is fresh and flourishing; four years ago I immersed the first two believers at Leer, and now we have there, and at Wener, Ihren, Bonde, &c., sixty-four members. I visited all these and several other places, and preached everywhere to large assemblies. If God continue to bless as he has been pleased to do during the last twelve months, we shall have large accessions. The state-church Christians have been roused to take the field against us, but not wielding the sword of the Spirit, but their own weapons, we both pity and smile at them. They are circulating extensively a tract entitled, "The Anabaptists,' in which they are zealously assisted by an agent of the Lower Saxony Tract Society. "At Varel, my native place, I preached to about 300 hearers, the Lord is adding to our numbers along the Oldenburg side of the Weser, many precious souls. "Our conferences at Bremen, for the North West German Association, and at Eimbeck, for the Middle and South Associations of our churches, have been highly satisfactory, and will, by God's blessing, prove to be of vast importance to the stability and increase of our churches. "At Hamburg the Lord is greatly blessing us, eighty-seven precious souls have been already added to us this year; and I trust the Lord will give us, at least, a full hundred before the close of the year." Bromsgrove ................................J. Sneath. Bewdley............................................................G. Cousins. The annual meeting was held in Cannon Street chapel, Birmingham, May 29th and 30th. Mr. Swan presided. Mr. T. H. Mor gan was re-chosen secretary. Sermons were delivered by Messrs. New and Wright. A circular letter on the Claims of Truth, prepared by Mr. Hossack, was read and adopted. After the letters from the churches had been read, Mr. Morgan, senior, delivered the fullowing interesting address :— "This is not the same association into which I entered forty-eight years ago. Of the many excal lent ministers who then superintended the churches, two only, besides myself, can I recollect as Dow living. And of the band of noble-minded men, King, Potts, Round, Johnson, and others by when it was my felicity to be surrounded at the time when the church in Cannon street built the place of worship, where the association are now so kindly accommodated, almost all are gone to inherit the better country prepared for those who serve the Redeemer. What is the state of our churches now progress as might reasonably be expected? The as compared with the past? Have we made such letters just read contain much which should excite our gratitude, yet not unaccompanied by deep solicitude and humiliation. During the past fifty years additions have been made to our places of worship; but there are other aspects in which our condition cannot be contem plated with unmingled satisfaction. The internal tion to each other, and to the important public condition of many of the churches, and their relamovements now in progress, both in our own country and in European society, demand a very close, humble, and prayerful consideration. I wish we had reason to be quite satisfied with the state of our several societies, and their fitness to outride the coming storm, should its violence be still increased, before the promised day of deliverance shall have warranted us to raise the shout of triumph. But our circumstances imperatively call upon all the churches to humble themselves before God, and to entreat that the light of his countenance may be lifted up upon them. I would remind you that the cause of our humiliation is found in ourselves. It is sin, and sin alone, that separates between us and our God, and causes him to hide his face from us. We should be deeply penitent, and confess that we have grieved his Holy Spirit; and we may place reliance on the freeness of his mercy if we prayerfully seek it-if we seek the Lord he will be found of us-if we ask we shall receive. We have not, because we ask not. us do this individually, and in our respective families, the house of David apart,' &c., and let us agree to meet as churches at certain seasons in our separate localities to send up united supplications Let to our heavenly Father through the merits of the Intercessor before the throne. "Let us also cultivate the spirit of love, peace, and holiness. In vain will the most cogent treatises on nonconformity be printed and circulated if our churches present to the world the repulsive attitude of contentious, quarrelsome, unlovely associations. By their fruits ye shall know them,' is an axiom of highest authority. Men who desire peace and love, and holy joy in social religion, will be disposed to take up their dwelling where these lovely fruits are found, though other things may be unapproved. We should be very careful not to prejudice the cause of the adorable Saviour among us, by dispositions and behaviour which scare away from us the gentle spirits of the young, and forbid the approach of those strangers who, possessing the finest sensibilities of our renewed nature, would find it impossible to make their home with the contentious. Let every member form a resolute determination to be amiable and lovely, that others may find no difficulty