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for a season. The children have lost a kind and affectionate mother, from whom they have received many words of loving counsel, which may the Lord the Holy Spirit have laid up in their hearts for their being developed in spirit and conduct in the present or future. church of Christ is bereft of honourable consistent member, one who loved the habitation of God's house, and who prayed for the peace and prosperity of Zion. May God have heard, and may He speedily fill up the vacant places in our midst. The circle in which she lived has lost a true friend, a generous neighbour, full of kindness to the poor. For all this we give God alone the glory; for it was His Spirit and grace meetened her for all in life in death, and for the inheritance of the saints in light. Blessed be His name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

:

On Tuesday, the 24th of August, her mortal remains were interred in the chapel ground at Rishangles, in the presence of many relatives and friends; brother Boud, from Earl Soham, by her request officiating and on the Lord's-day afternoon following, a funeral sermon was preached by him to an overflowing congregation, from Psalm 1xxiii. 26, the words chosen by herself. Great so. lemnity prevailed in the service, many minds being deeply affected. May the

Lord have accompanied it by the power of his Holy Spirit for spiritual and lasting good, is the prayer of yours in covenant love, G. H.

MARIA WILLS,

Widow of Samuel Wills, and third daughter of the late John Andrews Jones, of whose church " Jireh," East-road, she was a member 47 years. After a long illness endured with much patience, in full assurance of faith, entered into her rest, September 25th.

MRS. S. A. HAWKINS. SARAH ANN, the wife of John A. Hawkins, the eldest son of William and Elizabeth Hawkins, and grandson of the late J. A. Jones, passed into the heavens, September 10th, 1880; after a long illness from the terrible affliction of inward cancer. A week before her departure she gave up to her Lord's care her husband, and her seven children; and in the hour of death, in the midst of distressing agony, surrounded by her husband and children, she received each of them to give them the dying blessing; then looking in the face of her beloved mother-inlaw, uttered the blessed word " Happy." "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'

STRICT BAPTIST MISSION. By a letter, dated September 11th, we learn that Mr. Noble and his family had arrived safely at Colombo, after a pleasant journey, by rail and steamboat, of about three days. This, in these days of vessels "colliding" at sea, and trains running off the line, and otherwise getting into dreadful mishaps, is cause for thankful

ness.

At St. Thomas' Mount, Mr. Doll had formally taken charge of that station, and hopes, by the blessing of God, to see good fruit springing up from seed sown and to be sown. Vencatasawmy, and his wife Rachel, were labouring very diligently;

the former, besides assisting in schoolwork, had been engaged in out-door preaching, at fifty-seven places during the month (August), to about eight hundred people, and visited thirty houses, distributing two hundred and eighty handbills. His wife was busied in school and "Zenana work:" the latter consists in visiting females at their own houses, and conversing with them about the interests of their immortal souls. This branch of Mission work has excited much attention lately, and those who encourage or engage in it are very hopeful as to results, which have already been seen in much fruit. It is a way in which zealous Chris

tian women, like some of old, can help much in the gospel.

At Poonamallee, Mr. Doll states, the members of the little church are living in love and harmony, which, hoping it arises from spiritual causes, is pleasant to learn. Friends resident on the spot, give him a very favourable report of our Mission affairs here. A visit by Mr. Doll to an aged native brother, a member of our Mission church is thus referred to:-"I went to see poor brother Sholayapen. He is old and feeble, and laid up in his humble hut with fever, asthma, and dyssentery. I asked him if the Lord called him was he prepared; he answered, with much firmness,Jesus Christ alone is my Redeemer; I am waiting for Him to call me home, where I shall be happy for ever with Him." Blessed hope! our precious Saviour is thus gathering His sons from afar, and His daughters from the ends of earth. They shall come, for He hath said it.

The day school here was doing well under the new teacher, who is a Christian man, and takes great pains in teaching the children the scriptures. Number of children in day-school, thirty-two; in Sabbath-school, twenty-three. The Poonamalle report ends with these words: "May the prayers of the Lord's children be heard in heaven while we approach the Most High on behalf of His own kingdom." To this our superintendent, brother Doll, adds a hearty Amen and Amen. And as to be heard they must be presented, and if presented in faith and Ïove will be sure to be heard; let all our friends earnestly and continually seek the Lord's blessing on this Mission, not forgetting special mention at the prayermeetings immediately preceding our

ANNUAL MEETING,

As requested of our pastors and deacons by the committee in last month's magazine. We hope to have good gatherings of friends and well-wishers on that occasion. It happens rather unfavourably that the time was inadvertently fixed on the day on which our friends at Mount Zion, Hill-street, hold an important meeting. However, we hope friends who cannot come in the evening, will come in the afternoon, and hear our excellent brother, Mr. Forman, of March, who, no doubt, by the grace and help of our God, will give us a good sermon. Those who can

not come to hear the sermon, we hope to see in the evening, to hear the good brethren who have kindly engaged to address the meeting. [See advertisement on cover.]

