in some of the southern states, to their praise be it spoken, would never hold slaves. The methodists, in some places, set out on this principle: their ministers preached against slavery; many set them at liberty; but, I believe, at present, their scruples are mostly laid aside. The Baptists are by no means uniform in their opinions of slavery. Many let it alone altogether. some remonstrate against it in gentle terms; others oppose it vehemently; while far the greater part of them hold slaves, and justify themselves the best way they can.

In the six states we have named, there are now about ninety thou sand Baptist communicants; and I conclude, as many as forty thousand of this great number are negroes. Many, it is true, are free, but the greater part of them are slaves. Thousands of them are owned by Baptist masters, and others by other people. The owners of slaves have generally been loaded with reproachful invectives for their practice. They have been all, without discrimination, charged with a want of both principle and feeling, with tyranny, cruelty, and oppression. But to "discriminate is just."-Many must be blamed, but others ought rather to be pitied. Many of the best of masters have slaves, who are idle, thievish, stupid, and mischievous, and every way calculated to vex their feelings and mar all their enjoyments; and whatever may be said of the condition of their slaves, all must allow that the master's is more wretched than theirs.

Many I have seen are heartily sick of having slaves about them, and think that the people at the northward, who are free from the incumbrance of this troublesome property, are far more happy than they.

In travelling to collect materials for this work, I spent about

five months in the six states now under consideration. I set out with a determination so say nothing on the subject of slavery; but people would converse upon it. Some were very curious to learn the minds of the northern people respecting slavery; others wanted to know how we could do our work without negroes; and many were anxious to clear themselves of the unjust aspersions, which, in their opinions, had been cast upon them. There is a class of people (though I am happy to say I do not find many in it who profess religion,) that entrench themselves around with their laws, their customs, and their wealth, and spurn with indignity, any scruple of the harmfulness of holding slaves. There is another class, who are so amazingly suspicious that you are about to censure them, that it seems really cruel to mention one word against the slave-holding policy. But by far the greater part of those brethren, who are concerned in slavery, converse upon the subject with much frankness, and the following are the principal reasons which they assign for their practice:

1. They had no hand in bringing them into the country; but since they are brought, somebody must take care of them.

2. They cost them much money, generally from three to five hundred dollars apiece, and sometimes more, if they set them free, all this must be sacrificed.

3. Others observed they had inherited their slaves as a part of their patrimonial estate: they came to them without their seeking; and now they know no better way than to find them employment, and make them as comfortable as their circumstances would permit.

4. Some mentioned that the Romans and other nations had slaves; that they were numerous at

the introduction of Christianity; that neither Christ nor the apostles, nor any of the new testament writers said any thing against it; that if it were contrary to the spirit of the gospel, it is strange that it is no where prohibited. The last of these arguments has just about as much weight as those which are brought, in support of infant-baptism; the others I shall leave without any comment.

The fact is, most of the people under consideration, awoke into being surrounded with slaves, and and now they must make the best they can of their situation.

But it is a well-known and pleasing fact, that the evils of slavery are yearly diminishing. Worldly policy has done something towards ameliorating the condition of this numerous class of pitiful beings; but religion has done much

more.

Benedict's Hist. American Baptists.

ANECDOTE.

Vavasor Powell, an eminent Baptist minister, being appointed to preach on a certain day, in a meadow, near Trezaron, Cardiganshire, a number of idle persons, enemies of religion, agreed to meet at the same time and place, to play at foot-ball, and thereby create a disturbance. Among them was a young man of a respectable family in that neighbourhood, lately returned home from school, having finished his education, who being nimble-footed, and dextrous at the game, had obtained possession of the ball, intending to kick it in the face of the preacher. At this instant, another person ran towards him and tripped up his heels. By the fall his leg was broken; and after lying on the ground for some time in great agony, he expressed a wish to see the minister, to whom, on his arrival, he confessed

his wicked intention, and acknowledged the just judgment of God, which had befallen him.

The minister having represented to him the evil and danger of sin, preached the power and grace of the Saviour; and at the request of the young man, accompanied him to his father's house.

So great was the change produc- ed in him by means of this affliction, that, on his recovery, he began to preach, and was, for many years, the most laborious and useful preacher in those parts. His name was Morgan Howell. Thomas's History of the Welsh Baptists.

QUERY.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.

A HARD CASE.

Mr. Editor,

I have been a baptist in sentiment, and, I trust, a subject of a divine change, for several years; but your inexorable strictness in requiring your members to renounce infant baptism, the only means of having children legally registered, has deterred me from joining your denomination. You know, sir, that the natural feelings, with which God hath endued us, and the injunctions of scripture, make it our duty to provide for our families. Would it not be both unnatural and antiscriptural, to leave our children in a state of incapacity to produce a legal register in a court of law, so as to lay claim to a little land or property belonging to them? If I am mistaken in my views on the subject, I hope that one of your intelligent correspondents will rectify my notions, through the medium of your useful miscellany. If my objection is well-founded, I, with many more under the same im

brother Ward since Dweep-chund's death, expressing his admiration

No. XXVII.

On the 18th of September, died at Serampore, our beloved brother Dweep-chund, an itinerant, lately supported by brother Gordon, of Calcutta, and employed by him in the work of God, at the jail and in its neighbourhood.

Our deceased brother was born at Pejiya, in Jessore, belonging to the writer-cast, and at the time of his death was about twenty-eight years of age. His mother, who had been baptized, and who lived under his roof, died a few months before him.

