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Subscriptions and Donations in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society will be thankfully received by William Brodie Gurney, Esq., and Samuel Morton Peto, Esq., M.P., Treasurers, or the Rev. Joseph Angus, M.A., Secretary, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street, LONDON: in EDINBURGH, by the Rev. Christopher Anderson, the Rev. Jonathan Watson and John Macandrew, Esq.; in Glasgow, by Robert Kettle, Esq.; in Calcutta, by the Rev. James Thomas, Baptist Mission Press; and at NEW YORK, United States, by W. Colgate, Esq. Contributions can also be paid in at the Bank of England to the account of " W. B. Gurney and others."

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How common to all minds are these at the opening of a new year! Generally it is a season of almost universal congratulation. To thoughtful minds it is a time of very mixed feelings. A large portion of life vanished and gone! How has it been spent? what advance has been made in knowledge and piety? what greater degree of fitness has past experience produced for the labours and trials of the coming period? and how stands the soul in relation to the grand concerns of religion and eternity?-are a few, among many questions of vital importance, which will force themselves upon serious, earnest spirits.

Truly, the past year has been one filled with changes so vast, and which have succeeded each other with so strange and sudden a rapidity, as to baffle the most sagacious intellects in the effort to determine their influence and end. Like the wind, we heard the sound of them, but we could not tell whence they came, or whither they were going! One sentiment, however, seemed uppermost with all classes of persons:-Truly, "this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in

our eyes.

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Our religious institutions have felt their influence. Our brethren, who have had to bear the chief burden of responsibility in conducting them, have found their duties unusually burdensome and anxious. As they cannot conduct them without funds, and on the regular supply of means, beloved missionaries and other agents are dependent for subsistence, these funds must be procured to meet regular demands. To add to the anxiety and sacrifices which agents must necessarily endure, by leaving their means of subsistence to be supplied at uncertain times, or irregular intervals, would be cruel. They need not have any additional burden to press them down. But as officers and committees of voluntary societies have no control over income, and it always fluctuates, and in every case has diminished rather than increased, it will be seen at once how painful their situation has been. It has been a year of continued trial.

Our society has had its full share. Its pecuniary embarrassments have greatly increased. No effort has been spared to lessen them-but in vain. We will not repeat the statements which go to show that the increase of debt has not been owing to incautious expenditure. Gradually diminished income is the cause; and the income has diminished faster than the committee could go on in the path of retrenchment.

Hence, we begin a new year with "hopes and fears." Perhaps the latter predominate. Not, however, in the success of the mission; nor from any doubt of the continued blessing of God on the efforts of the agents. The fears arise rather from an apprehension of the inability of our churches to keep up efficiently so many organizations as are in existence, and the want of a general, zealous, prayerful interest in Ireland's spiritual condition and necessities. But we must learn to put more unreserved confidence in God. If man fails, He never does. Establish the work of our "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands, establish THOU it."

The letters we have received from Mr. HAMILTON, of Ballina, during the month, afford the most decisive evidences of the truth of a sentence in one of them, in which he states that the

BORDERS ARE STILL ENLARGING.

On Sunday week, Nov. 5th, thirty heads of families in the poor-house renounced the errors of popery, and gave their names to the Rev. George Read, the protestant chaplain. When his service was ended, he advised

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The Lord continues his blessing. terday, Nov. 26th, I baptized five persons. The conversion of some of these was very striking. One came to hear the word some time ago. Mrs. H. observed her very much affected; her colour changing several times, and manifesting deep attention. Soon after we learned that the gospel had done its work. The others were young lads in my classes, who had been long under instruction, and whose impressions seemed a little while ago to vanish away, and to be renewed again. But one, by reading before he left his home of a morning, the sacred word, and the others by the hearing of the gospel, have been led to give themselves to Jesus. Six more have applied for baptism, and one for restoration.

We mentioned some time ago, that in consequence of inability to send another missionary to the Ballina district, Mr. H. had brought the readers nearer to the town, in order to concentrate their labours on the people.

THE RESULT OF THIS MOVEMENT.

I hope we have got our machinery in better order now. Since R. Moore came to town, I meet the readers every morning at half past seven, for conversation and prayer, and to assist them in forming plans for labour. Their exertions seem to tell on the country round.

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John Judge has been added to the band of readers here, without his seeking it. Wishing remove from S, because several schools had arisen around, by which his sphere was much narrowed, we fixed upon a locality; but when he had removed his furniture, the person to whom the house belonged, unexpectedly returned, and refused to let him have it. As he could get no other there, he came in to us. He has now a class of our adult members, some of whom he has taught to read. I had great pleasure in giving one of these a testament a few days ago.

We have great pleasure in laying Mr. ECCLES's last communication before our friends. It contains some interesting

INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THE CAUSE AT BELFAST.

There

The week before last I baptized two persons, who were received to the fellowship of the church on the following Lord's day. before the brethren. This is the sixth addiis another proposal for fellowship at present tion to the church since the meetings of the union in Dublin, in August last. Within the last twelve months, the church has doubled its numbers, and the congregation increases in proportion.

I have just concluded the Lectures on Baptism. The eighth, and last of them, I delivered on last Lord's day evening. In like manner as all the rest, it was attentively and respectfully heard by a numerous auditory. The interest continued unabated throughout the entire series. In order to reach a conclusion, with a view to another appointment, the last two were necessarily extended to nearly three hours in the delivery; yet the congregation, the majority of whom were pædobaptists, manifested no symptom of uneasiness.

The effort has, on the whole, been attended with success. This is evident, not only from the baptisms reported, but in the favour with which our distinguishing doctrines are now regarded by those who hitherto had known nothing of them, or who had viewed them with dislike. Let us be thankful for these tokens of divine approbation.

