and glory, we should not appreciate or long for it the less; whilst this bringing the invisible to influence the visible, would give greater energy to our obedience, and more uniform consistency to our characters, would foster more "patient perseverance" under discouragement, and greater resignation in trial; and inspire a readiness, at the summons of the Lord, to "depart and be with Christ, which is far better." Believing that no thoughtful or devout man can rise from the perusal of Mr. Roberts' volume, without having his mind animated and his heart warmed by the glimpses which are furnished of the "glory which shall hereafter be revealed," we cheerfully commend it to the notice of our readers. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION, from its commencement, to 1823, by J. G. FULLER. Bristol: Hemmons. We are glad that the fragments of our denominational history are thus gathered up by various hands. This accumulation of facts and statistics must have cost much pains-taking and research; to some, undoubtedly, the details might appear "dry," but for ourselves we have read the whole with deep interest. We should, however, have been glad if the intelligent author of this History had added, in the form of an Appendix, a series of dissertations on certain points of great moment, which his acquaintance with the original documents, his knowledge of religious matters, and habit of reflection, would have enabled him to illustrate with effect. He has presented us with an abundance of facts, we now desire a few generalisations. He has given the history of an old and influential portion of the Baptist body, we should now be gratified by possessing the philosophy of that history. Has it no voice respecting Trust-deeds-confessions of faith-the advantage of Associations, &c. But particularly we should be glad of a well-considered opinion on the causes of the decline and revival in the churches composing this Association, so diligently noted in the Letters and statistical details. We thank Mr. Fuller most heartily for his pamphlet, and hope he will in some way meet our suggestion. THE BAPTIST CHILDREN'S MAGAZINE, Volume for 1845. Sherwood, London; Brooks, Leicester. THIS little Magazine is full of pleasing and instructive matter for the young, and well deserves commendation for the spirit and liberality with which it is conducted. The publisher makes a most bountiful offer to Sabbath Schools; namely, that if the monthly sale reach 15,000, he will make 30 grants of books to as many Sabbath schools, each grant worth one pound. And for every thousand copies sold monthly, above the 15,000, he will make five additional grants of the same value. So that when the monthly sale reaches 30,000, one hundred and ten pounds per annum in books, will be given to as many Sabbath schools. This admirable liberality ought to awaken the attention of teachers to a publication whose own merits are of no common order. SCRIPTURAL REASONS AGAINST THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST'S PRE-MILLENNIAL ADVENT. Addressed to the Faithful in Christ. By a Minister of the Gospel. Simpkin and Marshall, London. AGAINST the doctrine of the personal reign of Christ on earth for 1,000 years the author advances the following reasons:-1. The literal interpretation of the prophecy of the Millennium cannot be sustained consistently with the just interpretation of the context of the passage above named, Rev. xx. 6. 2. It is opposed to the general tenor of the Word of God. 3. It is inconsistent with the particular revelation in other parts of Scripture, of the two distinct and still future comings of our Lord. 4. The accounts of Millennial blessedness contained in Scripture are not descriptive of that incorruptible glory or perfect state of things which is always represented as the immediate result of the personal coming of the Son of God. The argument is conducted with remarkable candour and good sense; and the work, though concise, is lucid, scriptural, well considered, and convincing. INTELLIGENCE. DEATH AND FUNERAL OF THE REV. W. KNIBB. It is with feelings of the deepest anguish that we record the most afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence that has occurred since the commencement of the Baptist Mission in this island. Our much-beloved friend and fellow-labourer, the Rev. William Knibb, departed this life on the morning of Saturday, 15th November, at twenty minutes before ten o'clock, of yellow fever, after a brief illness of only four days. It was our melancholy privilege to be present with our departed brother, from the commencement of his last illness to the termination of his earthly career; and it will afford his numerous friends in this island and in England, much gratification to know that all medical skill and kind attention could do to check the progress of disease and to allay suffering, was done; and that the end of our beloved brother was emphatically one of peace. He entered into his rest, enjoying calm and unshaken confidence in the perfect atonement of the Son of God. One of his last expressions, while he yet retained the possession of his faculties, was, "A guilty, weak, and helpless worm, Ön Jesus' arms I fall." In the removal of this eminent patriot and Christian missionary, the Baptist Mission has sustained an irreparable loss; his valuable partner and children have been deprived of a most affectionate husband and