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soar. An exercised man has well said, 'Woe to the faith that checks repentance, and woe to the repentance that checks faith.' This is good counsel, and quite in accordance with, and very illustrative of, the teachings God has given His children in His own most Holy Word. It is evident from the Memoir" that Mr. Sears had to pass through long and deep exercises of mind, in order to qualify him to warn and instruct his fellowbelievers after such a spiritually wise and godly manner.

2. He was a faithful and laborious minister of the Gospel. God called him to the work, and specially qualified him to fulfil the arduous, solemn, and important duties of a public teacher of His word. And in labour he was most abundant, notwithstanding that all his days he was more or less the subject of great bodily affliction in diverse and severe forms. It seems marvellous, in reading the narrative, to find that under such adverse circumstances he was enabled to get through so much labour, and to perform such an amount of work of a multifarious kind, as preacher, pastor, writer, editor, and manager of two or three forms of charitable effort, and with so much success as he did. Whatever his hand found to do, he did it with energy and zeal, as unto God, and with a burning desire to benefit man, whether the effort related to spiritual or temporal good. As a preacher of the Gospel his aim was to warningly deal with men about their lost state as sinners, and the only way of escape from the wrath to come, and to urge upon them the necessity of repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,' and to direct awakened ones to Jesus as an able and willing Saviour." This, he considered was the method adopted by the Apostles in their ministry, and that consequently it is the right and scriptural one. It does not require any very close or critical investigation of the inspired record of the proceedings of those Christ-commissioned preachers of the Word, to become convinced that Septimus Sears was right in his appre

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hension of their method of dealing with sinners, in the proclamation of the Gospel of the grace of God. And as the Apostles were led by the Spirit of God thus to address their fellow men about the salvation of their immortal souls, he considered that theirs must be the proper model according to which subsequent ministers of Christ should frame their addresses in preaching the Gospel. It has long been a vexed question amongst ministers of what is known as the Calvinistic persuasion, as to how sinners, as such, should be addressed, or even whether they should be addressed at all. Our departed brother took the obviously right way of dealing with this matter. He just copied the examples given him in the Acts of the Apostles, and preached to sinners at Clifton and elsewhere, as Peter and Paul preached to sinners at Jerusalem and elsewhere; and that the Lord gave testimony to the word of His grace, as thus proclaimed by His faithful servant, is manifest; for in the "Memoir" we are told that "at Clifton there are numbers who are his spiritual children." Then as regards those to whom the Holy Ghost had blessed the word and enabled them to believe, he was careful to instruct them in the doctrines of grace, and "to trace their calling up to their redemption by Christ, and their election and blessing in Christ, before all worlds." One cannot help feeling astonished that such preaching as this in either of its branches, should ever have been objected to, and the preacher regarded as a heretic, by any who considered themselves as judges in God's Israel, yet so it was in reference to the subject of the "Memoir" in regard to his addresses to sinners.

He was also exceedingly careful, his biographer states, not to permit his hearers to settle down on any foundation but the one God has laid in Zion; "not to settle down in self, or even feed on inward grace received instead of a full and complete salvation in Jesus Christ." This was very kind and faithful on his part, for Christians that "feed on inward grace received" are a lean and famished race, although

they may not be conscious of the fact themselves. Mr. Sears, as a wise and tender under-shepherd, strove to lead these mistaken weaklings of the flock to the fair pastures and beside the still waters of God's free and abounding grace in Christ Jesus, knowing that nothing but the bread of eternal life will nourish the child of God, and make him strong in the Lord, and a happy and fruitful believer in Christ.

Another point of faithful earnestness in his ministry was in reference to those who had arrived at some comfortable assurance of their Father's electing love, and of the blessed Spirit's witnessing within of Christ to their souls. These he exhorted to seek grace from Jesus, to enable them to serve Him faithfully, and to live fruitful lives to the honour of God's grace and the holy doctrines of His gospel. In his address to his church, written shortly before his death, when he was unable through illness to preach to them, occurs the following caution, which shows how well he understood the deceitfulness of the human heart, and how earnest and faithful he was in warning his flock against the insidious forms of sin which work in it, even in the experience of the children of God:-"Never, dear friends, seek to put a plate of steel between your conscience and godly sorrow for sin, by treating the power and prevalency of your evils, as if they were to be traced to divine sovereignty, instead of their true source, your own bad hearts and your negligence of God's means of victory and blessing." This is an important caution, and one amongst very many illustrative comments that may be given on the exhortation of the wise man, 66 Keep thy heart with all diligence," &c.

