ORIGINAL LETTER OF REV. JOHN FOSTER.

THE following droll letter, a wonderful combination of humour, originality, and profound moral feeling, was written by John Foster to one of his early friends. It may serve to present a new phase of his mind to those who are only acquainted with his larger works, and the string of sententious utterances, with which the letter concludes, forms a collection of moral maxims which might well, singly or together, enrich a scrap-book, or furnish texts for a diary.

Newcastle, Nov. 12, 1792.

What art thou doing, most incorrigible of men? Once and again have I besought thee to write, but thou writest not. Is it that paralytic chains have confined thy hand? Is it that thou sleepest the perpetual sleep of Endymion? Is it that thy evil genius tears in pieces all the letters thou writest? Is it that thy preceptor hath taken away all thy pens and ink, that thou mayest be compelled better to mind thy book?..... Message after message have not I sent? but, like that blustering Jehu of old, thou saidst to each of my messengers, "Get thee behind me," nor condescendedst to return one word of reply. Unrighteous fellow that thou art! thou renderest not to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, for know thou that I am a man of high respectableness; neither reachest thou up unto the honesty (low as that virtue is) of paying thy lawful debts; for but compare the number of letters thou hast received with the number of them thou hast written, and if thou hast sense to see the difference, thou wilt confess that I have unanswered claims on thee. What dost thou not deserve, thou ungrateful and idle dunce? . . . . .. At night let evil dreams be awake, while thou sleepest; strange and grievous indeed, the mischances that will vex thy sleeping hour! when thou fanciest thyself in act to utter speech, of earnest meaning, in a twink flieth thy tongue out of thy head! or, methinks, when thou imaginest thyself sat down to write Cupid's warm epistle, behold, Death, with his bony hand, taketh hold of thy fingers, and maketh thee scrawl thy last will and testament! But dost thou begin to laugh at me? O thou graceless varlet! Anon a more sober mood shall take thee. Best I should leave thee at present. But I will give thee a handfull of reflections, on subjects indifferent, which I have just caught in a cow-house, a place in which such men as thou are fittest always to dwell. Is pleasure willing to keep her assignations with thee equally in an open cow-house and a decorated parlour? Thou art a happy man.

Dost thou behold goodness, though accompanied with vulgarity, with complacence; and baseness, though arrayed in elegance, with disgust? Thou art a happy man.

Dost thou behold inferior talents without vanity, and superior ones without envy? Thou art a happy man.

While thou art diffusing gay pleasure through thy social circle, and receiving pleasure from it, is thy cheerfulness undamped when thou observest Death drawing a chair, and taking a place among the company? Thou art a happy man.

Dost thou pray, not because thou dreadest curses, but because thou hopest blessings? Thou art a happy man.

Does not thy retrospect of regret, cast a shade over thy prospect of hope? Thou art a happy man.

Amidst prosperity, canst thou detect the futility of means which may have gained thee pleasure? in misfortune canst thou triumph in the rectitude of those measures of wisdom to which yet success may have been denied? Thou art a happy man.

Let the windows of thy soul, like the windows of a house, not disclose everything within; but, at the same time, admit notices of everything

without.

Wiser reflections than these, if thou choosest, thou mayest make; if thou choosest, thou mayest impart them, too, for my improvement. But if thou still thinkest that I am unworthy to be the receptacle of thy wisdom, thou must give me leave to take myself out of thy presence, and to shut the door after me, while I am telling thee that

I am, thine to chastise thee,

J. FOSTER.

THERE'S NOTHING LOST.

THERE'S nothing lost. The tiniest flower
That grows within the darkest vale,
Though lost to view, has still the power
The rarest perfume to exhale;
That perfume, borne on zephyr's wings,
May visit some lone sick one's bed,
And like the balm affection brings,

"Twill scatter gladness round her head.

There's nothing lost. The drop of dew
That trembles in the rosebud's breast
Will seek its home of ether blue.

And fall again as pure and blest;
Perchance to revel in the spray,
Or moisten the dry parching sod,
Or mingle in the fountain spray,
Or sparkle in the bow of God.

There's nothing lost. The seed that's cast
By careless hands upon the ground
Will yet take root, and may at last

A green and glorious tree be found;
Beneath its shade, some pilgrim may
Seek shelter from the heat of noon,
While in its boughs the breezes play,

And song-birds sing their sweetest tune.

