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the heart, in leading persons who have "tasted that the Lord is gracious," to use their influence in attempting to bring others to "the obedience of faith."

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The public services of the Baptist Missionary Society, on the same day, were attended by large congregations, in Great Queen-street chapel. Mr. Griffin read the scriptures; Dr. Ryland prayed; Mr. Cox preached, from Numbers, xxiii. 23, "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought." The care of God, in protecting his church from danger, was illustrated by a reference to the period of the Jewish theocracy, from the time of Moses--in the time of the apostles -at the period of the Reformation from Popery-and especially during the last thirty years. In the latter period, Mr. Cox noticed the attempts of Voltaire and his triumvirate, to exterminate Christianity from Europe, and the gradual but large extension of the gospel since that time. Mr. Watson, Secretary to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, concluded this service in prayer.

In the evening, at Sion chapel, Mr. Thos. Thomas read the scriptures, Mr. Ivimey prayed, Mr. Samuel Saunders, of Frome, preached from Psalms, "O send out thy light and thy truth!"

The preacher, in a strain of powerful eloquence, represented the miserable state of the heathen world, as destitute of the light of the gospel; the adaptation of the gospel to heal all its maladies; the reasons why Christians uttered the prayer of the text, and the blessedness which attended the fulfilment of the petition. Mr. Wilkinson, of Saffron-Waldron, concluded in prayer. The hymns were read by Messrs. Elvey, of Fetter-lane; Arlington, of Clapham; Dr. Newman, Shenstone,

and others.

We shall feel obliged, on behalf of our readers, if the preachers will imitate some of their predecessors in these labours, and furnish a brief outline of their sermons for insertion in the Magazine.

GENERAL UNION SOCIETY.

The Meeting of this Society, held at Carter-lane, on Thursday morning, the 25th, was well attended by ministers, and other brethren, both in town and country; and, but for a Meeting of the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society, which was unavoidably held at the same time, would have been by several

others, who regretted the necessity of being absent. We understand, that the accounts given of the state of the churches were very gratifying.

STEPNEY INSTITUTION.

The sermon before the above Institution, was preached at Salters'-hall, by Mr. Coles, of Bourton, from 1 Tim. iii. 1, the office of a bishop, he desireth a good "This is a true saying, If a man desire work." Mr. Coles will oblige us by sending us so much of this sermon as will fill a few pages of our Magazine. The excellent advice, and evangelical sentiments it contained, demand for it a more permanent form. It may do much good exhort," are much benefitted by such exto ministers in general. "Those who hortations. Mr. Anderson, of Dunstable, began; and Mr. Hughes, of Battersea, concluded in prayer. The hymns were read by Mr. Thomas Thomas, secretary to the Institution.

for the success of missions, was held at In the evening, the Prayer Meeting, Albion chapel, Moorfields. A report was read by Mr. Dyer, of Reading, the asvered by Mr. Saffery, of Salisbury; prayer sistant secretary; and an address deliby Messrs. Upton, Winterbotham, of hymns read by Mr. Shenstone. At all Horsley, and Pain, of Ipswich. The fad come to hand on Tuesday, from Mr, the Missionary Meetings, a letter which W. H. Pearce, was read; and, after the latter meeting, printed copies were given away at the doors of the chapel. We insert it for the gratification of those of our readers who were not present on these occasions, and to preserve so cheering and important a missionary docu

ment.

Letter from Mr. William Pearce (son of the late Rev. Samuel Pearce) to the Rev. James Hinton, of Oxford, dated Serampore, Jan. 1818.

My much esteemed friend and pastor,

As a vessel is about to sail direct to Liverpool, I embrace, with pleasure, the opportunity it affords me of conversing with an absent, though not forgotten friend.

The brethren have not been unmindful, that your annual meeting is in June, and that you will then wish the latest intelligence you can obtain. But, as I am confident that, should the review of the mission, which they hoped to have forwarded by this vessel, reach you in time, the memoir of the translations will be certainly too late, I have gleaned the following particulars respecting them for your gratification. In giving you these sketches, I have preserved the order

pursued in the memoir for 1815, to which I beg leave to refer you.

In the memoir, the whole of the scriptures, in the Ooriya, were represented to have been printed.

and, in the Assam and Watch, to the Romans; while, in the Bruj Bhassa, although a delay has arisen, in consequence of the distance of brother Cham berlain's station, who was superintend I have now the pleasure of informing ing the version, we are preparing to proyou, that a new edition of the New Tes-ceed with the printing as before tament, of 4000 copies, has been some little time begun, and the printing advanced to the middle of Matthew.

