to those sunny lands where no winter sheds her snows, or strips the grove, or binds the dancing streams, he will often be pluming his wing for the hour of his flight to glory.-Dr. Guthrie.

WORDS OF DR. JUDSON TO AN AFFLICTED FRIEND." So the light of your dwelling has gone out, my poor brother, and it is all darkness there, only as you draw down, by faith, some faint gleams of the light of heaven, and coldness has gathered round your hearth-stone; your home is probably desolate, your children scattered, and you a homeless wanderer over the face of the land. We have both tasted of those bitter cups once and again; we have found them bitter, and we have found them sweet too. Every cup, stirred by the finger of God, becomes sweet to the humble believer. Do you remember how our late wives and others used to cluster round the well-curb in the mission premises, at the close of the day? I can almost see them sitting there, with their smiling faces, as I look out of the window at which I am now writing. Where are ours now? Clustering around the wellcurb of the fountain of living water, to which the Lamb of Heaven shows them the way; reposing in the arms of infinite Love, who wipes away all their tears with his own hand. Let us travel on and look up. We shall soon be there. As sure as I write, and you read these lines, we shall soon be there. Many a weary step we may yet have to take; but we shall get there at last. And the longer and more tedious the way, the sweeter will be our repose."

THE RESURRECTION.-If. the mere conception of the reunion of good men in a future state infused a momentary rapture into the mind of Tully, and if an airy speculation, for there is reason to fear it had little hold on his convictions,-could inspire him with such delight, what may we be expected to feel, who are assured of such an event by the true sayings of God? How should we rejoice in the prospect of spending a blissful eternity with those whom we loved on earth,-of seeing them emerge from the ruins of the tomb, and the deeper ruins of the Fall, not only uninjured, but refined and perfected, "with every tear wiped from their eyes," standing before the throne of God and the Lamb, in white robes, and palms in their hands, crying with a loud voice, "Salvation to God, that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever"? What delight will it afford to renew the sweet counsel we had taken together, to recount the toils of combat, and the labour of the way, and to approach the throne of God in company, in order to join in the symphonies of heavenly voices, and lose ourselves amidst the splendour of the beatific vision !Robert Hall.

THE SURPRISES OF ETERNITY. - The sweetest surprisals of eternity will be resurrections of the works of time. When the disciple has forgotten the labour of love, he will be reminded of it in the rich reward; and though he never thought any

more of the cup of cold water which he gave, or the word in season which he spake in Jesus' name, it seems that these are registered in the book of remembrance, and will all be read by their happy author, in the animating light of glory. To find the marvellous results which have accrued from feeble means,-to encounter higher in salvation than yourself those of whose salvation you never hoped to hear, and learn that an entreaty, or prayer, or forgotten effort of your own, had a divine bearing on the joyful consummation,-to find the prosperous fruit already growing on the shores of eternity, from seeds which you scattered on the streams of time,-with what discoveries of unexpected delight it will vary the joys of the purchased possession; and with what accession of adoration and praise it will augment the exceeding weight of glory!

THE BEST FRIEND.-If you have not yet found an object to your heart's content,-if you feel that there is something wrong with you, that you are neither leading the life which you would like to lead, nor enjoying the comfort which you think might be somehow got, be advised: take the Lord Jesus for your friend. He is one in whom you will find no flaw. He is one of whom, if you really get acquainted with Him, you will never weary; and one who, if once you really go to Him, will never weary of you. He is a friend of whom no one ever had reason to complain, a friend who has done so much for you already, that He would have done enough even though he were never to do any more; but who is so generous, that his thoughts are all occupied with the great things He designs to do,-a friend who is singularly kind and considerate, for "He sticketh closer than a brother,"-a friend who does not vary, "for He is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever."

DISPUTES. How much soever a person may be inclined to dispute with his fellowman; however often his passions may get the mastery of his wisdom and his tongue; yet I believe there are none, possessed of ordinary intelligence, who do not often muse on the folly which belongs to the petty word-quarrels in which men are so often engaged. There are men who, being led into dispute, wax warmer and warmer as the conflict increases, until finally they separate in high dudgeon, both inwardly vowing that "there never was such an obstinate old fellow as "that Jones," or 'Brown," as the case may be. For such men I have two rules selected-one from Jefferson, and one from M. Aurel. The former says: "When you are angry always count ten before you speak." And the latter: "In all differences, consider that both you and your enemy are dropping off, and that ere long your very memories will be extinguished."-Fitz Morner.

