Evidence of a Sinner's Justification. Last Lord's-day evening I went to Tully, which is within two miles of Portglenone, where the congregation was so large that we had to adjourn to the open air. If all is well, I purpose preaching in Ahoghill next Lord'sday evening.

"Believing that many of the friends of the Mission are, like myself, inclined to think that in all Mission enterprises it is absolutely essential that aggressive measures should be adopted, I hope that they will rejoice with me that such wide and effectual doors have been opened; and further, that they will pray for God's blessing to rest upon the seed sown.

"Some cautious friends may, in the face of all that I have stated, ask, 'But what about Grange? Is it wise to scatter? Is it not better to concentrate all the forces at command?'

Home Duties not Neglected.

"It may be well, for the satisfaction of such, for me to say that Grange is not neglected. The morning service there lasts from two hours and a-half to three hours. I may add that the good work is going forward. God is with us.

Help Required to Remove a Difficulty. "The greatest difficulty we have to contend with is the want of room to accommodate our congregation. Are there no kind friends in England who will help us to enlarge, or rebuild, our Meeting-house? We do not want a building erected to attract a congregation; but we do require a building sufficiently large to accommodate the congregation already gathered. The cry for years was, that money had been spent in vain in this country; but now, alas! it is withheld, when God is granting the Mission greater success than at any former period of its history.

The Good Work Prospering.

"In my letter of December 15th, 1863, I stated that I believed the supporters of the Mission would heartily approve of the course pursued by the committee in adopting Grange as a station. Now I am convinced that such will be the case when they see what God has accomplished. He has done great things, for which we are glad. In

furnishing you with a few particulars respecting the Lord's work here, it is that brethren elsewhere may rejoice with us, and unite with us in praising God, as well as be encouraged to go forth sowing the seed of the kingdom.

"On Wednesday evening last I had the pleasure of baptizing three persons who had previously given evidence of their being new creatures in Christ Jesus. I purpose, all being well, to baptize again next week.

"During the eleven months I have been at Grange, the Lord has added to our num ber twenty-six persons, some of whom have been from other churches.

"In a previous communication I intimated my intention of preaching in Ahoghill. I have done so fortnightly from that time, and, on the whole, have been pleased with the attendance, especially when taking into consideration the opposing influences which are brought to bear against us.

"It must be borne in mind by Christian friends in England, that the measure of success which is granted us in this country is not secured except by cautious and persevering efforts on our part, and in the midst of much opposition.

An Interesting Case.

"At one of my meetings, about five weeks since, a little girl, thirteen years of age, was very much wrought upon by the words spoken. The subject that evening was 'Man's Deserts; God's Gift; Death and Life.' The poor child was affected in a similar manner to the stricken cases during the Revival of 1859, and came to the meeting hoping to receive comfort. She left with a far lighter heart than she entered, and is at present singing for joy, as a sinner saved by grace. I was told by a Christian brother that at another meeting the Word was blessed to a young man.

"Surely we have every encouragement to persevere in well-doing.

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Before concluding, I must say that I am at a loss to know how it is that appeals for tracts and cast-off clothing have not met with a single response. Not a single tract or article of wearing apparel has been sent me since I came to Ireland. I do hope that my mentioning these things will not be in vain."

BAPTIST

As it is not improbable that some of our readers have but an imperfect acquaintance with the constitution of the Baptist Union, and the objects contemplated by its existence, before adverting to the recent session held at Birmingham it may be well to give the following statement which contains a very succinct definition of the purposes contemplated by this confederation of the churches of our denomination :

1st. To extend brotherly love and union amongst those Baptist Ministers and Churches who agree in the sentiments usually denominated Evangelical. 2nd. To promote unity of exertion in whatever may best serve the cause of Christ in general, and the interests of the Baptist denomination in parti

cular.

prehended under the third and fourth clauses of this admirable programme. To such an extent is this the case, that we believe the prevalent opinion of the functions of this Union has been that it was a kind of Statistical Society, to report annually the numerical force of the churches. Without disparaging the value of the periodical accounts which have recorded and published the rise and fall of our Church numbers, it is evident that by far the more important sphere of labour is that designated in the first and second clauses of the above extract.