ད ་

During the last twelve months of. his life, he appeared to be much more deeply affected by divine things than ever he had previously been; which was conspicuous in his preaching and general conversation. He was distinguished amongst our native brethren on account of his fervour of spirit, and apparent desire of doing good,

Kureem, in conversation with

racter, said, that he, with another brother, once accompanied Dweepchund to a neighbouring village to preach. On their arrival, they found a Portuguese man sitting at his door on a chair, and going up to him, entered into conversation with him, and offered to smoke out of his hooka. He upon this turned round with astonishment, and asked them what they meant; adding that they were Bengalees ; would they smoke with him? They declared that they were christians, and that they despised no man, as all were children of one Father. The Portuguese man, pleased with their frankness, and with finding christians among the natives, gave them his hooka, and ordered three chairs to be brought for them; which, however, they declined, and sat on the ground. By this time, several of the villagers had arrived on the spot, and began to listen to the conversation; when these brethren sang a hymn in

Bengalee, Eternal salvation by the death of Christ,' which drew numbers around them, and at the close of the hymn and of prayer, Dweep-chund got up, and with the Testament in his hand, addressed them iu a manner which astonished Kureem and the other native brother, and excited the wonder of the listening strangers. Such words from such a quarter!—A brahmun amongst the crowd, however, interrupted the speaker, and made use of some opprobrious language; and being enraged at the reply, he began beating Dweep-chund, who received his blows without resistance; One, however, who was less patient, was provoked to use threatening language; when Dweepchund restrained him by saying, -'Brother, we are the disciples of Him who was as a lamb led to the slaughter; who, in the midst of his murderers, looked stedfastly towards heaven, praying that they might be forgiven, when one look of anger on them would have reduced them to ashes.' The Portuguese man at this was ready to take Dweepchund into his arms, and all appeared to be much struck with this new thing in the landmen praying for their persecutors!

During his last long-continued affliction, Dweep chund unceasingly testified his rejection of every refuge but Jesus; and in his last moments, when visited by brethren Marshman and Ward, he appeared to be eminently supported by his hope in Christ. Many pleasing expressions dropped from his lips during the last days of his life, all tending to shew how much he felt his obligations to a crucified Savi

our.

He has left a widow, and a son about a year old to deplore his loss.

SUSANNA CLARK,

Was born at Lamerton in Devonshire, and it is highly probable that for the first 20 years of her life she never heard of salvation through the merits of the Son of God; but it pleased him whose judgments are a great deep, to overrule a painful circumstance, and make it the means of bringing her under the sound of the gospel, and then, by the influence of his Holy Spirit, to make that word effectual. Having first given herself to God, she was baptized by the Rev. P. Gibbs, then pastor of the Baptist church at Plymouth, about 1782. Not long after, a Baptist interest being raised at Dock, the place of her residence, she united with them, under the ministry of her pastor and valued friend, Mr. Birt, now of Birmingham. She for many years remained a member, and often found sweet seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. After many changing scenes, Providence directed her way to Worstead, where she soon found herself happy, and quite at home, with her religious connexions; and, though called to endure much bodily affliction, she found that promise fulfilled, my grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness.

In the month of February, 1814, she, for the last time, united with her friends in the house of prayer; but, though confined to her habitation, christian sympathy and unwearied attention softened the rugged path of affliction. As her end drew nigh, her confidence was strengthened. For a considerable time before her death she was, anxious for some sweet promise to be applied with power to her heart, and that desire was granted. The words were, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, I one day repeated those lines

His love in times past, Forbids me to think, He'll leave me at last,

In trouble to sink, &c.

and added, "You know the reason, for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." She replied, "I believe he will not." Her resignation to the divine will shone conspicuous at times, exclaiming, though opprest with violent pain, "I know thy judgments are right, and that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me." She was asked, Is Jesus precious? to which she replied, Yes," and soon after fell asleep, on the 28th of September last.

Her remains were interred on the following Lord's day, and the solemn providence improved by Mr. Caddy, from Daniel xii. 2. to a large and deeply affected auditory. Worstead. R. C.

SARAH BRIGGS.

Thursday Dec. 29, 1814, died Sarah Briggs, a member of the Baptist church at Sheffield, Yorkshire, in the 48th year of her age. She was brought to a knowledge of the truth under the preaching of those ministers of the Baptist denomination, who attempted nearly 30 years since, to establish an interest in Sheffield. Being also convinced of the ordinance of baptism, as administered by them, she was baptised by Mr. (now Dr.) Fawcett, of Hebden Bridge, in the year 1788. She was a steady and an upright christian; without bigotry, was firmly attached to the doctrines

of grace; for when her late husband gave up the doctrines he had professed, and imbibed the system of Unitarianism, she did not, as many do, follow his example, but came, unattended by him, to her former place of worship. In her moral conduct she stood unimpeached, not that she was without imperfections, for in her last illness, she lamented that her mind had been too much taken up with the things of the world, (in which she was too much like Martha, "careful about many things,") and that she had not attended upon the means of grace, so constantly as she ought; though, when well, she was more constant than most of her female friends. Uprightness and sincerity were leading traits in her character, and appeared in oppos. ing whatever she thought wrong.

She had been very unwell a long time before her death, which took place rather unexpectedly, as to time, as the day before she appeared as well as she had been for some days past. In the approach of death she had not those extasies which some experience, but she had a well-grounded hope in Christ; through whom, alone, she expected salvation. Her last breath was spent in imploring mercy, which she now experiences in its perfection. Her death was improved by her pastor, Lord's day evening, Jan. 8. 1815, from Jer. xxviii. 16. "This year thou shalt die." Let us follow her as far as she followed Christ.

Sheffield, Jan. 19, 1815.
W. DOWNS.

Sermons on various subjects, adapted chiefly for Domestic Reading, by the late Rev. J. Evans, Abing

don. To which is prefixed a Memoir of the Author, by James Hinton, Gale and Co. 1814.