man who appeared anxious to enter into conversation with me. He asked if I were going to see Miss Holmes's school. I said, "Yes." He answered," Well, may the Lord prosper your journey. I asked him did he know me. "I do, indeed," said he, "and I never will forget what you said to me the day you called into my house to rest yourself." I asked the poor man what it was I had said which he had remembered so well. "You told me," said he, "that God was willing to receive every poor sinner that would put all their trust in Jesus Christ." "Well," said I, "are you putting all your trust in him?" "Yes and since you had that conversation with me, my mind is off all that I before trusted in. I thought my good works, together with the absolution of my priest, would help me to get salvation; but now I am sure it is better to trust in the work of the Son of God, than any thing we can do ourselves, or that the priest can do for us." I was much delighted with the man's remarks; I stayed with him for some time on the road, and endeavoured to impress the truth more deeply upon his mind, and I promised to pay him a visit every time I should pass that way. : Another instance.-Our agent at Coolaney writes: During the last fortnight I have been much engaged with a poor sick woman who was evidently hastening through her last stage in this life. On the eve before her departure, I asked her as to her future hope. She replied, her hope was in the Saviour who died for her sins. Having again asked her if she expected the priest could forgive her sins, she replied in the negative; and then, clasping her hands, and looking upward, with solemn voice said, "My hope is in my God, through my crucified Saviour alone;" and in a few moments ceased to breathe. have to state that two of our members have lately acted in a manner inconsistent, as baptists and as Christians. But I hope that they are now contrite for the offence, and trust that they will walk more orderly in time to come. However, it is a grievous thing for a missionary to see some of those who have placed their hands on the gospel plough manifest a desire to return to the world. There are at present in Kilcooly two candidates for membership. Of the piety of one of these, I entertain not the slightest doubt. But I am not yet quite satisfied as to the personal religion of the other. My congregations have steadily increased of late. This has resulted partly from my having delivered a course of Lectures upon "Religion in the States, and in Upper and Lower Canada." This is an interesting subject to the inhabitants of this neighbourhood, as a considerable number purpose emigrating in the ensuing spring. But I hope that the object for which I delivered these lectures may be graciously secured. A combination of providential circumstances (favourable to our denomination) is now taking place in Kilcooley-prejudice is disappearing—that petty jealousy that was manifested by other denominations to the baptists is now dying out. I was told last week, that when I came to this place, one of the most respectable protestant families in the village would have preferred going to hear father Butler, the parish priest, than to listen to a sermon in the baptist chapel. Some of the members of that family are now my most regular hearers. Indeed, doors of usefulness are open in every direction. May we possess sufficient courage and zeal to enter them in the name of the Lord! I met with a woman, named Mary Reily, in our friend Irwin's house, a few days ago, after some short conversation with her on We have not for some time given any report of Mr. WILSON's labours at Kil-futurity, I found that she was quite ignorant of God's mercy. Among other questions cooly. The following letter has been that I put to her, I asked her who created received from him :her? She told me it was the virgin Mary ; there were other Roman catholics present, who said they were ashamed of her being so In reviewing the past, I have "to sing of mercy and of judgment." I am sorry to gnorant; but she fairly insisted on clearing up the point by saying, how could God be older than his mother, and that she never said her prayers without saying, "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners," &c. I strove to show her that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and that the virgin Mary was the mother of Christ's manhood, but not of his Godhead. I could scarcely persuade her to believe what I said, only for the other Roman catholics told her it was the truth I was telling. She simply said, "As long as I am going to mass I was never told that before in my life." For the last six years we have had no Sunday-school in our place of worship. Some time ago, I remarked to my daughter, that we ought to make an effort to collect a few . children on the sabbath morning, and that the Lord was able to crown our efforts with success. So we began, and have now from twenty-seven to thirty children—the majority of them the children of catholics. We stand in