you those words, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.'

"A previous speaker pleasantly determined the name of our Society to mean 'a going-about Society,' and drew from that conception an interesting remark. I thought of his itinerations, who, when sojourning on earth to save us, 'went about doing good.' I would remind you of the last walk of his humiliation. He walked indeed afterwards-from the tomb-to the assembly of his disciples-to the sea shore -to Bethany, whence he went up to heaven; but those were walks of his glorification; Jesus had triumphed then; death and the grave were prostrate at his feet. I refer you for a moment to the last walk of his humiliation; it was to the cross! from Gethsemane, where, with agonizing heart, he anticipated suffering-to the cross on which he endured the suffering he had anticipated. My resolution appeals to the churches of Christ-those who constitute the churches are those for whom he died; for you he suffered for you he went from Gethsemane to the cross;-shall we, then, appeal to you in vain, when we ask your help to gather in 'his harvest,' your assistance in the advancement of his cause?

"A beloved and honoured friend who is always at our Association Meetings, and whose presence seems to me needful to make the pleasure of them complete, said, as I sat with him in the table-pew this morning, 'How few of the old faces we see at these meetings, now.' The remark was admonitory; I understood its meaning; it seemed to say to myself, to you, to all Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might,' for we shall soon be away; to glory, we humbly hope, to see the Saviour, once a sufferer, now enthroned; but all our efforts for the unconverted now around us will then have ceased."

This Resolution was seconded by Mr. Dowson of Bradford, who observed, "This resolution presents two topics, which it is not at all improper to connect together, prayer and liberality. In more than one place in the word of God, these are united; the prayers and alms of Cornelius, the devout centurion, came up 'for a memorial before God.' And it is said respecting the Redeemer, 'to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba, prayer also shall be made for him continually, and daily shall he be praised.' But, necessary as are gold and silver, prayer is more important still. I have the utmost confidence in the power of prayer. There never was an instance of believing prayer being offered without acceptance and reply.

The law which connects the voice of prayer with the answer of prayer, is as determined and sure, as the law which governs the universe. He who has said, 'Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,' is the same Being who has declared, that 'seed time and harvest, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.' We have cause, indeed, for deep humiliation, in the state of the Churches, as evidenced in the returns just received; but our hope is in God, we are still invited to his throne. Let us not despond; the tone and feeling of the present meeting seems to furnish a pledge of coming blessings, and though the cloud before us seems to be dark, the rainbow is upon it, giving us the hope of a bright sky. May the Lord grant us a spirit of liberality, and a spirit of prayer!"

The fourth Resolution was moved by Mr. Foster of Farsley, and seconded by Mr. Macpherson of Bramley.

Mr. Macpherson said, "He was happy to find that the Society was occupying its right place in the estimation of the churches, and at the meetings of the Association. It was a most important Society, and was beginning to engage the heads, hands, hearts, and pockets of all, which it well deserved. Whether it was viewed in reference to the enlargement of the churches, the spread of religion, and the counteracting of error at home, or the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom in the nations of the earth, it might be viewed as the backbone to the whole system of our operations."

It is greatly regretted that an outline of the address delivered by Mr. Pottenger cannot be given. Those who heard him, as well as many who had not that pleasure, will feel the regret. But may the blessing of God accompany the reading of those which are given; that the new year may be entered upon with deeper humiliation, and more prayerfulness, with invigorated resolutions, and more ardent consecration to the service of God.

WEST RIDING ASSOCIATION.

The Annual Meetings of the WestRiding Association of Baptist Churches were held in the Baptist Chapel, Farsley, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of May. Mr. Acworth, president of Horton-College, was chosen Moderator. The sermons were preached by Mr. Stewart of Keighley, Mr. Burton of Bingley, and Mr. Williams of Hunslet. Dr. Sharpe of Boston, America, was announced as one of the preachers, but was prevented from being present. The Letters from the Churches were not so encouraging as on former oc

casions, only a small increase having been realized during the past year. Resolutions were passed at the Public Meeting of the Association against the Government measure for endowing Maynooth-College. Petitions to both Houses of Parliament were adopted, and the brethren, Whitewood of Halifax, and W. Shaw, jun. of Huddersfield, were appointed Delegates to the conference of Protestant Dissenters, held in London. The Circular-Letter, written by Brother Foster, was approved, and ordered to be printed. It was resolved, that the next Meetings of the Association should be held at Bradford; and the brethren of the Lancashire Association should be invited to unite in them, with which invitation they have signified their compliance. It was also resolved, that the subject of the next Circular-Letter should be "Consistent Dissent," and that Brother Clowes be the writer.

