crowded congregation, by the Rev. E. Probert of the Pithay, Bristol-who was intimately acquainted with her, and kindly visited us for the purpose-from 2 Tim. iv. 6-8.

MR. ABRAHAM ABBOT,

WALTON, SUffolk.

The word of God assures us that the memory of the just is blessed; and the true christian feels a mournful satisfaction in reflecting upon the life, death, and blessedness of any one who has evidently lived and died in the Lord, especially when the brother or sister removed is one with whom he has taken sweet counsel, and walked to the house of God in company; whose humility of soul, consistency of character, fervent prayers, and peaceful end, have plainly proved the reality and vigour of his religion, and thus strongly united him to the hearts of his brethren in the Lord.

Such was the character and end of Mr. Abraham Abbott, late a member of the Baptist church at Walton, Suffolk. It does not appear that he was ever permitted to run into that excess of riot which characterises the youth of too many individuals; but from early life was of sober, industrious habits, accompanied with serious impressions. When not more than twelve years of age, he would conceal a candle in his room, that he might study the bible when it was supposed he had retired to bed. He would also go three miles, after his day's labour, and return the same distance, to hear a sermon in the Established Church, by Mr. Griffin of Ipswich. Under his ministry, our departed brother was converted to God; and after removing to Ipswich, he constantly attended his preaching, to which he was strongly attached. It appears, however, that for a long time he felt persuaded that believers' immersion was a scriptural institution. His mourning widow has heard him say, many years ago, that if any unpleasantness were amongst the people with whom he worshipped, he should join the Baptists, as he thought they were right. And when, through age and infirmity, Mr. Griffin was unable to preach more than twice on the Lord's-day, he would go one part of the day to a Baptist chapel; and though Mr. G. would try to defend Pædobaptism, he did not at all weaken, but, as it frequently happens, strengthened, Mr.

A.'s opinions. Soon after the death of Mr. Griffin, our departed brother took a farm in the village of Walton, and with his wife and family removed there; after which he regularly attended the Baptist chapel in that place, and a few years before his death was baptized and joined the church, of which, through grace, he continued an honourable member, until it pleased the Lord to take him home.

He was remarkable for the plainness and simplicity of his manners, discovering no ostentation or self-impertinence, though Providence had smiled on his endeavours, and raised him to circumstances of comfort. His conversation was mild, affectionate, thoughtful, and often spiritual and savoury; his general deportment was upright and honourable, so as to gain the respect even of the enemies of religion; his attendance on the means of grace was very constant,on the Lord's-day, at the week - evening prayer-meeting, and lecture, he was seldom absent, and often expressed himself as being quickened and refreshed by thus waiting on the Lord, whilst his regular attendance, fervent prayers, and godly converse, frequently cheered the souls of his fellowchristians. Nor did he neglect prayer, reading the bible, and christian instruction at home, but daily attended to these important exercises.

The disease which carried him to the grave was very rapid, and as it greatly affected the stomach and throat, prevented his conversing much. Being asked, however, at the commencement of his affliction, if he wanted anything? he said, "I want Christ," implying that all his hope and confidence were placed in Him, and nothing less than his presence could make him happy. To the writer he complained of the conflicts which he felt within, between the flesh and the Spirit; but appeared to be much relieved and comforted in his mind by the reading and expounding a part of the 8th chapter of Romans, and prayer. From that time he seemed to continue in a composed and submissive state of mind to the end, though quite unable to converse for some days before his death. Being asked if he were happy? he unhesitatingly replied, in a whisper, "Yes," and shortly after expired, on the 3rd of December, 1849, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. A wife and eleven children remain to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband and tender father; whilst the church, also, has to la

ment that a very valuable member is taken away, who, though he had his imperfections, over which he mourned, yet through grace feared God above many. On the following Lord's-day an attempt was made to improve the solemn, event, from the words

contained in Acts xi. 24, "He was a good man," to a very large and attentive congregation.

Christian reader, be not slothful, but a follower of those who through faith and patience now inherit the promises.

