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us, with five more, one of whom was about fourteen; several were lately added to the other church in communion with us who were not older.

Speaking of himself, when at Kettering, he says, "I for a long time attended the house of God, not for the sake of profit, nor from love, but because others did so. I went chiefly to see and be seen; more particularly for the company of some that were there. The same motive that induced me to attend at the house of God might have led me to the card-table, or the ball-room. At length I heard Mr. F. preach from these words, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." This sermon lay with great weight on my mind; it would often recur to me that the conduct of my companions ought not to be the rule of mine. He afterwards expounded these words, "If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, &c." which he explained not of sins, but of that which caused us to sin. "If you have a companion, said he, who is as dear to you as a right eye, or a right hand, and his acquaintance lead you into evil, give him up. You had better go to heaven without your companion, than to have your companion and go to hell." I have to thank T. S. for inducing me to attend prayermeetings, and F. B. for recommending me to read The Pilgrim's Progress. I had seen it before, but saw no beauty in it. By his persuasion I was induced to read it again, and found it more interesting than any book that I ever read. I could searce look into it but I found something that suited

my case.

"About this time I had many struggles of mind. Sometimes I seemed on the side of Christ and religion, and enjoyed much delight on waiting upon him, both in public and private; at other times on the side of sin and satan. One while I was drawn aside to a dancing-party, at another to a card-party; after such conduct the horrors of a guilty conscience would torment me; and now I had to begin my Pilgrim's Progress again. I seemed to see him running over a wide field, with his back to his own house, and to join with him in crying, “Life, Life, eternal Life !" Thus I gathered a little strength, shunned my evil

courses. and determined never to return again to folly.

"But mark-Even now my soul was without an anchor. The vessel was no less in danger than before, only the sea was more calm. My reformation sprang not from a new heart, but from temptation having occasionally subsided. Indeed I went backwards and forwards, from the card-table to the worship of God, and from that back again to the cardtable. O, what an unhappy life! I often remember Mr. F's words, "Many people have just religion enough to make them miserable." I did not at present see the necessity that a Saviour should begin and carry on the work. I endeavoured to do it myself: but to my sorrow I found that sin was not thus to be overcome.

The more I strove against its power,

I sinn'd and stumbled but the moreThe stronger my resolutions were, the more easily they were broken in the hour of temptation. But mark what follows; I can much better feel the joy which these words gave me than express it.

Till late I heard my Saviour say, "Come hither, soul, I am the way." The Saviour now appeared to me the chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. I was at this time desirous of showing my love to him by obeying his commands, but had not sufficient resolution to declare my desires to any one.

"After I came hither, I was very unhappy. Being a servant, I had not my time at my own disposal. I was also a stranger to the place and the people. But the principal cause of my unhappiness was, that my time during a part of Lord's day mornings was occupied in slaughtering cattle, and in selling meat, for my masters. As long as I lived in this way I was cold in prayer, and duty seemed a task. But having after some time gained my sabbaths for myself, I became anxious to join the church. I was at first afraid of not being able to give the church satisfaction concerning my being a christian, but at length the Lord was pleased so to order it that I was invited to unite with them, which I and my wife both did as has been related."

On a review of the whole he says, 'I scem for a long time to have resembled the lame man at the pool o

Bethesda: whilst I was coming, some one stepped in before me."

About the time that he was baptized, he speaks of a minister, a Mr. White of Philadelphia,who preached at New York, from Matt. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; whose discourse seems to have left a deep impression on his mind." "He shewed, says he, the importance of these duties being joined together, and the danger of separating them. If we watch without praying, we shall be overcome, for we take the work into our own hands; and to pray without watching is presumption. Shall he who prays "Lead me not into temptation," run directly into temptation? It is not enough to shun the

actual commission of evil, but all approaches to it. You may propose to yourself to be only a spectator, and not an actor; but remember that you are to temptation what the needle is to the load-stone. Keep out of the way of evil; go not near it. The strongest resolutions and promises before-hand will be of no avail. If the tempter once prevail upon you to rush into the way of sin, he will prevail upon you to sin. If you associ ate with evil companions, he will suggest it is no greater sin to unite with them than to be a spectator. Wicked companions are themselves great tempters; and the unregenerate heart cannot withstand the temptation."

