any dominant sect; his instructions binding him to regard all as on a footing of perfect equality, and equally eligible to all public offices.' NOVA SCOTIA. By the returns of churches at the late association at Wilmot, the number of additional members reported in the church letters amounted to 1113, making the gross number of communicants of the regular baptist churches in this province united with our association, to be 7,453. Five newly organized churches were also added, while there are others, who from one cause or other, not however from any alienation in doctrine or feeling, have not as yet joined us. There are also in the south-western parts of the province a numerous, and highly respectable, and consistent body of the community, generally termed free-will baptists, but who do not differ, we believe, in any essential respect, from our own views of faith and order. "In estimating the number of members that have been added to us during the past year, it will be recollected, that such union has taken place upon an open profession of faith, and subsequent baptism; and that, from the nature of our discipline, none are admitted to the rite except those who, in the judgment of charity, are actuated by sincere Christian motives. That we may not be sometimes deceived is not pretended. That we endeavour to preserve our communions from such intrusions by what we believe to be strict scriptural guards, we ever profess, and the occasional exclusions of unworthy members from our churches, yearly reported in our minutes, we consider to be as strong an evidence as we could produce of the fact."Christian Messenger, Aug, 12. CHINA. THE American Missionaries in China are accustomed to transmit to their friends at home, half yearly, an account of their state and prospects. Some extracts from their last report, which is dated Macao, January 1, 1842, will be found interesting, as containing the views of an independent party of the religious bearings of the present struggle in that empire. "The near approach of the appointed time for the promulgation of the gospel in China, we think, was never so clearly indicated by the signs of the times as at present. We seem to be on the eve of a new era, when the barrier against ingress to this empire must fall. Those who have ruled here for near two centuries, and who always have been more or less inimical to the religion of Jesus, must soon either grant free intercourse, or allow the reins of government to be wrested from their VOL. V.-FOURTH SERIES. hands. After the violent rupture in March, 1839, conciliatory measures were pursued towards this government for a long time but without any good results. Settle the existing difficulties on any just principles, this government would not. If, as some think, her Britannic majesty's plenipotentiaries erred on the score of pliancy, by receding too far from the high ground which they had a right to take, yet certain it is, that, by their so doing, the very worst features of the Chinese government were more fully developed. After many months had been occupied in vain attempts to negotiate, it became clear to every observer that, in order to lay the foundation for free and friendly intercourse with this nation, on safe and honorable terms, such as are recognized by all civilized states, recourse must be had to restraint and coercion. Regarding the character of the Chinese government, wrong opinions are entertained by many, if not by most people, who view the constitution and laws as being equitable in their character, and mild in their operation. They are so, indeed as far doubtless as those of any pagan nation ever were. Still, in many respects, they are unjust in the letter, and cruel in their action. It was the opinion of Dr. Morrison that no man could hold office under this government, and conform to its rules and customs, and at the same time live in obedience to the doctrines and precepts of the bible. According to the penal code of the Chinese, the profession and practice of christianity are capital crimes; and it is scarcely a twelvemonth since a European missionary suffered the penalty of this law. The foreigner, however peaceful and well disposed, may not go into the interior of this empire. The native, too, without even a shadow of guilt, may be, and not unfrequently is, involved by the evil doings of others. High officers of state are made responsible for events, over which it is impossible for them to exercise any control. The degradation of Lin, Keshen, and others, are instances of the and the self-immolation of Yukien and several unjust and cruel bearing of Chinese policy; others, during the present war, are melanpolicy to any amicable arrangement with focholy proofs of the same. reigners, that the emperor has threatened with the utmost severity of the laws any and all who may presume to propose terms of reconciliation with the "rebellious barbarians," So averse is this for their temerity. Two sovereigns, he says,, cannot stand together under the same firmament. The decree for extermination has gone forth, and the forces are rallying at all points, determined to contend unto the uttermost. Aware of this, large accessions of strength will soon be made to the invading forces; and by midsummer, we expect that Sir Henry Pottinger, H.B.M.'s minister extraordinary to the court of Peking," will be at the capital. Once there, he must either receive overtures of peace, or enter the court and become dictator. The reigning dynasty must yield, or perish in the struggle to maintain its supremacy. Possibly this struggle may be prolonged for years; but whether it be long or short, we feel certain that it will, eventually, introduce a new and better order of things. * "At Hongkong, Amoy, Chusan, Chinhai, and