SECRET PRAYER.-"I would exhort those who have entertained a hope of their being true converts, and yet since their supposed conversion have left off the duty of secret prayer, and do ordinarily allow themselves

in the omission of it, to throw away their hope. If you have left off calling upon God, it is time for you to leave off hoping and flattering yourselves with an imagination that you are the children of God. Probably it will be a very difficult thing for you to do this. It is hard for a man to let go a hope of Heaven, on which he hath once allowed himself to lay hold, and which he hath retained for a considerable time. Those things in men which, if known to others would be sufficient to convince others that they are hypocrites, will not convince themselves."-President Edwards.

LOOKING TO JESUS. Too often the gravest speculations tend to occupy us too

It

much with ourselves; to give too strong a hold to that vivacious self-interest which catches at, and clings to every thing. The look directed to Jesus, and this look alone, has an opposite tendency; and in proportion as it is prolonged, it inspires our soul with a holy enthusiasm, a holy love. makes these dispositions habitual, dominant in our heart. It becomes at once the light and the warmth of our life. It does better than refute doubts, it absorbs them. It bids away frivolous questions, discards subtleties, creates a triumphant evidence, and transports us by anticipation into the light of heaven; putting under our feet all the clouds which hung over our heads.

NOTES OF THE MONTH.

POLITICAL.

The conferences are at last over, and as everybody expected, Russia is the gainer. Lose, indeed, she could not, all she wanted being in clear violation of the treaty, to settle which the conferences were held; while as a compensation for permitting the treaty to be carried out, she has received back a considerable part of the little portion she had been required to give up. The conclusion arrived at is, that English and Austrians are to quit the Black Sea and the Principalities on the 30th of March, if the actual boundary be settled by the Commissioners at that date. Should this decision be carried out, all danger in this quarter is at an end.

Another danger is past-that arising from the dispute between Prussia and Switzerland. In accordance with advice from France and England, the long-talked of prosecutions have been quashed, the prisoners are conducted across the French border, and the Federal troops have commenced disbanding. Switzerland has had to yield somewhat, and the King of Prussia will not, besides the disgrace of his folly and bluster, have it all his own way.

Another war has, however, sprung up in China. Out of a little dispute, which was yet connected with years of wrangling, a quarrel has arisen which may last for years. Canton has been bombarded by English ships. A great part of the government buildings have been destroyed by them. The latest news is that Yeh, the governor with whom the dispute has arisen, has sent to Pekin for instructions from the Imperial government, which were, however, expected to be unfavourable to the restoration of peace.

In France, a great crime has been committed, which has caused a profound sensation throughout the empire. The Archbishop of Paris has been assassinated by a deprived priest. The assassin has been convicted by the clearest evidence, and at the time we write awaits his death by the guillotine.

Hugh Miller, the great Scottish geologist, has died by his own hand. He committed the act under circumstances which render it certain that he was at the time insane.

Parliament meets on the 3rd. What are to be the results of the session is as yet uncertain. One thing seems sure, that the Income Tax will be modified. At least, it will be difficult to retain it at the present amount, in opposition to the loud demands of the classes whom it is always the in. terest of governments to conciliate.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Of Ecclesiastical news there is scarcely any. The following from the Record will be read with interest:-"The Committee of Laymen beg to call the attention of the members of the Church to the announcement recently made by the AttorneyGeneral, that the Church-rate question would form one of the first measures for discussion and settlement in the ensuing session. This will render it necessary for every exertion to be made to prevent Parliament legislating on the subject without full knowledge of the opinions and wishes of the people. The Committee will reassemble next month, on the meeting of Parliament, and we trust that Churchmen will enable them to act with vigour and efficiency in resisting any proposal to despoil the Church of one of her most ancient sources of income." It is lawful to be taught even by an enemy.

The Bishop of St. David's refuses to consecrate a portion of the cemetery provided by the Town Council of Swansea, because they decline to provide a carriage to convey the vicar there for the performance of his duties. This his lordship regards as "great injustice and cruel oppression."

To our readers it will be interesting to know that the esteemed Secretary of our Missionary Society, E. B. Underhill, Esq., is expected in England, after his absence of two years in India, at the beginning of April. Mr. Tayler, late of Birmingham, leaves for Australia in the course of the present month.-Our friend, Mr. Oncken,

remains in England, and we are glad to know is being received with great cordiality by the churches. We trust his appeals for help will be as successful as they deserve to be. If so, he will return to his toils, with a glad heart and a cheerful spirit.

KINGSGATE (LATE EAGLE-STReet) chapel,

LONDON.

