The people confined in our prisons, above all, are in the utmost need of instruction; and though I delight in leading them to the fountain of living waters, that they may drink of those streams that make glad the city of our God; yet I find my preaching to them once a-week is very insufficient. They ask me for books; and it is with the greatest difficulty that I can furnish them with a few Testaments and prayer books. Projects for multiplying religious books, of every kind, have often occurred to me; but, either from the consciousness of my own weakness, the want of time (which I ought to devote entirely to preaching, on account of the ticklish ears of my audience, and to the instruction of catechumens,) or the want of pecuniary means, to which I am extremely limited, I have done nothing yet, except that I intend to introduce into my church the Handelburg Catechism, of which I shall publish a new Edition. | brethren in Christ, in England, who anticipate the want of them, who hunger and thirst after the word of God, and who themselves invite them to have recourse to them for assistance. Be not surprized then, reverend and honoured brother, that a stranger presumes to address you : but, for the love of the Master whom you serve, condescend to instruct a solitary individual in what relates to your establishments, for the general good of Christian churches; to honour me with your advice, and to accept the assurance of esteem and brotherly love with which I have the honour of being, Your humble, Servant, Montpellier, Oct. 10, 1815. A. L. L. Rev. G. C. Smith, Penzance, Cornwall. ANOTHER LETTER, FROM A PRESIDENT OF CONISTOIRE, ledge they have of Christian religion prevents them from deriving comfort from that source, which is alone the word of God. The want of knowing what is good, is often the source of evil. Your society, in propagating the knowledge of the holy scriptures, present to us, a perfect spe cimen of humanity, and in that respect alone, of what praise is it not worthy? The want of Christian schools is generally felt among us. Experience has long taught me what is I RECEIVED, with great pleasure, the likely to be within the reach of different letter you did me the honour of writing. minds; and, if I had some English books, I greatly regret that your journey was calculated to supply the deficiency I so not extended to Montpellier. Should much lament, I would strain hard to trans- have felt great satisfaction in seeing and late them, as their established reputation conversing with you on the great object would induce some persons willingly to you had in view; that of rendering men contribute to the publication of such better by religion, which alone confirms works. In this manner, I might perhaps them in morality and grace. One of the stimulate the public taste for a kind of principal causes that retards the proworks so truly important to the triumphgress of the gospel, and the advancement of truth, and the benefit of the Church of of the glory of God, in our country, is, the Christ. I beg you then my honoured bro-ignorance of the people; the little knowther to send me word what books you consider most suitable to the states of my flock, that I may become acquainted with them, and enrich our language with some of your pious English publications, if they are not already translated. I also beg you to give Dr. M. the titles of two of your most approved Commentaries on the Bible. One for sacred criticism, the other for doctrine, because I wish to know those English commentators, that I have not yet had the privilege of consulting. Monsieur G. pastor of St. Hipolite, with whom I have the pleasure of being particularly acquainted, has engaged me to translate Milner's History of the Church of Christ: telling me, that it is truly edifying: It would indeed be a useful work on many accounts, but I only know it by report, and you will sincerely oblige me, by informing me if it is already translated into French. I have reason to apologize for so many questions and commissions; but I have no other means of gaining information of this kind. Besides, I feel so much the need of instruction in the things which belong to my salvation, and to that of my brethren, that I fear not the reproach of importunity. How should I fear it, when addressing myself to my Some churches have them, but too many are without them. We also want some elementary books to give the people, and the Catechism will not supply their place, because dialogues interrupt the thread of the discourse, and take away the interest of it. RUSSIA. THE Bible Society in Russia is rivalling the zeal of the British Society. They have already printed, or are printing, the scrip tures, in fourteen different versions. The president, Prince Galitzen, has lately addressed an interesting letter to a poor Christian woman in Scotland, in answer to one addressed by her to the committee. We hope to be able to give this remarkable correspondence in a future number. Domestic Religious Intelligence. PERSECUTED PROTESTANTS | it to their own character, and to the cause IN FRANCE. We have presented our readers, in onr former Number, with the spirited resolutions of the Dissenting Ministers in London, on the subject of the Persecutions in the South of France. Notwithstanding the difficuty of obtaining information from France, on account of the danger ap prehended by the writers, enough has been received to convince unprejudiced persons, that a violent assault has been made upon the Protestants of Nismes, Uzes, and the neighbouring villages. Many persons have been massacred, great numbers have suffered in their property, and others have fled to distant Protestant towns. Attempts have been made, in some of the public prints, to decry the exertions of those who have taken public measures to expose the authors of these calamities, and to attribute them to mere political causes. Though we have no doubt of the truth of the letters