have\n     been printed of it, as we had no more paper for a larger edition. A\n     translation of this tract has been sent to the committee of the\n     Tract Society. It is true the prohibitions, as to a free\n     circulation of tracts among the native inhabitants of this island,\n     have not yet fully been removed, although several applications have\n     been made on this subject to the men in power. And this is rather a\n     disappointment and an impediment to a more extensive communication\n     of the principles of the gospel at large; yet a goodly number of\n     tracts have found their way, notwithstanding, among the people. The\n     power of darkness in this country appears so great, that it would\n     quite dishearten me, were it not for Him who is with and in us, who\n     is more powerful than he that is in the world. When I shall have\n     the pleasure to see that this general darkness of ignorance as to\n     divine things, and of superstition and sinful lusts, shall give way\n     to the light of truth and godliness, is not for me to say; under\n     present circumstances, this period seems to be still afar off. It\n     would seem, however, as if the truth of the gospel was gaining\n     ground: now and then instances appear of this. Last Sunday, when I\n     went out among the natives, to take a New Testament to one who had\n     asked me for it,--and when I had preached the gospel to two small\n     companies of people, and was still walking about for some more,--I\n     came to a house in which I saw several persons sitting together. I\n     entered, and began a conversation on religion. One of them\n     expressed soon his Mussulman sentiments, on the power and glory of\n     Mahomed; that he was the person to whom we had to look, as he bore\n     all things. I asked him, in return, if Mahomed were so powerful,\n     how it came that he, even at this moment, was still lying in the\n     dust? from which it was evident, added I, that he was no more than\n     any common man. A young man who was present, and who had read some\n     of the tracts, then took up the subject with him, and told him that\n     Jesus was the All-powerful, which was evident from his having left\n     the grave, and ascended to heaven, and would come again at the last\n     day to raise all the dead from their graves. I wanted to apply the\n     subject further to the consciences of the hearers, particularly to\n     that of the first man, by proving that all men are in a most\n     lamentable condition on account of their sins, and needed therefore\n     an Almighty Saviour to save them. But this man had so much to tell,\n     like one of old, of his own goodness, that all further reasoning\n     with him on the subject seemed to be in vain.\n\n     With all the weakening effects of the climate on my constitution,\n     and which I have particularly felt already for some time on my\n     lungs, God has enabled me to go out four or five times every week\n     into the native villages; and although my endeavours do not produce\n     the desired effects, yet I cannot persuade my mind that all the\n     precious seed sown in this way will be lost.\n\n     You will perhaps have heard of the dreadful event, before this,\n     which has happened to two American missionaries, Messrs. Manson and\n     Lyman, in Sumatra, among the Battas, now about two months ago.\n     These good men went thither to explore the country. They fell in\n     with a troop of wild Battas, on one of their excursions, who fired\n     at them, and over-powered them. Mr. Lyman was wounded by a shot.\n     They then began to cut off his arms and his legs, and ate him up.\n     While they were doing this, he petitioned the cannibals to spare\n     his brother Manson alive; but the following day he was cut to\n     pieces and eaten, as also the interpreter whom they had brought\n     with them. Their wives were still at Batavia when the news of their\n     husbands arrived.\n\n     Sumatra is still in a state of war; yet Padang, where Mr. Ward\n     lives, seems to have been always safe. I have not had any letters\n     from Mr. Ward for a considerable time: as far as I can hear, he is\n     still well.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\n                               JAMAICA.\n\nMr. Tinson, having met the other brethren at Falmouth early in February,\nwrites as follows on his return to Kingston. We are persuaded our\nreaders will be gratified by the deliberate and candid opinions\nexpressed by this experienced missionary. His letter is dated Feb. 25th,\n1835.\n\n     Since I last addressed you I have seen more of our mission field\n     than I had ever before an opportunity of visiting. We found it not\n     only gratifying, but profitable, thus to visit our brethren, who\n     all appear to be faithfully labouring in the vineyard of Christ.\n     From them we received much kindness, and returned home, after an\n     absence of six weeks, with improved health and increased desire to\n     labour for God, from witnessing what he is doing by his servants.