Mr. BERRY again reports encouragingly of the state of things at Abbeyliex. Notwithstanding all disappointments and discouragements, and the condition of Ireland lately has been such as to accumulate them, he observes those marks of success which stimulate to exertion, and inspire hope.

HOUSEHOLD BAPTISM.

I have seldom been more cheered and

delighted than I was yesterday, October 29th. I baptized a mother fifty-six years of age, her son thirty-four, together with her daughter and daughter-in-law. Her other son begged to be baptized too, but his request was deferred to meet the wishes of some brethren, little more time might be given for all to be not because his piety was doubted, but that a satisfied. Notwithstanding the rain we had an excellent congregation.

I commenced preaching at the new station at T. I was grieved to see the dilapidated condition of the house, and the careworn countenances of the family. They had only one stool; but the neighbours soon brought in others from their cabins, and I had a fine congregation. I was glad to preach the gospel to this poor broken-down family, and their neighbours who came to hear.

VERY PLEASANT.

I have met with a very pleasing instance of liberality. The proprietor of the car which goes to one of my stations, and who is a Romanist, because I go there to preach the gospel, has ordered his man to charge me only half the usual fare! This is a good sign, and indicates the existence of kindly feeling rising above prejudice.

GOOD PROSPECTS.

The opening of the night-schools will be a great benefit to those who are thus assisted by what they receive for their labour, but

also those children who would otherwise have no opportunity of improvement.

We have six candidates for baptism in December. I intend at once to institute an inquirers' class for all such persons, to give them more specific instruction than one can in preaching, such classes as those which brother Hamilton has found so useful at Ballina.

THE READER'S REPORT.

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From the state of the cause here, and the many interesting openings around this neighbourhood, I am quite unable to go to Clonmel often. My time is fully occupied. example, on Lord's day morning we have a prayer-meeting at Bonlay-public service at Raneghmore, at noon-return to Bonlay and

With pleasure I state, says P. W., that preach at seven o'clock, after which service we have a prayer-meeting.

the last month has afforded much encouragement to us. Four have been added to our

little church, and eight more are on the way. The seed which appeared almost dead the last year, is now beginning to spring. The circulation of tracts, especially the one," Where is Mr. O'Connell ?" has done great service at our out-stations, T-, and B—— As a specimen of the change which is going on among the poor people, take the following. A Romanist named D--, who would scarcely listen to the bible, twelve months ago, said to me last week, "Read something from the bible to comfort us." He once thought that book would disturb him, but now he knows it will bring comfort. "The entrance of thy words giveth peace."

A short extract from Mr. BATES's letter of December 1st, will give a correct notion of the present state of the cause at Banbridge.

STILL GOING ON.

During the month I have visited several stations and I trust the Lord is smiling upon our efforts. Last night I examined two candidates for baptism, and hope to baptize them next week. Oh that God may favour us with a large out-pouring of his Spirit; then the barren places will sing for joy.

Mr. WILSON Continues to labour among the poor people at Kilcooley Hills, with cheering tokens of the divine blessing.

On

On Monday evenings I meet a bible class in which there are now fifteen young persons. On Tuesday evenings there is a similar service in brother Haydon's house. in Bonlay. On Thursday evenings I have Wednesday I preach at our place of meeting arranged to preach in Raneghmore, and then I have only Friday evening for Kildrumingthis is a most interesting station, distant nineteen miles.

The work of the Lord is reviving in the Hills, many are inquiring the way to Zion. Opposition is very strong, and the utmost is done to hinder. But the cause will go on, for it is His cause who is God over all.

Mr. BROWN of Coleraine enjoys a continuance of those blessings which animate a devoted missionary to fresh efforts for the spread of the gospel. The church has lost a valuable member by death, a worthy deacon. But if such are removed, when their work is done, others are coming forward to fill up the vacancies.

Since I reported last, things remain much as usual. The congregations keep up remarkably well, considering the state of the weather, The country meetings are reviving. I have felt it to be my duty to bestow increased attention on Cross-gain station, which I now visit every fortnight instead of every month. We have lately lost by death, a worthy deacon in Hugh Young, of Knowhead. He was a very useful member of society, and is much lamented.

Last Lord's day evening the 10th instant, I had the pleasure of baptizing a young man, who gives very satisfactory evidence of conversion to God. His convictions of sin seem to have been very deep, but he has found peace to his wounded conscience in the peace

speaking blood of Jesus. In consequence of living at a great distance from this place he cannot attend with us, but we have very cordially recommended him to the fellowship of the faithful.

POSTSCRIPT.

We have to correct the statement in our last, which intimated that £1000 would be required to relieve the society from its difficulties. It should have been £2000! The sub-committee who had the duty devolved upon them of considering the whole question, have reported that fact, and they would not have done it, if it were not, in their judgment, a fair statement of the case.

We cast our eye from these financial difficulties to the mission. You have now, reader, before you the monthly record of Ballina, Coleraine, Belfast, Banbridge, and Abbeyliex. Fourteen have been added by baptism in a month! Thirty heads of families have renounced Popery in the Ballina workhouse! We have no money. That is painful and distressing. But God is giving to our brethren souls for their hire, and scals to their ministry. This is the greater mercy. Let us adore Him for it.

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Thanks to our friends at Canterbury for a parcel of clothing by Mrs. Flint.

Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, JOSEPH TRITTON, Esq. Lombard Street; and by the Secretary, Mr. FREDERICK TRESTRAIL, and Rev. JOSEPH ANGUS, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street; and by the pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom.

COLLECTOR FOR LONDON, REV. C. WOOLLACOTT,

4, COMPTON STREET EAST, BRUNSWICK SQUARE.

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