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this subject to your attention, believing that it will generally find a welcome approval, and sincerely hoping that in substantial results the missionary bazaar of 1851 may surpass any that has preceded it. Signed on behalf of the Committee. F. STEVENSON, M. WILD,

M. A. PIKE, Sec. Communications may be addressed to the Secretary at the Rev. J. G. Pike's.

LOCAL PREACHERS.

To the Editor of the General Baptist Repository. SIR,-Would it not increase the usefulness of the Repository during the next year, if a monthly chapter could be devoted, particularly adapted, to supply the requirements of Local Preachers: their work, its difficulties, helps, and encouragement? These papers might be profitably interspersed with communications from brethren engaged in the same cause, thus affording mutual encouragement and preparation for the work.

It must have struck every person who is acquainted with the state of our churches, that a great many of them are dependent upon local agency; and therefore village preachers, as a class, require some notice and assistance in the denominational periodical, Yours obediently, A LOCAL PREACHER. Derby, Nov. 22nd, 1850.*

This arrived too late for the Dec. No.-ED.

TRUSTEES.

SIR,-You would oblige by inserting the following queries, for the purpose of obtaining answers, in the organ of our Connexion.

1st. To what source may we trace the rise of trustees of our chapel property? Are they of scriptural or purely secular origin?

2nd. Who, under the New Testament economy, ought to nominate and elect trustees ?

3rd. Is it consonant with the spirit of the New Testament, and in accordance with the character of their office, that christian ministers should become trustees ? London.

A. B.

THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST'S

DEATH.

MR. EDITOR.-In your last number, I find a letter from brother Scott of Norwich, in which he asks me or any one else to help him to understand' a passage contained in a discourse printed in your October number, page 450. The passage is as follows, 'In his death he fulfilled the law by redeeming

his people from its curse.' I had hoped that the meaning of the phrase would be sufficiently obvious; and must confess my surprise that any explanation should be required; but as your correspondent asks for one, I proceed to give it. The exception taken to the clause evidently lies against the word 'fulfil' as applied to the vicarious sufferings of the Redeemer; and it is thought by the objector that a law can only be fulfilled' by those to whom its requirements extend. If this be true, then the moral law must ever be unfulfilled by man, and therefore its threatenings must ever remain in force against man; how then can he be saved? To restrict the use of the word 'fulfil 'thus, is in my view, to be content to be forced to the conclusion just named. Now Mr. Editor, I look upon a law as supposing two things as to its demands,-obedience and penalty; and I also think that a law is fulfilled when its requirements are answered. The law of God requires obedience, and thereupon promises blessing- he that doeth it liveth in it,' but he that is disobedient must suffer for the wrong that he doeth.' Now the law of God has been broken: justification by it is therefore impossible; but in the sufferings of Christ its required penalty has been rendered; he was made a curse for us, and has therefore answered the requirements of the law, and thus, in my view, has fulfilled it. In this plain and popular sense I used the word 'fulfilled;' and I am unable to perceive how such a use of it is opposed to any scripture doctrine, or is likely to lead to any misapprehension of the work of Christ. It will from this be obvious that I do not intimate' formally, that the law demands a sacrifice; but that no mention is made in the decalogue of sacrifice, is no proof that one is not required by it. Assuredly the law intimates that punishment must fall on the head of the transgressor, and that he must bear its withering curse, unless some one will bear it for him; to these conclusions I conceive we should have been led, had the law been the last dispensation. Further, I think your estimable correspondent will agree with me, that the moral law in its spirit and design requires faith in Christ, because it demands a cordial belief in and reception of all revelations of himself which God should give to man; as then the gospel has revealed Christ crucified, the law demands that men should believe in him. With these views I do not think myself guilty of the charge implied in the words 'to maintain that the law requires a sacrifice would be to confound the dispensation of the law with that of the gospel.'

With this I might conclude my reply; but, as brother Scott has assumed that the objectionable phrase can neither be explained nor defended, except in the sense in which he interprets it, and therefore proceeds to fix upon me the consequences of his interpreta

tion; I am bound in justice to myself to offer, a few more observations. Having admitted that the judge on the bench fulfills the law by executing it; thus confounding the fulfilment of a law with its execution, and administration of it with obedience to it, my brother goes on to ask, 'Did Jesus suffer the real penalty of the law?' On this subject my discourse did not touch; and it is purely an assumption, that I look upon the blessed Jesus as suffering the identical punishment due to mankind from an offended law. There is nothing in what I have said that implies this. I thoroughly disavow this doctrine; the words 'real penalty' are the objector's and not mine, and the absurdity to which his argument leads, must be charged upon an imaginary opponent. I can understand how Christ might be said to bear the penalty of the law by bearing its curse; but this is far from

saying that he bore its 'real penalty;' between this there is both a distinction and a difference. I hold it as a firm conviction, that the divine Saviour rendered in his death an equivalent in moral government to what the everlasting destruction of all sinners would have been, had there been no eye to pity and no arm to save, so that God can now be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. I stand then on the same 'holy ground' with my brother, and hope that he will now see that when I draw near the cross of Christ I would not on any account debase the theme by low and vulgar allusions., In the exercise of the charity that thinketh no evil, and with gratitude for an opportunity of removing an erroneous impression as to my doctrinal views, I remain, Mr. Editor, yours in Jesus, Coventry. JAMES LEWITT.