\n     Such intercourse, occasionally enjoyed, could hardly fail to\n     promote brotherly love, stimulate to exertion, and strengthen our\n     confidence in God, as we behold the triumphs of his truth.\n\n     In my last I mentioned the desire manifested by many in Mr. Knibb's\n     congregation to obtain the Scriptures, and the large attendance on\n     religious worship. The same may be said of Montego Bay, and, in\n     proportion, of other stations I had the privilege of visiting. I\n     spent one sabbath at Lucea, and intended going to Savannah la Mar,\n     but was prevented by the rain. Of the interesting services at\n     Montego Bay and Falmouth, which took place on the 7th and 14th of\n     this month, on laying the corner-stones of the new chapels, I need\n     not write, as our brethren at those stations will send you all the\n     particulars. On our way home we passed through Stewart Town,\n     Brown's Town, and called at Jericho, brother Clarke's residence and\n     principal station. I should have mentioned that we spent a night\n     with brother Coultart; and in every place we were refreshed in\n     seeing or hearing of the grace of God. I have more than once\n     expressed my conviction that God is about to do some great work in\n     this land. In this opinion I am confirmed by what he is doing. We\n     know that He does nothing in vain; therefore to any person at all\n     observant of Divine Providence, it must manifestly appear, that\n     God's thoughts are thoughts of good and not of evil concerning the\n     inhabitants of this country. Look at the noble gift of his word\n     which he has recently sent to the people! Upwards of 40,000 copies\n     of the New Testament and Psalms, now circulating, like so many\n     streamlets of the water of life, through the whole length and\n     breadth of the land! Then there is the desire to read, and to\n     possess the word of God; the spirit of hearing, which prevails in\n     almost every part of the island; the great accession of spiritual\n     strength in the arrival of new missionaries--Episcopal, Methodists,\n     Baptists, and Independents; and the preservation and increase of\n     good men on the island. Mr. S., the rector of Lucea, mentioned a\n     fact worth recording: that, during his residence in the colony of\n     sixteen years, he had not lost, by death, one of his evangelical\n     friends, which was the same as saying that not one had died; for he\n     is a truly pious man himself, and consequently is acquainted with\n     all the good men in the church throughout the island. He further\n     stated, that several clergymen, who had never before manifested any\n     concern for the spiritual welfare of the people, were now coming\n     out as active and laborious helpers in the good cause. Surely, my\n     dear Sir, these are signs of the times not to be overlooked.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n\n                            SOUTH AFRICA.\n\nWe adverted, in our last number, to the unexpected calamity which had\nbefallen the British possessions to the north-east of the Cape, towards\nthe end of last year, by a violent irruption of the Caffres. The\nmeasures promptly taken by the governor have, we trust, proved effectual\nto the preservation of Graham's Town; but the loss of life and property\nin the surrounding district has been very serious. We have been favoured\nwith a communication, sent from a lady at Graaff Reinet to her mother in\nthis country, under date of 20th January last, which conveys a striking\npicture of the scene; and as many of our readers are interested in that\ncolony, we avail ourselves of the permission to insert it for their\ninformation.\n\n                                    _Graaff Reinet, January 20, 1835._\n\n       My dear Mother,\n\n     As I cannot help thinking, that when news from this colony arrives\n     in England, you will feel some anxiety about our state, I must tell\n     you that we are plunged into the greatest distress and trouble by\n     internal war. The Caffres have made an attack on the whole line of\n     frontier, burning and destroying every thing before them, and\n     murdering, in the most barbarous manner, the unhappy residents.\n     They have done incalculable mischief; and should they not soon be\n     stopped, the destruction of the colony is inevitable.\n\n     On the 24th of December, 1834, we were made uneasy by a commando\n     being called out to assist against the Caffres. But this was soon\n     followed by the most distressing accounts I ever read. They first\n     proceeded to murder all the men (and in some cases whole families),\n     to plunder all the cattle, and burn the dwellings.\n\n     On the 26th, news arrived from my dear children in Graham's Town,\n     viz. A----, my eldest son, and G----, who, with her husband\n     (Mr. D. Mahoney), were in the utmost anguish, his father and\n     brother-in-law having been murdered under the following melancholy\n     circumstances:--Mr. Mahoney, sen., had a fine farm near Graham's\n     Town. His son-in-law, Mr. Henderson (a truly respectable young\n     Scotchman, married to Mr. M.'s only daughter), had gone out with\n     his wife and sweet family to spend the Christmas at the farm, and\n     were to have been joined by my dear children and Mr. D. Mahoney. On\n     the Monday preceding Christmas-day, Major O'Reilly advised Mr. M.