One other remark of his may be quoted from the same address to show the clearness of his views with regard to the justice and holiness of God's most righteous law, and his faithfulness in preaching the same:-"I have endeavoured to make very prominent the infinite immutable holiness and justice of God, as displayed in His righteous law. For I am quite as

sured that an intelligent apprehension and godly experience of the principles which obtain in the courts of equity discovered in the righteous law to which all are amenable, underlies all sound knowledge and living experience of the whole truth of God, revealed in His holy word." Thus did this faithful and beloved brother make full proof of his ministry, and by thus clearly distinguishing between law and gospel, and explaining the proper and scriptural connection between the two forms of divine truth, and their due and necessary relation to each other, prove himself to be by divine teaching, a scribe well-instructed in the things of God, and a faithful steward over His household. In searching the Scriptures to find out the mind of the Spirit as set forth therein, he had, by experience, been taught the wisdom and worth of that saying of Martin Luther:-"The plain, unmistakeable, grammatical meaning of God's written Word is God's Word, and is the sure foundation and warrant of faith."

3. He was a most kind and sympathising friend. Like his divine Master, he had a heart to compassionate distress in every form, and was ever active in promoting and carrying on plans to help the helpless, to provide for the fatherless, and to supply the wants of the poor and needy.

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ever active and fruitful mind, joined with a tender and loving heart, enabled him, as an instrument in the hand of God, to effect much in those forms of usefulness which respect temporal and social good. His efforts in this direction are set forth in the "Memoir" in a brief and unostentatious manner, ascribing the honour of his benevolent and kind-hearted deeds to the God of all blessing, who bestowed the grace and gifts upon His servant needed for their performance, and provided in answer to prayer, the means required wherewith to accomplish them. In addition to this he was a most industrious writer. Indeed, when the amount of work of this kind that he performed is understood, it would seem hardly possible that his pen

could ever have been out of his hand when it was at all practicable for him to use it. He was, withal, a very humble man, with very low views of himself and his own performances. This is a scriptural mark of the Spirit's own impressing-the greater the saint in reality, the greater the sinner in his own apprehension. It was so with Paul, the aged: it is so with experienced, sanctified ones now.

As to the "Memoir," it is a book that should lie on the table and be well read by every one who values the portraiture of a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. The one therein given

corresponds very much with that given by Paul in his epistles to Timothy and Titus. Biographies of men of God of Mr. Sears' class are not very numerous, and should be prized by those who esteem such men for their work's sake. The work is the property of his widow, it is understood; contains 254 well-printed pages, a portrait of Mr. Sears engraved on steel; is strongly and neatly bound, and sold for half-a-crown, and every lover of the truth as it is in Jesus should possess a copy. 54, Hemingford-road.

Ahe Gospel Field.

“Preach the gospel to every creature; lo, I am with you alway.”

STRICT BAPTIST MISSION. FRIENDS and subscribers to this our Mission will please to note that an arrangement having been made with the committee of the Metropolitan Association for the regular insertion, month by month, in the Herald and Voice, of our missionary intelligence; it has been considered unnecessary this year to publish in a separate form the "Periodical Paper," which has usually appeared about this time. The regular appearance of our mission intelligence in our magazine will, it is confidently hoped, be mutually beneficial to the Mission and the magazine by increasing the interest of our friends in both. And in order that subscribers to the Mission, who may not regularly see the Herald and Voice, should not be disappointed by the non-appearance of the Periodical Paper this year, a few copies of this month's number of the magazine will be sent to connected churches and schools, for presentation to such friends, who, it is hoped, will thenceforth order the Herald and Voice for themselves, and thus be in constant receipt of the latest information to hand respecting the progress of the work of the Lord they assist in supporting. The Annual Report of the Mission will appear as usual in due course, in which all subscriptions, donations, and collections received during the year will