There's nothing lost. The slightest tone
Or whisper from a loved one's voice
May melt a heart of hardest stone,

And make a saddened heart rejoice;
And then, again, the careless word
Our thoughtless lips too often speak
May touch a heart already stirred,

And cause that troubled heart to break.

There's nothing lost. The faintest strain
Of breathings from some dear one's lute
In memory's dream may come again,
Tho' every mournful string be mute;
The music of some happier hour-

The harp that swells with love's own words,
May thrill the soul with deepest power,

When still the hand that swept its chords.

Correspondence.

A PROTEST AGAINST A LITURGY.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine.

SIR, I learn from the last Magazine that at the late Association a motion was made, and all but carried, for our ministers to use a form of prayer in public worship. I confess I should not have thought that there had been a single minister in our denomination who would have brought forward such a motion, or if brought forward, that it could have found a seconder. Judge then of my astonishment when informed that such a motion had not only been made and seconded, but all but carried. Unless the parties who complain of sameness are differently situated to most ministers, they can know almost nothing about the prayers of their brethren; and I will venture to say that those very persons whose sameness is supposed to justify the introduction of a liturgy, would be the last persons in the world to use it: they would sooner resign their charge than do so. The persons who would use a form of prayer are the very persons who we might suppose could pray the best without, viz., educated, polished, gentlemanly preachers. To those it would commend itself on account of its supposed respectability, and they would adopt it. Would it not be better for such persons at once to go over to the Established Church, in which they have not only prayers ready made to their hands, but sermons also? Why do things by halves?

You inform us that the case was not brought on irregularly. All I can say is, that there is, or rather ought to be, a law to prevent the representatives from making, without notice, so important an alteration in the worship of our churches. I question the right of a representative to vote for a liturgy before he had got the consent of his church. He can have no power, as a minister, to make such an alteration in the mode of worship, and therefore none till it is given him as a representative. Should the motion be renewed and carried, the result, in my opinion, will be to divide the denomination, and to drive away some of the most pious from the churches, and at a time when there are so many things requiring unity. I regret that any thing should have taken place tending to destroy con.. fidence in the continuance of our mode of worship. The object of this paper is not so much to discuss forms of prayer, as to make those gentlemen who advocate them acquainted with the views and feelings of one for whose benefit they are intended. He has been a professor of religion more than fifty years, and a deacon more than forty, and he confesses that he finds the least satisfaction in those prayers in which he has attempted the greatest variety, nor is he prevented from deriving profit from the prayers of others on account of sameness.

Allow me, in conclusion, to say that in my opinion this movement for a liturgy ought to have originated with, or to have been taken up by, the laymen of the churches, as they are the parties it is designed to benefit; but so far as I can learn, it is ministers, and not laymen, who want the change, and as I belong to the latter class of persons, I beg that you will allow me to express my views in the Magazine, and to record there my protest against the proposed change. I remain, Sir, yours truly, Queenshead, August 13th, 1857. M. STOCKS.

THE BAPTIST CAUSE IN MILFORD.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine.

The General Baptist church at Milford dates its rise as a branch of the church at Duffield, which connection subsisted for very many years. In the year 1849, the brethren at Milford commenced the building of a chapel on their own re

sponsibility, which, with the school-room attached, cost fully £350. The number of members at that time was about thirty, but by the blessing of God many have been hopefully converted and added to the church ;-the present number in communion is ninety-nine.

In 1854 this branch became a separate church, and was received into the Association in the following year. Anxious to have a stated minister, who might "watch for their souls," this infant church, in January last, invited the Rev. G. Rodgers, late of Lenton, to labour among them in word and doctrine, and during the few months of his labours, much good has been done; several have been added to the church, and there are a number of anxious enquirers. The chapel on most Lord's days, is filled to overflowing; and frequently, after seats have been placed along the aisle, many persons have been obliged to go into the school room, or to return home.

The friends are therefore anxious to enlarge the chapel, so as to accommodate the people who come to hear the Gospel; but, having already a debt of £120, they wish very much to get a good part of it off before incurring any further outlay. Among themselves they have subscribed as liberally as they can, but being generally very poor, they are compelled to appeal to the friends of Christ for assistance, hoping and praying that he who has the hearts of all men in his hands, will put it into the hearts of some who are blessed with means to aid in the extension of his Gospel in Milford.

Donations, however small, will be thankfully received by Mr. W. Parkinson, the senior deacon of the church.

August 7th, 1857.

BETHEL CHAPEL, BRADFORD.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine.

