418 Correspondence-Bazaar at the next Association for the College. '3, That they, therefore, affectionately | Institution, and that it was a step invite their brethren throughout the which all our churches commend. country to aid in this charitable under- It has enabled us to place our Theotaking, by liberally supporting the funds logical Seminary on a respectable of these committees both by congre- footing, and has evoked an amount gational collections and by private of Christian zeal in our Denominsubscriptions. ation unequalled in its history, as the amount paid and promised unThe property mistakeably shews. 4, That George Lowe, Esq., F.R.S., the treasurer of the Baptist Union, is hereby authorized and requested to receive contributions for this object; such contributions to be forwarded either to the Baptist Mission House, or to the account of the treasurer with Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., 54, Lombard street.' is so settled that it cannot be alien- B. EVANS, D.D., Chairman. BAZAAR AT THE NEXT ASSO- To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-Will you kindly allow me to call the attention of your readers to the following resolution, passed at the Association, held at Halifax, in June last : 'Resolved: That this Association recommends an early effort for paying off the debt still remaining on the College property, and that for this purpose opening services be held at the College at the commencement of the next session, and that the friends at Nottingham be requested to make arrangements for the holding of a bazaar at the next Association.' £3300, or thereabouts. Our respected Treasurer has already received £1750, and £650 more are promised, so that the sum of £900 is wanted to relieve us from debt. It should be stated that £1400 are borrowed on mortgage, £400 of which are to be paid off on the 1st January next, so that our Treasurer would be glad to receive as much in subscriptions as would enable him to meet the above mentioned engagement. But I wish now, Mr. Editor, more especially to call attention to the bazaar, and to invite the cordial and practical sympathy of the churches to it. While most of the churches have been forward to assist us, some, I regret to say, have done little or nothing towards it; and though many friends have generously come forward to aid, others who could, have not done so. Will those who have withheld their assistance allow me again to solicit In accordance with the former it, and to press our claim upon all part of the above resolution, a soiree loyal General Baptists for a conwas held at Chilwell, on the 9th tribution, however small, towards the September, an account of which forthcoming bazaar? I know that appeared in the October Mag- the zeal of the generous-hearted, azine, and I now beg a little who have so nobly helped us, needs space in your columns for a few no prompting to continue their remarks as to the latter part exertions; and I therefore conof this resolution. I believe Ifidently appeal to them for further am justified in saying that the purchase of the Chilwell property has given the greatest satisfaction to every true friend to our Collegiate aid. It has occurred to me that it would be well if every church would appoint a Bazaar Committee, with a view to organize a Ladies' Correspondence-Bazaar at the next Association for the College. 419 Sewing Society for the above object, or that where we have more than one church in a town, it would be well if a committee of ladies from each church would co-operate together and collect subscriptions for the purpose of commencing operations as the winter evenings are coming on. Thus a little earnest and hearty labour from those who are ready to every good word and work' would provide us with materials eminently suitable for a bazaar, and we should be enabled to obtain a considerable sum towards liquidating the debt remaining on the College premises. In this way all our lady friends who want an opportunity to do good during the long winter nights, would find one eminently worthy of their skill and piety. They know the kind of articles necessary for the occasion; and I need only say with what pardonable and generous pride we should look upon a goodly array of ornamental needlework and articles of general utility contributed by the ladies of our Denomination to the bazaar for the benefit of the College, to be held in Nottingham, in June next. I have thus intruded on your columns, Mr. Editor, to bespeak early attention to the above object, and hope shortly to issue a circular, under the sanction of the Committee, to our churches, inviting their speedy and cordial co-operation. In the meantime, will you permit me to add with what great pleasure I should receive any contributions in money from friends who prefer this method of responding to this request, and that I shall be most happy to give any further information on the matter. Most truly yours, JAMES LEWITT, Secretary. Annesley Grove, Nottingham, September 13, 1862. The Association held at Halifax having requested that a bazaar be held at the next annual meeting, for the benefit of the College building fund, the ladies connected with the three churches in Nottingham very cheerfully respond to this request, and earnestly solicit the co-operation of all friends in the Connexion, in order that the result may be satisfactory. The hearty sympathy shewn by the gentlemen throughout the whole body towards the New College induces the hope that the same interest will be evinced on the part of the ladies. If by this and other means the New College can be entirely