THE BAPTIST BOOK, OR THE PRESERVED PRESENT.

"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days."-Eccles. xi. 1.

In a recent visit to a village station, after the discourse, the writer stopped a little while to converse with some of the people. An aged female friend requested him to visit a sick person in the village of C-, in which one of her own daughters resides. This village is the property of Lord M—, and no regular services are permitted for the good of its inhabitants. I felt it a duty to visit the sick and aged widow of whom I had heard, and proceeded, though with some considerable exercises of mind, to attend to this difficult duty. On arriving at the place, I enquired for the daughter of my friend, and with her, obtained a very ready introduction to the poor widow. I found her an inhabitant of some venerable alms-houses, built for the accommodation of a number of aged men and women. After a little conversation the old lady said, “I have a Baptist Book, which has been a great comfort to me." The expression "Baptist book" sounded rather singularly, though not unharmoniously on my ear, and I waited with much interest while she rose from her seat to show me the book. Judge of my surprise and gratification in such circumstances, and in such a village, to see a large copy of Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion, in a very good state of preservation! I told her Doddridge was not a Baptist but an Independent. To which she replied, her master, Mr. B-, of N-, who was a Baptist, had given it to her after three years service in his family. This service she left at the age of eighteen, and I found the date was 1786, with the well-known admonition to honesty in country places,

"Steal not this book for fear of shame,

For here doth stand the owner's name."

Thus, after the lapse of fifty-six years, an old servant, in a dark village is found with this valuable book, like a light in a dark place. Who can tell the usefuluess of this copy of a Scotch edition of Doddridge's valuable book. I hope it has been useful to the poor old lady. "Cast thy bread (thy seed) upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days.' These circumstances have suggested a few reflections which may be useful to the reader,

How important is residence in a religious family.-Parents are often too inattentive to the circumstances in which their children are placed. Even pious parents and guardians are not always sufficiently attentive to this matter in seeking situations for young people. As Henry says, "That is best for us which is best for our souls.' "Evil communications corrupt good manners." Let servants duly consider the character of the place they are about to enter before engaging for any term of service. If our aged friend had not lived with a pious Baptist, she might never have possessed what she called a Baptist Book; one of the best books in our language.

Young people should not be given to change, but endeavour to keep a good place when they have one.-This aged female had lived three years as a servant in the family, and appears to have been much respected, though leaving at the early age of eighteen. This procured her the present of which we are speaking, the value of which in life and death and eternity

who can tell! Long residence and service promote affection, friendship and confidence. Solomon observed. He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him for his son at length." Prov. xxix, 21. It is a good adage, “Let well alone." The history of the Patriarchs shews the estimation in which long and faithful service was held.

"

The propriety of presents to domestics deserves serious consideration.— Even under the Law of Moses it was enjoined, If thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee and serve thee six years, then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty; thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine press, wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to-day." Deu. xv. 12-15. The present of our friend was not too great for three years service, in value about four shillings, according to the spirit of the above precept. Every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts." The savour of such kindness is remembered, and is like "ointment poured forth," as the Asiatic's express it. The heart leaps back to kindness." "The liberal devise liberal things, and by liberal things they stand." On the departure of servants and domestics, and how much more on the removal of children, on journeys and visits, how valuable the opportunities to cast some precious seed, which may flourish for generations. The writer, in his youth, when returning from the chapel at

in Lincolnshire, was joined by a pious female, who recommended him to read Doddridge's Rise and Progress, and this hint of an unknown friend has often been gratefully remembered. To recommend a good book is useful, to present one may be much more so.