In the Bengalee, in which, of course, the version will be now as accurate as the brethren can expect ever to make it, and in which the opportunities for distribution are becoming daily more extensive, we have commenced a new edition, of 5000 copies, of the whole scriptures, in a new and much reduced type; reduced by brother Lawson, when he resided at Serampore. By means of this alteration, we shall be able to comprise the whole Bible in one large octavo volume of 850 pages, which has hitherto occupied five volumes, of 800 pages each. The brethren intend to print 5000 additional Testaments, forming a thin volume, of about 180 pages.

In the Sungskrit, the Latin of the east, and intelligible to almost all the learned men throughout Hindoosthan, the historical books have been completed, and the printing advanced to the middle of Jeremiah. We therefore expect to complete this volume within the next three months, and shall then have printed the whole of the scriptures in that language.

The Hindee Bible is still further advanced; and we fully expect that, within a month, the last part will be ready for distribution. We shall then have printed the first edition of the whole scriptures, with a second edition of the New Testament.

In the Mabratta, the historical books have been printed off, since the last memoir, and the Hagiographa advanced to the middle of Proverbs.

In the Kurnata, we have finished Mark, and are proceeding with Luke; while, in the Kunkmua, the Mooltanee, the Sindhee, the Kashmere, the Bika neer, the Nepal, the Ouduypore, the Marwar, the Juypore, and the Khassee, not much progress in the printing has been made since the last Report, access to them, in many cases, being difficult, and their prosecution interfering with the supply of countries more extensive and more easy of approach. As soon, however, as the Hindee and Sungskrit versions are completed, it is the intention of the brethren to proceed with them; while the return of brother Carapeit, as hereafter mentioned, afforded a most fayourable opportunity of distributing the gospel of St. Matthew, already printed, in four of these languages.

Although the printing of the Seram pore translations has been in some degree retarded, by the printing of several elementary works for the Bengalee schools, as well as of the Roman Malay and Armenian Bibles, for the Calcutta Auxiliary Bible Society (a cause not much to be regretted), you will be pleased to hear, that they were never proceeding with more rapidity than at present. The of fice now furnishes our venerable editor, Dr. Carey, independently of the Chinese proofs it forwards to Dr. Marshman, with twelve proofs per week, on an average.

You will be gratified to hear, that our opportunities of distributing the scriptures, when printed, are becoming more extensive. Our much esteemed brother, C. C. Aratoon, being desirous to return to Surat, to fetch his family, left us in November last, intending to proceed up the river as far as Agra (four months journey), to supply the different stations In the Chinese, we have just com- in his way, with scriptures and tracts, pleted the Pentateuch, and are now pro-and then to cross the country to his late ceeding with a second edition of the New Testament,*

In the Sikh, the Pentateuch is just completed, and the historical books begun.

station. The last letter we received from him was dated Benares, and he had In the Telinga, the New Testament is then, in his journey, distributed himself, printed as far as the Thessalonians: and or left for distribution, at the different we hope to have finished the volume ere stations through which he passed (inthis reaches you. cluding Cutwa, Berhampore, MoorshedIn the Pushtoo Testament, the print-abad, Monghir, Patna, Digah, and Being is advanced as far as the 1st of Peter; nares), no less than 10,250 books or pamphlets, of which a large proportion were volumes of the scriptures, in Bengalee, Persian, Hindee, Sungskrit, Kashinere, Mahratta, Arabic, Sikh, Bulochee, Bruj Bhassa, and Chinese. The brethren wish him to proceed, over land, to Surat,

* Dr. Marshman has it in contemplation, I believe, to carry on the printing of the Psalms and New Testament together; and we have lately increased our supply of men in this department.

stroy the outward obstacles to the spread of the gospel; but we want, too, those influences of the Spirit of God, which shall effectually convince" the world of sin," and incline them heartily to embrace the Saviour, as the only "hope set before them."

