wards the close of his earthly career, were truly sublime. "Precious Jesus! precious Jesus!" he would sometimes say; and then

"Jesus, lover of my soul,

Let me to thy bosom fly."

This, indeed, was with him, as his end approached, a common mode of expression.

During the last few days of his life, he was scarcely able to speak, so greatly was he worn down by suffering. But the same holy calmness, the same faithfulness to christian friends around him, the same

praying spirit, and the same heavenly joy, were apparent even to the last. At a little after midnight, on the Sabbath, his happy spirit took its flight from this world of care and sorrow, to be glorified for ever with the Lord.

So greatly was he respected, that above 300 attended at his funeral. And, according to his own direction, his funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Mellis, of Hereford, from John iii. 16, on Lord's-day, August 18, to an overflowing and deeply affected congregation.

A QUESTION FOR CHURCH MEMBERS.You, dear fellow-immortal, are a professor of the religion of Jesus; have you solid reasons for believing that you are a possessor of eternal life? Do you "know the grace of God in truth?" Have you good

grounds for concluding that Christ dwells in your heart by faith, and that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit? Start not at these questions! do not turn away offended at them! for they cannot be considered as arising out of any suspicion of you, personally considered; and it may be that God himself has sent you this tract, to ask these questions. Do not dismiss the subject by saying, "I am a member of a christian church, my pastor and fellow members recognize me as a christian." All this may be true, and it may also be true, that you have deceived both yourself and them. There is reason to fear that many who have given in before the church an account of their religious experience; or who have written a letter, describing what they call their conversion, and have been received with joy by pastor and people, are yet unconverted. In our churches we cannot help fearing, that there are some who have a lamp without oil-a name without life-a form of godliness without the power thereof. Look at the conduct of many church members; they come once, or it may be twice, on the Lord's day to the house of God, and once a month to the Lord's table, and this is nearly the whole of their religion. Between them and decent worldly people, who never profess to be the subjects of a divine change, no difference can be seen. Both are alike anxious about the world, and alike conformed to its spirit; both neglect the claims of Christ, and refuse to give their personal efforts to his cause; both are alike savourless in their conversation, and frivolous in their spirit. If this is life, everlasting life-divine life in the soul—then, what is death? Surely, such a religion as this is not the firstfruits of the Spirit-the earnest of the inheritance--the beginning of glory! This is a solemn state

ment; but who can deny it? Do not facts bear out the assertion that many such are in our churches? And what will such proprofessors do in the end thereof; and where will they appear when the Lord comes to judgment? Then "Lord, Lord," will be counted for nothing; and those who never agonized first for their own salvation, and then, having found it, agonized for the glory of God, will be frowned from his presence. How dreadful the thought of a professor of religion perishing! A member of a christian church LOST, ETERNALLY LOST; how truly awful! What an exchange! the robe of profession for the garment of shame-the solemn song for eternal wailing-the churchmeeting for the fellowship of lost spirits; and then in the distance, the eye sees the minister who solemnly warned them, and the saints who sought first the kingdom of God, realizing all they hoped for. Dreadful exchange! sad contemplations! This will be to be lost with an emphasis !-Converse with Conscience, by J. Cox.

FEAR OF RIDICULE.-I know of no principle which it is of more importance to fix in the minds of young people, than that of the most determined resistance to the encroachments of ridicule. Give up to the world, and to the ridicule with which the world enforces its dominion, every trifling question of manner and appearance: it is to toss courage and firmness to the winds, to combat with the masses upon such subjects as these. But learn, from the earliest days, to inure your principles against the perils of ridicule. You can no more exercise your reason if you live in constant dread of laughter, than you can enjoy your life if you are in constant terror of death. If you think it right to differ from the times, and to make a stand for any valuable point of morals, do it, however rustic, however antiquated, however pedantic it may appear;-do it, not for insolence, but seriously and grandly-as a man who wore a soul of his own in his bosom, and did not wait till

-it was breathed into him by the breath of fashion. Let men call you mean, if you know you are just; hypocritical, if you are honestly religious; pusillanimous, if you feel that you are firm. Resistance soon converts unprincipled wit into sincere respect; and no after time can tear from you those feelings which every man carries within him who has made a noble and successful exertion in a virtuous cause.-Sidney Smith.

