"Dear Sir,

"Gateshead, July 31st, 1845.

"You will recollect my calling to see you, in connexion with the cheap trip to Leeds in May, enquiring Mr. Giles's direction. My object in writing, is to inform you that my bookseller has written to London for two sets of "The Church," from its commencement; one I have ordered for a friend whom I have persuaded to take it in. It appears none are to be obtained; whose fault is this? or are they out of print? if not, you will doubtless supply without delay. It now eclipses the Christian Witness for cheapness, and decidedly in matter. I am anxious it should meet with the support it so justly merits; I am doing what in me lies to this effect. Wishing it may double its subscribers this year, which it ought fairly to do, at half its former price, and that its worthy and talented editors may be long spared to see the fruits of their labours,

I am yours truly,

C. A. WINDEATT."

MISCELLANEOUS.

BAPTIST MISSIONS IN GERMANY.The missionary movements of the Baptists in some of the German states have assumed an important character. The labours of Mr. Oncken, of Hamburgh, and the brethren united with him in the work of God, are continuing to receive the Divine approbation. "God is blessing us," says Mr. O. "with constant additions; eight or ten stand proposed for baptism, and during the last month we had immersions every week. Lord's-day, 22nd, three disciples from Holland, whose business it is to cross the mighty deep, followed their Lord into the waters of our noble Elbe. I hope soon to have the pleasure of 'going down into the water' with others of their countrymen who visit our port. Upon the whole review, I am astonished at what God has done. There are few missions which have, considering our difficulties, been blessed by God to such an extent. Eleven years ago, the first church was formed here, composed of seven members, and at present, we count 25 churches, with about 1,600 members."

God in a most awful manner, and with bitter oaths expressed a wish that a thunderbolt might come down upon them and strike the company blind. Raising himself and looking through the skylight over the room in which they were sitting, he defied with profane gestures the electric fluid and its effects; when suddenly a vivid flash of forked lightning entered the room, and struck him speechless to the ground. first he was thought to be dead, but having been bled, in about an hour afterwards he became sensible. He was, however, blind. The first expression he used on recovering his speech was, "God forgive me." May he who reads, if he too is hardening himself against the Most High, be led to use in sincerity the same earnest prayer.

At

The

RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE. Bishop of Oxford.-The Bishop of Oxford, by his Chancellor, has threatened to prosecute the Rev. J. Jordan, Vicar of Enstone (an anti-tractarian), for having attended a Wesleyan Missionary Meeting a few weeks since. Mr. Jordan has respectfully and boldly vindicated the rights and privileges of the Clergy, and stood firmly as a Christian man, before his intolerant accusers. He has asked what canon of the church he has offended, and so become liable to censure and punishment; but Dr. Bagot and Dr. Phillimore both decline to refer to the canon which justifies their threat. Surely "pride cometh before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

DEATH OF DR. YATES.-We regret to announce that this eminent scholar and devoted servant of Christ, who has for the last thirty years been occupied in perfecting oriental translations of the scriptures, has terminated his honourable course. What he has already accomplished will be beneficial to millions; and there is reason to hope that works which he has left unfinished, are in such a state as will admit of their being completed satisfactorily by his surviving coadjutors. "For some time past," says Mr. Thomas, "his state of health, and frequent or almost constant suffering, had made us fear that his invaluable labours must, at no distant period, be suspended for a season, if not terminated, by his removal from us. For the last eighteen months, life, to use his own language, had been a burden. Our dear brother had resolved never to visit England again; but on the doctors giving it as their decided opinion that no other means that could be adopted would afford any reasonable prospect of being permanently beneficial, he yielded up his own judgment, saying, that as it appeared to be the will of God, he could only say, 'Thy will, not mine, be done."" He died, it appears, on the Red Sea, July 3rd, three days before the vessel reached Suez.

THE REV. JOHN EUSTACE GILES.Mr. Giles has accepted a most unanimous invitation from the church assembling at Broadmead, Bristol, lately under the care of Mr. Robert Hall. By all the friends of civil and religious liberty in the WestRiding, his loss will be severely felt. No individual has done more in this district, to arouse Dissenters to their duty to God and their country, than Mr. Giles. His eye was ever awake to the unceasing aggressions of the Legislature on the rights of conscience, and his animating eloquence, never wanting in behalf of Zion's immunities. May his mantle descend on his successor! And may he be as blessed, both in the furtherance and defence of Christ's kingdom in Bristol, as he has been in Leeds.