much need of books-Bibles and Testaments, and if we had any little books by way of reward it would be an encouragement to the poor children. We purposed in this Chronicle to give our readers several illustrations of the social workings of popery ; but are compelled from necessity to postpone them till next month, and proceed to bring up the arrears of our agents' letters. and to read one chapter only, no two of them would agree when they came together. I asked him, was it not the Bible which taught people to be honest-to be meek-to be holy to be industrious-to live peaceably with one another, and which pointed out to us the way to happiness hereafter; on this matter, all protestants are agreed. But such reasoning was of on avail, and never will be, while they continue to confess to a priest. It is in the confessional that the priests acquire such power over the minds of the people. Another catholic, a few days ago, strove to persuade me that they were not restrained from reading the scriptures. I asked him, did he ever acknowledge in confession that he read them. He said, "No," for he did not consider it a sin. Still he appeared not to have the slightest doubt that if he were to confess that he read the Bible the priest would prevent him. Two men have just offered themselves for baptism; but as their motives did not appear to be very pure, and one of them knew but little of the nature of the ordinance, we of course declined receiving them. In Crasmolina Market, the cousin of the priest (Timlins) determined to bring me into discussion with him before the people. He asserted that the baptists were intruders in religion; that Peter was the foundation of Christ's church, and the head and lawgiver of the church. After he had finished stating his case, I replied-Your first proposition is that Peter is the foundation of the church; secondly, that he is the head of the church; and thirdly, that he is invested with power to enact laws for the church. Now, I purpose, God being my help, to show the falsity of all these assertions. I first said to the people, this is the word of the Lord which I now hold in my hand, given by God as a guide to his church, to which they must not add; from which they must not diminish. I then referred them to the third chapter of 1st of Corinthians, from which I proved that other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Next I opened and Our agent, MICHAEL WALSH, writes:During the entire month I have been engaged in my important work, distributing tracts and striving to impress on the minds of the people the importance of reading the scriptures. Sometimes I feel it to be very discouraging to be going among Roman catholics. They will argue with you on religion a whole day, and will not utter a single sentence about the love of Jesus or a change of heart. They are taught to look on the Bible as a dangerous book. One of them maintained this to me yesterday-and in proof of it said that if any number of pro-read to them in the Acts of the Apostles, that testants were to go into different apartments Jesus Christ was the head stone of the corner so that Peter could be neither foundation nor head of the church. When I had proceeded thus far, my opponent came up to me and held out his hand saying, that he could stay no longer. I said that I had patiently listened to him, and that therefore he ought to hear He left, however: I then turned to the people and addressed them in the Irish language, assuring them that it was no cunningly devmed fake, but to the word of the living God that I was going to direct their thoughts. ther Datened most attentively while I proached to Chem Christ crucified; the Lamb of God who tuled) away the sin of the world. On my “paving, two young men accosted me; they were aa vousy look ing out for me. We had a vaghened conversation, 'n waich I were to inves trud upon their minds; then ud no with the expressed restive never jajo o mas ani að muni Mr. M.Namara's น. tary place, and, to my surprise, I saw a young man, Pat. Gallangher, sitting reading the holy Bible. I was much rejoiced, and entered into a scriptural conversation on the goodness, mercy, and love of God, in sending Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant to be delivered for man's offences and raised again for his justification. He very affectionately let me know that he was taught to read the scriptures and commit them to memory in a baptist school opened by J. P. Brisco in his neighbourhood; and from the instruction he had received there, he was led to see the errors of the church of Rome, and aban doned them. He is not content to be connected with the church of England; for he sees there is not much difference between it and the one he left. I then showed him, from the New Testament, the nature of Christ's church, &c. &c., then read and prayed with him. He walked with me a great way, and expressed his deep regret at not being near the baptist church in Ballina, gat he might join them. He desired me to weak for him, for he is greatly persecuted by the priest and some of the people where he s I entreated him, as he has taken Jesus de is raptan, not to fear; he will lead him in sunquering and to conquer. THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1850. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE. A SERMON ADDRESSED TO THE REV. D. TROTMAN, AT HIS ORDINATION AT TEWKESBURY, SEPT. 8, 1803, BY THE REV. JOHN RYLAND, D.D. MY DEAR BROTHER,-As you have requested my best advice on the present solemn occasion, allow me to found it on a single but significant phrase, which may prove a useful memento in the future discharge of that important office whereunto you have this day been set apart. It occurs in Eph. iv. 15," Speaking the truth in love." Though this expression, instead of being confined to the work of the ministry, has no direct reference to that sacred employment; yet, I conceive, it may not only afford a profitable subject of meditation for a young minister, on the day of his ordination to the pastorship of a Christian church, but may be properly considered as presenting him with a brief summary of his duty. It points out to you at once, my dear brother, the nature of your work, and the proper manner of discharging it. I. This expression well describes the nature of that work to which you, as a VOL. XIII.-FOURTH STRIES. minister of the divine word, have been called. You are chiefly to be employed in disseminating the truth. Your blessed Lord, who declared that one great end, for which he came into the world, was to bear witness to the truth, has, we trust, called you to cooperate with Him in the pursuit of that important end. The truth which you are called to spread is the most excellent, salutary, and necessary kind of truth. It is revealed truth, which God himself has discovered, in that holy book which was written by men under the immediate influence of the Spirit of truth. You are called to teach the truth as it is in Jesus, who is the only-begotten of the Father, that hath so fully declared his glorious nature and his gracious designs. You are to publish evangelical truth, an acquaintance with which is absolutely needful, to give unto a perishing sinner, any well-founded hope of future felicity. 3 Y so that Peter could be neither foundation nor head of the church. When I had proceeded thus far, my opponent came up to me and held out his hand saying, that he could stay no longer. I said that I had patiently listened to him, and that therefore he ought to hear me. He left, however: I then turned to the people and addressed them in the Irish language, assuring them that it was no cunningly devised fable, but to the word of the living God that I was going to direct their thoughts. They listened most attentively while I preached to them Christ crucified; the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. On my leaving, two young men accosted me; they were anxiously looking out for me. We had a lengthened conversation, in which I strove to impress truth upon their minds; they left me with the expressed resolve never to go to mass, and to attend Mr. M'Namara's ministry. May their souls be watered. The following is another of the many proofs given in the Chronicle of the good accomplished by our schools, and seen in many years after. WM. M'ADAM writes: On my way I went into a house in a very soli tary place, and, to my surprise, I saw a young man, Pat. Gallangher, sitting reading the holy Bible. I was much rejoiced, and entered into a scriptural conversation on the goodness, mercy, and love of God, in sending Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant to be delivered for man's offences and raised again for his justification. He very affectionately let me know that he was taught to read the scriptures and commit them to memory in a baptist school opened by J. P. Brisco in his neighbourhood; and from the instruction he had received there, he was led to see the errors of the church of Rome, and abandoned them. He is not content to be connected with the church of England; for he sees there is not much difference between it and the one he left. I then showed him, from the New Testament, the nature of Christ's church, &c. &c., then read and prayed with him. He walked with me a great way, and expressed his deep regret at not being near the baptist church in Ballina, that he might join them. He desired me to speak for him, for he is greatly persecuted by the priest and some of the people where he is. I entreated him, as he has taken Jesus for his captain, not to fear; he will lead him on conquering and to conquer. Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by the Treasurer, JOSEPH TRITTON, Esq. Lombard Street; and by the Secretary, Mr. WILLIAM P. WILLIAMS, at the Mission House, Moorgate Street; and by the Pastors of the churches throughout the Kingdom. COLLECTOR FOR LONDON, REV. C. WOOLLACOTT, 4, COMPTON STREET EAST, BRUNSWICK SQUARE. J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY. |