REV. H. ROSE.

OBITUARY.

The Rev. H. Rose, our late minister at Bradford, after four or five weeks of great bodily weakness and suffering, departed this life on the 30th of Nov. His end was peace. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord,' &c. It is pleasing to state that the greatest sympathy and kindness was manifested by

ministers of various denominations in the town. He was interred in our burial ground, Dec. 4th, 1850, and his funeral was attended by the principal part of the dissenting ministers; amongst whom were the Rev. Drs. Ackworth and Godwin. The following ministers took part in the solemn service. The Rev. J. Glyde offered prayer before the corpse was removed from the house. At the chapel, the Rev. R. Horsfield read suitable portions of Scripture, and the Rev. H. Dowson prayed. Dr. Godwin, delivered a very affecting and sublime address, and the Rev. J. G. Miall prayed. The mournful procession then retired to the grave. Here R. Hardy of Queenshead gave a short but touching address, and J. E. Bilson concluded this solemn service by prayer. J. FIELDING.

JANE THURSFIELD died at Audlem, Cheshire, of consumption, Feb. 16th, 1850, aged thirty-six years. She had been a member of the General Baptist church, Audlem, thirteen years, during which time she lived under the influence of sterling and deep piety, and was therefore consistent in her profession as a member of a christian church. She was baptized, along with three of her sisters, by

her father-in-law, J. Thursfield, pastor of the church, and was frequently heard to express the great joy which beamed in her soul while following her dear Saviour through the waters of believer's baptism.

September 5th, 1837, she entered into the marriage union with Robert Thursfield, deacon of the General Baptist church, Audlem, whom she has left with three children to deplore their loss. Her affliction was of a very painful nature during the long period of four years.

Nothing of a trifling nature would ever detain her from the house of her God; and when unable to occupy her usual seat she had an easy chair placed in the chapel, while she was with difficulty supported on the road to the place where she was wont to mingle her prayers and praises with the people of God. As her bodily energies grew more enfeebled, and as she approached her latter end, her faith became stronger and brighter. For several weeks before her departure she desired that none of those who visited her would enter into any conversatien concerning the present world; for she said, 'I have done with that.' She would often exclaim,

Here I am: only waiting for my heavenly Father to take me home.' On her husband leaving her one Lord's day to join with the church in partaking of the Lord's-supper, as he left the room she said, 'I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine till I drink it new in my heavenly Father's kingdom.' Those beautiful lines were often repeated by her,

'Jesus can make a dying bed,

Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out softly there,'

And under a sense of her own unworthiness | ing with immortality and eternal life she would exclaim,— sank into the arms of death.

'Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling.'

And under the excruciating pains she was called to endure, sang,

'Though painful at present,
"Twill cease ere 'tis long;
And then O how pleasant

The conqueror's song.'

One night, when no doubt she was meditating on the responsible duties attached to the christian life, she called to her husband with all the earnestness her feeble voice would admit, Work while it is called to day, for the night cometh when no man can work,' for you see I can do nothing now.'

Though most tenderly attached to her children, her affectionate heart could freely surrender them, with all worldly prospects, and say, 'Not my will, but thine, O Lord, be done.' Every power of her mind seemed to expand with love to Christ. What distinguished her for some time before her departure was the delight with which she anticipated the time when she should be welcomed into the joys of her Lord. While conversing with a friend she said, 'You know last spring but one I was better; but last spring I was worse;' and then added, but next spring I shall be in heaven.' A short time before her death, while conversing with her husband, she entered into all the particulars respecting her funeral, and expressed a wish that the children's mourning clothes should be then made, with as much calmness and composure as if she was about to take a short journey.

She was exceeding anxious that her dear children might be early brought within the fold of Christ, and used frequently to entreat her husband, when she was no more on earth, not to neglect their eternal interests. The day before her death she enquired of

the medical man who attended her if he

thought she was dying. She said, 'Tell me; for if it is the case, it will be no unwelcome news to me.' He told her she was

going through the dark valley. She then desired the children to be brought to her, one at a time, in order to bid them farewell and pray to God to bless them. She then requested her husband to read a portion of Scripture, and pray with her for the last time, after which she said, 'O that I could tell you what I now feel, but I cannot.' Her last words were, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name. Christ is all and all to me;' then waving her arm, she said, 'Victory, victory; I have gained the victory through the blood of the Lamb. Into thy hands I commit my spirit, Lord Jesus.' So with a hope bloom.