THE WORKING OF THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE.-The friends of the Redeemer amongst the Baptists at Nottingham, held the anniversary of their Chapel, on Sunday August 10th, 1845, when, after three very excellent sermons, from the Rev. C. H. Roe from Birmingham, and the Rev. J. Edwards from Nottingham, the sum of £10. 17s. 7 d. was collected. Last November, the church at Stanningley, feeling the pressure of a heavy chapel debt, resolved if possible to remove it during the next twelve months. The object was entered upon with great zeal and unanimity. The church and congregation very cheerfully subscribed near £300, and the friends of the cause in the neighbourhood, promptly and liberally responded to the appeal that was made to them for this object. The pleasing result of this effort is, that the entire debt upon the premises, amounting to £504, is now liquidated. "What hath God wrought ?" On the Monday evening, August 11th, the concluding service of the anniversary took place, when the Rev. J. E. Giles, from Leeds, delivered a very able sermon, from Rom. iii. 31. The collection which had been announced was given up, as the sum that was necessary to pay off the debt had been already obtained.

HORTON COLLEGE, BRADFORD. The Annual Meeting of the Friends and Subscribers of the Northern Baptist Education Society, was held in the Baptist Chapel, Westgate, Bradford, on Wednesday, August 6th. After the usual introductory exercises by Mr. J. Edwards of Preston, a very able discourse was addressed to the Students by Mr. D. Griffiths, Theological Tutor of the Baptist College, Accrington, from 1 Cor. iii. 7, latter clause. The Report of the Committee for the past year was then presented, and the Examining Committee and Officers appointed for the ensuing year. Dr. Steane of Camberwell, was appointed to preach at the next annual meeting. The Report of

the Gentlemen appointed to conduct the Examination of the Students was very satisfactory.

SULGRAVE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.— On Wednesday, the 13th of August, the first Anniversary of the Baptist Chapel, at Sulgrave, Northamptonshire, was held, when the Rev. W. Walton of Liverpool, the Rev. J. Spence, M.A. of Oxford, and the Rev. W. R. Lewis of Brackley, preached. The services were well attended, and the presence of the Lord appeared richly to be enjoyed in the assembly of his saints.

OBITUARY.-Died on the second of July, at Bowling, near Bradford, Mrs. Cole, the wife of Mr. W. Cole, engineer at the Bowling Iron Works. She was one of twenty-three friends, who united in the formation of the church assembling in Sion Chapel, A.D. 1824, and from that time she cherished a deep interest in the prosperity of the cause. Her last illness was short. Death soon finished his work. Her dying experience was such as every christian might wish to enjoy - Christ was precious to her and her last prayers were offered to God for the salvation of all her children. In her removal the poor have lost a kind friend-her children the best of mothers-her husband an affectionate wife-and the church, one of its oldest and best members.

About the same time, died Timothy Calvert, another member of the same church. He was brought to the knowledge of the truth, under the ministry of Dr. Godwin, who baptized him, A. D. 1828. The grace of God was exceeding abundant towards him. During a long illness the gospel was his support, and his end was peace.

Both of the above members were highly esteemed by the church, and a large circle of friends-hence the funeral sermon drew together a crowded congregation, who were addressed from the words, "Unto you therefore which believe, he is precious." "The memory of the just is blessed."

BAPTISMS.-Wakefield.-On Sunday, August 3rd, five persons were baptized, three males and two females, by Mr. Howieson of Horton-College. May this be the beginning of good things to come!

Horsforth.-On Lord's-day, July 6th, three persons were baptized by Mr. G. Mitchell of Horton-College. We are happy to say that the Lord is reviving his work amongst us. "When Zion travaileth, she bringeth forth children."

Leeds:

PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY J. HEATON, No. 7, Briggate;

To whom all communications for the Editors must be addressed, before the 15th of the month.

The present position of the church of Christ, is one of hope and expectation. Glorious prophecies are still unfulfilled. "Exceeding great and precious promises," remain to be accomplished. The church has to look upwards for present blessings, and forwards for final and complete deliverance. In the absence of the Lord, the life of the church depends upon the presence of the Spirit; but it is in connection with the Lord's coming, that the Spirit's richest influences will be vouchsafed, and the tide of the church's glory will roll in. The Lord's coming is an object of hope and earnest expectation to the church, on several accounts.

1. It will be connected with a glorious manifestation of God.

After a long night of curse, and darkness, and sin, the Shiloh shall appear. The Sun of Righteousness shall burst through the clouds of earth's long night, and reveal himself,-not veiling his divinity as when on earth, but showing himself in majesty and power. Hence we read of "the brightness of his coming;" "the glory of his appearance." It is represented as a spectacle, a scene which shall attract every eye, and astonish every beholder. "Behold he cometh, he cometh in clouds, and every eye shall see him.' Now we walk by the aid of a borrowed light. God's blessed word is a lamp unto our feet, and we rejoice in its light; but the morning cometh; even the word itself will be superseded by the presence of the Lord,-its sayings fulfilled,its intimations no longer necessary. His appearance will be the rising of the sun, the dawning of the millenium age, the commencement of an everlasting day!

VOL. II.-ENLARGED SERIES.

CRY.

