THE ATHEIST AND THE PEBBLE.

THERE is no God! There is no God!'
The wretched atheist said;
'There is no God in earth beneath,
Nor in heaven over head.'
And now a fatal unbelief

Is getting him in its power;
And that poor atheist's guilty soul
Is in danger every hour.

He picks a little pebble up,

A pebble from the brook; Such as to strike Goliah down, Young David with him took.

'How came this pebble here?' he said'Self-caused it could not be;

And, tho' myriads of ages back 't were made, Yet not eternally.

'And what is this strange form I view Embedded in the stone?

Sure it's a shell or mimic tree,

Or flower that once had blown.

'And these were made by some wise hand-
And, then, how came they here?
Wonders like these, they must have had
A wond'rous cause, 'tis clear.

This shell was once a fish's home

Deep in the ocean bed;

This plant, a polype or sea-weed,
Or brilliant coral red.

'True medals of creation these!

But 't was a curious mint,

When shell, plant, coral, all were cast
In this once liquid flint.

'That none of these could be self-made
I now can see full well;

A God there must have been to form
Pebble, plant, coral, shell.

'And, if a God, must he not be

All-great and good and wise?

And if a God, may he not be

The God whom christians prize?'

And thus that atheist's doubt was gone-
Grim unbelief was slain.

And thusa pebble from the brook'
A giant slew again.

J. O. J.

THE CHILD'S INQUIRY.
DID HE DIE FOR ME?

UPON a mother's lap of love,
There quietly sat her little child;

His soft blue eyes were beaming bright-
His looks were thoughtful, calm, and mild.

He gazed into that face so bright
With constant, pure, and changeless love;
While from affection's depths she tried
His soft and tender heart to move.

Her words like drops of love he caught,
His gentle bosom heaved with grief;
And crimson deep'ned on his cheek,
Till rolling tears gave sweet relief.

And when the mournful story closed
With Jesus bleeding on the tree,
The child in eager tones inquired-
'And did He bleed and die for me?'

'O yes, my child, for you-for all,
The Lord of glory shed his blood.'
'And may I always dearly love
The kind and holy Son of God?'

'Oh yes, my dear, to win your love,
He left his beauteous home on high;
Give him your heart, then after death
You'll be an angel in the sky.'

'And I will share his love, mamma;
I know I will-he died for me:
When in his blissful home above,
Will I my matchless Saviour see!'
Brechin.

W. S.

THE SLAVE SINGING AT MIDNIGHT.

BY LONGFELLOW,

LOUD he sang the psalm of David!
He, a negro, and enslaved,

Sang of Israel's victory,
Sang of Zion, bright and free.

In that hour when night is calmest,
Sang he from the Hebrew Psalmist,
In a voice so sweet and clear
That I could not choose but hear.

Songs of triumph and ascriptions,
Such as reached the swart Egyptians,
When upon the Red Sea coast
Perished Pharaoh and his host.

And the voice of his devotion

Filled my soul with strange emotion; For its tones by turns were glad, Sweetly solemn, wildly sad.

Paul and Silas, in their prison, Sang of Christ, the Lord arisen, And an earthquake's arm of might Broke their dungeon-gates at night.

But alas! what holy angel

Brings the slave this glad evangel? And what earthquake's arm of might Breaks his dungeon-gates at night?

THE TIME, ORDER, AND SERVICES

OF THE G. B. ASSOCIATION.

TO BE HELD AT DERBY, JUNE 24TH, 1851.

Monday Evening, June 23rd,-a devotional service at seven o'clock.

Tuesday Morning, at seven o'clock, the business of the Association will commence with the reading of the States, which must be sent by post the week preceding, to the Rev. J. G. Pike, Derby. At eleven o'clock the Officers of the Association will be elected.

Tuesday Evening.-Public worship at seven o'clock, when the first sermon will be preached by the Rev. J. Burns, D.D., of London; or in case of failure, by the Rev. J. Heathcoat, of Berkhampstead.

Wednesday Morning.-Business at seven o'clock. The first thing after breakfast the names of the Representatives will be called over. Public worship at half-past ten o'clock, when the second sermon will be preached by the Rev. W. Underwood, of London; or in case of failure by the Rev. T. Yates, of Hugglescote.