DOMESTIC RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

A Visit to the Scilly Islands.

THE Islands of Scilly are five in number, the principal of which is St. Mary's. They lie directly off the Land's end, and are distinctly scen from different parts of the coast. The Packets generally run over from Penzance in about six hours. The inhabitants are numerous, and chiefly supported by fishing, and a trade carried on with the fleet passing up Channel. The Methodists have some societies on those Islands, and have a Minister who resides six months there and then exchanges with another from the Penzance circuit.

Mr. Jeffery, who wrote the following Letter, is a humble, pious, and zealous young man, indefatigable in his exertions to carry the news of salvation through the Villages. He was taken from the plough about two years since by Mr. Smith, and has now to struggle hard through life, with a wife and child, on 301. per annum. Should this statement meet the eye of any benevolent individual, some small donation would be a real charity, and excite additional exertions. The Scilly Islands afford a large field for usefulness, and a young man sent from the Baptists to labour among them would be a real blessing.

Extract of a letter from Mr. John Jeffery to the Rev. G. C. Smith.

You well remember that a visit to the Islands of Scilly has long been impressed on my mind. On Friday Nov. 3, a very favorable opportunity presented itself: a friend proposed a visit of benevolence, and kindly offered to bear my expenses. We landed at St. Mary's about 2 o'clock the following morning. The same day I began my labours, with Bibles, Testaments, and Tracts, sent you for distribution by the Baptist Itinerant Society. I walked through the villages of St. Mary's, called at the doors of the cottages, and received the grateful acknowledgments of the poor people, in return for the precious little books. The houses are generally covered with straw, and secured by ropes of the same kind; looking at them, I thought, perhaps some of these homely dwellings contain the most valuable jewels. I knocked at the door of a poor widow; poor indeed, in the eyes of men, but rich in the estimation of Jehovah. I found that she wanted many temporal necessaries; but the chief source of her grief was that she had no Bible, nor money to purchase one. Ah, sir, scenes of this nature are not new to you; therefore you know in some

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measure the good it did my heart when I saw the gratitude of that humble disciple of Jesus. The silent tear which seemed to steal insensibly from her uplifted eye, thanked God in louder terms than articulate sounds could possibly have done. I called at the house of a respectable farmer, who lived in the delightful little village called Holly-vale, who kindly offered me the methodist-meeting, and sent two or three of his servants to announce my preaching. The house was nearly filled-"The Lord was really mindful of us and blessed us."

Lord's day I took a boat and visited the Island of Tresco, delighted to find a great number of people, and endeavoured to do something for my Lord and Master. I got Mr. J. T. to accompany me to another Island called Brier. The boatman, who appeared an honest hearted fellow, related a simple but very affecting tale concerning his friends. He said he had an afflicted wife andthree children. I said, "I hope you read the Bible and pray with your family." "I have got no bible, sir, and times are so hard that I fear another winter will pass away before I shall be able to afford one." I landed on the Island and went from house to house, distributing religious tracts. Talking with a poor family about Christ, they seemed much affected, I asked for their room to preach, (the Methodists have no service on this Island) they seemed very glad to have it in their power to oblige me. A young woman was present who said she had been taken by her friends to hear Mr. Smith preach at Penzance; she added, "I hope, sir, I shall never forget that Saviour of whom he said so many glorious things." The people being assembled, I gave them an exhortation. The greater part wept very much. O God, fasten thy word as a nail in a sure place! When the service was over, I asked them some particulars relative to the inhabitants of the Island called Sampson, and was glad to find several of them among my audience. I gave two of them some books, they being the only persons that could read. My heart, sir, was truly filled with reve verential awe and holy love, on witnessing the tears that stood on the face of almost every individual.