R. H.

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be acknowledged as heretofore. account we have to give this month of the work of the Lord in our quarter of the mission field is encouraging, as show. ing that, according to the divine promise, our labour is not in vain in the Lord. And it is good at all times to remember both that the work is His, and that the promise of success in the work is from Him also. For what an honour it is to work for such a great and glorious Lord. This should make us feel happy and cheer ful in the labour, which should be one of grateful love to Him who has done so very much for us; and the recollection of His gracious promise of success should incite us to zeal and diligence in His cause. It is a law of Divine ordination that success be in proportion to the means used for the obtainment of it. Indolence and carelessness never prosper in any undertaking; it is the diligent soul that is made fat; the hand that works with all its might that God blesses in its labours. As in the natural and physical, so in the spiritual kingdom, means and ends are inseparably connected. Continual wrestling, believing prayer, conjoined with earnest exhortations, faithful preaching, and solemn warnings in setting forth the claims of God's most righteous law, and proclaiming the gospel of His grace, are the means by which, under the power His Spirit, sinners are brought to Christ,

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whether in England or in India and Ceylon or elsewhere. Let us, then, labour on, sowing the good seed of the kingdom, thankful for any amount of blessing bestowed upon our poor efforts; but still hoping and praying for increased success to be vouchsafed, to increased earnestness and zeal in the cause of our most holy and gracious Lord, whose last words on earth stand at the head of this paper, remembering that the injunction is as binding on His Church as ever, and that He is as able as ever to fulfil His promise by the power of His Spirit.

The following are extracts from the rereport of our missionary at St. Thomas' Mount, for the month of March :

"Out-door work. More than forty visits have been made to adjacent villages, parcherries, &c., during the month; the scriptures have been read and expounded and tracts distributed to large numbers of various classes of people, who, on the whole, listened attentively to the word read and spoken to them. Eight_boys have been selected from the Bullock Lines

to accompany us on special occasions to the bazaars, &c. These children, by singing Christian lyrics, attract the people to the spot, and we have thus the opportunity of addressing larger numbers than would otherwise collect around us. At the Troop parcherry we hold an open air service by lamp-light once a week. On one occasion the light blew out, the wind being unusually strong, just after prayer had been offered, and Jacob, the teacher, was about to read a portion of scripture. Upon this, one in the crowd, whom we could not distinctly see, said that it was all false; for if the God to whom we had been praying were the true God, he would not have permitted the light to be blown out. This circumstance gave rise to many arguments on all sides, and in meeting these we were detained long past our usual time. This service is generally an interesting one, and I trust profitable too.

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Our public services have been regularly held in Tamil, at our chapel, Bullock Lines, and in Telugu, at Nazareth-pooram school-room, all of which have on the whole been more encouraging.

The little Tamil church is, I trust, making some progress in spiritual knowledge, and peace and concord exist amongst its members. The periodical prayer-meeting is regularly held in the houses of our church members, and happy seasons I have realised them to be; and I trust

much good may result from them. John Lazarus, who left us some four years ago, having expressed his sorrow for previous misconduct, and finding him, as far as we could judge, sincere in his repentance, we have re-admitted to the privileges of a church member. It has, however, been thought necessary to defer the intended baptism (mentioned in my last report) a little longer. The Sabbath-schools, Tamil and Telugu, in connection with this church, are doing well. The children are catechised and taught scripture lessons on Sunday mornings.

The Schools.-The Bullock Lines school is, as regards progress, doing pretty well; but from sickness, which is usual at this season of the year, the heat being intense, the average attendance is somewhat less than at other times. The Nazarethpooram school has been much reduced by sickness and other causes, the attendance being only about fifteen; these, however, have made a somewhat creditable progress.

A caste school for girls, as an experimental measure has been commenced, and during the past month thirteen names were registered. These children are taught four hours a day, viz., needlework two hours, and Tamil and Telugu one hour each. There are also about the same number of non-caste girls attending the Bullock Lines school, who are taught needle-work.

Palaveram.-The scriptures have been read and expounded in a few of the adjacent villages, and also in the bazaar, streets, and Sepoy lines, and the people generally listened attentively and cheerfully accepted the tracts presented to them. The 24th Regiment Native Infantry having been located at this station, I hope (D.V.) to revive the work in the Sepoy Lines.

The continued prayers of the dear friends of the mission are earnestly soli. cited for work and workers.-H. NOBLE."