freed from debt at an early period, it will be a source of pleasure and gratitude to all who assist in any way to accomplish this end. Whatsoever ye do do it heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto man. It may be mentioned that a committee has been formed of ladies from each of the Nottingham churches. The plan adopted by them has been to appoint collectors of subscriptions for the purchase of materials; ladies have been chosen to prepare work; and an invitation given to the friends of each congregation to meet together once a fortnight from half-past two o'clock till five, or from six till nine, to assist in making up articles. Hoping this statement may be useful to some of our churches who may wish to assist in the work. I remain, on behalf of the committee, JANE HILL, Secretary. P.S. Any contributions of money, work, or materials, which may be used for making up articles, will be thankfully received by the above, (addressed to Mr. Thomas Hill, Arboretum-street,) or by any of the ladies of the Nottingham Bazaar Committee. CONINGSBY NEW CHAPEL.-The following resolution, passed at the Annual Association, at Halifax, in June last, is, by mistake omitted in the Minutes'-That we rejoice in the endeavour of the people at Coningsby to erect a new chapel, and we recommend those churches and friends, who have the means, to forward their assistance.' THOMAS GOADBY, Secretary. QUERY. DOES the New Act, passed for the enrolment of chapel deeds, empower the Association of the General Baptist Connexion to dispose of the property without the consent of the trustees, who are the only persons responsible for the debt incurred by the building or repairing of chapels? INQUIRER. Notices of of Books. THE NEW TESTAMENT. Translated from Griesbach's Text. By SAMUEL SHARPE. Fifth Edition. London: J. Russell Smith, Soho square. GRIESBACH's text of the Greek New Testament is a well-known authority to biblical students, but opinions are now divided as to whether it is the best. Mr. Sharpe has rendered this text into English, for the benefit of those ignorant of Greek. He has adhered, wherever practicable, to the words of the authorized version, and has made use of such commentaries and helps as were within his reach. He lays no claim to anything new or peculiar, but has striven to give the meaning and idiom of the corrected Greek text. If his translation do nothing else, it will convince the English reader that even Griesbach's text, corrected and settled,' does not alter any great fact of gospel history, or change any great doctrine based thereon. There are many features in the getting up' of this volume which we should be glad to see introduced into our Bibles generally. The pages are numbered. Each book is printed in paragraphs. The quotations from the Old Testament are given, if poetry, in smaller type, if prose, in italics. The speeches in the Gospels and the Acts are marked by inverted commas. Why these necessary helps to the understanding of ordinary books should still be left out of our Bibles we are at a loss to conceive. We know no more certain way to make difficult of comprehension any book than splitting it up into chapters and verses, and showing in such a division an utter disregard to the particular parts of which it is composed. Even anewspaper article would be a puzzle if given with such disadvantages. It is surely time that the New Testament especially should be made, as of its mere getting up,' as readable as any other book. HYMNS FOR PASTOR AND PEOPLE. By SAMUEL DUNN. London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co. THESE are hymns on texts rather than on subjects, are simple in their language, far from faultless in their rhythm, and very varied in metre. The writer is a minister of the Free Church in Camborne, Cornwall, and has been in the habit for years of writing a sermon and a hymn from the same text. His brother issues this volume as one that, from its freedom from sectarian bias, may be profitably used by ministers and private Christians in every section of the church of Christ. We have read many of the hymns and thoroughly agreed in this judgment. At the same time we must beg those who may purchase this volume not to expect therein the finished works of a true artist. They will find, rather, the rhymed renderings of familiar texts by a devout man. CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. The noblest form of social life; the representative of Christ on earth; the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. By JOSEPH ANGUS, D.D. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HISTORY from the Reformation to 1662. By JOHN WADDINGTON, D.D. London: Ward & Co. (Bicentenary Prize Essays.) THESE are two of three successful essays for prizes offered by the last Notices of Books-The Christian Bishop, &c. 421 autumnal meeting of the Congrega- regarded as all but literally strikers. tional Union. The publication of Happily, however, our ministers the third, by Mr. Lord, of Hersham, have no persecuting power; but Surrey, is delayed for the present. there is a figurative sense, in which Dr. Angus, in the first essay, treats it is quite as important as in the of the nature, discipline and govern- literal sense, that a minister should ment of Christian churches. Under be "no striker." The Psalmist the first section he verifies the speaks of men whose words are as threefold description of Christian drawn swords; and a very puny churches given in the title, but man may strike with his tongue notes in the second that this is the much more heavily than Hercules ideal and not