\n     sen., rather to bring his family into Graham's Town, as some cattle\n     had been stolen, and the Caffres appeared in a disturbed state. He\n     determined to follow this advice, and on Wednesday morning started\n     for Graham's Town with his wife, their two grandchildren, Mr.\n     Henderson, and a slave servant, Mr. M. sen. following the waggon\n     himself on horseback. They had not gone more than a mile, when they\n     were attacked by about twenty Caffres, who began stabbing poor\n     Henderson: he had fifty assagais in his body! and the poor father\n     shared the same fate. The old lady escaped with one child, and the\n     slave woman with the other; and after wandering about, separately,\n     thirty-one hours on foot, without food or water, having lost their\n     way, they at length met at Graham's Town.\n\n     This was only the beginning of sorrows; for every day's tidings are\n     more dreadful. Graham's Town is totally surrounded, and every farm\n     either destroyed or deserted. The most barbarous murders are\n     continually committed.\n\n     January 2nd. Our tidings are truly appalling. My poor children\n     cannot come out to us. E---- is now near her confinement. Her dear\n     little babe, with my son ----, are obliged to sleep in the church,\n     or in flat-roofed houses near it, as they all concentrate, in order\n     to be the better protected. All the men are under arms. This\n     village has been stripped also. The few who remain are formed into\n     patrols.\n\n     The Caffres have extended themselves over the whole line of\n     frontier from Uitenhage to the Winter Field. Somerset has been also\n     in the same state of danger. Fort Beaufort, Wiltshire, Caffer's\n     Drift, Gualana, Bathurst, and Salem, have been left to their mercy,\n     having remained as long as resistance was of any avail. Those who\n     are spared have escaped only with life: in short, I can give you no\n     adequate description of our present distress. The outcry for\n     provisions is grievous: no supplies can be sent in by the farmers;\n     they have it not, nor could they send it in if they had. We have\n     had no market here since December 22. The Bay, I believe, has as\n     yet escaped. We hear that the governor and troops are on their way\n     to the frontier. May God grant them success! On Sunday, Jan. 4, all\n     the places of worship were closed till 9 o'clock at night. In St.\n     George's church, the galleries being filled with women and\n     children, and the body with the men (under arms), the minister read\n     the thirty-seventh of Isaiah, and commented upon the most striking\n     passages. I assure you my spirits sink within me when I reflect on\n     the probable consequences. Oh, how much you have to be thankful for\n     in happy England! Pray for us, that, amidst all the wreck of time\n     and fortune, our minds may be stayed upon God. Believe me, without\n     the consolations of religion I should be totally cast down; but\n     although clouds and darkness are round about us, yet it is the Lord\n     that reigneth. True, indeed, these dispensations of his providence\n     are dark and mysterious. Why so many valuable lives are cut off,\n     and such a dreadful blow is given to our poor countrymen, after\n     fifteen years' hard labour, we know not. Many of the missionaries\n     have been in the greatest danger. We have not heard of the murder\n     of any of them; but all the English who lately traded with the\n     Caffres have been murdered but one, who came out, and told the fate\n     of the rest. He states that one who was sitting at breakfast with a\n     missionary was dragged out and killed before his eyes. They have\n     told the missionaries they may go if they will: they do not appear\n     to intend to destroy them.\n\n     The cattle they have already captured is beyond all belief. I wish\n     we could get away as far as Cape Town: I shall never feel at peace\n     on the frontiers again. My school had been very good, and I fondly\n     hoped to be a little more comfortable; but we are again reminded\n     that this is not our rest. The reflection on my last birthday was,\n     \"Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.\" On the retrospect I have much\n     to be thankful for, and much cause to be humbled under his mighty\n     hand. As to _ourselves_, we have not much reason to wish many days\n     to be added to our lives; but we have still a large family\n     dependant on our exertions, having yet seven to provide for. At all\n     events, I trust I shall be resigned to the Lord's will.