As to myself, I have abundance of employment, and that of the most useful kind. Alas! that it is so often engaged

distributing in his way the gospels they have printed in the Jypore, Oodipore, Bikaneer, and Marwar languages. The countries in which these are spoken, could not be traversed by an European with safety; though we hope that our brother, being an Armenian, may pass through them without much difficulty; the universal engagement of his country men in commerce being his passport. We are chiefly deficient in means of eir-in with so little desire after the divine culating the Ooriya, Kutnata, Telinga, approbation, and concern for the divine and Mahratta scriptures, and anxiously glory. I can claim no merit for coming desire, that you could send out one or here. I hope to be kindly treated, and two brethren, to occupy à station near to have food and raiment, with an emBalasore or Cuttack; by means of whose ployment more agreeable to that desite labours the scriptures, in these languages, of being useful, which God in mercy had now printing or printed, may obtain an given me. I have found them all. extensive circulation. Freed from embarrassment in temporal affairs, with a snug habitation and affectionate wife, surrounded by, and engaged with, the most devoted of men, in the best of causés. What sacrifices have I made? I recollect the privations with which those who preceded me had to struggle, and trace in them the operations of that simple love to the Saviour's cause, of which I have given no pledge. Pray for me, that I may possess the spirit of a missionary and a martyr.

With respect to the distribution of the Chinese, we have lately sent a box of scriptures to Java: and hope, that we may be able to distribute, with advantage, many more than we have yet done on that island, as brother Robinson complains that our supply has been, hitherto, too scanty. The late unsettled state of Amboyna has prevented our supplying Jabez Carey with any, very lately; but, as tranquillity is now nearly restored, we shall not neglect that quarter. We expect likewise, every day, two American missionaries, proceeding to Rangoon, to assist our brethren there. By them, we shall likewise send a supply of Chinese, as we hope that, independent of the Chinese who visit Rangoon and its neigh-to bourhood, one of our brethren may be stationed in one of the Chinese provinces of the Burman empire, in which case a regular supply will be indispensably necessary.

I entertain great hopes, that the review of the mission will reach you in time, and shall therefore say very little on the subject. We heard yesterday the melancholy intelligence, that Mrs. Moore, of Digah, was dead. Brother Moore, with whom we affectionately sympathize, being unwell, was gone to Buxar for advice, and had not returned when the event happened. At Benares, brother Smith is successful. He has baptized a Brahman, and hopes, very shortly, to baptize three more enquirers. At Cutwa, this year, brother W. Carey has baptized four; and in Bheerbhoom, where Mr. Hart is now stationed to superintend schools, three more. The Bengalee schools prosper,-no less than 7000 children were under instruction, at the close of the year, in schools superintended by the brethren, and 5000 more in schools, supported by Government, and the Church Missionary Society. Much machinery is in operation to de

I am advancing, though not rapidly, in the knowledge of Bengalee, which I very much like, and in which I hope, ere long, to talk to the Hindoos, with fluen cy, of the holy Saviour.

Brother Judson is, we understand, gone Chittagong, to obtain a Mug Christian as an itinerant, find poor De Bruyn in the silent tomb. He will be grieved to Mr. Ward intends, next month, to take a tour to visit the different stations, and ascertain their wants and prospects. He We anticipate much good as likely to will, probably, be absent two months. result from his visit.

Your truly and affectionate friend, W. H. PEARCE. the annual meeting in London, in June. P.Ś. I hope this will reach you, by

BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY.

This Society held its Annual Meeting on Friday morning, the 26th inst. at the City of London Tavern, at 7 o'clock. Mr. Butterworth being prevented from being present, the chair was taken by Mr. William Burls, the treasurer, and an interesting Report read by the secretary, Mr. 1vimey. From this it appeared, that the number of schools had been more than doubled since the last Anniversary-they now amount to 65, and contain 3680 children. Fifty-seven of

these have been lately established, at the small expense of £8 per annum; the other eight being provided by resident gentlemen, who recommend the master, and inspect the schools. There are four readers of the Irish scriptures, and five itinerant preachers, The affairs of the society are very encouraging; and the funds have been so liberally supplied, that there is enough in hand to meet the expenses of the current quarter. The annual expenditure is about £1200. The serious and animated, and, in some instances, eloquent speeches, which were delivered, cannot now be given, but may be expected through the medium of the Philanthropic Gazette of next week. The speakers were, Messrs. Winterbotham, Ballintine, Bowles (Independent minister of Edmonton), Wilkinson, Saffery, Dr. Newman, Pritchard, Anderson, Finch, Saunders, and Cox. Mr. McCarthy, one of the itinerants from Ireland, and Mr. Dobney, who has lately returned from visiting and inspecting the schools, related many pleasing anecdotes of the good that had been communicated to Ireland, through the exertions of the institution.