THE ONE CHERISHED SIN.-Often from my window on the sea-shore I have observed a little boat at anchor. Day after day and month after month it is seen at the same spot. The tides ebb and flow, yet it scarcely moves. While many a gallant vessel spreads its sails, and, catching the favoring breeze, has reached the haven, this little bark moves not from its accustomed spot. True it is, that when the tide rises, it rises; and when it ebbs again, it sinks; but advances not. Why is this? Approach nearer, and you will see. It is fastened to the earth by one slender rope. There is the secret. A chord, scarcely visible, enchains it, and will not let it go. Now, stationary christians, see here your statethe state of thousands. Sabbaths come and go, but leave them as before. Ordinances come and go; ministers come and go; means, privileges, sermons, move them not -yes, they move them; a slight elevation by a Sabbath tide, and again they sink; but no onward, heavenward movement. They are remote as ever from the haven of rest;

this Sabbath as the last, this year as the past. Some one sin enslaves, enchains the soul, and will not let it go. Some secret, unseen, allowed indulgence, drags down the soul, and keeps it fast to earth. If it be so, snap it asunder; make one desperate effort in the strength of God.

OUR REFUGE IN TEMPTATION.-If the whole world in which we live, is but a continued temptation; if every situation in which we are placed, and all the objects that surround us, seem to conspire with our corrupt propensities, to weaken or seduce us; if riches corrupt, poverty disheartens, prosperity elates, affliction dejects, business distracts, repose enervates, learning inflates, and ignorance misguides us; if society calls us too much away from ourselves, and solitude leaves us too much to ourselves; if pleasure seduce, and acts of piety inspire us with pride; if health awakens the passions, and sickness begets discontent and murmurings; in a word, if every thing in and around us exposes us to a new peril; in a situation so deplorable, oh, my God! what hope of salvation would there be left to man, if, from the depths of his wretchedness, he might not send up, without ceasing, his sighs towards thy throne of grace, that thou thyself wouldst condescend to come to his help, to bridle his unsubdued passions, to enlighten his erring mind, strengthen his weakness, soften down his temptations, shorten his conflicts, and raise him from his falls ?-Masillon.

THE PAPAL "AGGRESSION."

Since we last wrote, which happened to be early in the month, this subject has quite engaged the public attention. Counties and Corporations, Churchmen and Dissenters, have held meetings all over the kingdom, and Memorials to the Queen have been all but universally agreed upon. There has been plenty of bigotry displayed no doubt. The motives of members of the Anglican Hierarchy must, in the majority of instances, be of very questionable purity. All acknowledgment of the Queen's Supremacy (ecclesiastical) we, of course, entirely repudiate; but in one thing we heartily rejoice-in the unmistakeable and indignant hatred of the great body of the laity for Popery, both Roman and Anglican. Yes, we do rejoice in this. And, while we deeply regret that the worst spirit of Popery has been recently but too plainly indulged by its opponents, we cannot think it bigotry to hate such a manifestly detestable, soulenslaving, cruel, and shameless imposture as Popery. Every freeman, who cares to hand down his liberty to his children,every father, who cares to preserve his wife and daughters from the gross and im-`

pure questionings of father confessors,every independent thinker, who values freedom of expression,-every lover of religion in spirit and truth, as opposed to the religion of ceremony, priestly mediation, and the most degrading mummeries,-every one, in a word, who hates the greatest enemy which the earth ever saw to the rights both of God and man,- all such are bound to hate Popery, and to wage ceaseless war against it. We are free to confess, too, that we suspect every thorough-going Roman Catholic as possessing but half a British heart; even O'Connell was no exception.

We yield, therefore, to none in our aversion to this great blight of European freedom and piety, and yet we must still confess our total inability to perceive the propriety of Dissenters approaching the Throne on this question. We have seen no arguments yet which have satisfied us that the Civil authority of the Queen is invaded; nor can we easily believe that Cardinal Wiseman or the Pope intended to do such a thing. They could have seen no end to be gained thereby. That they both intended to parade in the most impudent and offensive manner the Papal Ecclesiastical Supremacy

The

in disparaging contrast to that of the Queen we do fully believe, and we deeply lament that our beloved and valued sovereign, unquestionably the best of the House of Hanover who has ever filled the English throne, should be in the false position which exposes her to the insults of a foreign Ecclesiastic; but how can we uphold her in that false position? Our patriotism and our piety alike would implore her to renounce it. To be our QUEEN only, and not our "Supreme Head of the Church of England." equal "defender of the faith" of all her subjects from violence and disparagement, instead of the compulsary patroness of a sect. We cannot ask her to take measures to reassert her "Supremacy" because it is "part of our Constitution !" What would this be but to ask her to maintain the worst vice, yea sin, of our Constitution? It is with the greatest regret that we differ practically on this subject from some of the most esteemed of our brethren. In our principles we thoroughly agree; in our detestation of the infernal system of Popery, our loyalty to our Queen, our determination, while we cannot support her "Supremacy,' ," to resent every insult to her Civil Rights as an insult to the nation whom she represents, we are perfectly one. But while the Civil insult of the Pope is, to say the most, a very doubtful legal question, it appears to us that action as yet endangers our being numbered with the deluded or selfish maintainers of Her Ecclesiastical Claims.