With regard to the caste school, mentioned in these extracts, and which we referred to last month, Br. Doll, our superintendent, says he is very much pleased with it, and is very hopeful of it. Rachel, the teacher, is a working woman, and bestows much labour on it. He intends, next mail, to send specimens of their first sewing. The girls, he says, are anxious to get sewing materials, and pieces of colored cambric, muslin, &c. Will any of our friends send them any?

A parcel is about to be sent to Br. Doll for the chapel at Chintadrepettah, in which they might be enclosed. In reference to the native regiment at Palaveram, lately arrived, he states that two of the men are, he understands, Baptists, and he hopes they may be of use at the mission services.

AT POONAMALLEE Br. Doll reports that all are doing well spiritually. The following are extracts from our missionary's report for March :

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Tuesday, 2nd.-Very early this morning I started for Hyapaukum, four miles north of our station. This is a well irrigated village, in which are fifty houses of high caste Hindoos. I was engaged preaching and talking in this village till nearly one o'clock. Although at first the people showed indifference to listen, but as I proceeded they became attentive and deeply interested in my discourse that they seemed eager and rivetted in their attention. My discourse was on different subjects, viz., one God, one Mediator, one caste, one religion, one salvation, one judgment, one heaven, one hell, man's salvation by grace and not by works. I delivered several handbills, and returned home at four p.m.

Thursday, 4th.-This morning I went to Aynampaukum, five miles north-east of our station, and one mile east of Hyapaukum, which I visited on Tuesday last. I preached in three different places in this village, and delivered handbills. Over fifty people heard without any objection or hindrance, and with encouraging attention. One man only asked me what temporal benefit he would get if he embraced Christianity. I replied by interrogating, "Will you not eat rice at twelve o'clock, and again at night; and whyto what benefit?" The rest of the people laughed heartily. I added, telling him that I was speaking of the bread from heaven-the bread of life. He that eateth this bread, even the Lord Jesus Christ, hath everlasting life, will enjoy heaven, and shall never hunger nor thirst.

"Friday, 12th.- This day I went to the parcherry or hamlet of Coolladey, four and a half miles north of our station. The pariahs, or non-caste Hindoos, accepted me very kindly. They heartily welcomed me, offered me a seat, spoke kindly and respectfully. I spoke to them for a long while on the danger of their idol worship, and the blessedness of having Christ as their friend and Saviour. They heard me with considerable pleasure, and earn

estly requested me to give them a call again, saying ten or eleven o'clock, a.m., would be the best time, as it is their leisure time.

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Monday, 15th. - Preached at OldPoonamallee Bazaar. About twenty persons heard me; among them were a few Brahmins, who said nothing, but listened quietly. One young Hindoo, a schoolboy, asked me where is the use of me preaching while there is no sign of conversion among them. I replied, "The word of God is a two-edged sword, which will pierce the heart of his people. It is an iron hammer to break them to pieces. And has it not pierced or broken the hearts of many throughout the world, and changed wild beasts into lambs? Has it not broken and changed many hearts of the sons of India? And can you say there is no sign in the face of stubborn facts.' The lad, laughing at his defeat, promptly pointing to the Brahmins, said, contemptuously, 'These are the powers.'

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"Wednesday, 27th. This morning early, I went to Cauveychairey, a village five and-a-half miles on the N. W. of Poonamallee. I began by singing a Christian lyric, named 'The Folly of Idolatry,' and then sung another called, "The Destruction of Superstition.' attracted and congregated over 50 people. I then read portions of the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, making remarks now and again till I read the whole chapter, and preached the Lord Jesus Christ to the people. I was listened to with attention, and one man, who was standing in the crowd, invited me and offered me a seat in his pyhal. I had a very interesting conver sation with him on the subject of Christianity, in the presence of the people, and after I was done discovered that the man who spoke to me was the munseff or sub-magistrate of the village, a great official."

The boys' school at Poonamallee has about 30 in daily attendance, all of whom now pay a small fee for their schooling, which Br. Doll gives to the teacher, who is a very good one, as an encouragement. He purposes making this a "Resultgrant School," subject to the annual examination of a government inspector, when, for each child who is passed' by him, a grant will be received for the benefit of the school. Br. Doll had not succeeded in obtaining a good female teacher for a girls' school at Poonamallee, but was hoping to do so shortly.

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