father; we have lost a faithful friend; the churches of which he was the spiritual instructor for fifteen years, a devoted pastor; and the victims of tyranny, oppression, and cruelty, an unflinching and eminently successful advocate. Christians of all denominations will, we are confident, unite everywhere, as those in Falmouth and its vicinity have already done, in exclaiming, "A great man hath fallen in Israel." On Sunday, the 16th, at eleven o'clock, the remains of our beloved brother were carried by six of the deacons from the mission house to the chapel, followed by some members of the family, several missionary brethren and sisters, the deacons and leaders of the neighbouring churches, with others who had come from a distance of thirty or forty miles, most of the respectable inhabitants of the town, and an immense and orderly concourse of people. As the mournful procession passed along the street, nothing was heard but the sounds of suppressed grief; but when the corpse was carried into the chapel, the vast assembly could no longer control their emotions, they felt that their father and their friend was no more, "they lifted up their voices and wept.' In a short time silence was restored; when brother Dendy, having engaged in prayer, brother Cornford gave out the hymn, commencing Brother Dutton 1 Thess. iv. v.; hymn "Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ : read the ninetieth Psalm; and Brother Abbott, parts of the "Lord, we adore the vast design, Th' obscure abyss of Providence." Brother Burchell gave an excellent address from Rev. xxi. 4; and Brethren Hutchinson and Hewett concluded the mournful service. The body was then carried to the grave in the chapel-yard, and the hymn sung which commences"Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb, Take this new treasure to thy trust, The Rev. D. Kerr (Wesleyan) delivered a touchingly eloquent oration; the Rev. Walter Thorburn (Free Church) offered up prayer; and the Rev. J. Edmonson (Wesleyan) pronounced the benediction; when the sorrowing crowd, amounting to not less than 8,000 persons, gradually dispersed. Mr. Knibb had baptized forty-five persons the Sabbath before his death, and preached in the evening, apparently in the enjoyment of his usual health. After the service he returned home in the rain, and on Tuesday was smitten with the fatal fever, which, in a short time, deprived the Mission of one of its most honoured and most distinguished agents; and the oppressed negro of one of his most untiring and successful advocates. In all the chapels in connexion with the Baptist Western Union, of which our dear departed brother was an active and beloved member, funeral sermons have been preached to overflowing and deeply-affected audiences. The first of which we received notice was that preached by the Rev. J. M. Phillippo, in the Baptist chapel at Spanish Town, from 2 Tim. iv. 6-8, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, &c." Circumstances of a personal and painful character having called the Rev. Joshua Tinson to town, he spent the Sabbath of the 23rd ult. at Brown's Town, and took the opportunity of preaching to the people from the following appropriate passage, Job xiv. 20, "Thou changest his countenance and sendest him away." At Mount Carey, the Rev. Thomas Burchell preached from 1 Cor. xv. 57, "Thanks be unto God who giveth us the victory;" and on the following Sabbath Mr. B. preached at Shortwood, from 1 Tim. iv. 7, 8. At Lucea, Mr. May took for his text 2 Kings ii. 12, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof." On the following Sabbath, the same gentlemen preached at Green Island, from Rev. xxi. 4, " And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death." On the same day Mr. Middleditch preached at Mount Moriah, from Jer. xxii. 10, "Weep ye not for the dead." At Fuller's Field, Mr. Hume took for his text Rev. xiv. 13. At Waldensia and Unity, sermons were preached by the Rev. J. E. Henderson, who took for his text, on both occasions, Gen. xlviii. 21, "Behold, I die, but God shall be with you." At no station was the Rev. W. Knibb better known or loved than at St. Ann's Bay-the greater part of the congregation was in mourning, and listened with devout attention to a sermon preached by the Rev. T. F. Abbott, from Rev. xiv. 13, "And I heard a voice from heaven." A special prayer-meeting was held at Ocho Rios, at 7 o'clock in the morning of the 30th ult., which was numerously attended, and presented fervent prayer for the bereaved family and church. At 11 o'clock, Mr. Millard preached from 2 Samuel iii. 38, "Know ye not there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" Mr. Hodges preached at Sturge Town, from Isaiah lxiv. 6, "We all do fade as a leaf." At Salter's Hill, the Rev. W. Dendy founded his discourse upon 1 Samuel xxv. 1, "And Samuel died, and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him," &c. The Rev. T. Pickton took for his text, at Bethtephil, 2 Sam. iii. 38. At Fletcher's Grove, the Rev. E. Woolley preached from 2 Chron. 