Wednesday Afternoon, at half-past two o'clock, the Annual Home Missionary Meeting will be held.

Wednesday Evening, at half-past six o'clock, the Annual Meeting of the Foreign Missionary Society will take place.

Thursday.-Business all day. The names of the Representatives will be called over after breakfast, the second time; after which the Report of the Academy will be presented, and the business relating thereto transacted.

The Association Letter will be read at twelve o'clock precisely.

The last sitting of the Association will be devoted to free conversation on the state of the churches, &c.

N.B. 1. All new cases intended to be submitted to the Association must be sent by post to the Rev. J. G. Pike, in the week preceding, that they may be in the hands of the Business Committee, which will meet on Monday Evening, at six o'clock.

AGED MINISTERS' FUND.

To the Editor of the G, B. Repository.

Nottingham, 15th May, 1851.

DEAR SIR,-At the last Association a

large Committee was appointed to mature a plan for an Aged Ministers' Fund. In the October number of the Repository, page 474, there appears the result of their labours; and in the Secretary's letter it 'Should the propriety of any of them (i.e, the resolutions of the Committee) be doubted, perhaps you may deem it expedient to admit brief and temperate discussion of them in your pages.'

says,

Having looked every month in the Repository since that period, and finding no objections started, I had concluded that the plan, upon the whole, met the views of my brethren; my surprise, therefore, was great when at the late Conference at Melbourne, this subject having incidentally come under notice, some one assigned as a reason why no letters had appeared in the Repository that the churches took no interest in it, or did not consider the resolutions of the Committee worth notice. At present I cannot come to such a conclusion. I have heard that there is one church which objects to the 5th resolution, which requires every church whose minister is connected with the fund to subscribe an annual amount equal to at least 2d for each member of that church.

The Annual Association is drawing very near, when this business will come forward, and I think it would be well for the Repre

sentatives of our churches to ascertain the opinions of their brethren on this matter, so that some definite arrangements may then be made.

Referring again to the 5th Resolution, it is my conviction that unless some such provision be made whereby there may be a certain, definite income secured, the institution would soon fail, and involve all its members in embarrasment and trouble. So firmly is this conviction established in my mind, that I shall decline taking any interest in establishing a fund which shall be left dependent on the irregular and often tions of our churches. Neither does this ill-sustained aid of the voluntary contribu determination trespass upon the voluntary principle, as it is quite optional whether our churches and ministers join the Society or not. I look upon the projected society in the light of an Insurance Company, assisted by private subscriptions.

And further, I consider such an institution as great an advantage to our smaller

churches as it is to the ministers; and, therefore, as insurers pay a yearly premium, so they ought to pay a yearly fixed sum. I would join heartily with a dozen churches and ministers in establishing a fund on a firm basis, but I would not join 100 churches in a scheme which might be started with much zeal and show, but which would probably disappoint all connected with it. I give my views with the greater confidence, because they accord with those expressed by some of the most influential laymen in our churches with whom I have conversed. I remain, yours faithfully,

SWADLINCOTE.

T. HILL.

SIR,-Will you allow me, through the medium of the Repository, to make a few observations on the importance of establishing a General Baptist interest at Swadlincote, Derbyshire. The neighbourhood contains probably from 3000 to 4000 souls, and is a very important manufacturing dis. trict. In the vicinity are a Puseyite clergy- | man, church schools, &c., (but of small influence,) a Wesleyan Methodist society, a Primitive Methodist interest, a society of Mormonites, and a very few Roman Catholics. Our principles would meet with but little opposition: I know many persons who are quite favourable to them; and some of considerable influence, who, I doubt not, would willingly render assistance. There are now six or eight members of General Baptist churches, who like myself, have removed thither to obtain a livelihood. piece of land, very eligibly situated for a meeting-house, was secured to the General Baptist Connexion upwards of twenty years ago, and may, at any time, be used for that purpose.

A

Two plans have been suggested for making an attempt to introduce the cause.

1st. Swadlincote is situated five miles from Burton, five from Ashby, seven from Melbourne, six from Measham, and four from Cauldwell, at each of which places is a General Baptist church with a stated minister. Could not these churches send supplies, so that, with occasional assistance from other places, preaching might be regularly maintained? The locality is favourably situated for access, the Burton and Ashby Railway passing within about two miles.