The friends of the cause so long and so beneficially carried on in Eagle-street, will be glad to learn that its progress in the new chapel, recently opened, is most gratifying, and that the efforts making to meet the payments due to the builders and others have met with encouraging success. The friends engaged in collecting held their quarterly tea-meeting on Tuesday, the 13th of January, at which the Rev. Fras. Wills presided, and, after prayer by the Rev. Mr. Etheridge, the various sums collected during the quarter, amounting together to £133 (chiefly in small sums), were handed in to the treasurer, Mr. Crassweller, who stated that there were payments coming due in this and the next month amounting to about £800 more than the committee had then funds to meet, and earnestly pressed upon the friends present renewed efforts to raise the amount required. In this appeal, the chairman and other members of the committee joined, and various suggestions were made with a view to aid the endeavours now making to discharge those liabilities, and it was resolved unanimously to issue debentures for loans of from £5 to £50 each, bearing interest at £5 per cent. per annum, and payable at a month's notice. The friends present joined in approving of this plan, and debentures were agreed to be taken to the amount of upwards of £400, chiefly by the members of the church and congregation. It was also proposed to commence forthwith a weekly penny subscription for paying the interest on the sums borrowed, and towards repaying the debt incurred in the erection of the new chapel and school-room. The opportunity was likewise taken of congratulating both the pastor and his flock on the great increase of the congregation since the opening of the chapel; which increase has been more particularly marked since the commencement in November of a series of lectures by Mr. Wills on the book of Daniel. The Sabbath school also has considerably increased, and the friends connected with the place look hopefully forward to a complete revival (under the divine blessing) of this old and useful church.

CREWKERNE.

A tea meeting was held on Thursday evening, Dec. 11th, 1856, at the Baptist chapel, Crewkerne, on occasion of the third anniversary of the Rev. W. Evans's pastorate of the church assembling there. The attendance was good, and a large amount of mutual kindly feeling was called forth. A public service took place afterwards, when Mr. Evans read a paper containing a review of the circumstances

which led to his settlement among the people, and the apparent very decided indications of Divine providence in the case, together with the subsequent experience of pastor and people, and the practical lessons which should be deduced therefrom. A strong feeling was likewise expressed of obligation to the Divine mercy and faithfulness during the entire period. Suitable hymns were prepared for the occasion. Several friends, belonging to different branches of the christian church, delivered brief and encouraging addresses. At the close of the meeting it was unanimously requested that Mr. Evans would allow his address to be printed.

MIDWAY-PLACE CHAPEL, LOWER-ROAD,
ROTHERHITHE.

The friends connected with this place of worship, having determined, at the suggestion of their pastor, the Rev. R. R. Finch, to clear off the debt (incurred by the alterations and improvements of the chapel) before the close of the year, met together to tea in the school-room, at eight o'clock on Wednesday evening, the 31st of December, 1856. A large company was convened, and, after tea, the secretary read the financial account for the year, from which it appeared that about £25 remained to clear off the debt. The friends who had taken collecting cards, brought in the various amounts they had collected; and before the close of the meeting the pastor had the pleasure of announcing that they were now quite free from debt, and should now commence the new year with enlarged schemes for usefulness among the population by whom they were surrounded. At ten o'clock the friends adjourned to the chapel, when a most profitable and interesting thanksgiving service occupied the last two hours of the year.

BROMSGROVE.

On New Year's day, a public tea-meeting of a very interesting character, was held in the school-rooms connected with the Baptist chapel in this place, preparatory to the renewal of the trust deeds pertaining to the chapel and endowment. About 200 persons sat down to tea. And at the public meeting afterwards in the chapel, powerful addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Phillips (Baptist), J. Parsons (Independent), T. Green (Wesleyan), and Messrs. Banner, J. Parry, Weaver, Scroxton, T. Parry, and Jackson. The chair was occupied by the pastor, the Rev. W. Green. Additional interest was added to the meeting by the presentation of a pastor's chair to the church, by Mr. Banner, of Birmingham, bearing upon its carved front the motto, "Love one another."

QUEEN'S-ROAD CHAPEL, DALSTON.

On Thursday, January 1st, a meeting was held in the above chapel to originate a movement for building a new Sundayschool-room. Mr. Alderman Wire presided. The speakers were the Revs. S. Green, H. Hooper, W. Miall, C. J. Middleditch,

and Messrs. Hadrill, Hartley, and Starling. The claims of the neighbourhood, and the inadequacy of the room now rented, having been strongly stated, it was announced that the church had resolved on building as soon as £400 shall have been contributed. At the close of the meeting, the chairman announced that half this sum had been received or promised; and the friends separated with the hope, that in the course of the ensuing summer, they shall be in a position to realise their desire.

NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT.