As to co-operation with the Bishops and Clergy, we think it doing them, and ourselves too, injustice. Injuring them as leading them to suppose that we regard their Baptismal Regeneration, Apostolical Succession, and other Poperies, and their adultery with the State, as a less evil than we do; injuring ourselves as confounding our religious spiritual warfare against Popery, with their Hierarchical State-Church and endowment warfare.

Our honest opinion is, that the present should be a time of earnest purgation from the relics of Popery at home. All sects of Dissenters need to wash their hands of some measure of belief in denominational infallibility, and church infallibility, and most of them from a few remains of ceremonial and clerical Popery too, if they would fight Popery with clean hands.

The spirit of persecution, not indeed by sword and fagot, but by branding with the names of Atheism, Infidelity, &c. every honest effort to exercise the duty of private judgment, has not yet vanished even from Dissent. Of "Conferences" we have seen enough to make an inquisition blush; and Presbyterians, with Dr. Cumming himself, refuse to expunge from their "Standards' (equivalent with them to Cardinal Wiseman's Pontificale) a vow to persecute_and extirpate heretics! The Church of Eng

land we consider essentially a persecuting Church. The blood of all Dissenting sects is on her skirts. She began with persecution; she has never ceased to persecute as much as the numbers and power of Dissenters permitted. And as to aiming at political power, of which she loudly accuses the Church of Rome, she does not aim at it, simply because she has engrossed all that can be got. She even fetlers the sovereign herself to her creed and formalaries, and forbids her to exercise HER private judgment at the penalty of her crown! Mental slavery is the indispensable condition of Royal "Supremacy."

Cordially would we aid the good men even in this political and semi-popish Church to fight with spiritual weapons against Popery; but we dare not resort to the Queen, whom we know in no other capacity than that of the depository of the nation's physical force, for the maintenance of worldly laws and rights.

If we are asked what Dissenters ought to do, we answer, 1st, Preach sermons like that of Mr. Brock's, noticed on page 21, and rouse universal attention to the Popery of the English Liturgy, and the vast num ber of clergymen who use it for purely popish purposes. All converts to Popery of late have been made by Church clergymen. 2ndly. To petition for the repeal of Maynooth grants, and any Legislative aid to Popery. 3rdly. To make manifest to the whole nation that a State. Church is the grand support of Anglican Popery, which otherwise would soon be driven from the land by our true-hearted laity; the great temptation to Popery to covet political power, and the sole cause why an insult to the sovereign and the country was even imagined in the foolish letter of the Pope. It strongly corroborates our last remark, that an American Baptist Newspaper we have just been purusing attributes the feeling in England to this cause precisely, and remarks that it is a matter of perfect indif ference to Americans that the Bishops of the Roman and Anglican Hierarchies each call themselves Bishop of New York. There is no National Head of the Church, no National Church Officer, to feel affronted by such a use of territorial titles from American towns.

We have only to add, that we thought ourselves last month to be but expressing the spontaneous sentiments of all Baptists, and still marvel that it should be otherwise.*

AMERICAN SLAVERY.

Contentions about slavery caused last year's sitting of the United States' Congress to be the longest on record. With its details we need not trouble our readers; but one fact every friend of humanity ought to know; indeed, we think it ought to be a

subject of christian remonstrance from every religious body in England, with their brother religionists in the States. Hitherto no means have existed by which a slaveholder of the Southern States could easily recover his unhappy victims who fled for their liberty to the Northern States. Most of the latter States nullified, by special State enactments and decisions of courts, the barbarous laws of Congress, for the delivering of the poor fugitives. This is now at an end. Some of the greatest statesmen from the north (to their infamy through all generations) have consented, as a compromise, to a Fugitive Slave Bill, which is now law, and in virtue of which, not only is a fugitive deprived of every legal right, but even a free man may be hopelessly kidnapped. It provides that the party who has lost (what never belonged to him) a fellow-man whom he called his slave, is to draw up a certificate containing a description of the slave's person, and get it duly attested by the authorities. Next, that on the agent's capturing the supposed fugitive in the Northern States, and presenting him before the proper official, no other evidence is to be required but this certificate; the man is not to be heard in his own defence; and hence any person tolerably answering to the description, although a free man, may be carried off to hopeless bondage in the South. No writ of Habeas Corpus, no jury, is allowed to intervene between the dealers in human blood and their victim!