CHRISTIANITY—ITS EFFORTS AND ITS SUCCESS. In the book which the christians of all ages avow as containing a perfectly credible record of its early history, and statement of its fundamental principles, (and the proofs of whose genuineness I affirm to have withstood the severest of all tests, in the most philosophic age of the world,) we have a very distinct account of the rise of christianity. It does not carry us back into a distant and fabulous past, long anterior to any historic period, and relate for us marvels which we have no possibility of proving to be true or false. It comes before us in a time when history was busily employed in handing down its very clear and distinct memorial to posterity. So far it looks very honest. The spot it professes to have chosen, was one harmonizing well with the divine claims to which it makes pretensions; but certainly not impressing you with any thing like a wise attempt to win for itself the belief and homage of the world. In one of the most obscure and distant provinces of Rome, a man of singular character, of distinguished wisdom, benevolence, and virtue appears. (I waive now all mention of the wonders related about him.) He appears at a singular juncture in the affairs of Israel. The expectations of that peculiar people had been directed to the coming of a great Deliverer, at some time not precisely defined, yet so far hinted that the expectation had reached a climax now, and they who thought at all about it, were ready to hear at any moment that he had appeared. This man Jesus collected about him a few humble followers, whom he sent forth to all places. in Judea, armed with miraculous power, or something like it, proclaimed that the expected time had come, and that the Deliverer was at hand. Without making open, claim, and yet sometimes suggesting, and never denying, that he was the predicted One, he chiefly occupies himself with teaching a virtue and religion which all confess to be beautiful and true, and with doing a multitude of beneficent deeds of marvellous power. But in the course of three years, he had by this so completely aroused the latent hopes of the nation, and yet had so completely contradicted all the form, the proud and imposing form, which those hopes had assumed, that the powerful and priestly among them at once feared and hated him, and by a piece of clever wickedness, they turned the tide of popular favour against him, or else got up a mob on whom they could rely

for any thing, and put him to death. Now mark, that during his life he had said nothing about founding a new religion. He actually disclaimed the intention of wishing to destroy Moses and the law, the foundation of the old religion. He made not the slightest attempt at the foundation of a sect. He rather resembled a man who in our own day should go about amongst all sects as if unconscious that they existed, and should choose out all true and large hearts, and ask them to help him in doing good. His very disciples forsook him when he was assailed, and wept over his death as men who had lost their all. Well nowsurely history will hear no more of him. Those poor coward dotards will hide their heads where best they may, and imperial Rome will endorse the despatch of her prefect in little, distant Judea, and the Cæsar will let his foolish Jew subjects hope once more, in some more likely man! Is it so, my friends? The mighty stream of eighteen centuries rolls forward with its great burden of life and destiny, and on one-fourth, at least, of all that life, that Name has been impressed. That crucified pretender, if such he was, has done more with his name, and that with marvellously small attempts, than all the true and great combined, could since undo. Or, if he be innocent of the religion which men have attached to his name, then it must be confessed that those poor cowards who ran away from him, whom all their nation counted fools, and whom afterwards it would have crushed, have been the most wonderfully clever men that ever lived. They have palmed a story on the world which has led away for eighteen centuries its most civilized and philosophic peoples. A man who can believe that, ought not to hesitate at any miracle of the New Testament, for I solemnly affirm, that the first is a greater improbability, a more incredible marvel.Christianity the World Fact, by the Rev. G. W. Conder.

THE SPIRIT OF FAITH AND THE SPIRIT OF OPINION.-In nothing more than in its tendency to unity and brotherly love, is the Spirit of Faith to be distinguished from that vulgar bigotry, or pride of opinion, with which it is too often confounded. And if it be asked how is it that, amongst christians, there is so much contention respecting creeds and systems, our reply is, that they mistake the spirit of opinion for the Spirit of Faith; instead of approving that which is excel

lent, and distinguishing betwixt things that differ. The spirit of opinion is narrow and selfish, that of faith enlarged and benevolent; and while the confidence of the former is in its own infallibility, that of the latter is in the infallibility of nothing but the word of God. Opinion hunts after truth in party systems, and the subtilties of human creeds, doting on questions and strife of words; but the determination of Faith is to "know no man after the flesh," and testify only what it has "tasted, and handled, and felt of the Word of Life." The former is full of sharp points and angular peculiarities which, heedless of giving pain, it thrusts perpetually forward to wound, to irritate, or to annoy ; the latter glories in nothing but "the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," and partakes largely of the wisdom from above, which is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." That knowledge, which puffeth up, is the glory of the one; that charity," which edifieth" or buildeth up, "which vaunteth not itself," and "doth not behave itself