Ningpo-all of which are now occupied by British forces-full protection and free toleration are enjoyed. To these places no missionaries have yet gone to reside; nor, since our last semi-annual letter, has any one been in Canton, except on short visits. Our labours in Macao have been continued without interruption. "The hospital of the Medical Missionary Society, under the care of Drs. Hobson and Lockhart, is the constant resort of the sick and diseased; the names of 2126 patients having been entered on the books of the institution since the 1st of last July. Christian books,-Sacred Scriptures and tracts, are always there accessible, and freely distributed. This mode of administering simultaneously to both body and soul is, especially under existing circumstances in China, worthy of every encouragement and commendation. "In our religious services-social and public-the interest hitherto manifested has been continued. But confined and restricted as we long have been, we ardently desire to enlarge our operations, to increase our labours, and to extend widely the influences of that holy religion, for the propagation of which we have devoted our lives. We hope the great and dreadful evils which now afflict this nation will soon be checked. It is painful to see thousands of our fellow-men cut down by the sword--tens of thousands reduced to beggary and death by an insidious poison-and hundreds of millions going mad after their dumb idols. It is impossible to dwell long on such scenes without deep emotion. But who can interpose? Who is able to hush these contending hosts and give peace? Who can stay this flood of poison Our friend Mr. Rothery has favoured us with the following extract of a letter recently received from the Rev. J. G. Oncken, dated Hamburgh, Sept. 6, 1842. "In reference to my work, my family, and myself, I can only give you pleasing informa tion. Our earthly cup is overflowing. We have all and abound; the Lord is withholding no temporal good from us; my dear wife and four children are all well. To myself the Lord is very gracious, though feeling more and more that from the head to the foot there is no soundness in me; he gives me such discoveries of his own inexhaustible fulness of grace, assuring me of his love and giving me glimpses of the glory which awaits us beyond the grave, that I can frequently rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; and the more I am thus comforted, and the more distinctly 'I can read my title clear To mansions in the sky,' the more I feel constrained to live to him to whom I owe my all. My soul delights in the great and honourable work which Jesus has entrusted to me, the least of all his servants. The work itself is enjoying the blessing of our gracious God in a degree of which we have no precedent. The word of the Lord has free course and is glorified. Forty dear converts have been immersed since January, and the applications for admission continue. Oh, that forty more might be added to us before the year closes !-all things are possible with him whom we serve. We are still graciously protected and none permitted to disturb us. Oh, it is a rich feast to know that the external peace we enjoy is the sole gift of Jehovah! The hatred to Jesus, his people and gospel, is here as great as ever, yea, if possible, greater. We had an instance of this a few weeks ago. One of our brethren, a native of Hessia, was banished from Hamburgh and its territory for a twelvemonth, simply for having distributed tracts. The fact deserves to be stated in the English newspapers. "In a newspaper published at Wandsbeck there was a paragraph, August 18th, which closes thus: Somewhere Oncken has been thrust out of the gates (meaning the gates of a town). May all do the same wherever he comes. Away with him and his system; it is a nonentity.' The hatred of the gospel by all classes is truly appalling; and, but for the elect's sake, the people must be destroyed by some fearful judgment. Eternal blessings to God for having delivered us from such a horrid condition. Our efforts for the good of the people continue and increase; we have already circulated upwards of 130,000 tracts this year, and have had not a few proofs that the Spirit of God has smiled on these efforts. From Denmark we continue to receive encouraging intelligence. Brother Peter Mön The ster has been here on a visit, and we have NEW CHAPELS. BRIGHTON. A few gentlemen in London have recently purchased a chapel situate in West Street, Brighton, with the view of raising another baptist congregation in this populous and important town. It was re-opened on Tuesday, August 30, when sermons were preached by the Rev. E. Steane of Camberwell, and the Rev. Dr. Cox of Hackney, and the devotional services were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Tracey and the Rev. Mr. Heap, independent ministers at Brighton, the Rev. Ebenezer Davis of Lewes, and the Rev. Joseph Davis of London. Mr. Steane has remained at Brighton during the mouth of September, and conducted the regular services, the attendance at which has been very encouraging. STANTON, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, THETFORD, CAMBRIDGESHIRE. The baptist chapel at Thetford, near Ely, April 21, 1842; when the Rev. E. Manning was opened for divine worship on Wednesday, of Gamlingay preached in the morning and M.A., of Bluntisham, and Hobson of Barton evening, and the Rev. Messrs. J. Simmons, Mills, preached in the afternoon. A preparatory prayer meeting was held at 7 in the morning, and at 10 o'clock the Rev. Joseph the river near the chapel. These, and several Green of Soham baptized three persons in the church at Haddenham, under the pastoral other persons from this place, are united to care of the Rev. G. Bailey. At 