peace, and prosperity. The church at Lewes, in Sussex, has sent to implore an interest in the prayers of God's people, that he would send them a pastor after his own heart. Our brother Rees preached on the all-sufficiency of divine grace, on Tuesday Evening, from 2 Cor. xi. 9; " My grace is sufficient," &c. In the morning of Wednesday, at seven o'clock, after the prayer, our brother Gates read a circular letter he had drawn up for the use of the churches. At half past ten, brother Rogers preached "on the necessity of prayer, by the church for the ministers, and Christians for each other,"

from 2 Thess. iii. 1. The afternoon was

taken up in the discussion of a subject, given by brother Knott, on " the nature and necessity of regeneration." In the evening, a sermon was preached to the people by Mr. Atwood, " on the natural insensibility of the human mind," from Luke, vii. 31, 32.. Suitable hymns were given out, and several brethren engaged in prayer. It is intended to hold the next association at Sandhurst, the first Tuesday in June, 1816.

Mr. Coles, of Bourton on the Water addressed the people from Rom. xv. 29. Mr. Mann, of Moreton, concluded.Dr. Ryland preached in the evening, from Acts, xxvii. 23, latter part.

NEW MEETING, AT POOLE.
ON Thursday, July 6, the foundation
was laid for a new meeting-house, be-
longing to the particular baptist deno-
mination, at Poole, in Dorsetshire; on
which occasion, a large concourse of
persons of the town, and from the adja-
cent country, assembled. Mr. Durant,
tion in this town, delivered a suitable
the pastor of the independent congrega-

and animated discourse, founded on
1 Peter, ii. 5.-The devotional parts of
Bulgin, Shoveller, and Baker.
the service were conducted by Mess.

The expediency of this erection arose from an impossibility of enlarging the present place to any good purpose. The dimensions of that now building, are 50 feet in length, by 36 in width, within

State of the churches.-162 added-65 the walls; to be built without any gal

diminished-increase 97.

ORDINATIONS.

MAY 17. Mr. John Packer was ordained pastor of the church in Newstreet, Brighton. Mr. Harm, of Horsham, began by prayer and reading the holy scriptures. Mr. Shirley, of Sevenoaks, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions. Mr. Upton, of London, offered up the ordination prayer. Mr. Chin, of Walworth, delivered an impressive charge from 2 Tim. iv. 5; " Do the work of an evangelist." Mr. Newman, minister at the chapel, concluded the services of the morning with prayer.

The church and congregation assembled again in the evening. Mr. White began in prayer. Mr. Upton preached to the church from 1 Peter, i. 22. Pewtress concluded with prayer.

Mr.

JULY 11. The Rev. Samuel Taylor, late of Bristol Academy, was ordained pastor over the Baptist church at Shipston upon Stour, in Worcestershire. Mr. Gray, of Chipping Norton, began with reading and prayer. Mr. Smith, of Blockly, introduced the service, received Mr. Taylor's confession of faith, &c. and prayed the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands. Dr. Ryland gave the charge, from 2 Cor. v. 19, 23.

leries, but with due preparation for them, should they hereafter be deemed requisite.

LETTER FROM FALMOUTH.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.
SIR,

On the evening of the sixth instant
as some workmen were removing a rock,
for the purpose of adding a vestry-
room to the baptist meeting-house at
Falmouth, an immense mass of stone fell
from the adjoining acclivity, buried in
ruins a great part of the building, and
materially injured the whole; but,
through divine interposition, no perso-
nal injury was sustained. Had this event
occurred either the preceding or follow
ing evening, a great number must have
been hurried into eternity, and many
families bereaved of their dearest rela-
tives. While the goodness of God is
recorded with emotions of unfeigned
praise, and grateful acknowledgments
expressed to the inhabitants of Falmouth,
for their very liberal contributions on
this trying occasion, this medium is em-
ployed to solicit the pecuniary assistance
of those who are interested in the pro-
motion of the cause of Christ. Contri
butions, towards repairing this great
loss, will be thankfully received at Mr.
Smith's, 47, Houndsditch; and the Rev,
J. Ivimey's, 20, Harpur-street.
July 15, 1815.

T. P.

London: Printed by J. BARFIELD, 91, Wardour Street, Soho.

THE

Baptist Magazine.

SEPTEMBER, 1815.

MEMOIR OF MR. WILLIAM PORTER, Senior Deacon, for many Years, of the Baptist Church at Thrapston,

Northamptonshire.

COMMUNICATED BY MR. RAGSDELL.

"THOUGH intimately acquainted with the deceased since our union in this Christian society, I profess not to be able to give so full an account of his life, as could be desired; and, from the want of a connected history, which I had hoped might have been found in his papers, the defect cannot be supplied.

At about twenty years of age, he received impressions of the evil of sin, and the necessity of renewing grace, under the ministry of Dr. Hawies: at this early period, there was discovered much of that Christian firmness in religion, blended with a tender concern for the honour of God, which, in following years, rendered his character so truly valuable, and his life so eminently consistent. More than once have I heard him observe, that if he concluded the occupations of the day rather earlier than common, to attend an evening lecture, he rose proportionably early the next morning, that his most intimate connections, who were

VOL. VII.

hostile to religion, should never have reason to reproach him, or the cause of God through him.