Returning to Tresco, I gave the

boatman a New Testament. I preached on the Island to a great number of people from John xix. 6. They were very attentive and seemed athirst for the word of life. May our covenant God add his richest blessing. The next morning I distributed near 250 tracts, gave a word of exhortation, and returned to the Island of St. Mary. Hiring a boat I went to St. Agnes, distributed a great number of tracts, and preached from Acts xvii. 30, 31.

The following day I returned to Penzance, praising God for all his mercies, and now take the liberty of sending you this brief statement, as it may prove gratifying to those who believe "the Isles shall wait for his law."

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In aid of the Baptist Mission in India. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. Sir,

I was much pleased with the in teresting account inserted in your Magazine for last month relative to the exertions of the churches in the Hants and Wilts Society, in aid of the Baptist Mission in India. I do think, with brother Saffery, that all the Ministers in the denomination, ought to be equally concerned, and according to their ability and influence, to engage in this good work of helping the Parent Institution.

Much has been done for this blessed cause by regular subscriptions, donations, and annual sermons, but this source of assistance has been obtained chiefly from the purses of the middle-ranks and independent classes of the community, but I think much more might be done among the poor Disciples of the Redeemer, in our churches, congregations, and their neighbourhoods, I mean by the univer sal establishment of penny-a-week societies, throughout the kingdom; this trifling sum might be spared weekly without much difficulty, but for the poor to give or subscribe only a few shillings at one time would be generally inconvenient.

Such societies, formed in all the Churches, and conducted by active Committees, with two steady and persevering persons appointed to receive the subscriptions in the vestry at the close of the morning-service every

Lords-day, and the Minister occasionally giving an exhortation when he sees the institution declining, would, I am persuaded, be of importance to the great object. Such a Society as we wish to obtain a universal establishment, has been set on foot at Hammersmith, and our manner of conducting it is by a Committee, two Receivers of subscriptions weekly; and on the Friday Evening at the prayer meeting, 1 frequently read some of the most striking extracts from the Periodical Accounts from India, and at the close of the year, before making up the sum to transmit to the Treasurer of the Parent Society, we have a sermon, with a view to rouse the negligent, to pay up their arrears, and to increase the number of Subscribers; and this we find keeps the object warmly impressed upon the mind. The fruits of our humble attempt to serve a Mission that is dear to our hearts (and has been abundantly blessed of God) has been, the first two months in 1812, we transmitted to the Treasurer,

In the year 1813, In the year 1814, Hammersmith.

£10 26 43 11 6 45 100

THOMAS UPPADINE.

New Church formed.

August 21st, a new place of worship was opened in the large and populous town of Taunton, by the particular Baptists. The services were conducted by brethren Cherry, Hor-sey, and Tyso. Since which brother Horsey has constantly preached there: a Church has been formed; the place is well attended, and the prospect is very encouraging.

Stepney Academical Institution. The annual Meeting of the Subscribers and friends of the " Baptist Academical Institution at Stepney" will be held (providence permitting) at the New London Tavern, in Cheapside, on Tuesday the 17th. Instant, at six o'clock in the evening, when the report of the Committee will be read; a Treasurer, Secretary, and a Committee chosen for the ensuing year, and other business transacted of importance to the welfare of the Institution.

The Chair will be taken at the exact time.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received a letter from the Rev. Messrs. Bogue and Bennett, in answer to that which appeared in our number for November, signed "Gaius." Instead of attempting to prove their assertion, "that the Baptists had no distinct communion until the time of Luther," the point in debate;-they refer to their History, in which they have said, "there were persons who maintained the opinions of the Baptists in the earlier ages, and that there were Baptists among the Waldenses." They deny, however, that "any thing has been adduced to make it evident that they were a distinct body, which excluded others from their communion.” They are of opinion (they say) that "the state of the Baptists among the Waldenses, the Bohemians, and in the earlier ages of the church," resembled that of the Baptist members of the church at Bedford, which has Pædobaptist members and a Pædobaptist pastor!"* No proof whatever of this assertion is produced, and we are persuaded none can be found. As they have therefore given up the subject of dispute, and introduced that of mixed communion, we see no propriety in admitting their letter.