unseemly," is the delight of the other. The language of opinion is, "stand off, I am holier," I am wiser, I am more orthodox than thou: that of Faith, "whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing; and, if in any thing we be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto us." The great anxiety of the one is that men, according to its own standard, should be orthodox; of the other," that they should be washed, that they should be sanctified, that they should be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of God." Hence it follows, that while the tendency of the former is to repel and divide, that of the latter is to bring us unto a closer fellowship and cooperation with each other; and if we wish our churches to be distinguished by that spirit of humility, forbearance, sympathy, and love, upon which their prosperity and usefulness depend, we must renounce the pride of opinion, and cry to the Lord, as the apostles did, "increase our Faith."-From the Yorkshire Association Circular Letter, by the Rev. J. E. Giles.

BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONS.

AFRICA.

DEATH OF THE REV. W. NEWBEGIN.

A heavy stroke has again fallen on our African Mission. To the names of the honoured dead-Sturgeon, Merrick,Thompson, and Fuller-we have to add that of our esteemed brother Newbegin. In the midst of labour and usefulness, and whilst yet in the vigour of his age, he has been called away to reap his reward. The particulars of our brother's illness and death are furnished by the kindness of the Rev. Hope M. Waddell, the valued missionary of the United Presbyterian Church at Calabar, who, with his beloved partner, hastened from their station to Clarence, to tender all the sympathy and help in their pewer to our bereaved sister Newbegin, and to the church now left as "sheep without a shepherd." Mr. Waddell informs us that our deceased brother was taken ill in the midst of his labours at Bimbia, on Lord's-day, the 7th of April last, and, becoming worse, he proceeded, with Mrs. N. and the teachers, in the "Dove" to Clarence, in the hope of finding medical aid in the town, or from some vessel in the Cove. In this hope they were disappointed, and hastened to Calabar, thinking that some vessel in the river there might furnish the aid they so urgently required. But just as the vessel entered the river, on the 17th of April, our brother's spirit passed from earth to heaven. Mrs. N. sustained the shock with much christian resignation and composure until on the vessel's return to Clarence with our > brother's remains, when, overwhelmed with

her deep affliction, she sunk into a state which excited the most serious apprehensions on her behalf. The timely arrival of our friends Mr. and Mrs. Waddell, and their devoted attention, were blessed to her partial recovery; and on the 4th of May, Mr. W. was able to state that she was so far restored as to afford hope of her speedy and complete restoration.. She will probably return to England shortly, in the company of Mrs. Edgerly, of the Presbyterian mission.

Africa cries aloud to the church for help. "Whom shall we send, and who will go for us ?" "The fields are white unto the harvest; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." We hope our brother Saker, who is now in England, will return shortly to his post; but the church at Clarence needs a pastor, and Bimbia and Cameroons require messengers of the cross. May He who employs and recalls his servants, mercifully supply the places of those who have fallen.

THE BAPTISTS OF SWEDEN.

The chief civil court, before which Mr. Neilson was summoned at the instance of the Lutheran clergy, pronounced sentence of banishment on him, as he had expected. He had notice to leave his native country within a fixed time from the passing of the sentence, unless that sentence should be remitted on his appeal to the king.

On receiving this intelligence, several petitions to the king of Sweden, which were in course of signature, were completed as quickly as possible. Lord Palmerston, who had previously been solicited to give the

force of his testimony to these petitions, by making such representations respecting the Baptists of this country as to his Lordship might seem fit, and by interceding for the establishment of religious liberty in Sweden, as of all liberty the most invaluable, replied, on June 3rd, that he had addressed a note to the Swedish minister at this court, recommending the petitions to the most favourable consideration of the Swedish Government. He also kindly advised that they should be forwarded through the medium of Baron Rehausen, the Swedish minister at the court of London, and sent a letter of introduction to him. The petitions have, accordingly, been forwarded to him, and have been kindly transmitted by him to Stockholm. We have been favoured with a list of the petitions forwarded to Baron Rehausen. We are glad that they are so numerous and respectable; and sincerely hope that their presentation will be followed by the results which the petitioners wish.