By some honoured brethren who have had long experience in our denomination, and who have been engaged in not a few efforts to promote greater union of feeling and of action among us, it has come to be a conviction that our isolation is almost invincible. The ramifications of doctrinal sentiment are so numerous-the differences of belief and of practice on Ecclesiastical questions are so tenaciously heldjealousy of anything that wears the semblance of interference with the liberty of individual churches is so

53

strong, that it has seemed to be Utopian to project schemes of combined action, and futile to strive after more manifest expressions of union. If, indeed, uniformity rather than unity be the object of desire, we grant that the case is hopeless-and we rejoice in the fact. We had better be atoms-subject to no universal law, incapable of cohesion, and driven, each in his own frolicsome career, far from contact with any central uniting force-than monotonous machines, united because compelled, and consentaneous because bereft of life. But as the Almighty Creator has planted deep down amongst the invisible glories of His world-work one law which controls all existences, so underlying all diversities of conviction and feeling there is a mighty law of attraction to the Son of God which dwells in every renewed soul, and is, moreover, ever struggling against all impediments to find its affinities in other souls. The desire for greater oneness, whether in the limited area of a denomination, or in the wider circle of discipleship to the Saviour, is an outgrowth of a Divine law, and a signal evidence of spiritual life. We accept it, therefore, as a favourable sign that there are in our own body yearnings after brotherly co-operation "in whatever may best serve the cause of Christ in general, and the interests of the Baptist denomination in particular." While, on the one hand, we view it as a token of the Saviour's love that His followers should be drawing more nearly together; on the other hand, the signs of the times are premonitory of a state of things which will inevitably compel the absorption of all minor differences in the defence of the essential truths of our salvation. Our joy over the recent gatherings in Birmingham is not founded merely on the largeness of the attendance, the heartiness

of feeling which prevailed, or the excellence of the papers read and the sermons preached, but on the distinct and repeated recognition of the primary objects contemplated by the founders of the Baptist Union.

In many respects, the large towns of our country are more suitable localities for such conferences than the metropolis. At the time of the annual meetings in London, the attention is divided amongst so many objects, and the week is so completely occupied with public engagements, that there is little opportunity for the calm deliberation demanded by such subjects as those which were included in the business of the recent session of the Union. We venture to suggest to the Committee, that in their future arrangements it will be wise to assign a larger space of time for inquiry and discussion than their programme allowed at Birmingham. Much valuable information might thus be contributed to that supplied by the writers of the respective papers, and evidence given from all parts of the country would lead to practical issues as the result of the discussion. The Quarterly Meeting of the Committee of the Missionary Society contributed much to the encouraging attendance. It would be ungenerous and ungrateful not to mention the munificence with which the honoured Treasurer of the Missionary Society entertained a large number of gentlemen connected with the Nonconformist Churches of the town, in company with the members of the Committee. The prompt and generous hospitality of our friends resident in the town and its neighbourhood, together with the indefatigable labours of the Chairman and Secretaries of the Local Committee, have left an impression on the minds of their visitors which no time will efface.

The opening address of the Chair

man (the Rev. J. P. Mursell) was a charming specimen of his brilliant cloquence. After graceful reference to the departed worthies who once laboured in the pulpits of our churches in Birmingham, he proceeded to enforce the importance of Christian combination, and the necessity for enlightened caution in its maintenance, so that the liberty, and especially the spirituality, of the churches may be increased, and not impaired. A few sentences of wise deprecation of numerical display, an enumeration of some practical objects which might worthily employ the resources of the Union, and an earnest protest against exclusiveness and sectarian temper, were followed by a grateful recognition of the Divine goodness as exhibited in our denominational progress, and an affectionate appeal, which could not fall short of the hearts of his brethren who were present, to seek increased personal godliness. We cannot omit the following fine peroration :