The Meetings were well attended throughout; the entire services were of a peculiarly interesting character, and the excellent arrangements, and kind hospitality, not only of the friends at Farsley, but of those belonging to the neighbouring churches, added very much to the pleasure of the occasion.

ditional and large place of worship at Bootle, at the cost (£2000 at least) of the church under the care of Mr. Birrell; who have also engaged Mr. Davies, late of Tottenham, to undertake the duties of that important station, guaranteeing to him adequate pecuniary resources for the first few years of his ministry. The letter from Pendle-Hill also reported, that a large and substantial building was in the course of erection at Padiham, furnishing ample accommodations for educational and ministerial purposes, at the charge of Mr. Foster.

During the year, five pastors have resigned their charges, and one has been ordained. Three new churches were received into the association. The increase and decrease of the whole, in the course of the last twelve-months, is as follows:

LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE
ASSOCIATION.

The anniversary services of the Lancashire and Cheshire Association of Baptist Churches were held in Oldham on Wednesday and Thursday, the 14th and 15th of May. The attendance of friends from adjacent towns was very considerable, and the spirit that seemed to animate all was that of cheerful piety. Indeed it was most gratifying to witness the benevolent pleasure which beamed on the countenances of those who, separate from each other during the previous year, were now drawn together again by sympathy in the same holy objects and interests.

The tone of the greater part of the Letters received from the churches composing the Association, was that of regret rather than of congratulation. In a large number of instances, they reported a decrease in the amount of members; arising in some cases from emigration, or withdrawment to unite with other churches; in others, from the fewness of those who have "put on Christ" by baptism. This led to the adoption of a resolution, in which it is recommended to the churches to set apart the third weekly prayermeeting of every month, during the ensuing year, for special and united prayer on behalf of their common and mutual interests. The letter from Pembroke-Place, Liverpool, reported the erection of an ad

4218

9327

1101

587

52

Before closing its meetings, the Association passed a resolution, protesting against the proposed grant to MaynoothCollege; and appointing Mr. Cheetham of Oldham, as its representative at the Dissenters' Conference, lately held in London.

The County Home Mission reported the adoption of a new Station at Bury, in the course of the year, with pleasing prospects of success. Two persons have already been baptized, who, together with thirteen others received by letter, have been united for spiritual purposes, and constitute a branch of the church at Rochdale, in the hope that the counsel and co-operation of the elder community may be of advantage to the newly formed one, until it is able to assure independence from the maturity of its experience, and the ampleness of its

own resources.

The Meetings for business were eminently distinguished by fraternal kindness and harmony; and the religious services, in connection with which sermons were delivered by Mr. Lister of Liverpool, Mr. Tucker of Manchester, and Mr. Griffiths of Accrington, were found to be profitable and refreshing.

SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF AGED AND INFIRM BAPTIST MINISTERS, AND THEIR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS.

A Society, with this object in view, was brought under the notice of the friends at the Farsley Association, on the 15th of May, and a resolution expressive of hearty approbation, was passed.

The want of such a Society has been long felt. Indeed, some attempts were made towards organization some time since. All that was requisite, therefore, was the circulation of such regulations as had been found useful in other parts of the country, inviting suggestions and co-operation; and, in reply, both have been very kindly and numerously tendered.

As a committee and officers had been appointed, and it was considered very desirable that the proposed capital of £2,000 should be raised during the first three years of the Society's existence, that assistance might then be rendered should it be required, it was earnestly requested that all who felt the importance of the object would communicate with T. Aked, Esq. of Shipley, the treasurer, or with Mr. Burton of Bingley.

For obtaining the £2,000, it has been determined to endeavour to find ten friends who will give twenty pounds a year for three years, and twenty who will give ten pounds a year for three years, and forty who will give or collect five pounds a year for the same time. Already three or four liberal gentlemen have expressed their readiness to give the twenties, eight others have promised the tens, and ten or twelve others have engaged for the fives.

To make the collection of the sums more easy, five pound cards have been printed, and each of them is accompanied with twenty five shilling cards. Christian friends who could not collect five pounds themselves, can therefore, by distributing these smaller cards among a number of their acquaintances, easily obtain the amount; especially when four or five weeks are given to each person to collect the five shillings. Several have adopted this plan. Who will kindly follow the example?