GERMAN BAPTIST MISSION.

THE Quarterly Reporter of this Mission, for October, 1880, contains interesting statistical information respecting the Churches, and some notes of information connected with the Mission. A cry has come, as of old, from Macedonia, for help, not now in the form of "a man of Macedonia in a vision by night, but in a letter, in the Bulgarian language, from the town of Kasanlik, earnestly requesting that some one be sent to preach the gospel to them. This our German brethren desire to do, but at present have not been able. The letter is signed by twenty-three persons, who comprise the Bulgarian church at Kasanlik, which it states "has accepted the Evangelical doctrine for four years past, inasmuch as they have acknowledged the baptism of believers, according to the teaching of the Word of God. They have, therefore, rejected infant baptism, because it can no where be proved from the New Testament." This little church has to contend with many difficulties, but is determined in the strength of God to fight against them all. It is to be hoped that this ap peal, so interesting in its associations, and urgent in its claims, will, ere long, meet with a suitable response.

Some interesting particulars are given respecting a district in Russia, where there are about two hundred Baptists scattered among the villages around Tiflis, at which place a missionary labours in connection with a church of forty members. This brother wishes for an English hymn book, wherefrom to translate hymns into Russian. Will the committee of that book send him a Stevens' selection? Details are given of two tours, one in Switzerland, the other in "Rigi," in which, amongst much that is interesting, the following, respecting the venerable and beloved Oncken, appears :-" We hoped to see Pastor Oncken at Zurich, but found he was staying at his brotherin-law's country seat far up the lake, and that his increasing infirmities rendered it doubtful whether, if we took the addi tional journey, we should find him well enough to bear the excitement of the

The

visit." From the "Statistics of the Churches" it appears that at the close of last year 134 churches were connected with this Mission, comprising eightynine in Germany, one in Austria, twenty in Denmark, one in Holland, three in Switzerland, five in Poland, thirteen in Russia, one in Turkey, and one in King William's Town, Africa. The number of members in each church is given as from four to 1170, the aggregate of the whole being 26,656 church members. number of pastors, teachers, missionaries, and colporteurs attached to these churches amounts to about 300, with 1497 stations, Sabbath-schools 314, teachers 874, scholars 11,813. Amount contributed to "Benevolent Objects' about £13,200. This, it is presumed, does not include salaries to pastors, teachers, &c., which, by no proper use of the words, can possibly come under the term "Benevolent Objects," being payments in acknow

ledgment of work done and therefore not benevolence which implies charity.

When we consider the origin and progress of this work, how the Lord called a poor sugar baker in London, about sixty years ago, and furnished him with grace and gifts to preach His gospel, sent him back in His providence to his own country, Germany, to do so; how He enlightened his mind with clear scriptural truth, so that he, with six others, were baptized, and founded the first of these churches at Hamburg, in the year 1834, which have now so greatly increased, we are constrained to say, "What hath God wrought!" Be it remembered that these churches are of the primitive fellowship as to communion, and very evangelical as to their doctrine. Do we not see in all this an earnest and a pledge that the kingdom of our blessed Lord shall come, and that He shall reign and triumph over all His adversaries.

METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION OF STRICT

BAPTIST CHURCHES.

THE half-yearly meeting of this association was held on Tuesday, October 12t, at Zion Chapel, Heaton-road, Peckham Rye. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the delegates and ministers assembled for business. There were about thirty-five delegates present, and the folMessrs. lowing ministerial brethren:

Hazelton, of Clerkenwell; Anderson, of Deptford; Shepherd, of Hill-street, Dorset-square; Box, of Soho; Brown, of Notting-hill; Clark, of Heaton-road; Griffith, of Bethnal-green; Reynolds, of Islington, &c. In the absence of the esteemed president, Mr. J. L. Meeres, the chair was taken by the vice-president, Mr. G. Shepherd. After singing and prayer, the honorary secretary, Mr. J. Box, read the minutes, which were unanimously confirmed. A brief statement of the present condition of the association was next rendered by the secretary, which statement was very encouraging, showing that real work had been done during the half-year. Several causes have been

helped, and the loan fund has now reached the amount of about six hundred pounds. An increased interest is evidently taken in the association, and, with the Lord's blessing, great success may be anticipated. On the recommendation of the committee, it was unanimously resolved to receive into the association the church worshiping at Forest-lane, Stratford, under the pastoral care of Mr. J. H. Lynn. The nomination of the officers for 1881, was next proceeded with. It was unanimously resolved to nominate Mr. Shepherd to the presidential chair; Mr. W. H. Evans, of Camden-town, to the vice-presidency. With thanks for their

past services, the following officers were re-nominated to their respective offices: the secretary, treasurer, solicitor, committee, and auditors.