To add to the enormity, it is made the interest of the vile official (for vile the wretch must be who takes office under the act) to kidnap the negro. The official is to have a fee of five dollars if he does not deliver up the alleged fugitive, but of TEN DOLLARS if he does!! A judge is bribed to convict! Furthermore, very heavy fines are to be inflicted on all who harbour fugitive slaves, or aid their escape.

We blush for our American descendants, the sons of the Pilgrim Fathers. We blush for American Republicans, whose constitution, in express words, declares the equal and inalienable rights of all men.

We

blush for our fellow-can we consent to call them our fellow-christians? And deeply, most deeply of all, we blush for American Baptists! the followers of Roger Williams! American Baptist newspapers chill our blood by their calm language on this atrocious Bill. We read of no meetings of the denomination, to wipe its hands of such a disgrace to our professed christianity. Negroes are arming themselves in the Northern States, or flying to Canada; but christians, Baptist christians, are "beholding the anguish of their brethren's soul while they beseech them, and they will not hear." While gratified, therefore, to read of their increase of members, &c., in one point of view, we are deeply pained at the low public morality indicated by their apathy in regard to the negro. They would meet in thousands on the least attempt to abridge one of their own republican civil or religious liberties;

yet coolly and passively see myriads of their fellow-natives of the United States deprived of every human right, and their bondage rendered increasingly hopeless and bitter.

NEW SERIES OF the ECLECTIC REVIEW, AND GREAT REDUCTION OF PRICE.

We earnestly beg the attention of our readers to the advertisement of the New Series of the Eclectic. We have, for a long time, much wished that this valuable Review were more within the reach of our numerous intelligent friends, who could not easily afford its former price. To the great majority of the members of our churches, to whom its pages would be both interesting and very instructive, its price, though not more than that of the larger magazines, was a serious object. It is now amongst the cheapest of the higher class of periodicals; indeed, we know of none which can compare with it in this respect, unless it be Tait's magazine, which itself has hitherto, and justly, been regarded as a marvel of cheapness. Besides those who can afford to take the Review for themselves, there are hundreds, nay thousands of thoughtful, enquiring young men in our Sunday schools and congregations, who, by uniting, a few of them, together could now easily afford to take it in. In commendation of the Review we need say nothing, Its principles are identical with those of our little magazine; of course the Baptismal Question is never touched upon, at least controversially. Nor do we wish that it should. We are heartily thankful to have an evangelical periodical of such power as the Eclectic consecrated to those objects in which the more enlightened amongst the different sections of Dissenters agree. Union to the utmost possible extent is our most sincere delight. We trust that the Cheap Series of the Eclectic will prove a most valuable bond of brotherhood between Baptists, and all others who sympathise with those advanced views on the great social questions of the day which are so prevalent amongst us. We are very glad to see that Dr. Stowell has undertaken the joint Editorship with Dr. Price. Not only did Dr. Price's health render aid necessary, but Dr. Stowell's name will doubtless have an influence amongst his "Independent brethren, of which it is assuredly well worthy. The partnership is one, to our minds, of high promise. We are happy to know that through the noble aid of one to whom Dissent is much indebted already, the requisite capital for the new plan, and for increasing the literary value of the Review, has been amply furnished. There is, therefore, no fear of its failure through want of means. All, however, should bear in mind that nothing but a vast increase of circulation can make the Journal a remunerating one at the present price. It is, therefore, with no ordinary pleasure and earnestness, that we would press it upon our friends to commence the new year with the Eclectic. We do so on every groundreligious, social, and political; and not less

because we are confident that it will be a valuable organ of literary and scientific instruction to all our readers who enjoy any measure of education.

ARCHBISHOP WHATELY ON INFANT BAPTISM.