On Tuesday, May 20th, the delegates to the Protestant Dissenters' Anti-Maynooth Convention assembled according to appointment at Crosby-Hall, when upwards of seven hundred delegates, from every part of the kingdom, were present. Mr. J. Burnet, Independent minister, of Camberwell, having been called to the chair, eloquent and powerful speeches were delivered by Dr. Thos. Price, Mr. Toller of Kettering, T. Harbottle, Esq. Dr. Godwin, Mr. J. H. Hinton, Mr. J. Conder, Dr. Halley of Manchester, Mr. Mursell, Dr. Cox, and others. A petition to Parliament against the Maynooth Bill was proposed by Mr. J. Conder, and signed by five hundred and thirty-eight delegates; and as it completely embodies the principles upon which the bill ought, in our opinion, to be opposed; we give an extract from it, for the perusal of our readers:

"That, differing widely, as your petitioners are well known to do, in religious faith and worship, from those of their fellow subjects whom this measure is professedly framed to conciliate, and attaching to such difference the highest importance, they feel it the more incumbent upon them to declare, that they would not on this account withhold from others a single advantage which they would justly claim or accept for themselves.

"That, looking to the circumstances which appear to have suggested the measure, and to the avowed opinion of many of its warmest supporters, they are compelled to regard it as a cautious but deliberate approach towards the establishment of the Roman Catholic church in Ireland.

66

That, in the judgment of your petitioners, the alliance of the civil power with any form of ecclesiastical polity, and as the fruit of such alliance, the support, by compulsory exactions, of religious teachers of any denomination, are dangerous to the liberty of the subject, subversive to the rights of conscience, prejudicial to the cause of christianity, and offensive to God.

"That, under this conviction, your petitioners record their solemn protest against the Protestant Church Establishment already existing in these realms, as well as against every grant of public money for ecclesiastical purposes; and that, seeing in the Maynooth-College Bill a further extension of a principle which your petitioners hold to be detrimental to the best interests of the empire, they humbly pray your honourable House not to pass such Bill into law."

Meantime, Mr. Sharman Crawford's proposition to Parliament, referred to in our last, has received the support of two members; the bill has passed triumphantly through committee, and the third reading has, after a short debate, been carried by a majority of 133 members. Most of the "honourable gentlemen" have contrived

to manifest the same indifference as before, to the opinions and petitions of the people; and "the ignorance displayed of the nature of religious liberty, and the violence done to religious conviction, by the votes given," must disqualify many members from being returned as the future representatives of Protestant Dissenters.

MISCELLANEOUS.

NEW BAPTIST CHAPEL, GROSVENOR-STREET - EAST, CHORLTON-ONMEDLOCK, MANCHESTER.-On Monday, 7th April, a Baptist Church was formed in the above place of worship, consisting of forty-five members, by the Rev. James Lister of Liverpool, assisted by the Revs. J. Voller and Dyer. About a hundred members of the other Baptist Churches in the town sat down with the newly formed Church, to commemorate the dying love of the Saviour. It was felt to be a delightful and refreshing season from the presence of the Lord. On Lord's-day, April 20th, the above chapel was publicly opened, when Sermons were preached by the Rev. David Griffiths, Theological Tutor of Accrington-College, the Rev. W. F. Burchell of Rochdale, and the Rev. James Acworth, A.M. Theological Tutor of Horton-College, Bradford; the Rev. Jenkin Thomas of Cheltenham, was engaged, but was prevented by severe indisposition. The attendance was good, exceeding the expectations of the most sanguine friends. On the following Monday evening, about two hundred of the friends sat down together to tea, after which, Mr. John Johnson of Ashton-under-Lyne being called to the chair, the meeting was addressed by the Revs. Ferrent, Dawson, Griffiths, Voller, Sunderland, Walker, &c. The trustees of the late Baptist Chapel, George-Street, having disposed of that property, have invested the balance of its proceeds in the purchase of the above place of worship. It was built by the Evangelical friends about nine years since, at a cost of nearly four thousand pounds; it is a very substantial building, beautifully finished, and replete with almost every necessary convenience. It will seat seven hundred persons; there is a large and convenient school-room underneath, capable of accommodating five hundred children, and about two hundred and fifty young persons are now receiving religious instruction every Lord's-day. The chapel is admirably located, being surrounded by a large population of the middle and higher classes of the community. The necessary steps have been taken for putting the property in trust for the denomination, and will be completed in a very short time. May the Lord eminently bless this new effort in

this densely populated town, to the extension of his kingdom and glory.