32, 33, " And all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death." At Gurney's Mount, Mr. Woolley preached from Phil. i. 20. We have thus given a summary of those discourses, an account of which has reached us. We know, however, that the solemn event was generally improved, not only by ministers of our own, but also of other denominations. Nearly every Baptist place of worship was neatly hung with black, and but few members, out of the many thousands, appeared in them without some emblem of sorrow. Every respect that could have been shown to our departed brother has been shown. GLASGOW.FORMATION OF A CHURCH AND ORDINATION AT GLASGOW.About two years ago, a few members of the Baptist church in Hope-street, Glasgow, formed themselves into an association for the pupose of endeavouring to extend the Redeemer's cause in this city. It was thought their object would be promoted by the formation of a new church in connexion with the Baptist denomination, and procuring a pastor, by which another herald of mercy would be introduced to the field. But seeing no prospect of speedily obtaining any one whom they thought qualified, the church was not formed at the time mentioned. In the month of August last, an application was made by the brethren in the Association to the Baptist Union of Scotland to open a hall under their auspices. To this request the Committee of the Union acceded; and on the 31st of the same month, the New City Hall, North Albion-street, was opened for divine worship. The opening services were conducted by Messrs. Thomas Swan, Birmingham; J. Simpson, Glasgow; and J, Taylor, Airdrie; the attendance was large, and the services of a very interesting character. After meeting for a few Sabbaths, several of the members of the Association requested their dismission from the church in Hope-street, in order, with a few others, to form a church. To prevent misconception (as divisions of an unhappy nature too often occur), it may be mentioned, that the request was made with the greatest good feeling. The church in Hope-street granted their request, accompanying the dismission with their prayers. On Friday, October 10, the church was formed, Mr. Francis Johnston, then of Cupar, now of Edinburgh, conducting the services. The hall was well filled, and it is hoped much good was done. Shortly after the formation of the church, a unanimous invitation was given to Mr. James Taylor, of Airdrie, to become pastor. Having seen it his duty to comply with the request, the recognition services took place in the Assemblyrooms, Ingram-street, on Thursday, January 1. The services were conducted by Messrs. R. Thomson, Perth; F. Johnston, Edinburgh; J. Blair, Evangelist of the Union; D. M'Kay, Greenock; J. Simpson, Glasgow; and W. M'Gown, Shotley Bridge. In the evening a very large meeting was convened in the same place, R. Thomson, Perth, in the chair. After tea, interesting and impressive addresses were delivered by the chairman and some of the brethren already mentioned. The church, at its formation, consisted of sixteen members, and now numbers twenty-six, with the prospect of increase. The audiences during the day are very encouraging, and in the evening the hall is generally filled. MANCHESTER.-Rev. R. Morris, late of Burton-on-Trent, has accepted an invitation to take the pastoral charge of the Baptist church in York-street, Manchester. BISHOP'S BURTON, NEAR BEVERLEY.-The Rev. J. Voller, having received a unanimous invitation from the Baptist church here, commenced his labours on the first Sabbath in December. LIVERPOOL.-The Rev. J. Liddell, having resigned the pastoral office at Rawden, near Leeds, has entered upon a sphere of labour in the vicinity of Pembroke chapel, Liverpool, and in conjunction with the church assembling there. SWANSEA.-Interesting services were held on Wednesday and Thursday the 17th and 18th of December last, in connexion with the public recognition of the Rev. D. Evans, late of the Baptist college, Bristol, as the pastor of the Baptist church assembling at York-place chapel. The services commenced on Wednesday evening. The Rev. R. Roff, of Cambridge, read and prayed; and the Rev. T. Dodd delivered the introductory discourse. For Thursday morning the services were opened by the Rev. T. S. Hughes; after which, the Rev. R. Roff explained in a very lucid manner the nature and constitution of a Christian church. The Rev. D. Davies proposed the customary questions, and offered the ordination prayer. The Rev. E. Probert, of Bristol, [in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. E. Giles] delivered a most affecting and affectionate charge. In the evening, at six, the Rev. E. Jacob, Independent, read and prayed; the Rev. R. Roff, delivered the charge to the church; and the Rev. E. Probert preached to the congregation. The chapel on each occasion was crowded and the services were deeply interesting. We are happy to say, that our young brother is blessed with the united affections of his people, and that he commences his labours in the field assigned him, with encouraging prospects of success, upwards of twenty persons being already before the church seeking admission. May the Lord bestow on him much of his spirit, and give him many souls for his hire. LONG SUTTON.-The Rev. J. Farrent, late of Oak-street, Manchester, has accepted the united invitation of the Baptist church in this place, and entered on his pastoral duties on the first Sabbath in January. TRI-CENTENARY OF LUTHER'S DEATH.-Martin Luther died on the 18th of February, 1546. Might not the 300th anniversary of his death be appropriately spent in earnest supplication to Almighty God, to raise up another great reformer to carry on his work in the latter days of revived and spreading popery? John Hasler, Printer, 4, Crane court, Fleet street. |