"Gentlemen and Christian brethren, we have a brilliant heraldry and a noble descent. We belong, however unworthily, to that long line of men who have, during successive ages, protested with unfaltering voice against corruption and tyranny both in Church and State; who have summoned generations to pause and think; who have, through evil report and good report, advocated saving truths and simple ordinances. But the fathers-where are they? and the prophets do they live for ever?' It shall be our ambition to act as becomes our illustrious ancestry-an ancestry before whose celestial attributes coronets and crowns wane and decay. We will, in our passage to the grave, resolve to emblazon, with firm and modest hand, our armorial sign on the old and sacred escutcheon, to hand on the trust committed to us improved, or at least unimpaired, and to leave

It was our intention to have published Mr. Mursell's paper in this number of the Magazine; but it having already appeared in the Freeman, and being in course of republication by the Committee of the Union, we have thought it unnecessary to produce it in a third form.

to those who succeed us some additional inducement to be faithful to the principles we love, and the practice we approve. Onward, brethren, onward under the eye of the great cloud of witnesses, and the smile of the Divine Lord! Some of us are destined before long to retire from the conflict, and to quit the field. As the scene of life closes around us, and the portals of the tomb open before us, who, oh! who, but must envy that great and inspired creature who, as he loosened his sandals, and laid aside his staff, could exclaim, in accents as classic as they are divine, 'I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me in that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing!'"

Any ordinary production must have fallen flat and insipid upon the ears of the assembly stirred to the soul by Mr. Mursell's thrilling address.

Such, however, was not the destiny which awaited the paper by the Rev. George Gould, which is contained in this number of the Magazine-" Rationalism and Romanism in relation to Baptist Principles." The erudition displayed in this composition, its vigour and spirituality of tone, and the earnest manner in which it was delivered, held the large assembly in breathless interest. The bearing of the subject on the state of religious belief in our country at the present time, leads us to hope that this invaluable treatise may be circulated by myriads of copies.

The Rev. W. Underwood, as the representative of the General Baptists, read an elaborate paper on the history, doctrinal views, and present position of that body. The closing portion of the address referred to the practicability of union between the Particular and General Baptist bodies, but the impression which it left on the minds of many present was, that no complete fusion

of the two sections in the Union can be brought about at present. Mr. Brock's sermon on the relation of Baptism to salvation was heard with the deepest interest by a crowded congregation, and terminated a day of twelve hours' continuous employment in the business of the session.

The second day's proceedings included addresses from the Rev. C. M. Birrell, J. P. Chown, and the Hon. B. W. Noel.

Mr. Birrell's topic was "The Influence of the Present Time on Personal Religion"-a subject that a subject that could be surpassed by none for its importance, and that could scarcely have been entrusted to more appropriate or more able hands. We hope that the grave counsels addressed by Mr. Birrell to Christian men of business on the perils incident to great commercial activity, and the warnings wisely given by him to Christian parents on the amusements provided for their families will be prayerfully pondered by many readers.

Mr. Chown's paper, on "Church "Church Work in Large Towns," while full of the hearty, zealous, and outspoken spirit for which he is everywhere beloved, appeared to us too diffuse in style and wanting somewhat in directness of application.

Mr. Noel, in his address on "Individual Effort for the Conversion of

Sinners," as also in his sermon at the close of the proceedings, addressed the Union in that affectionate and impressive yet simple manner which is is characteristic of all his public efforts.

We have not space to enumerate the less important details of the session, nor to record the names of the delegates; but we must not altogether omit a reference to the petition to the House of Commons for inquiry into the influence exercised by the ecclesiastical establishments of the country, which was introduced by the Rev. W. Robinson, of Cambridge, amended by a sub-committee, and unanimously adopted. Happy will be the day when our legislators shall arrive at the conviction it expresses, "that the entire separation of things ecclesiastical from the sphere of statesmanship would be an inestimable blessing, not only to our country, but to the world."

The impressions left upon the minds of all present at this session of the Union could not fail to be of the happiest kind, and the brethren returned to their respective flocks refreshed in spirit, and hopefully prayerful that future assemblies of the denomination may, by the favouring providence of the Most High, be as full of spiritual advantage, and as tributary to the progress of our principles, as the autumnal session of 1864.

dour, and in your readiness to allow for mere outlines of thought in this paper, which only a formal treatise could fully develope.

Although we are to consider the