in obeying the requirement of our Lord, to love him with a pure heart fervently.' A holy, peaceful, loving church is an epistle of Christ, known and read of all men, and the consideration of it will enlist the judgment, conscience, and heart, in its favour. "The sympathy and edification of the churches generally, would be greatly promoted by the more free and frequent interchange of the respective pastors of the churches. The idea of rivalry, jealousy, and other modes of selfishness ought not to be allowed a place in any church or any minister of Jesus Christ. The salvation of men, the edification of the whole church, should be the sole concern of all, and the talents and grace which Christ has shed abroad, should as far as possible be for the whole church. All things are yours,' &c. No one church should seek to be a monopolist of the very best treasures. Ministers should desire all practicable interchange of services, and churches should not oppose, but approve and encourage their pastors to extend their usefulness. "In the apostolic days there was a constant visitation of the churches by eminently gifted and gracious ministers. Paul said to Apollos, 'Let us go into every city, &c., and see how they do.' Apollos, mighty in the scriptures, and an eloquent man, travelled far, and 'everywhere mightily helped them that believed. This was clearly the apostolic practice. Paul, when at Athens, was so concerned about the brethren at Thessalonica, that he says, 'I could no longer forbear,' but sent Timotheus to see after them, till he should be able to go himself. Are not the hearts of some of our eminently qualified brethren at times filled with tender longings after those portions of the flock of Jesus which are distant from the folds of which they are the immediate pastors? Whence these loving and strong feelings? The Spirit has not forsaken the church though the age of miracles is past. Every pious Christian feeling comes from above. Our brethren should pray over these inward desires, and if they put them into practice the churches should welcome them, and earnestly pray that they may come in the fulness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ. All these visitations should be quite voluntary on the part of the ministers and the churches. Any assumption of authority would be unchristian, and entirely defeat the desired advantage." At the conclusion of his address, brother Thomas Morgan moved, "That this association recommend"1st. That all the churches observe the evening of the second Monday in each month for united prayer to God for their revival and prosperity. "2nd. That the pastors of the churches arrange for the interchange of services as may be found convenient to themselves, and that the churches promote this effort to fraternize and co-operate. "3rd. That the churches cordially welcome such of our esteemed and venerated brethren as may feel their hearts inclined to pay them visits of ministerial usefulness, and that our ministers quench not the Spirit within them, but follow its leadings, and aspire after higher and more extensive usefulness." "4th. That every church, both small and large, be conscientiously careful to present to the world a fair sample of the religion of Jesus, so that by their purity, peace, love, and fruitfulness in good works, they may prove that God is with them, and induce strangers to say, 'we will go with you to the heavenly kingdom."" These resolutions were approved and adopted. Romsey Salisbury ......J. W. Todd. Southampton, 1st ch....T. Morris. 2nd ch....A. McLaren. Whitchurch ...............C. Smith. Winchester ...............J. Davis. The twenty-fifth annual meeting was held at Andover, June 5 and 6, 1849. Mr. Goodman presided; and Mr. Morris the secretary, and Mr. Baker the treasurer, were thanked for their past services and requested to continue them. Sermons were preached by Messrs. Morris, Neave, and Room: a circular letter, drawn up by Mr. McLaren on the Nature and Design of Associations of The next meeting is to be held at Winchester, the first Tuesday and Wednesday in June. WORCESTERSHIRE. 18th inst.; when two addresses were delivered: the first by the Rev. T. A. Wheeler on the relation of the church to the congregation: the second by the Rev. J. Alexander on the mutual obligations of pastors and people. A public tea meeting was held, after the service, in the Corn Exchange, which was attended by above five hundred persons, including members of many churches of different denominations in the city and county. The Rev. G. Gould presided, and addresses were delivered by the Rev. George Johnson, Rev. J. Alexander, Rev. Thomas Wheeler, Rev. Andrew Reed, Rev. R. Govett, Rev. J. Venimore, Rev. J. Dovey, J. H. Tillett, Esq., and James Colman, Esq. DARLINGTON. The recognition of the Rev. James Fyfe as pastor of this church took place on Tuesday, the 25th September. The company This association comprises ten churches: assembled to witness the proceedings com He prised members of various other Christian T. Pottenger, Newcastle, the Rev. H. Tarrant of Darlington (Wesleyan Association minister); and the benediction having been pronounced by the Rev. T. Kneebon of Hartlepool, the meeting