R. B.

MY DEAR BROTHER,-It will be known to your readers that at the late Association the case of Bethel Chapel, Bradford, was warmly recommended to the liberality of the churches.

I paid a visit to this church a few days ago. I found an excellent chapel, and a commodious school-room, in the midst of a dense population. The pastor is a man of eminent piety. The school seems to be efficiently conducted, and is attended by about two hundred children. The larger proportion of the members are young persons, who appear to be warmly attached to the cause, and are willing to contribute for its support to the very utmost of their power. I do not doubt that there are amongst them the elements of prosperity, but their financial condition is most discouraging. A debt of £1400 hangs like a dead weight upon them. No less a sum than £70 is required every year for interest. The ordinary expenses of the church can be little less than £200 annually. But who are the persons to raise so large a sum? The members are nearly all poor. With but one exception they are dependant on weekly wages, and as the trade of Bradford has been for some time depressed, the resources of the church must be limited indeed. One or two persons have become disheartened, and left. But the remaining portion seem determined to do their best. As an illustration of their spirit, one of the members said the other day, that he would sell the last piece of his furniture rather than the cause should sink. But what can the poor people do? Even if they were able to raise their £200 a-year, which is to me doubtful, the incubus of £1,400 would remain in all its frightfulness. It seems to me that the only means of saving the cause is to reduce the debt. Without this, the church can scarcely fail to be crushed. When an appeal is made to the churches, surely they will heartily respond. Is there amongst us a generous heart that will not do something to help this struggling church? Let every one of us say: "I will at least do something." And let the words of our Master encourage us: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me."

Louth, 19th August, 1857.

I am, dear brother, yours, very heartily,

WILLIAM ORTON.

ON THE ANNUAL ELECTION OF DEACONS.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine.

Query.-Is it not desirable that Church Officers, (as deacons, secretary, treasurer, &c.,) should be chosen annually: they of course being eligible to immediate re-election? AN OFFICER.

Perhaps some of your correspondents will think this subject not unworthy of their notice. If the plan is adopted in any of our churches I should like to know with what results.

[We know of no church that elects its officers annually. We fear the result of such a system would be confusion; though there may be cases when age or incapacity may render the retention of office undesirable. The subject, however, is open for discussion.-ED.]

Intelligence.

ANNIVERSARIES.

WHITWICK.-On Lord's-day, May 31st, the Annual School Sermons were preached in the General Baptist Chapel, Whitwick, by the Rev. W. Chapman, of Longford. The congregations and collections were good.

COALVILLE.-The Annual Sermons on behalf of the General Baptist Sabbath Schools, Coalville, were preached on Lord's-day, June 21st, by the Rev. G. W. Pegg, of London. The congregations were very large, and the collections, including donations since received, amount to nearly fifteen pounds.

NETHERSEAL CHAPEL ANNIVERSARY.-On Sunday, July 26, two excellent Sermons were preached by the Rev. T. Stevenson, of Leicester.

MEASHAM SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.-On Sunday, August 9, the Rev. Isaac New, of Birmingham, preached two Sermons in behalf of our Sabbath and Day Schools. On the following afternoon, the children were regaled with cake and tea, and after cheerful recreation in a neighbouring field, in which the teachers joined, all repaired to the chapel, when appropriate hymns were sung, and a short address delivered by the minister.

BROUGHTON.—On July the 6th, we had our Annual Sabbath School Tea Meeting. After the scholars had partaken of plumcake and tea, upwards of 150 sat down to partake of that charming beverage. After tea, animated addresses were delivered by Messrs. Featherstone and Worthington, (Wesleyans), and one of our own local brethren. Several suitable hymns were sung, a vote of thanks was given to our friends for their speeches: also to the ladies for making tea. The doxology was then sung, and the congregation dismissed.

ISLEHAM.-On Lord's-day, July the 12th, the Rev. Thos. Mee, late of Whittlesea, commenced his labours amongst us, as our future minister, by preaching our School Sermons, and on Lord's-day, July 19th, on behalf of the School connected with our Fen Chapel, in a large barn, kindly lent for the occasion. Our congregations were excellent. Collections in advance of last year. We trust our united prayer now is: "O, Lord, we beseech thee send us prosperity."-C.

BAPTISMS.

ILKESTON.-On August 3rd, after preaching from Galatians vi, 14, Mr. Stevenson baptized three persons, who were afterwards received into the church.

LOUGHBOROUGH, Wood Gate.-On Lord's-day, August 3, twelve dear friends put on Christ baptism. May they be faithful unto death!