It was suggested to the consideration of tradesmen, both in England and in Ireland, whether it was not a desirable and practicable measure to establish a manufactory of hosiery in the province of Connaught, for the employment of the children now receiving instruction in the schools of the Baptist and Hibernian Societies: the cheapness of provisions, and the destitute state of the inhabitants for want of employment, rendered such a measure extremely important. Indeed, affectionate solicitude for the welfare of our fellow-countrymen in Ireland, mingled with expressions of deep regret, that she had been suffered to sink so low in the scale of nations since her connection with England, were the burden of all that was said on this mne

morable occasion. The meeting was begun by singing the 117th Psalm, "From all that dwell below the skies," &c. Mr. Pilkington implored the divine blessing and instead of its concluding, as usual in such meetings, with thanks to the Chairman for his excellent conduct in the chair, &c. it ended by ascribing "Praise to God from whom all blessings flow," both of a temporal and spiritual kind.

It is truly gratifying to find, that the interest which has been excited among the churches in our denomination, by these Annual Meetings, has, by no means, diminished. The present year has witnessed congregations as large, as devotional, and as liberal as on former

occasions of this kind. We understand, that £311 14s. was collected for the Baptist Mission; and 266 3s. at the meeting of the Irish Society The Baptists areunder great obligations to the Christian brethren of other denominations, for the affection they have shewn towards them by lending their places of worship for these services: but is it not a little extraordinary, that a denomination of 600 churches in England and Wales, and upwards of 30 of these in London, should have no place of worship of its own in the metropolis of the British empire, sufficiently large to contain those who wish to attend an Annual Missionary Prayer Meeting? Paul would, probably, have said, "Shall I praise you for these things? I praise you not ?" We hope the time will yet arrive, when the Baptists will not be compelled to apply for the use of the chapels of others : but, till then, we trust, they will still be as affectionately accommodated as they have hitherto been.

DUTCH BAPTISTS.

Extract of a Letter from the Rev. T. Roberts of Bristol, to Mr. Ivimey. Hague, Holland, June, 1818.

My dear sir,

I preached in Rotterdam twice, on the Lord's day, in the Scotch church, which Mr. Angus procured for me, by introducing me to the clergyman. The congregations were small, but very attentive. I have made particular inquiries concerning our denomination in this country. I am perfectly astonished at the indifference of the English Baptists to this body of people-they are upwards of 30,000 in number, very rich, and powerful; their ministers very learned, of various sentiments-some evangelical, others sadly degenerated. I have no doubt but much good might be done, at a little expense, if our denomination would exert themselves. I feel persuaded, that, by prudent management, under a divine blessing, this immense body of Dutch Baptists might be brought into the field of missionary exertions; might again have the ordinance of baptism restored to its original purity, and, eventually, be evangelized to the profes sion of the truth, as it is in Jesus.

Remember me affectionately to the committee. I remain, my dear friend, Yours, very sincerely,

T. ROBERTS.

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

THE

Baptist Magazine.

AUGUST, 1818.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. EDWARD STENNETT.

EDWARD STENNETT was pastor of a Sabbatarian Baptist church, at Wallingford, Berks, in 1686; how much earlier we have not been able to ascertain. The following account is extracted from the life of his son Joseph, prefixed to his works:

"The part Mr. Edward Stennett took in the civil wars, being on the side of the parliament, exposed him to the neglect of his relations, and afterwards to many difficulties. He was a faithful and laborious minister, but his dissent from the established church, depriving him of the means whereby to maintain his family, which was large, he applied himself to the study of physic; by the practice of which, he was enabled to bring up his children, and to give them a good education, notwithstanding he bore a considerable share of the persecutions which the Dissenters underwent at that time. While I speak of his sufferings, it may not be amiss to preserve an account of one very extraordinary deliverance he met with, and which I have heard his son relate in the following manner:

"He dwelt in the castle, at Wallingford, a place where no warrant could make a forcible entrance, but that of a Lord Chief

VOL. X.

Justice; and the house is so situated, that assemblies could meet, and every part of religious worship be exercised in it, without any danger of a legal conviction, unless informers were admitted, which care was taken to prevent; so that for a long time he kept a constant and undisturbed meeting in his hall. A gentleman who was in the commission of the and his very peace, near neighbour, being highly incensed at an assembly of this kind so near him, after having made several fruitless attempts to get his emissaries admitted into the house, in order to a conviction, in the rage of disappointment, resolved, together with a neighbouring clergyman, to do it by subornation of witnesses. They accordingly hired persons fit for their purpose, to swear they had been at those assemblies, and heard praying and preaching there, though they had never been in the house on those occasions. The clergyman's conduct in this affair was the more censured, because he had professed a great esteem for Mr. Stennett, and was under considerable obligations to him, haying often had his assistance, in the way of his profession, as a physician for his family, without

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