the actual church. could with his club. The jaw-bone Hence the need of discipline, &c. of an ass, wielded by Samson, though The third section treats of the it slew a thousand men, is nothing officers and general government of to the jaw-bones of some asses in the church. The essay is concise in human form. "No striker"-Now style and treatment, and is full of I think, that when a minister so far point. forgets the respect due to himself Dr. Waddington begins by ad- and to his office as to stoop to perverting to the defects of the reform-sonalities, when it is obvious that ation and the influence of the continental reformers on the English Exiles. The Puritans and Separatists, with their point of divergence; martyrs and exiles; Pilgrim Fathers; Presbyterians and Independents; men of Commonwealth; conflict of principles; parties before the Restoration; development of Congregationalism-such are the several subjects of the different sections into which the essay is divided. The narrative is well written, and very readable, which is more than can be said of many Bicentenary historical essays. And he is attacking some one from the pulpit, he is a "striker;" and if a minister, by speech or otherwise, assails the character of a brother minister (and this is no uncommon thing) he is a "striker." further, I find these striking pastors amongst those who are much given to controversy; for few of those who engage in this amiable and edifying exercise can refrain from attacking, with more or less virulence, the men who hold the opinions which they denounce. I know that the word of God is called a hammer; but I would call attention to the THE CHRISTIAN BISHOP: his office fact, that though a hammer is ocand qualifications. A sermon casionally used for destructive purpreached before the Annual Meet- poses, it is much more frequently ing of the Baptist College, Ponty-used as an instrument of construcpool, May 21, 1862. By REV. HUGH STOWELL BROWN, of Liverpool. London: Elliot Stock. THIS dicourse is full of strong on the office and qualifications of the Christian bishop, and is founded on Titus i. 7-9. The following passage is characteristic: The apostle says that the bishop must be "no striker," or, as we read in older versions, common sense no fighter." I cannot suppose that this admonition was ever needful in a literal sense; though still all persecuting ministers may be tion. The blacksmith, the carpenter, the engine-fitter, have hammers, but they wield them to some better purpose than that of knocking their fellow workmen down.' ENGLISH PURITANISM: its character Obituary. MR. JOSIAH ROPER.-The Baptist | church at Diseworth, has lost in the death of Mr. J. Roper, one of its oldest and best supporters. He had been a member of the church nearly fifty years, and died on Tuesday, March 11th, 1862. He was impressed by religious truths_under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Felkin, by whom he was baptized and received into the church at Kegworth. He listened to the preaching of five pastors of this church-the Revs. Mr. Felkin, Mr. Butler, Mr. Jones, Mr. Wilders, and Mr. Taylor. For fifty-three years he was connected with the Sabbath-school, either as scholar, teacher, or superintendent. During twenty years he discharged the duties of an elder in a faithful and exemplary manner. He possessed talents that would have been usefully employed in Christian labours, but his diffidence and unobtrusiveness prevented him exercising them in public. He had, however, the cause of Christ at heart, and would frequently evince intense delight at the signs of its progress. He was a liberal and constant contributor to every good cause with which he was associated. His conduct in this respect is highly commendable. He has been known frequently to limit his own domestic comforts, so that he might be able to present a better offering unto the Lord. The esteem in which he was held by men of every class who knew him, bears valuable testimony to the worth of his character. The illness which caused his death came on very suddenly, and lasted only a short time. He was precluded from attending to his employment only during the eight days immediately preceeding that on which he died. He spoke little whilst he lay on the bed of death, but his composure when his end drew near, the rapture he manifested when the subjects of his faith were mentioned to him, and the character of his SAMUEL BAILEY, was born at Odstone, Leicestershire, August 9th, 1778. His parents who were in humble circumstances, cultivated habits of industry and sobriety which were kindly rewarded by the agricultural society, by a donation of three guineas, for having brought up a family of seven children without parochial relief. But they were not only thoughtful for the life that now is, but also for that which is to come. They were honourable members of the General Baptist church at Barton, and trained up their children in the fear of the Lord. In early life the subject of our notice, seems to have been provi dently preserved from many of the common vices of the age by being placed under the care of religious persons. By these he was constantly kept under the means of grace, and at the age of nineteen, became deeply convinced of his sinful state before God. These convictions seem to have been of the terrific kind, and to have been rendered more intense by a vision, in which he thought he died, came to judgment, and received a letter for the bottomless pit. In this state of unhappy suspense he continued for nearly two years, for though in the service of religious masters, their reserved |