In answer to the chairman, Mr. Hoddy, editor of the Gospel Herald, said that the magazine, since it had become the property of the association, had just paid its way, there being neither loss nor profit. Various suggestions were thrown out by some of the delegates for the improvement of the magazine. After the subject

had been well ventilated, the secretary made some very wise and practical suggestions. It was then resolved, on the motion of brother Topley, seconded by brother Reynolds, that the matter, together with the secretary's suggestions, be referred to the committee.

About five o'clock, tea was prepared in the school-room, when between eighty and ninety friends sat down.

At half-past six, a devotional service commenced in the chapel. There was a fair attendance, considering that Heatonroad, Peckham-rye, is far from being a central position for our churches. But whatever inconvenience the delegates may have experienced in getting to the place of meeting, they were most certainly repaid by the kindness of the friends who entertained them.

The devotional service commenced by the singing of a hymn, after which, brother Shepherd, who occupied the chair, called upon brethren Wakelin, of Keppel-street, and Topley, of Deptford, to engage in prayer. The chairman then read a part of Philippians ii., and offered some profitable comments thereon. After the singing of another hymn, brother Reynolds, of Islington, sought the Lord's blessing. Mr. J. Box, of Soho, then entered the pulpit, and delivered a discourse based upon the following words: "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me," Luke vii. 23. We regret that we are unable to give a verbatim report of this excellent discourse. The following brief sketch must suffice:

Commencing with a well-arranged exordium, our esteemed brother directed our mind to

I. SOME THINGS IN GENERAL CONCERNING THE SPEAKER.-Referring to the excellencies of Christ's person, the preacher showed how adapted they were to our refreshment and strength on our pilgrimage. The names or titles of Christ are descriptive of His glories. Taking-up the three-fold name of our Redeemer Lord Jesus Christ-we had a title which described His personal and official qualifications. (1.) Lord-a name of rank, which included a reference to His essential Divinity. The despised Nazarene is Lord of all; a Prince who controls all potentates, and guides all powers; a majestic being, on whose thigh is written,

King of kings, and Lord of lords." (2.) Jesus-a name given to the human nature He assumed. This name de

signates our Lord as man, who, when upon earth, increased in wisdom and stature like others; yet a man whose every word and act bore the stamp of purity, integrity, and earnestness. He distanced all others, and why? Because He is a complex person -two natures compounded, but not confused. (3.) Christ-the anointed. This name describes the Mediator's three-fold office: Prophet, Priest, King. He received IIis credentials from heaven; He was appointed by the Law-giver. Here is consolation for those who trust in Christ.

II. SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR MENTIONED BY THE SPEAKER.-Some would be offended in Him. Could this be possible? Was it His look, so tender, and full of calm dignity, which gave offence? Did his words, so gracious and ioving, offend those who listened? There were many offended at Him when on earth. The offence of the cross has not ceased. This is the offence of (1.) His Person-the cry being still raised, "Is not this the carpenter's son? (2.) His Doctrine - the teaching of Christ is still too distinguishing for proud man. Christ says, "No man can come unto Me except the Father, who hath sent Me, draw him;" but proud man cries, "You can come if you like, and just when you please.” (3.) His Ordinances-which so many slight. Baptism is the way to the Lord's Table, and we have no right to alter Divine appointments.

III. AN AFFIRMATION MADE BY THE SPEAKER." Blessed," &c. This affirmation indicates that there are some who will not be offended in Christ. More, it indicates that there are thousands who

delight in Him. Amongst those who are blessed because they are not offended in Christ we may notice: (1.) The Brokenhearted-to whom God is nigh. (2.) Believers in Christ-who are exhorted not to cast away their confidence.. (3.) Fighting Saints-who are blessed in their extremity with the promise, "My grace is sufficient for thee." (4.) Joyful Saints - whose cups are so full sometimes they scarce know how to hold them. Such, rejoicing in Christ, make their brethren glad, and demonstrate the fact that all the world posseses is but vanity.

An appeal for a good collection brought this soul-stirring sermon to a close. Between five and six pounds were collected, which will go towards defraying the working expenses of the association.

P. REYNOLDS.