published by the Dissenting Ministers, and the Protestant Society, we anxiously wait for further details; as, we understand, suitable means have been employed to obtain full and perfect information of the extent of misery, and losses sustained on this distressing occasion. At present, a want of room makes it necessary we should confine ourselves to the "Resolutions" published by the Committee of the "Red Cross Street Library," on Jan. 12, 1816. "At a Meeting of the Committee, appointed by the General Body of Protestant Dissenting Ministers of the Three Denominations, for the Pur pose of Inquiry, Superintendance, and Distribution of the Funds which may be contributed for Relief of the French Protestants, suffering for Conscience' sake,' "It was unanimously Resolved, "1. That this Committee have observed, with astonishment and regret, that attempts are making, through the medium of the press, to defeat their object, by misrepresenting their motives; and afthough the Committee know too well what is due to that respectable body by which they are deputed, to engage in useless warfare with those who are labouring to stifle that public sympathy, which it is the wish of the body to excite, they yet owe they have undertaken, to state candidly, once for all, the motives by which they have been guided, and the end they have in view. "2. That this Committee, therefore, utterly disclaim, for themselves and their Constituents, all party feelings on a question which they conceive to be purely and exclusively religious; but, that, if they must be ranked with a party, they are happy in ranking, on this occasion, with that of the government which listened so candidly to their representations,-entered so warmly into their feelings,—and pledged itself so readily to employ its good offices for the same humane purpose to which their interference has been directed. "3. That if any man, calling himself a Protestant, can impute to Dissenting Ministers, as a crime, that they have shewn themselves peculiarly forward, on this occasion, he should remember that they are the descendants of those who, for conscience' sake, suffered the spoiling of their goods, and the loss of their lives; and to whose constancy, under persecution, it is chiefly owing that religious liberty is now firmly established in this favoured land. "4. That, feeling the value of this inestimable blessing, they could not but be deeply interested by any occurrence which might threaten its loss to those, especially with whom they are united by the tie of a common faith, and a common worship; nor could they refuse their sympathy, or their relief, to men bleeding in the same cause which rendered the memory of their fathers immortal. "5. That though letters have been received from Ministers in France, expressing objections to the interference of their Protestant brethren in England, the Committee have ascertained, from unquestionable evidence, that some of those letters have been written under constraint; and that others have been dictated by an apprehension (it is hoped erroneous) lest such an interference should injure them in the estimation of their own Government, or rather, lest it should expose them to the fury of a faction, which sets the Government itself at defiance; and the Committee are of opinion, that, if complaints are cautiously uttered, they de serve, the more, the consideration and sympathy of those who are aware of the cause in which this caution originates. "6. That while they have been acting consistently with their own principles, in expressing their abhorrence of all religious persecution, by whomsoever practised or countenanced, they cannot but suppose that, in contributing to alleviate the distresses of the French Protestants, they are coinciding with the intentions of the French Government, which has been taking measures to suppress those outrages, which, if not suppressed, must occasion its own disgrace, and compromise its own safety. ROWLAND HILL, under the direction, and at the expense, of "The Protestant Society." The errors of the person who wished to enforce such assessment, have again, as upon the former occasions, effected his defeat, even without a discussion of the main question, as to the real liability to assessment of Trustees of Meeting Houses, who appropriate ALL the receipts to "NECESSARY" expenses alone, and who derive no individual or collective advantage, and which question, the Society intended, and were prepared to discuss. From this additional defeat, we are encouraged to hope, that this recent burden will not be generally imposed, if any efforts to introduce it be uniformly contested with similar firmness and equal discretion. NEW CHURCH FORMED. HOLY CROSS, WORCESTER. "7. That, in the Subscriptions and Collections already made,-in the spirit which is spreading throughout the kingdom, and in the prospect that this spirit will ultimately enable them to grant important relief to their suffering brethren, and to the widows and orphans of the victims of persecution, the Committee have the most flattering encouragement to persevere. They do, therefore, most earnestly request the unremitting co-ope-church, of the particular Baptist denomiration of Protestants of every denomination, but especially of Protestant Dissenters, in this labour of love; and they express their confident assurance, that, in | contributing to this object, without suffering their zeal to be damped by any insinuations or assertions whatever, they are promoting the spread and establishment of that Christian liberty which is the greatest earthly boon that heaven can bestow on man. it " Signed (by order of the Committee) 6 BAPTIST ITINERANT SOCIETY. By letters sent us, by the above Society, appears, that several ministers in the country, are labouring extensively in the villages of their respective residences; and not without evidences of success. The limits of our Work, will not admit of the insertion of the