2. If this plan could not be carried out, could it be made a Home Mission station? A school for pupils from ten to fifteen years of age is much needed. If a minister of suitable qualifications, and willing to conduct a school, could be found to take charge of the station, the expense of mainVOL. 13.-N. S.

taining the cause would be comparatively small.

If either of these plans were adopted, I have no doubt that, by the Divine blessing, Swadlincote would soon contain an independent, self-sustaining church.

Hoping the subject will gain serious and practical attention,

I am Sir, yours respectfully,
Newhall,
HENRY COOPER.

Near Swadlincote.

VISITERS TO THE GREAT EXHIBITION.

SIR,-Will you allow me, through your columns to suggest to our London friends the desirableness, if practicable, of their informing their country brethren where cheap and comfortable lodgings might be obtained amongst our own people? I am a country General Baptist, and have ever liked to dwell among my own people; and though I feel inclined to visit the Exhibition, have had many misgivings arising from the idea of being among perfect strangers. Now, sir, if our London friends, any of them, have apartments, or even lodgings to let for this occasion, (as doubtless they have,) and they would be so kind as to insert a list of them in the Repository, I for one, and probably many others would be gratified. Excuse this freedom with your space and readers, and believe me, yours truly. SENEX.

Our aged correspondent's suggestion should have been made two month's ago. As it is, we insert it, and shall not be sorry to observe that it secures some attention.-Ed.

interest in the essays than the writer of these lines, but he almost invariably reads the intelligence first; and he believes that a large proportion of the readers act in a similar way. We wish to know what our sister churches are doing, and we naturally look to our Connexional organ for this knowledge. We hear from time to time of services being held in different parts of the Connexion, a short report of which would greatly add to the interest of the Repository, but not one line concerning which is forwarded for insertion. I sincerely think, dear Sir, that these things ought not so to be; and, with your permission, would most affectionately urge on the ministers and churches the importance of giving more careful attention to this business. A brief and prompt report of all special movements and services in the denomination, would, in my view, increase the interest and pro. mote the circulation of the Repository; and also exert a salutary influence on the churches generally. I believe our friends

take from thirty to forty copies of the Repository monthly, and that four-fifths of them have impressions analogous to those indicated in this note.

I am, dear Sir, yours truly.

A CONSTANT READER. [Very proper hints.-ED.]

DEAR MR. EDITOR,-I live in a town where there are two or three churches of our own denomination, and I have been often surprised and grieved at the conduct of some of the members of those churches, in dissolving for the most trivial causes their connection with one church and seeking fellowship with another. Now, it strikes me that union with a church is of too sacred a character to be dissolved, without assigning a scriptural reason. should esteem it a favour if you or any one of your correspondents will point out the duty and the course to be adopted by the churches in such cases.-ENQUIRER.

Mr. Nathan Hurst.

This estimable friend and minister breathed his last at his residence, Nottingham Park, on Wednesday, April 23rd, in the seventy second year of his age. He was interred in the cemetery, May 1st. The event was improved on Lord's-day morning, May 4th, at Broad Street chapel, by Rev. J. Goadby of Loughborough, in a discourse from Jobi. 21, The Lord gave,' &c. The following brief extract from this discourse may not be unacceptable to our readers. Our departed friend in early life gave his heart to God; and, having obtained mercy, was anxious to proclaim to others the words of eternal life. His talents for the ministry led the Committee of the Academy in 1801, to pass a resolution strongly recommending him to avail himself of the advantages of that institution. After being under its care for a season, he supplied the infant church at Louth for a few months, and afterwards, for about a year, the church at Wood Gate, Loughborough, where there are still living testimonies to the gracious effects of his ministry. His father, Mr. Samuel Heard, however, required his assistance in business, and Mr. Hurst, judging that he might be perhaps équally useful in Nottingham, as an assístant to the late Rev. R. Smith, (for whom

he ever cherished an ardent affection,) decided to decline accepting the unanimous and pressing call of the church at Loughborough to remain with them. Mr. Hurst, therefore, settled in Nottingham, and became immersed in the cares and duties of a large business; but he continued to labour in the ministry on the Lord's-day. This course he pursued, with the exception of a brief but unhappy interval, nearly the whole of his life. His labours have been in many instances useful to the church, and considerable numbers of those who were privileged to listen to his ministrations were thus brought into the path of life. *