separated, highly gratified by this interesting service. CASTLEACRE, NORFOLK. On Monday, October 1st, Mr. Jabez Stutterd was solemnly set apart to the pastoral office over the baptist church in this village. Mr. Wherry of Swanton Novers opened the solemn services of the day by reading the scriptures and prayer; the Rev. J. C. Pike of Wisbeach stated the nature and constitution of a Christian church; the Rev. J. Burrows of Magdalen proposed the questions to the church and minister; the Rev. Thomas Gill of Melbourne offered the ordination prayer, accompanied with the imposition of hands, and delivered a charge to the newly-ordained minister; the Rev. T. Scott of Norwich addressed the church. BRATTON, WILTS. Mr. H. Anderson, late of Mary port, Cumberland, having accepted the invitation of the baptist church at Bratton, Wilts, commenced his labours there on Lord's day, 9th September last. NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT. Mr. William Jones, late student at Bristol, and subsequently at Edinburgh, has accepted a unanimous invitation to the pastorate from the baptist church at Newport, after some months probation. RECENT DEATHS. MR. PATIENCE. touched him, as he had just broken through some parental restraint; he supposed the preacher knew of it, and intended all for him. This impression, although it partially subsided, yet never wholly wore off. About two years after this, he was more powerfully alarmed by the application of the following text to his mind, "He will gather the wheat into his garner, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." He could not recollect to have ever seen the passage nor to have heard it from the pulpit: it seemed to be laid upon his conscience immediately by God. Now commenced a sharp struggle between his convictions on the one hand, and his passions on the other. He had previously to this formed an acquaintance with several ungodly companions; with these he earnestly sought the pleasures of the world, and would fain have drowned the cares concerning his soul. With these he one night went to the theatre, and was highly amused and delighted with the performances, till, like a flash of lightning, the word of God darted into his soul," He shall burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." He was instantly filled with terror; he looked up and thought he saw the roof falling upon him; he fully expected he should die in the house, and be found among the chaff. He cried to the Lord in the deepest agony, and longed for the play to be ended, that he might withdraw from the society of the ungodly, whom he saw to be intended by the chaff. The distress of his mind so affected his body that it made him quite ill; his companions proposed going to a public house to get some refreshment, but he refused; they endeavoured to thrust him in by physical force; he did not yield: they were angry and left him; they went into the inn, and he went home. This was the last visit he paid to the theatre, and, what was most extraordinary, he never from that time met with one of his companions; thus he says, "I was delivered An inspired writer has said, "The memory from the snare of the fowler, the snare was of the just is blessed." This proverb, the broken and I escaped." From that time to writer thinks, will apply to few good men the day of his death, our friend was preserved more suitably than to Alexander Blakeney from forsaking the Lord. For a long time he Patience, late a deacon of the baptist church, was much distressed upon the subject of Little Alie Street, Goodman's Fields, London. temptation, and the enemy suggested to him Mr. Patience was born in the city of he could not be a child of God because he Bristol, October 1, 1756. It does not ap- was tempted: from this bondage it pleased pear that he was favoured with a religious God to deliver him, by the instrumentality of education, yet from some cause or other he Captain Torial Joss, one of the Tabernacle early in life was accustomed to attend the preachers, at that time. Mr. Joss was supplymeans of grace, and even before he felt the ing the Tabernacle pulpit at Bristol. Mr. power of religion upon his soul, gave the pre- Patience under deep trouble of soul went to ference to the ministry of Mr. Tomas, then hear him, he preached from the following the celebrated and revered pastor of the words, "Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired baptist church at the Pithay meeting house. to have you, that he may sift you as wheat, When about sixteen years of age, he was but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail deeply impressed under a sermon which Mr. not." This blessedly cheered his heart, that Tomas preached upon the parable of the though Satan desired to have the poor seekprodigal son; this sermon the more keenlying sinner, he must be safe if Jesus prayed for him; still he could not see how it was possible for a child of God to be tempted as he was. He went the next week to hear Mr. Joss again, when the good old man preached from Heb. iv. 15, "But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." These two sermons were so much blessed to his soul, that he seemed to retain the savour of them to his dying