11 o'clock the people repaired to the chapel, and after prayer it was evident that they could not all obtain admission. The congregation then adjourned to a barn provided for the occasion, which was completely filled. In the afternoon the barn was again filled, and the chapel was crowded to excess at the same time. After the service, 200 persons sat down to tea, which was provided by the liberality of the females. The evening congregation was large, and the services throughout the day were highly exhilirating, and, we trust, profitable to many. The collections at the close of the services amounted to nearly £27. The chapel is built of brick and slate; size 30 feet by 20 within. The walls are 18 feet high. The ceiling within is of the elliptic form, all of wood. It is chiefly pewed, and will seat 150 persons. It is neat and appears pretty within, very commodious, and is well attended. The cost of the whole building, including the purchase of land, fences, and deeds, is nearly £200. It is freehold, and is put in trust. The debt remaining at the balance of the accounts was £46. Some small subscriptions have been subsequently received, and it is hoped that, by the exertions and liberality of friends in the neighbourhood, the whole will soon be paid off. This cause was begun in the winter of A new baptist chapel at Stanton was 1838-9, and was the first station occupied by opened for divine worship on Tuesday, the the Cambridgeshire Association of baptist 13th of September, on which occasion the churches, which association is auxiliary to Rev. Messrs. H. Welsford (independent) of the London Baptist Home Missionary SoTewkesbury, and W. G. Lewis of Chelten-ciety. This auxiliary has two other interestham preached; the Rev. Messrs. S. Dunn of Winchcomb, Cuzens of Broadway, J. Hockin and J. D. Casewell of Evesham conducted other portions of the services, which were well and respectably attended. The chapel is a neat, substantial, and com ing village stations, but none more prosperous than this; and though here the clergyman has withdrawn his favours from the poor, and ejected their children from the parish schools, vainly threatening all who follow the dissenters with everlasting perdition, and talking loudly of prosecuting these ministers for preaching in unauthorized places, yet the measure of success which has attended their labours warrants the belief that God has been with them, and induces the hope that hereafter their work of faith and labour of love will not be in vain in the Lord. ORDINATIONS. COLLUMPTON, Devon. The Rev. U. Foot, late of Isle-Abbotts, having accepted a unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the baptist church at Collumpton, entered on his stated labours there August 14. EVESHAM, WORCESTERSHIRE, The Rev. J. D. Casewell, late of Oldham, has accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the second baptist church in Evesham. SWANWICK. Mr. Davis of Horton College has accepted the unanimous invitation of the baptist church at Swanwick and Riddings to become their pastor, and is expected to enter upon his labours on the first sabbath in the new year. RECENT DEATHS. MRS. DAFFORNE. Anna Harris was native of St. Albans, of the baptist church in which town her father, and subsequently one of her brothers, were deacons for many years. Her worthy parents were both removed by death in the meridian of their days, leaving her, their youngest child and only daughter, to the care of her youthful brothers. At this period she was removed to London, and attended with her youngest brother, whose son is now one of our society's missionaries in Ceylon, upon the ministry of the late venerable Mr. Abraham Booth, of whose church her brother was a member. There is reason to believe that the letters and conversation of this beloved relative, together with the faithful preaching of the gospel, were blessed to her conversion in the morning of her days. In the year 1800 she was united to her now bereaved partner, likewise a member of the church at Prescot Street; but diffidence and a fear lest she should dishonour her God by inconsistency of character or conduct, for many years prevented her from making a public profession of attachment to her Saviour. At length she determined to postpone the performance of this duty, and the enjoyment of its consequent privileges no longer, and the hand of Providence having led her family into the neighbourhood of Walworth, she was baptized by the late Rev. R. Davis, at East Street, and joined the church under his care. Some of the members present upon the occasion of her relating the exercises of her mind, remarked to one of her family circle, that it was seldom candidates for baptism and churchfellowship afforded their Chiristian friends so much satisfaction as she had done. But it was in the domestic characters of wife and mother that she more especially exemplified the purity and strength of her religious principles, and the influence they had upon her affections and her conduct. Left very much by the frequent and unavoidable absence of her beloved partner from home, to bring up her family without his assistance and superintendence, she realized her responsibility, and steadily pursued her duty, training up her children as upon her knees, endeavouring to fit them for usefulness in this world, and glory in the next. In their early childhood, she sedulously instilled into their minds scriptural knowledge. The evening of the sabbath was especially devoted to this purpose, and she not only inculcated by precept the obligation and privilege of entering into the closet, but her practice corresponded thereto. Her instructions were consequently attended by greater weight, and her precepts had a holier influence than otherwise they would