On Tuesday evening, December 30th, a meeting of an interesting character was held in the large vestry of the Baptist chapel, Newport, Isle of Wight, to celebrate the liquidation of the debt on the chapel. About 100 friends sat down to tea, after which the Rev. D. Jennings, pastor, presided. R. M. Wanell, Esq., M.D., one of the deacons, read the financial account, from which it appeared that the £100 necessary to the extinction of the debt had been nearly realised. Donations were immediately handed in, which brought it up to more than the amount required. The meeting was then addressed by the Revs. J. Storey, Reformed Wesleyan; J. Elrick, Independent; S. Spurgeon, of Ford-house Academy; and W. Froggatt, Independent.

FORD FORGE, NORTHUMBERLAND.

A social tea-meeting was held in the Baptist chapel at Ford Forge, Northumberland, on the evening of Dec. 31st, 1856. Mr. Henry Watson, pastor of the church, presided. The meeting was attended by christians of various denominations, and numbered about 200. Addresses were delivered by Messrs. W. Lees, Allison, and Clark, from Berwick. In the course of the evening Mr. Lees was presented by Mr. John Reed with five excellent and useful volumes, Dr. Kitto's Cyclopædia, Dr. Angus's Hand-book, and three volumes of Neander's Church History, as an acknowledgment of Mr. Lees's labours in the above place on a former occasion.

MYRTLE-STREET, LIVERPOOL.

Myrtle-street Baptist chapel, Liverpool, the scene of the ministerial labours of the Rev. Hugh Stowell Brown, has, through the liberality of one of the lady members of the church, been unexpectedly liquidated from debt. The late John Johnson, Esq., had a mortgage of £1,000 upon the chapel. Dying lately intestate, his sister, the wife of Richard Houghton, sen., Esq., Rodneystreet, inherited the property of her brother, and she has intimated to the deacons her intention to relinquish the mortgage; thus, at once, entirely relieving the chapel of debt.

ZION CHAPEL, DEAL.

A very interesting tea-meeting took place in the school-room of the above chapel on Tuesday, the 13th of January, when about 120 sat down to tea. Addresses were given in the evening by Dr. Hillier, of Sandwich

(Independent); the Rev. T. Bartrum, of Deal (Independent); and the pastor, the Rev. W. Garwood; and several of the friends of the different denominations of. the town, including some Episcopalians, attended. In the course of the evening, the subject of rebuilding the school-room was brought forward, the present schoolroom being too small, for which purpose upwards of £30 was subscribed on the spot. The cost of the new school is estimated at £100. If any of the readers of "The Church" are disposed to give a helping hand in this work, any aid will be thankfully received by Mr. E. Cornwall, Deal.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES.

The Rev. J. Ewence, of Ragland, Monmouthshire, has accepted an invitation from the second Baptist church, Shiffnall, Shropshire, and enters upon his labours immediately. The Rev. J. Lewis, of Usk, Monmouthshire, has resigned his charge, and accepted an invitation from the church at Ragland, in the same county. He entered upon his new sphere of labour in January.Mr. William Best, B.A., has accepted the pastorate of the Baptist church, at Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, and entered upon his labours. The Rev. W. Crowe, of Worcester, has intimated his intention to resign his charge of the church in Silver-street, in that town, in June next.-The Rev. Shem Morgan has resigned his charge of the church in Beaumaris, on account of ill health-The Rev. A. Mursell, of Stokes Croft College, Bristol, having accepted the unanimous invitation of the Baptist church, Grosvenor-street, Manchester, to become their pastor, commenced his stated labours there on the 18th ult.-The Rev. B. G. Wilson has resigned the pastorate of the church in Barnsley. His labours terminated on the last Lord's-day in 1856.

Obituary.

MR. J. P. CLARK, REGENT'S PARK COLLEGE.

Died, at Regent's Park College, Nov. 28th, 1856, aged twenty-four, Mr. James Paine Clark, son of the late Rev. John Clark, of Grove-house, Folkstone. The departed had devoted himself with great zeal to the work of the ministry, and was fulfilling a short term of probation preparatory to his becoming an accepted student, when he was somewhat_suddenly removed to his heavenly rest. The longcherished desire of his heart, that he might be employed in the vineyard of the Lord, was thus refused. But sorrowing friends are relieved by the firm persuasion, that in his case, the will was accepted for the deed, by the Master whom he wished to serve. The intelligence of Mr. Clark's death excited considerable feeling in Folkstone, where he was well known and beloved; and on the Sabbath following the funeral, a funeral sermon was preached from Job xiv. 19, to a large congregation, by his friend and pastor, the Rev. D. Jones.