LEICESTER AND BOWDEN CHURCH-RATE
CONTESTS.

We have been favoured with a tract containing an account of the Church-rate contest at Leicester, with a report of an eloquent speech by Mr. Mursell, delivered at a public meeting held in connexion with it. On reading the account, we could not help exclaiming, What next? That constitutional judge, Lord Denman, was so infatuated by the insensible influence of Churchism, as to declare it good ecclesiastical law that a minority can lay a Church-rate against the decision of the majority. Now, a Leicester vicar and his legal adviser declare it law, and act upon it, that they can lay a rate without putting the motion for it to a meeting at all! Are miraculous powers returned to the Church again? or are they the powers of Simon Magus rather? Certainly such legal and social marvels have not for long been performed in England. Mr. Mursell's speech is a most withering exposure of the mingled audacity and meanness of spirit evinced in this transaction, and did our space allow, we should be glad to make some extracts from it. Surely Leicester Dissenters will not let the vicar's new edition of Denman go unimpugned.

We have received, as somewhat of a counterpoise, an account of a well-fought battle at Bowden, Cheshire, in which the Church party were compelled to withdraw their rate for a voluntary subscription, after having declared it carried.

How lamentable that christianity should be disgraced in the eyes of the world by these shameless attacks of the dominant party!

THE ISLE OF MAN.

The Isle of Man contains a population of about fifty thousand inhabitants; the professedly christian part are principally Episcopalians and Methodists. There are two or three Independent places of worship on the Island, but no Baptist church was ever known to have existed until about eighteen months ago, when six persons of the latter persuasion, residing in Douglas, determined

on attempting to raise an interest in aecordance with their views; for this purpose they formed themselves into a christian church, chose one of their number as elder, hired a room, and commenced public worship. At the first, few besides themselves attended. They, however, persevered, and have, though slowly, yet gradually increased, and at present number from forty to fifty hearers.

The design of this brief statement is to induce, if possible, ministers of the Baptist denomination, who intend making a summer excursion for the benefit of their health, to come to the Isle of Man (which place is considered highly conducive to that purpose, by its strong bracing air and delightful seabathing), and aid us by their services and counsel during their visit. Such an act of christian kindness towards those who at present are unable to support a paid ministry, would cause them, like Paul, to thank God and take courage.

NOTTINGHAM-OPENING OF THE NEW

BAPTIST CHAPEL,

This beautiful edifice was opened for Divine worship on Monday, July 8th. The service in the morning was commenced by the Rev. S. M'All, and an eloquent sermon preached by the Rev. J. A. Baynes, B.A., minister of the chapel, from Isaiah 1x. 13. The Rev. A. J. Morris occupied the pulpit in the evening, and took for his text Psalm xxiii. 5. The collections at the services amounted to £132. 11s. 4d. On the following Lord's-day, excellent sermons were preached by the Rev. J. T. Brown. The collections during the day amounted to £82.

NEW-CHURCH-STREET CHAPEL, MARYLEBONE.

On Lord's-day, May 12th, 1850, the Rev. Dr. Burns, on entering on the sixteenth year of his pastorate, after his forenoon discourse, made a statement on the progress of the cause, during the last fifteen years. We have been favoured by Mrs. Balfour with the particulars of this statement, which, had we room, we should be glad to insert. It seems, however, that, from twenty-nine members, the church has increased to between six and seven hundred; and that for chapel trust, the sick, the Sunday school, and the mission, upwards of three thousand pounds have been raised by them. They have now efficient Sunday schools, and day schools, and well sustained Bible classes. We trust, that should our brother's life be spared for another fifteen years, he may be as useful as he has been during the past.

BYROM-STREET, LIVERPOOL.

The re-opening of the Baptist chapel, Byrom-Street, Liverpool, the purchase of which was announced some time ago, took place on Lord's-day, June 23rd. The Rev. J. Harvey of Bury, read and prayed, and the Rev. H. S. Brown of Myrtle-Street, preached from Ps. cxxvi. 3. The chapel was filled to overflowing, which it is hoped is an earnest of good things for, the cause. The Rev. James Smith, late of New-Park-Street, London, has supplied the pulpit during the five Lord's-days since the opening.