have had. As her children entered upon the more active duties of life, and left the parental roof for the purposes of education, business, or other homes, the precepts, the prayers, the tears of their mother followed them. She anxiously watched their movements, and counselled them accordingly. The numerous and affectionate letters which she addressed to them, cherished every right feeling, and continually invited them onward in the path of duty, saying, " This is the way, walk ye in it." Nor were her prayers and efforts in vain. Four daughters and one son are connected with churches of our own denomination, and anticipate the day when they shall all stand one entire family in the church of their mother's God. Neither were her domestic servants forgotten. Some of them live to bless her for her pious counsels and endeavours to promote their best and eternal interest. But the time drew near when this beloved wife and mother "must die," or rather, when she must depart out of this world unto her He who had been the heavenly Father. guide of this orphan child, who had adopted her in her early life into his redeemed family, before whom her parents had walked, who had led her and fed her all her life long, and who had preserved her from all evil, saw that she had done her work, and accordingly deter mined to take her to his heavenly home, that she might see the Saviour whom she loved, rest from her labours, rejoin the parents and brothers who had preceded her there, and unite with the spirits of the just made perfect. During the week of our missionary meetings in April, she manifested, as usual, a very lively interest in their proceedings, and attended at the Poultry chapel on the Wednesday forenoon. Infirmities which during the last two years had been rapidly increasing upon her, and giving intimations that her tabernacle was about to be taken down, prevented her making any further exertion, or enduring any increased excitement. On the afternoon of the first day and first sabbath of May, she set out to occupy her seat at the table of her Lord, but feeling herself unequal to walk the whole distance, and not meeting with a conveyance, she was compelled to return, and went to the house of one of her children, with whom she attended the evening service. At the conclusion of it, she left the sanctuary, arrived at her own home, and, as was her custom, immediately retired to her chamber for private devotion. There she was at once taken ill, and on the following sabbath the scene closed. The nature of the attack was such that there were few gleams of consciousness, or of intellect, but what did pass from her lips at these intervals, indicated with clearness that all her hopes were fixed upon Christ. A few hours before she expired, her attendant daughter having said, "My sheep shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand; that is a precious promise, is it not dear mother ?" She answered, "It is my child, it is; may I be enabled to lay hold of it!" A few minutes after the verse commencing "His honour is engaged to save," was begun to be repeated to her. The expiring saint took it up and concluded it. "The meanest of his sheep; These were almost, if not quite, her last intelligent and intelligible words. For some time she had breathed laboriously, but was otherwise as quiet as an infant sleeping on the maternal lap. Respiration now became more gentle till about half-past 12, when two or three sighs, unattended by the movement of a muscle, marked the flight of her spirit to the bosom of her God. Through life Mrs. Dafforne had frequently regretted the weakness of her faith, and a constitutional timidity induced a fear of the article of death. But to prove his faithfulness and tender care, when God had conducted her to the brink of Jordan, he carried her unconsciously to herself through the swelling current, and safely landed her on the heavenly shores. At the request of her family, her pastor, the Rev. E. Steane, improved the solemn event on the following sabbath evening, May 15th, by preaching an interesting discourse on these words, chosen by her bereaved and afflicted husband," Come thou, for there is peace to thee, and no hurt, as the Lord liveth."1 Sam. xxi. 21. MRS. STEPHEN. Hannah, the beloved wife of the Rev. D. Rhys Stephen of Newport, died Aug. 2, 1842, in the 28th year of her age. The following sonnet is inscribed to her memory. A flower upsprung, expanding to the sun, At length full-blown, it gazed upon the skies; The florist marked it with the joy of one Who felt him owner of some matchless prize; And when he saw it clothed in perfect bloom, With gentle hand he nipped the tender stem, And thence, to grace some favoured niche at home, Bore off, with secret joy, the beauteous gem. Thus God, the saint,-matured in every grace, Lest aught of earth that loveliness should mar, Removed on high, and gave her soul a place, To shine in glory, a redeemed star! And now, ere fades the light that gilds her brow, Shall darkness be in heaven and seraphs cease to glow. Died, at Watford, Herts., in the seventieth year of his age, Mr. Samuel Salter. Mr. Salter was an active, useful deacon of the church at Watford many years; and subsequently, having removed to London, was chosen to the same office by the church then under the pastoral care of the Rev. James Upton. He also rendered valuable service several years to the Baptist Home Missionary Society, as its treasurer. tired to Watford, his native town, and having long suffered the infirmities of a premature old age, he died tranquilly on the thirteenth of September. He afterwards re MISCELLANEA. PROFITS OF THE SELECTION. List of widows relieved by the distribution of profits arising from the sale of the New Selection Hymn Book, June, 1842. |