* The congregation at Bedford, of which the celebrated John Bunyan was Pastor, is produced as a proof that Baptists may be found in Societies where they do not exist as a " distinct body." Does the reference to this congregation relate to what it is now, or to what it was then? Mr. Bunyan, and all his predecessors in office, viz. Gifford, Burton, Whiteman, and Fenn, were Baptists! Have not the writers of the "History of Dissenters" considered this church, and many others in Bedfordshire constituted upon the same principles, at the period of the Reformation, as belonging to the Baptist denomination? Or will they undertake to prove that the churches at Oxford, Leicester, Battersea, &c. &c which admit Pædobaptists to communion, are not of the Baptist denomination? Though there has always existed a difference of opinion among the English Baptists, as to the terms of communion; yet it was never thought that admitting Pædobaptists excluded a church from the denomination; or furnished evidence that the Baptists were not a distinct body.

On Mr. W. B. of Oxford, who died in that City, June 8th, 1814; Et. 25,
In the short period of 3 weeks after he had commenced business.

1. How fruitless do the tears of Friendship prove
To stop a mortal's progress to the tomb!
Insatiate Death removes the friends we love,
And bids us tarry but to mourn their doom.
2. The passing knell proclaims a funeral near,
Yon grave wide opens to receive its prey;
Approach, ye young, and read it with a tear-
"At twenty five the youth was snatch'd away.”
3. Oft have I seen the Sun his chariot drive

O'er the bright summit of the eastern bills:
Not far advanc'd,—the black'ning clouds arrive,
And the full radiance of his orb conceals-
4. Conceals indeed, but not restrains his flight;
He's trav'lling on, tho' hid from mortal eye;
And, though he plunge at length in deepest night,
He'll shine the brighter in the morning sky.
5. So rose the youth belov'd, my lays embalm,

So sunk his frame beneath affliction's blow;
But he shall rise in heav'n's perpetual calm,

And shine when suns and stars expire below.
6. Tho' by the storms of persecution driven,

Faith's eye discover'd the celestial prize ;
Calm, though revil'd, he trod the path to heaven,
And wept that any should that path despise.
7. Say, weeping friends, to whom his form appears
In ev'ry path your mournful feet frequent;
Say, can ye wish him in this vale of tears,
The smiling Angel 'gain a weeping saint?
8. Suppress the wish-methinks I hear his lyre
Thus to his weeping friends he left below:
"He mourns the dead, who lives as they require;
"And gives to God the moments as they flow."

9. Retrace his path to Canaan's happy shore,
And be ye also ready for the tomb;
To you alike unknown's the day-the hour

When the dread summons of the Judge shall come.

LINES

ALIQUIS.

To a poor Cottage Boy, who on being exhorted to go to a place of worship, replied that his clothes were not good enough.

Caseley.

Yet go, poor Rustic, tatter'd as thou art,

Tho' men may scorn thee for thy outward robe,
The eyes, that with a glance survey the globe,

Are fix'd incessantly upon the heart.
Yet go-perhaps with soft compassion's eye,
Some good Samaritan may pass thee by,
And o'er thee drop, bright as a gem, the tear,
And say," Thou shalt a garb superior wear!"
Yet go for who can tell, Almighty grace
May with the Sons of God give thee a place;
May clothe thee with the Righteousness divine,
And then no monarch's vest shall equal thine:
And Thou, poor Cottager, thy griefs and wanderings o'er,
Shalt soon to glory rise, and Jesus' love adore.

Smith, Printer, John Street, Edgware Road

B. H. D.

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