That justly celebrated Churchman, Archbishop Whately, has just published a charge to his clergy on Infant Baptism. The argumentative part has no novelty in it worth notice. His argument is the old one so fully refuted by the late lamented Neander, that Jews would, from their habits in regard to circumcision, necessarily apply baptism to infants. It will, however, interest many to know that he considers Believers' Baptism alone to be consistent with Calvinistic views (the Archbishop is a decided Arminian). We give his words:

"Of those who maintain the predestinarian views now alluded to, a considerable proportion belong to the sect which altogether rejects Infant Baptism. And I cannot but admit, that in this they are perfectly consistent. Regarding the rite of Baptism as "an outward and visible Sign of an inward spiritual grace," they deem it necessary, I apprehend, not to "put asunder what God has joined together;" and therefore confine the administration of this sign to those respecting whom there is some presumption, at least, of their being admitted to a participation in the thing signified- the divine grace; which grace, they hold, is, by an eternal and absolute decree, bestowed on one portion of mankind, and denied to the rest. And to which of the two classes any individual infant belongs, there cannot possibly be any ground for even the slightest conjecture.

"In the case of adults, they can have, they suppose (just as in the case of the other sacramentthe Lord's Supper), if not a complete and certain knowledge whether he belongs to the class of the elect or of the non-elect-at least, some indication from his professions and his conduct; indications which an infant, of course, cannot afford at all. And they consider, I apprehend, that this being the case, Baptism administered to infants cannot be a Sign of Regeneration, since it cannot furnish even any presumption of being accompanied or followed by it.

"And certainly we must admit that, according at least to the ordinary use of language, a Sign of anything is understood to be such from its being regularly accompanied by that thing of which it is a sign, or at least by some reasonable presumption of its existence. When, for instance, we speak of a certain dress or badge being a sign of a man's belonging to a certain regiment, or order of knighthood, or the like, we understand that it is to be something peculiar to them, and serving to distinguish them from others. If the dress or badge were worn indifferently by an indefinite number of persons, some belonging to this regiment or order, and some not, we should co sider that it had ceased to be a sign at all, having no longer any signification.

"It is on these grounds, I conceive, that many of those who hold the doctrine of absolute decrees I have been alluding to, adhered to, or have joined the communion of those calling themselves, and commonly called, Baptists."

YOUNG MEN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.

On Wednesday, November 27th, a special meeting was held at the Mission- House, Moorgate-Street, London, when the Rev. J. A. Wheeler (the newly-appointed missionary to Western Africa) met the Committee to tea; after which, the Rev. W. Howieson, of Lion-Street Chapel, having taken the chair, an address was delivered.

by Mr. W. B. Carr on the "Work of the Christian Missionary," and by Mr. James Benham on the "Claims of the Christian Missionary on our sympathies and prayers." A devotional meeting was then held, and after several brethren had supplicated the divine blessing, the Secretary, Mr. T. J. Cole, delivered a parting address to Mr. Wheeler, who replied in a discourse full of christian feeling and glowing zeal for God's glory. The Chairman having added a few words of counsel and encouragement, a parting hymn was sung, and the meeting separated.

NEWSPAPERS FOR MISSIONARIES.

The Committee of the Young Men's Missionary Association, reflecting on the extreme isolation of the beloved missionaries abroad, and their great distance from the means of information in reference to home events, are endeavouring to make such an arrangement with christian friends at home as shall secure to each of their distant brethren a regular transmission. A supply has already been obtained for two-thirds of the number, and it is hoped that the list will speedily be completed. Any friend subscribing to a weekly paper may be furnished with a name, if they will intimate their desire to the Committee to forward the paper regularly by post when it is quite done with. [This movement on the part of our young friends is a kind and desirable one, as, from the letters received from our brethren, we find that a stray journal occasionally reaches them, and that it is received with the utmost satisfaction and gratitude.-EDS.]

STOKE-ON-TRENT.

On Monday evening, Nov. 11th, a tea party of the members and friends of the General Baptist Society in Stoke and the neighbourhood was held in the Wesleyan School-room, the object being to promote the erection of a Chapel in Stoke. The company numbered nearly 250, and the repast was gratuitously provided by the friends of religion in the town. After tea the party were addressed by a number of ministers, presided over by the Rev. Josiah Pike, late of Halifax. The Revs. T. Gill of Melbourne, Edward Stevenson of Loughborough, Wm. Stevenson, M. A., of Derby, Joseph Harvey of Bury, Wm. Barker of Burslem, and Peter Prout of Heywood, delivered animated, interesting, and pertinent addresses. We understand that an eligible plot of land, situate near the Commercial Buildings in Stoke, has been already purchased as a site for the Chapel, the erection of which it is proposed to commence early in the ensuing spring.

BAPTIST CHAPEL, GROSVENOR-STREET, CHORLTON-UPON-MEDLOCK, MANCHESTER.

The Rev. David M. Evans, late of Ac-. crington College, and more recently of Glasgow University, has accepted the pastorate of the church and congregation meeting in this place of worship, and commenced his stated labours on Sunday, the 24th of November.