A good book may often be found in the most unlikely circumstances.— Our aged friend received her present in the populous town of N-, where opportunities of hearing the gospel were numerous, but she has now for years resided in a little village whose lordly proprietor would not allow a sermon to be preached in one of the cottages on any account. In such circumstances how valuable is a good book. To find my favourite book in an old almshouse, was like meeting a beloved friend in a foreign country. This view of the subject under consideration admits of most extensive latitude. One of the late teachers in our Sabbath school at C-, is now, with his wife, a member of the church in Van Diemans land. A young servant of mine, of whom I heard a few days since, is settled at New Brunswick. The daughter of one of my old members in this town, with her husband and family, have recently settled at Wellington, in New Zealand. I sent a parcel of books by the little party. Who can tell the influence of these children of the " dispersion," or of the seed of divine truth which they carry with them, and scatter ever into "the regions beyond" them over distant locations. The copy of the Bible which enlightened Luther's mind, and through him millions more had probably been in the library for many years.

Let every pious reader be assiduous in promoting the circulation of useful books, and especially the word of God.-By a steady systematic effort, the number of good books circulated in twenty, thirty, or forty years may be very considerable. In the early part of the writer's ministry

he used to procure a dozen of Doddridge's Rise and Progress for a guinea, neatly bound, which he sold among his young people and friends. I have just glanced at the list of 156 copies circulated in about three years, and am struck with the diversity of circumstances in which the books were circulated. But since the publication of our valued brother Pike's excellent books, so much cheaper than Doddridge's work, (and, as S. Deacon. said in one of his publications, "English people like things cheap,") the work of circulating useful books is much more easy and productive. Shall I err if I add, since the early part of 1828 my list now before me states the number of these books purchased for circulation to be 3330. I have much satisfaction in the thought, that many of these books have gone far and wide, and may prove, with the Lord's blessing, productive of "fruit that will abound to our account."

The writer feels much hesitancy in thus descending to particulars and speaking of himself, but his design is to "provoke to emulation;"" to provoke to love and good works." It is painful to see the paucity of books among the poor, and even among some professors; and the few that are seen often remind the writer of broken teeth, so irregularly and disorderly do they stand. Let these humble annals of the poor, and this brief sketch of the probable usefulness of a single book in more than half a century, encourage every pious mind "to do good and to communicate." As it is written, "Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth the feet of the ox and the ass." AN EVANGELIST.

CORRESPONDENCE.

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN INDIA.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository. My dear brother,-The abolition of slavery in India and Ceylon, and in the newly acquired territory of Scinde, (how justly acquired I cannot take upon me to say) has excited the liveliest interest at the AntiSlavery convention in London, to which I have been delegated by the Ladies Negro Friend society of Birmingham, Wallsall, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, &c. &c. In the "India Mail," a digest of the contents of the last overland despatch, I observed the following account, which I doubt not will interest all your readers.

The act for the abolition of slavery passed the council April 7th, and every slave from Cape Comerin to the Himalaya mountains, among one eighth of the human race, has been legally set free! The Friend of India

remarks:

"That which two years ago appeared hopeless, owing to the want of moral courage in those who ruled the empire, has been accomplished without noise or parade, but finally and effectually. America can no longer taunt us with hypocrisy in taking credit to ourselves for emancipating a mil. lion of slaves in the West Indies, while we continue to hold another million, as it was

said, in slavery in the East. Fully and honourably have we redeemed the pledge we offered to the christian world, ten years since, of making personal freedom co-extensive with the British dominions. We may now at length enjoy without qualification the gratifying boast, that wherever the British standard waves, it waves over free men! and that slaves can no more breathe in our colonies than in our native land. We are now exulting over our successes in Affghanistan, in China, and in Scinde. Six times, during the last twelve months, have victories the most signal been announced by royal salutes. Almost every mail has brought out fresh rewards for the heroes who have maintained the military reputation of their country. Yet, amidst all these trophies, the great victory we have gained in the cause of humanity over our own prejudices and lukewarmness, is perhaps, if our heroes will forgive the expression, a greater and more lasting object of national exultation!"