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'Mr. Hurst possessed talents of a highly respectable order. Endowed with a clear perception, a correct and independent judgment, a retentive memory, and a gracious heart, and being given to reading and, reflection, and having an easy, graceful, and fluent utterance, his public discourses had the charm of freshness and intelligence, and his society in the social circle was deeply interesting and instructive. *

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'As, in the main, he lived, so he died. For more than a year a distressing malady troubled him and enfeebled his frame. He saw in it, almost from the beginning, the precursor of his dissolution. When conversing respecting his age, and his approaching end, he was ever calm, cheerful,

MRS ELIZABETH BAILEY (relict of Mr. Thomas Bailey, some years an esteemed office-bearer in the G. B. Church Archdeacon-lane Leicester) departed this life April 26, 1851, in the seventy-seventh year of her age. Our departed friend was born at Sutton Bonnington. Of her early life we have little intelligence. At the age of twenty-one she was married to her very affectionate husband, who was then a pious and active Wesleyan. At this time Mrs. Bailey, though of excellent moral character, was not a christian. In about five years, when residing at Sheepshead, she had a severe trial in the loss of her first child: to this circumstance she attributes her conviction and conversion. The afflicted child, seeing her weeping mother, said, 'Don't cry: I shall go to heaven, and you and my father must come to me.' These words deeply affected her mind, knowing that she was not prepared for heaven. From this time she began to seek the Lord, and as a helpless sinner, cast her soul upon Him who said, 'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.' Here she found peace and joy in believing. The doctrine of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ was the joy of her soul. That peace which the world could not give, nor take away, was shed abroad in her heart. The Divine Spirit bearing witness with hers that she was a child of God. This change gave to her partner an increase of spiritual comfort, having now a help meet for him.

In 1802 business led Mr. B. to remove to Barleston, when an acquaintance was soon formed with Mr. Samuel Deacon; and in this year both our friends were united to the church at Barton. In a short time they removed to Market Bosworth, where an increasing business and numerous family filled the hands of our friends with great care and labour. In the discharge of domestic duties, when the mother of eleven children, the parents and part of their family were generally seen in their place on the Lord's-day at Barton. In the midst of domestic cares, and reverses in worldly circumstances, while in the pos

session of uninterrupted health, diligence, economy, and humble gratitude marked her steady course.

In 1822, Mr B. removed to Leicester, and was, with his esteemed partner, received from the G. B. church at Barton into the church assembling in Archdeacon Lane. Between this period and the time of her widowhood she had many domestic trials, and changes of a secular kind. In 1846, it pleased the great Disposer of life and death to call her beloved partner to the rest that remains for the people of God. She now felt those cords broken which lefther a widow indeed.' Few instances have been seen of stronger attachment to a departed friend: always passing from her seat in the house of prayer through the grave-yard, and casting an anxious eye upon the resting place of him whom her soul loved, she would let fall the tear of fond affection, expressing her earnest de sire to be united with him in glory, while their mortal remains should be slumbering together in the dust. The afflictions and sufferings of many led her to entertain a strong desire, that when it should please her heavenly Father to suffer the last af fliction to seize her feeble tabernacle, it might not be a long one-to cause her to be a trouble to her children or those around her. In this view the prayer was fully realized. On Wednesday she spent the day with one of her sons, in health and spirits quite equal to past years, and in the evening attended the lecture at Archdeacon Lane; during the next day she was at home, busily engaged and diligent as ever, until about six in the evening, when a pain in the bowels and violent sickness com menced. Her sight and speech were gone before nine o'clock. In this state of slum. ber the vital powers continued to move, until ten o'clock on Saturday morning, when the weary wheels of life stood still,' and the disembodied spirit left its clay tenement for those mansions which the Saviour has prepared for all those who are 'faithful unto death.' The natural temperament of our departed friend was cheerful; yet not having had the means of an early education she appeared rather reserved; but when with plain, humble, warmhearted christians, experimental conversation-the love of God-the sufferings of the Saviour-the prospect of heaven through the atoning blood of the Lamb on these subjects, as a sinner saved by grace, she delighted to dwell. Two sons and four daughters survive: may the event be blessed to each. Those who are in the way of life may it quicken: and may such as are conscious of neglecting the day of grace be come followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

S. H. L