For a considerable time after his removal to this town, he continued to attend Aldwinkle Church, till the propriety, and indeed the necessity of erecting a house for God in this place was suggested. This proposal met with his cordial concurrence, and he not only came forward in a liberal manner himself, but, by applications in various parts of the country, materially assisted the design. This circumstance, in addition to his long residence in this town, introduced him to ministers and elders of various denominations; and it affords me pleasure to announce, that in the various circles in which he was known, our friend's name was never mentioned but with respect and honour. In the estimation of the ever to be lamented Andrew Fuller, who was well able to discriminate, and never hastily indulged per

3 B

sons with his friendship and confidence, he occupied a very high place; "lovely and pleasant in their lives, in their deaths they were not divided.”

narrow the terms of communion, he abhorred. How many did he daily and faithfully advise, and how many in distress shared in his benevolence! His generosity was regulated more by the kindness of his heart, and the true principle of benevolence, than by the property he had amassed, or the income he was regularly receiving.

It was not till several years after this, that he joined the Baptist church formed at Thrapston, but the general respectability of his character, and his conspicuous talents for usefulness, soon raised him to the Few were more eminent in office of deacon, which he sus- the relation in which he stood tained with that meekness of to a large family. He walked wisdom, moderation, and kind-within his house in a perfect ness, which has maintained the way, and with a perfect heart. union, and greatly promoted the The temporal, but especially prosperity of this church. I the spiritual, concerns of each cannot but acknowledge, that, of his children, engaged his for my personal happiness, and supplications constantly at the general usefulness since I have family altar; morning and evenbeen resident in this town, I ing, he instructed, admonished, have been greatly indebted to and reproved all, with parental our invaluable friend. affection and tenderness. His character, in every relation in which he stood, was unimpeach

man, a master, a husband, and a parent; and this has occasioned so just and general a lamentation, this rendered him so much beloved, and so highly extolled.

That he had failings, no one sooner than himself would allow; and no man ever more la-able as a neighbour, a tradesmented them. He would not desire, he does not need indiscriminate praise; he was too excellent to require it; but, considering his character as a whole, it presented no ordinary assemblage of excellencies; and it is in that view he is presented to general attention. He was ardently attached to the volume of inspiration,and opposed every opinion that tended to reduce its importance: he was regular and invariable in his attendance on the means of grace on the week-day as well as on the sabbath. He was distinguished by the most inoffensive manners, and the most upright conduct. He was the enlightened lover of liberty; and every thing that would divide Christians, and

He had advanced nearly to the general limit of human life: for the few past years, he had appeared to his family gradually declining, and they could not contemplate the loss of so valuable a life, but with the deepest regret. The week before his death, he expressed himself as having new pains near the heart; these continued removing and returning until they appeared to be the appointed means of dissolution. The last sabbath, he filled his place, as usual, during the whole of the three

services, and at the ordinance, though the closing part of the ordinance was attended with violent pain.

much mercy in seeing his children all comfortably settled. Referring with his friend to graces which were obscured by guilt and unbelief, he repeated, with an emphasis never to be forgotten,

Till God in human flesh I see,
My thoughts no comfort find→→

But if Immanuel's face appear,,

My hope, my joy begins.

While Jews on their own law rely,
And Greeks of wisdom boast,
I love th' incarnate mystery,
And there I fix my trust.

On the Monday, I twice called on him, and during the last visit spent more than two hours; his conversation was interesting, though neither of us supposed it would be the last interview with which we should be favoured. The same morning, he had written to one of his children at a distance, relating the death of his esteemed friend at Kettering, mentioning his own He spent most of the mornaffliction, but hoped for its re-ing of that day in reading. In moval, begging the family in the after part of the day, about the most earnest and affectionate manner to contemplate their own frailty, and fix their hopes and desires above; reminding them, that death would not approach the sooner for their contemplation of it, but that it would more fully prepare them for the event whenever it did approach; this was but one of the very many letters which he wrote to his children, in all of which, his ardent solicitude for their spiritual and immortal welfare was always apparent.

four o'clock, the pain at his heart violently returned; writh ing with pain, his hand upon his head, he sought for a chair, being then standing, when he would have fallen, but for sup port being immediately afforded, and, with one sigh, departed.

The manner of his death, though peculiarly painful to his immediate connections, and especially afflictive to us, as having deprived us of a valuable legacy of counsels and of prayers, was yet merciful, to himself, and agreeable to his own feelings. The prospect

On the Tuesday morning, the day on which he died, he of dying, though not the proswas, as usual, active in his vari-pect of death, appeared to disous concerns: when an esteem-tress him; he often expressed ed friend called to visit him, himself as being fearful of the the conversation was peculiarly pains of death: these, in a great interesting and spiritual. Six-measure, he was mercifully and-forty years, said our de-spared from suffering, and was parted friend, I hope I have clothed upon with his house served the Lord, and I have which is from heaven. never lived a day without prayer. Though not apprehen-mitted to their parent earth, in sive of his dissolution, he ex- the Dissenters' Burial Ground, pressed himself as having no- at Thrapston, on Friday, May thing particular to say; he had 12th, 1815.

His mortal remains were com