\n\n     Since writing the above, another post has arrived. We have received\n     news of the arrival of Colonel Smith. The Governor and troops have\n     embarked for Algea Bay. He has placed us under martial law. Are you\n     aware what that entails? No lights after 8 o'clock. If any\n     disregard be paid to orders, or disaffection evinced, you must be\n     tried by court-martial--flogged--or even shot! Our little village\n     is as yet unattacked. Our streets are regularly patrolled. No shops\n     are open but butchers' and bakers'--provisions are dreadfully\n     dear--no money to be obtained--no courts of law open--no licenses\n     have been granted this year, so neither beer, nor wine, nor spirits\n     can be sold--and in the midst of all this distress my dear\n     husband's health is visibly wasting. If, in addition to all my\n     other troubles, he is to be removed, I know not how I shall be able\n     to bear up, as I shall be totally destitute. Oh, that I was near\n     enough to hear one word of consolation from your lips! I do now\n     feel bitterly where I am--truly banished.\n\n     Farewell, my dearest mother, pray for your afflicted daughter.\n\n\n              LIST OF FOREIGN LETTERS LATELY RECEIVED.\n\n  EAST INDIES  Rev. W. H. Pearce  Calcutta          Oct. 22.\n               A. Leslie          Monghyr           Oct. 13.\n               J. Williamson      Soory             Oct. 14.\n               W. Carey           Cutwa             Oct. 26.\n               John Lawrence      Digah             Nov. 22.\n               G. Bruckner        Samarang          Nov. 12.\n  WEST INDIES  H. C. Taylor       Spanish Town      Feb. 11.\n               J. Clarke          Jericho           Feb. 26.\n               T. F. Abbott       Lucea             Feb. 17.\n               John Kingdon       Manchioneal       Feb. 21.\n               W. Knibb           Falmouth          Feb. 24.\n               T. Burchell        Montego Bay       Feb. 24.\n               Walter Dendy       Salter's Hill     Feb. 16.\n               Joshua Tinson      Kingston          Feb. 25, & March 6.\n               F. Gardner           ditto           Feb. 26, & March 6.\n               Joseph Burton      Nassau, N. P.     March 6.\n               Joseph Bourn       Belize            Feb.  8.\n\n\n                           HOME PROCEEDINGS.\n\nIn consequence of the lamented decease of our Missionary brother, Mr.\nPearson, the Committee have determined to send Mr. Ebenezer Quant to\nthe Bahamas, instead of Jamaica, as previously designed. Mr. Quant, who\nis a native of Bury St. Edmunds, and has for some time been engaged in\nministerial labour in connexion with the church under the pastoral care\nof the Rev. Cornelius Elven, was designated to foreign service at the\nchapel in that town on Tuesday, March 24th. This commodious place of\nworship, which will seat more than a thousand persons, was crowded in\nevery part, and the service of the evening proved deeply interesting.\nRev. W. Reynolds, of Sudbury, began with reading the Scriptures and\nprayer. Mr. Quant then gave an account of his own religious experience,\nand a brief statement of his doctrinal views; at the close of which\nhis respected pastor gave him the right hand of fellowship, and\ncongratulated him on his entrance into the office of a Christian\nMissionary. Mr. Ellington, of West Row, offered up the designation\nprayer; the charge was delivered by Mr. Elven, from 2 Tim. iv. 5; and\nthe service of the evening was closed in prayer by Mr. Fuller, of\nHarston, nephew of the revered Andrew Fuller, of Kettering, and himself\nuncle to our young Missionary brother. A passage to Nassau has been\nengaged for Mr. and Mrs. Quant, by the Little Catherine, Captain Kopp,\nand they are expected to sail in a few days.\n\nMr. William Shotton, late of Darlington, is also about to sail to\nKingston, with a view to take charge of the School at Spanish Town,\nunder the direction of Mr. Phillippo, and Mr. John Clark, a member of\nthe church at Devonshire Square, has been accepted as an assistant\nMissionary for the same colony, and will probably be engaged in\nconnexion with Mr. Coultart, in the parish of St. Ann's.\n\nThese new efforts, as well as all preceding operations of the Society,\nare earnestly commended to the supplications of all our Christian\nfriends.\n\n       *       *       *       *       *\n\n    _Contributions received on account of the Baptist Missionary\n    Society, from March 20, 1835, to April 20, 1835, not including\n    individual subscriptions._\n\n  Mitcham, collected by Mrs. Pratt                              2  2  0\n\n  Princes Risborough, Missionary Association, by Mr. Hughes    13 16 10\n\n  Perth, for Female Education, by Rev. R. Thompson              8  0  0\n\n  Harpole, collected at Prayer-meeting, by Rev. W. Gray         2  0  0\n\n  Cambridge, Ladies, by Mrs. Foster, Female Education          10  0  0\n\n  Gosley, Rev. B. Hall and Friends                              2  0  0\n\n  Leeds, Ladies, by Rev. J. Acworth, for Female Education       6 14  0\n\n  Wilts. and East Somerset Auxiliary, by Mr. Anstie:--\n    Bratton                                         11 14  3\n    Devizes                                         31 16  7\n    Do. by Miss Blackwell                            2  3  6\n    