day; they were frequently the subject of conversation, and seldom without tears. Our friend was baptized by Mr. Tomas in October, 1781, was received into communion with the Pithay church, and for about seven years walked with that people in the exercise of the warmest love, and happiest fellowship. The gourd was pleasant, he was delighted to sit under it, but soon found there was a worm at the root of it. Such were the arrangements of a divine Providence, that he must leave his native city and his beloved friends to reside in the metropolis; this was a trial indeed, and so unsettled his mind that he did not unite with any church in London for several years; he chiefly attended and broke bread at Devonshire Square, but for years hoped the Lord would lead him back to Bristol again. At length his mind settled upon uniting with Little Alie Street. It is singular he happened to go to hear the late Mr. Shenston, on the first Lord's day of his pastorate in that place, February, 1798, and there he continued the rest of his life. He was received a member of Little Alie Street, June 3, 1798, and through the long period of fifty-one years his conduct was such as adorned the Christian character. On the 29th of September, 1806, he was chosen to the office of deacon, and during the space of forty-three years, sustained that office with great credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow members. A brother deacon, who was intimately acquainted with him, and who travelled with him for nearly fifty years in the ways of God, says, "Our deceased friend feared God above many, and it might with some degree of limitation be said of him, he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith." He was a warm admirer of the truth as it is in Jesus: the Sovereign, electing love, grace, and mercy of a triune God, were the delightful themes on which he loved to dwell. He always esteemed a ministry that embraced doctrine, experience, and practice, with all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, as once delivered to the saints and practised by the apostles. He loved and promoted the peace and welfare of Zion, preferring the prosperity of the cause of God above his chief joy. The writer feels pleasure in stating that, during their long acquaintance, nothing has occurred in the least degree to diminish affection: no angry word or unkind expression having ever been uttered by one towards the other for the period of fifty years. The last several years of his life he passed under trying circumstances; he could not see to read, and his hearing was so affected that he could seldom hear a sermon, but his mind was well stored with the word of God, and his memory was so retentive, that he was seldom without a subject for meditation. The prayer-meeting at nine o'clock on the Lord's day morning was his delight, and there he was able to be the last sabbath he spent upon earth, and, as had been his practice for many years, did not leave the sanctuary till the close of the evening service. On the Monday he was taken ill, and sank apace till his departure. During the four or five days of his dying illness, his mind was blessedly stayed upon the "Rock of ages." Our aged and honourable friend calmly breathed his last on Friday afternoon, about half-past five o'clock, August 24, 1849, having been in church fellowship nearly sixtyeight years. Peace be to his memory! and may we who are left be helped to imitate him in all that is lovely, live as honourably and usefully, and die as peacefully as he did. MRS. SCROXTON. Ann Scroxton, the wife of Mr. Scroxton, formerly pastor of the baptist church, Bromsgrove, was born in the year 1778, baptized in 1800, and received her dismission from the church below to the church above, July 17th, 1849. Her life was a life of humble usefulness. When able, few were more attentive to the claims of sick beds than she was, and what she was able to give few were more willing than herself to give. She was a baptist, and she loved her denomination; she was more, she was a Christian philanthropist, and loved the whole family of God. Whoever bore Christ's image she looked upon as her brother; wherever Christ was preached she could feel at home; whatever section of Christ's church prospered, she rejoiced; whatever section suffered, she mourned. For fortynine years she has been enabled through good report and through evil report, grace strengthening her, to maintain a good profession. For forty-nine years she has stood a pillar in the sanctuary of God, and been a mother in Israel, nursing the young, tending the sick, encouraging the diffident, holding up her minister's hands by her constant prayers and exertions, cheering their hearts by her constant attendance, and setting before all an example worthy of imitation. Death, though he came to her heralded by messengers of severe bodily anguish, she welcomed as a friend. No murmur escaped her lips. The language of her heart was, "If it is God's will that I should endure sufferings, let God's will be done; all I ask for is patience to keep me from complaining, and grace to sustain me. Then let the furnace burn, it will only consume what wants consuming, and prepare me for those blessed |