To show the character of slavery in India, particularly under the Madras Presidency, a single extract from the Parliamentary papers may suffice. "When we reflect on those evils which are inseparable from even the mildest state of slavery, and consider how large a portion of our most industrious subjects are at present totally deprived of a

REVIEW.

regimen, the writers of our pleasant pamphlets would have very poor chance of escape. The dialogues would be sure to be burnt. They contain too much truth and point to escape the vengeance of our holy (?) establishment.' The Rhymes would fare little better, though the wit and point is not equal; and the author of Pietas Ecclesia would become a striking illustration of the church's zeal. By the way, the first part of the Dialogues has pleased us so much, that we hope the retreat of Sir James will not prevent part II. from appearing.

JOSEPH, A Model for the YOUNG, ESpecially for Young Men. Beautifully Illustrated with steel engravings. Parts I. and II. By EDWARD LEIGHTON. London: Hamilton, Adams, & Co.; Allen, Nottingham.

THIS beautiful edition of Mr. Leighton's Joseph, will constitute, when complete, a very suitable present for our youth. It will be completed in ten sixpenny parts, to appear every month.

If the parts now before us are, as we doubt not, fair specimens of the style and character of the work, we can have no hesi tation in expressing our admiration at the judgment and piety with which this most interesting narrative is illustrated, and its important lessons enforced by Mr. Leighton. The embellishments, too, are of a superior order.

BRIEF THOUGTHS ON THE THINGS OF GOD AND THE SOUL; in words of One Syllable. By EDWARD DALTON, Secretary to the Protestant Association. Wright and Co, Aldine Chambers, London.

OBITUARY.

shalt be saved,' Acts xvi. 31. Believe, I thought, only believe; well, then, I can believe!" here she paused, and gave vent to the grateful feelings of her heart in a flood of tears: she could say no more, but

MERCY WARNER was the eldest daughter fortable, and I could'nt tell what to do. I of the late Thomas and Hannah Freer, of went to the meeting one Sunday night, and Fleckney, more recently Hannah Brown, Mr. Amner preached, but I could get no of Loughborough. She was born in the comfort. I went home and went to bed, but year 1799, and was favoured with the ex. I could not sleep. Well, in the morning I ample, instruction, and counsel of pious got up and tried to pray, but I could'nt parents from her infancy. During the say a word; so I went down stairs, and as period of youth she was often the subject of I was going about the house, getting the serious impressions, but she trifled with children's breakfast ready, (her husband these convictions, and quenched the opera- being an agricultural labourer, was gone to tions of the Holy Spirit, resolving within his work,) these words struck my mind, herself, that when she was settled in life sheBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou would attend to religion. She was united in marriage to Joseph Warner in her twentyfirst year, and the cares of the world, and an increasing family, soon began to crowd in in quick succession upon her mind, and, alas! alas! she now found herself equally, if not more, unwilling to take upon her the yoke of the Saviour than before she exchanged the single for the social state; and though she frequently attended the General Baptist chapel at Fleckney, and listened to the faithful warnings of the late Mr. Wm. Jones, then minister of the Church at Fleck ney, yet she remained unmoved until Mr. James Amner, a member of the General Baptist Church at Hinckley, came and settled at Fleckney, to assist Mr. Jones in the ministry. Through the instrumentality of Mr. A. she was led seriously to consider her latter end, and induced to give her heart to God. Respecting her conversion there was nothing very remarkable, except that her transition from darkness to light was sudden; and perhaps it cannot be better described than in her own words, as she once related it to the writer, when referring to that interesting and important period of her history. She said, "I was very uncomVOL. 5.-N. S.

"From that glad hour her chain was broke," and she found joy and peace through believing. This pleasing change took place about the end of the year 1822, or the beginning of 1823, and shortly afterwards she offered herself to the General Baptist Church at Fleckney as a candidate for baptism and Church fellowship, and was accepted, and baptized by Mr. Jones, January 18, 1824; and from this time she remained "faithful unto death."

Our departed sister moved in an humble sphere of life, and during her earthly career was called to endure much personal as well as domestic affliction, for during the last six years of her life she never enjoyed one day's good health. She was the mother of thirteen children, six of whom were called before her to the house appointed for all living, -four of them died within the space of five months, in the year 1841, when a malignant fever prevailed in the village,2 D