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JAMES COCKCROFT.-In paying the last tribute of respect to the memory of a departed friend, we sometimes find ourselves involved in considerable difficulties, especially in writing memoirs of aged people, with whom we have only had a few year's acquaintance, and at all times accompanied with pain and sorrow; yet in reviewing these solemn moments, the religion of Jesus Christ sheds a stream of light over the valley and shadow of death more pleasant than the summer's breeze, and louder than the voice of scepticism proclaims, thy brother shall rise again.'

His

James Cockcroft, of Ovenden, departed this life May 29, 1850, in his eighty-fourth year. He was baptized at Ovenden, and received into church fellowship by brother George Brearley, an old man and an occa. sional preacher, on the 23rd Sep., 1849, being then about eighty three years of age. end was calm and peaceful. He was buried, at his own request, at the Methodist chapel, Ovenden, by Mr. Brearley, where I understand he had been a steady and highly respected member for more than a quarter of a century, and a laborious and useful Sundayschool teacher for more than forty years. He began to attend divine service in our preaching room, Ovenden Cross, in the year 1846. He was soon noticed for his regular and constant attendance, and was ultimately convinced of the importance, and even necessity of believer's baptism by immersion, through hearing a sermon on that subject, preached by Mr. Brearley. His death was improved by his aged friend and (to use his own expression) spiritual father in Christ Jesus, to a crowded congregation, on Lord's day, June 16th, 1850.

Perhaps it is worthy of notice, that the subject of the above memoir was not the first baptized at Ovenden above eighty years of age, since the General Baptists have opened their place of worship, in 1845. On the 3rd October, 1847, one Nancy Whitely was baptized and received into church fellowship, aged eighty-one. She had laboured under conviction as an awakened sinner for more than forty years, but could not see her way clearly to unite with the Methodists. She began to attend our meetings in 1846, and found peace with God through Jesus Christ, and in the full and confident enjoyment of that peace left this world, 1848, we hope and trust to reign with Christ in another and a better world. JACOB MOORE.

BAPTISMS.

INTELLIGENCE.

LEEDS.-On Lord's-day, Dec. 1, 1850, five more candidates (one of whom is connected with the army) were immersed by our pastor, the Rev. R. Horsefield, after an excellent sermon, from 2 Kings, v. 12. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them and be clean ?' At the close of the service a large and deeply devotional prayermeeting was held.

NOTTINGHAM, Stoney-street.-On the 1st of December, ten persons were baptized by our pastor, three of whom were children of deacons of the church. They were all received at the Lord's table in the afternoon, with one who had been restored. The congrega. tions continue good, and more candidates are coming forward. E. M. B.

SHEFFIELD, Eldon-street.- On Lord's-day, Dec. 2, an addition took place by baptism, of six persons, four of whom are males. Four of the six were from Chesterfield, and had withdrawn from Pædobaptist societies for the truth's sake.' One of them has long been an occasional preacher. D. T. I. FLEET AND HOLBEACH. -On Lord's day, Nov. 24th, after a very clear and convincing discourse by Mr. Chamberlain, five candidates were baptized at Fleet, on a profession of their faith in Christ. They have since been received into the church. It is a pleasing fact that four of the newly-baptized are connected with the cause at Holbeach, where the prospect is now very cheering.

LONGFORD. Since our last report we have had three baptisms. One in May, when five here, and ten from Nuneaton were baptized into Christ; another in September of nine,

and one last Sabbath of seven,-two were from Nuneaton. Three of those in September were brothers, and one of those last Sabbath, a Wesleyan of seven years standing.

LONDON, Commercial Road.-On Lord'sday morning, Nov. 3rd, our pastor baptized eight persons, after a sermon from Acts ii. 41. In the evening of the day seven of them, with two other friends from sister churches, were welcomed to the Lord's table in the usual way. W. B.

MANCHESTER.-On Lord's day, Dec. 1st, 1850, the sacred ordinance of believer's baptism was administered in Zion chapel, Broughton-road, Salford, Manchester, to one young female, who had been a member of the Wesleyan body. She had been convinced of

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LONDON, Commercial Road.-On Lord'sday, Oct. 27th, and following evening, we held the fifth anniversary of our pastor's settlement among us, and the first since the reopening of the chapel. Sermons suitable to the occasion were preached by our minister on the sabbath; in the morning, from 1 Samuel iii. 19, and in the evening from Acts xxvi. 27, 23; after which, collections were made in aid of our building fund. On the Monday evening a large number of our friends took tea in the

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chapel, which was kindly provided by the ladies of our church and congregation; after which, several ministers and friends addressed the meeting, warmly congratulating both minister and people on the auspicious return of the occasion on which they had met. lusion was made to the fact, that during the last five years, upwards of forty persons have been added to the church by baptism. The proceeds of the anniversary amounted to rather more than £90, making up the sum of £500, paid by the church and congregation within little more than twelve months, in aid of our Building Fund. Great praise is due to our young friends, who have contributed the sum of about £18 towards the object. We have been so greatly blessed of God in our late efforts, that we feel much encouraged in relation to the future. One friend, not

connected with us, manifested his kind feeling towards us at the above meeting, by promis ing £10 towards our next movement in the erection of new school rooms, which we hope to commence in the ensuing spring.