letters, but we feel happy to bear our testimony to the utility of this Institution, and should be gratified to hear, that the funds were so increased, as to enable the Society to grant assistance to village preaching, to a much greater extent than it at present can afford. POOR'S RATES Surrey Sessions, January, 1816. ANOTHER attempt was made to compel the assessment of SURREY CHAPEL, to the poor's rates of the parish of Christ Church, Surrey. It was successfully resisted, for the fourth time, by The Rev. nation, was formed at Holy Cross, a village on the road between Bromsgrove and Stourbridge, in Worcestershire. Mr. Griffin, of Kidderminster, presided on the occasion, and, at the close of the service, administered the Lord's supper. The brethren, six in number, were members of the church at Bradley, (about four miles distant,) and had received a respectful dismission for the above purpose. It is hoped the little one will become a thousand, and that this little hill of Zion may be as fruitful as Lebanon. WIDOWS' FUND. useful purposes of the Society for the THE Annual Sermon, recommending the relief of the necessitous Widows and Chilwill be preached, by the Rev. Dr. Collyer, dren of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, on Wednesday, the 3d day of April, at the Old Jewry Chapel, removed to Jewinstreet, Aldersgate-street; service to begin at Twelve o'clock; after which, the Subscribers and Friends will dine together, at the New London Tavern, in Cheapside, dinner to be on table at Four o'clock. BAPTIST MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING IN LONDON. THE first meeting, held at Mr. Austin's meeting-house, Elim-chapel, Fetter-lane, 16, 1816, was well attended. Messrs. Griffin, Hutchings, and Austin engaged in the devotional services, and Mr. Cox delivered an instructive and animated address, from 1 Thess. v. 13. RIOTS AT THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE, THE utility of the New Toleration Act, and of the exertions of "The Protestant Society," has been demonstrated during the past month. On Lord's-day evening, November 30, 1815, the congregation, assembling for worship at the Baptist Meeting House, at Longwick, near Princes Risborough, Bucks, were repeatedly alarmed by bricks and stones thrown against the windows and door, and by external and tumultuous shouts and clamour. By the exertions of Mr. Hester, the principal offender, Geo. Stevens, was apprehended. On application from the people, and by the suggestion of Lord Carrington, who acts as a neighbouring magistrate, the Committee of the Protestant Society kindly undertook the prosecution. The delinquent, by the advice of some powerful friends, had adopted every possible means to delay the trial, and to avoid punishment; but the Society indicted him under the New Act, for disturbing the congregation, although he did not enter the place, and which, under the former Toleration Acts, could not have been effected. He was tried, at Aylesbury, at the October Sessions, for the county of Bucks, and, after a trial, which lasted many hours, he was found guilty. In conformity to the provisions of the New Act, which has doubled the former penalty of twenty pounds, and has left the magistrates without any discretion as to the nature and amount of the punishment, he was, on January 14th, in the present year, brought up for judgment and was sentenced to pay the full sum of Forty Pounds. We regret the necessity for such proceedings; but as they are unfortunately too frequently required, we are happy, that a Society exists, which, without any respect to parties, or to denominations, affords protection and security to all dissenters, who need their interposition and assistance. Poetry. FAREWELL TO THE MISSIONARIES. LINES, ON THE DEATH OF A BELOVED INFANT, SLEEP on, sweet babe! securely rest; The gracious Pow'r that gave thee birth, Where thorns so thickly strew the way. London: Printed by J. BARFIELD, 91, Wardour-Street, Soho. THE Baptist Magazine, MARCH, 1816. EXTRACTS FROM THE HISTORY OF THE SUFFERINGS OF MR. DE MAROLLES, TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH, AND PUBLISHED BY THE REV. JOHN MARTIN, IN THE YEAR 1790. I. MR. Lewis De Marolles was born about the year 1629, at Champagne, of an ancient family, very noted for their skill in law. He dwelt at St. Menehoult, where he exercised the offices of king's counsellor and receiver of the consignments; his religion making him incapable of any other post. II. Mr. De Marolles was loved and esteemed by all those who knew him, because he was of a sweet and easy temper, and of a pleasant and agreeable conversation. Had he loved the world, he would have appeared among the learned with distinction; for he was a good philosopher and mathematician, and particularly skilled in algebra. III. The edict of Nantz (granted, for the protection of the Protestants, by Henry IV. in the year 1598) was revoked by Louis XIV. in 1685. By this event, the Protestants in France were exposed to all the horrors of persecution. On the approach of this terrible tem VOL. VIII. pest, Mr. De Marolles endea voured to quit the kingdom, but was persuaded to settle in Alsace. IV. Thus encouraged, but deceived, our martyr, with Mary Gommeret, his wife, (the daugh ter of Mr. Gommeret, formerly a famous and noted magistrate, of Sedan, and very high in the esteem of M. the Marshal De Fabere,) settled themselves at Lixim. He had four children; two daughters are now with their mother, in a society of ladies of quality, at Harlem from whom they receive all manner of consolation. two sons are in the service. The eldest, who had his leg broke twice, (once at the battle of Lauden, and, another time, by an unfortunate accident,) is an officer of the earl of Albemarle's regiment. The youngest is an ensign in the regiment of M. De St. Amand. Both of them are loved and esteemed by those that know them. They were very young when their father The |