Bradford                                        14  9  2\n    Westbury                                         1  1  0\n    Warminster, by Miss Jutson                       0 18  6\n    Frome                                           50  9  0\n    Beckington                                       1  5  0\n    Laverton                                         7  6  1\n    Corsham                                          3 10  0\n    Crockerton                                       2  4  8\n    Melksham                                        10  3  7\n    Chippenham                                       5  0  0\n                                                   ---------- 142  1  4\n\n  Hunts. Auxiliary, by Mr. T. D. Paul:--\n    St. Neot's                                       1 13  3\n    Huntingdon                                       7 14  8\n    St. Ives                                        62 12  6\n    Bluntisham                                      38  6  0\n    Somersham                                       16  6  0\n    Ramsey                                           9  5  8\n    Swavesey                                         2  6  5\n                                                   ----------\n                                                   137 18  7\n  Previously remitted, &c.                         103 19 11\n                                                   ----------  33 18  8\n\n  Hull and East Riding Auxiliary, by\n    J. Thornton, Esq.:--\n    Hull                                            98 10 3\n    Beverley                                         7 12 0\n    Bishop Barton                                    7  7 7\n    Hedon                                            1 11 0\n    Burlington                                      20  9 7\n    Cottingham                                       4  0 0\n    Skidby                                           1  0 0\n    Driffield                                        2 13 1\n                                                   ---------- 143  3  6\n\n  Beaulieu, Rev. J. B. Burt and friends, by Rev. B. H. Draper   5  0  0\n\n  Leighton Buzzard, Friends, by Mr. T. Matthews                 4 11  3\n\n  Bath, Collection at York-street, by Rev. E. Carey             7  2  6\n\n  North of England Auxiliary, by Rev. R. Pengilly:--\n    Berwick and Tweedmouth                           4  3  0\n    Workington                                       4  7  0\n    Sunderland                                       6  5  0\n    Hetton                                           5  0  0\n    Newcastle, sundries                              2  4  6\n                                                   ----------  21 19  6\n\n  Manchester, York-street Sabbath School,\n                                          for _West Indies_     2  2  0\n                                              _Schools_         2  2  0\n\n  Yorkshire, collected on a Journey, by Rev. James Flood:--\n\n    Stanningley                                      3  0  0\n    Rawden                                           4 10  0\n    Horsforth                                        5  4  0\n    Bramley                                          7  4  5\n    Bradford                                        22  0  9\n    Gildersome                                       5 17  3\n    Salendine Nook                                   6  0  0\n    Bingley                                          1 17  6\n    Keighley                                         2  5  0\n    Haworth, 1st Church                             10  0  0\n      Do. 2nd do.                                   17  9  1\n    Batley, J. Burnley, Esq.                         2  0  0\n                                                   ----------  87  5  0\n\n\n                              DONATIONS.\n\n  Rev. R. W. Sibthorp, _Ryde_, for Mrs. Coultart's School       2  2  0\n  ---- Jaques, Esq.       do.        for        do.             2  2  0\n  Miss Rust and Friends, _Greenwich_,\n    for Mr. Phillippo's School                                  8  8  0\n  Friend at _Leicester_, by Mr. Collier                         5  0  0\n  S. P.                                                         1  0  0\n\n                   _On Account of Jamaica Chapels._\n\n  Farnham, Friends, by Mr. Bird                                 0  7  4\n\n\n                          TO CORRESPONDENTS.\n\nThe thanks of the Committee are presented to Mr. Winks, of Leicester,\nEditor of the Baptist Tract Magazine, for a valuable packet of\nelementary books for Jamaica: as also to Mr. Carpenter, of Greenwich,\nand Mr. Morris, of Morton Pinkney, for magazines, and other books. The\nwork-bags, &c., kindly forwarded by Esther W----, have been sent to\ntheir destination, and will no doubt prove acceptable.\n\n             J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY.\n\n\n[Transcriber's Notes:\n\nTypesetting on this book was poor, especially with respect to\npunctuation. All inconsistencies are as in the original.]","title":"The Baptist Magazine, Vol. 27, 1835","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":29017}