STOKE-ON-TRENT.-On Monday, the 11th of Nov. a tea meeting was held at the above place. The Methodist school-room was secured for the occasion. The object of the meeting was to interest the religious public of the neighbourhood in the plan formed for the erection of a new chapel for our friends, who have been much retarded and injured in being confined to a small upper room, most ineligible for the purpose. The meeting was numerous; about 250 partook of tea. The Rev. Messrs. T. Gill of Melbourne, W. R. Stevenson A. M., and Josiah Pike, of Derby, E. Stevenson of Loughborough, and several ministers of other denominations, addressed the meeting. It is pleasing to record that friends of other bodies contributed trays, members of the Establishment among the rest; Mr. J. Earp of Melbourne being unable to be present through illness, sent a kind note enclosing £5. Would that others would do likewise. The conviction of the brethren from a distance was that the opening is decidedly favourable and most worthy of the liberal support of the body.

STALEY BRIDGE.-On Lord's day, Nov. 17th, the annual sermons of the General Baptist Sunday school, Staley bridge, were preached by the Rev. E. Stevenson of Loughborough. The discourses delivered were strictly of a doctrinal, yet evangelical nature, and at once showed that they were the productions of a scholar and a christian. The collections amounted to the handsome sum of £35. 10s.

W. S.

LEAKE. On the 22nd of September two discriminating and useful sermons were delivered by the Rev. T. Stevenson of Leicester, to good and attentive congregations, after which collections were made on behalf of the debt remaining on the chapel at Leake. On the following evening a tea meeting, was held, highly gratifying to our friends. The attendance was very good. The trays were gratuitously provided; the proceeds were encouraging; and appropriate addresses were delivered by the Revds. T. and E. Stevenson, W. Harcus, W. Griffiths, Mr. T. W. Marshall, and others. The collections and proceeds of tea, &c., amounted to £18 17s. 1d. L. W.

REMOVALS.

MANCHESTER. Removal of the Rev. M. Shore.-On Lord's-day, Oct. 6th, the Rev. M. Shore, late of Tarporley, Cheshire, commenced his ministerial labours in connection with the cause at Manchester, the beneficial effects

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of which are already perceived by an increase of congregation at all our services. On the Tuesday following, a tea meeting was held, to give our respected brother a welcome amongst us. Several kind friends who have frequently supplied our pulpit whilst without a pastor, were specially invited, in order to return them our sincere thanks for their past favours. Our room, which is ordinarily too small, was completely crammed. After a suitable introduction, our pastor gave a most appropriate address, on the ministerial office, especially in regard to large towns; after which a very kind letter, received from the church over which our brother was lately pastor, was read to the meeting, commending both him and his dear partner to our affectionate regard. The reading of the letter produced a visible impression on the meeting, testifying as it did to the esteem in which they were held. After encouraging addresses from Mr. C. Lindley, late of Nottingham, and Mr. W. Lindley, of Sheffield, in the course of which they congratulated the church on the prospect of having such a neat and convenient chapel, and that in so good a situation as had been chosen, several of our brethren supported the vote of thanks before alluded to, when res. ponses were give by the friends to whom they were presented, testifying to the kindness they had invariably received, and their good wishes for our future prosperity. Several of them having previously manifested their good feeling by subscribing, unsolicited, to our new chapel though of a different persuasion. Since the above, another interesting tea-meeting has been held, to forward the interests of our new chapel, which, in consequence of the winter season being so far advanced, we have defer. red commencing till spring. At some future opportunity we shall be glad to furnish par ticulars in reference to it; and at the same time, if convenient, present the readers of the Repository with a view of it, if you can pro

mise us space.

MISCELLANEOUS.

We have been favoured with a prospectus of an Institution about to be formed in Birmingham, under the guidance of a respectable committee of ministers and gentlemen, which proof ministers at half-price. It is open to all poses to give board and education to the sons denominations, and is not to be restricted to

MIDLAND SCHOOL FOR MINISTERS' SONS.

the sons of ministers. It has the smiles of most of the ministers in Birmingham and neighbourhood, and will, we trust, receive the support which it deserves. Contributions and correspondence may be addressed to the secretary, (who will be happy to give any information) Rev. T. H. Morgan, Church Hill, Handsworth, near Birmingham.

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