2. Christ will bring blessings with him for his church.

It will be the visitation of the King: "besides him shall stand the queen in gold of Ophir." The sainted spirits in glory will rejoice. It will be a time of blessing for them. They will return with Christ. "Those that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him," and they will receive the incorruptible and immortal bodies of the first resurrection. There will be blessings for the living saints. They will be changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," and drawn up towards their descending Lord, by the attractions of his presence and love; they will meet him in the air, and accompany him in his descent. Then shall be dispensed those rewards parabolically set forth by the nobleman and the talents (Luke xix. 12), and immediately shall follow the marriage-supper of the Lamb (Rev. xix. 7).

3. When Christ comes, he will put the affairs of his kingdom into perfect and final order.

How much there is in the church which tries the faith and discourages the spirits of the faithful of the Lord! It is like a family when the master is from home. Disagreements have arisen, the children indulge in petty quarrels, and the servants forget and mistake their master's commands. But when he returns he sets all in order. So when Christ comes the elder Brother, the King in Zion-he will settle finally, and equitably, and graciously, all the concerns of his spiritual family. He will heal every breach, rectify every mistake, glorify his church, and make all the "nations that are saved" (saved from the vengeance that shall destroy antichrist), "to walk in the light thereof."

Behold! heaven opens! glory bursts at once Upon the sight! Messiah; King of kings, And Lord of lords! Hosanna! sing aloud Hosanna, hallelujah! See the Lamb

Comes in his wedding garments! Hark! the church, The new Jerusalem, his favoured bride,

Arrayed in white, attending Him through heaven,
Tunes her unnumbered voices to the song
Hosanna, hallelujah! Angels join

The glorious anthem in melodious tones,
And thro' the skies re-echo far and wide
Hosanna, hallelujah! Saints on earth

Catch the glad sound of joy; and as they rise
To meet their Lord in airy regions, shout
Hosanna, hallelujah! Earth, redeemed
From thine oppressors, highly favoured world,
Thou birth-place, and thou dwelling-place of God,
Join every voice to swell the mighty choir
Hosanna, hallelujah! And let all
The full creation the glad chorus join,

Till the vast echo fills the realms of space
Hosanna, hallelujah! Praise the Lord!-Ragg.

Bradford.

H. D.

In the first number of "The Church," we mentioned the well-known fact, that the Greek word translated church in our New Testament, simply means an assembly, and, with one exception, an orderly and organized assembly. We now call attention to another fact equally known to all thoughtful readers of the Acts and Epistles, viz: that christian assemblies in large towns, although far too numerous to meet regularly in one place, and possessing many elders, are always spoken of in the singular number; the christian assemblies of a country, on the other hand, are always mentioned in the plural. The "church' at Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, or Philippi; but the "churches" of Judea, of Syria, of Asia, of Macedonia, &c. It is highly probable, that in all these cities the christians were too numerous to meet always in one place; at Jerusalem this is certain, for we are told (Acts iv. 4.) of 5000 believers, and (Acts xxi. 20.) of "many myriads that believed," in that city. It is clear, then, that more believers than could meet in one building are called one church; it is clear, also, that each of these churches had many elders or bishops; and, thirdly, it is noticed, that while the church in each town was one, there were separate assemblies in the houses of individuals. At Rome the "church in the house of Aquila" is mentioned (Romans xvi. 4, 5). In Colosse we find Philemon, who lived there, and Nymphas, each holding a church in their houses (See Philemon 2, and Col. iv. 15).

The sum is, the churches of a country did not form one church, but those of a town did. We find a reference, probably, to the latter fact in the same chapter and argument in 1 Cor. xiv. where Paul, giving directions for orderly meetings, speaks in the 23rd verse of "the whole church coming together into one place;

and in verse 34 enjoins that the "women should keep silence in the churches;" the 23rd verse suggests at least that the whole church did not generally assemble in one place.

The principle of this arrangement seems to be, that christians living within the limits of easy personal intercourse, formed but one church; that those who did not, formed different churches. "The churches of Judea," but "the church at Jerusalem;" the churches of Asia or Macedonia," but "the church at Ephesus or Philippi."

It is thought by many, that a return to this New Testament practice would be advantageous now. We propose to deal fairly with the subject, and to present this month the principal real or supposed advantages of such a system, and next month what may be alleged against its adoption.

1st. It is obvious, that if all the ministers of each denomination in a town belonged equally to all the churches of that denomination, their diversity of gifts would benefit the whole church. Some preachers are more qualified to discover truth, others to illustrate and enforce it, -some are practical, some experimental, some doctrinal preachers,—some address more successfully the judgment, others the imagination, and others the feelings, some preach more efficiently to the church, others to the unconverted,some to the old, others to the young;now as all classes of hearers are found in all assemblies, how desirable it seems that each should listen to all the variety of instructors provided for them by the Great Teacher. Further, it is advantageous to individuals to have all their mental faculties called into exercise,—a healthier tone of mind, a less one-sided habit of thinking, is formed under varied than under