HORTON COLLEGE, BRADFORD. The Examination of the students took place as usual on the 7th of May (the Wednesday before the association); it was conducted partly by writing-partly vivâ voce. The examiners appeared well satisfied with the whole, and especially pleased with some parts. Their written report will not be received till the annual public meeting on the 6th of August. Besides the usual engagements of the students in supplying during the recess, one (Mr. Pitt) is actively employed amongst the labourers on the railroad between Leeds and Bradford.

JAMAICA. We are glad to announce that Mr. Knibb arrived in London on the 23rd of April, and attended several of the annual meetings in connection with the missionary and other societies. The difficulties experienced by many of the churches in Jamaica and their pastors, arising from long continued drought and the commercial embarrassments of the island, have, we understand, occasioned his visit. We are happy to say that he left his family well, and that he appears to be in the full enjoyment of his accustomed health and energy. He is expected in the West-Riding, at Leeds, on or about the 20th instant.

BRAMLEY. The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the New Baptist Chapel, Bramley, took place on WhitMonday. After singing and prayer by Mr. James Macpherson, the minister, the stone was laid by John Cliff, Esq. in a brief but very appropriate speech; who, in addition to a very handsome subscription, has generously given the large piece of ground, as a most eligible site for the intended building. Mr. Dowson of Bradford, delivered an impressive address, suitable to the object and design of the intended erection.

GILDERSOME.-On Sunday, June 8th, Mr. Saunders, of Haworth, is expected to preach the Anniversary Sermons for the Sabbath-school.

BAPTISMS.-Bradford.-Four persons were baptized in Sion Chapel, on the 4th of May, 1845.

Rotherham. Ten persons were baptized on the first Sabbath in May, at Westgate Chapel, Rotherham, by Mr. J. Sissons. Trowbridge, Wilts.- On Lord's-day, May 4th, Mr. Barnes baptized fifteen persons in the river, and afterwards received them into the communion of the BackStreet Baptist Chapel, Trowbridge.

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.

In the discussion of any subject, it is important that we lay down certain prin. ciples or axioms on which our reasoning may be based. Unless this is done, the whole argument, however logically constructed, will resemble a well-proportioned edifice without a foundation. Volumes of

controversy, written in past ages, are now of no more utility than the confused frag.. ments of a fallen house. To no honest disputant can they afford even a temporary shelter. Having been reared without any solid basement, they are at this day no better than so much lumber, fit only to be stowed away to moulder and rot amid the dust which time throws up. There are, however, other works which, like firmly built citadels with foundations deeply laid, have stood the fire of many an enemy the attack of many a foe; but which remain in their strength and beauty, the imperious bulwarks of sacred truth.

To a mind deeply concerned for the defence and maintenance of Protestant Nonconformity which is only another phrase for bible conformity-it is painful to witness vast numbers of the Nonconformist body taking up false positions in their skirmishes with the enemy. Instead of occupying the ground at the head of this article, and resisting, if need be, unto blood, as did the apostles and martyrs, how often are they content to take lower and less defensible grounds, from which the subtle foe may easily drive them. In the late powerful attack made upon Nonconformity, by the Government Maynooth Bill, how various were the grounds taken for the resistance of that measure, both in and out of Parliament, as though there was no one grand axiom or principle on which a united and successful charge

VOL. II.-ENLARGED SERIES.

might be made. One part of the great, but alas! divided army of Nonconformists, took up its position with Churchmen, and fought against the Bill on the ground that Popery was heresy; as though the assumed prerogative of the Church of Rome had been transferred to the legislature, by which it was able to decide what was truth and what was error. Another part founded its opposition on the ground that it was unjust towards Protestants that they should be made to contribute to popish purposes, forgetful, it may be, that the Papist is made to contribute to Protestant purposes, and the Protestant Dissenter to Episcopalian purposes. It is surprising to see with what self-complacency the Episcopalian can put his hand into the pocket of the Catholic and the Dissenter; but as soon as the compliment is about to be returned, a cry is raised as loud as when a London pick pocket is detected filching the handkerchief or purse from some unsuspecting stranger. It is true the Churchman has a license to pick the pockets of other men; but we see no reason why, in those days of free-trade principles, he should any longer enjoy the monopoly in this kind of pursuit. If he is not willing that the Catholic should share it with him, then let him give it up altogether for the benefit of those who have suffered in pocket and in person from his monopolizing traffic. A third part of the great Protestant body, with more consistency than the other two, marched to the contest loudly proclaiming "the Lord is our Lawgiver;" and attacked the enemy on the high ground of the Church's independence of all secular authority; claiming for that Church, in all its multiform sections, the sole authority of Christ as

G