Domestic Religious Intelligence. BAPTIST ITINERANT AND BRITISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THIS Society employs an itinerant, Mr. Jeffery, in the Islands of Scilly. Mr. Upton has published a small tract, entitled, "Authentic and interesting Intelligence from the Islands of Scilly respecting the Establishment of Sunday Schools, and the Preaching of the Gospel on those Islands." From this tract we find, that these islands are the same as the " Capite rides' spoken of by Strabo, and other ancient historians, and were a source of wealth to the Greeks and Phoenicians long before Britain "was reckoned among the nations." The inhabitants have always been noted as a "healthy hardy race of men;" but till within the last three years, they have been almost entirely destitute of the means of civil, moral, or religious instruction. It appears that, through the Divine blessing on the indefatigable labours of Mr. Jeffery, Sunday schools have been formed in each of the five Off Islands, viz. St. Agnes, St. Martin's, Bryer, Sampson, and Tresco; which are all in a flourish. ing state; and he has reason to believe, that the word preached by him has proved the power of God to the salvation of many souls. This mission has hitherto been chiefly supported by a fund raised for that purpose, which ac counts for the separate publication of this correspondence, of which some future numbers may be expected. Affixed to this number, is an account of a society, lately formed in Mr. Upton's congregation, in aid of the society, in the prosperity of which we greatly rejoice. Auxiliaries have been formed for this institution in the congregations of Messrs. Chin, of Walworth; Hutch, ings, of Unicorn-yard; and Edwards, of Wild street. The Walworth Auxiliary has remitted to the Treasurer of the Parent Institution since Midsummer last, nearly £100! The following sums have also been received from Bath, per Opie Smith, Esq. (who has also kindly pledged himself to exert his influence in collecting and promoting the formation of auxiliaries to this society.) A warm friend' to this cause (of another denomination) has offered a do nation of 105l. on condition that auxiliary societies be formed in a majority of the Baptist churches in the metropolis, during the current year, which ends in June!! May we not hope, that such examples will provoke very many to similar exertion in this work of the Lord! that the re-action of missionary zeal for foreign undertakings will be felt in all the borders of our native land-that those who are perishing for lack of knowledge in England, and its adjacent islands, may not have reason to exclaim amidst the bitter pains of eternal death, "had we lived in Africa or India, both the gospel and the preachers of it had been sent to us ere now." LOUGHBOROUGH AUXILIARY BAPTIST ITINERANT SOCIETY. A BAPTIST Itinerant Society, for the counties of Derby, Nottingham, and Lincoln, has been formed at Loughbo rough, October 15, 1817. The following Rules are adopted for its government: to afford assistance to poor and declining I. That the objects of this Society are churches, and to introduce the preaching of the gospel into places where there is a want of evangelical instruction. II. That every annual subscriber of half-a-guinea, be considered a member of the Society, and entitled to vote at its meetings. III. That a quarterly meeting of the Society shall be held at such place as the preceding meeting shall judge most convenient. At this meeting it was resolved, 1. That Mr. Edward Bardsley, of Not tingham, be appointed Treasurer for the t BEDFORDSHIRE, THE second annual association of the Baptist churches in Bedfordshire, was held on Wednesday the 20th of April, 1817, at Ridgmount, Bedfordshire. Met at half after 10, 4. M. Mr. Brown, of Keysoe, read appropriate scriptures, and prayed; Mr. Knight, of Little Staugh ton, preached, from Zechariah, xiv. 6,7 and Mr. Upton, from London, preached from Isaiah, li. 3; Mr. Wake, of Leigh ton, concluded in prayer. Met at three o'clock, P.M. Mr. Such, of Steventon, began in prayer; appointed Mr. Keely, of Ridgmount, Moderator; read the let ters from the different churches; transacted the business of the Association Fund; read the Circular Letter prepared by Mr. Wake, approved, and ordered to be printed. Appointed the next Association to be held at Steventon, on the second Wednesday in May, 1818. To Breach, Messrs. Wake and Keely. The subject for the next Circular Letter, "The influence of regular scriptural discipline upon the internal prosperity of the churches." Mr. Knight is requested to draw it up. Met at six o'clock in the evening. Mr. Harris, of Cranfield, prayed; Mr. Peacock, of Rushden, preached, from Matt. xvi. 26, last clause; Mr. Such concluded the services of the day in prayer. The meeting was well attended, and we hope it was a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. Collected at the doors, for the Baptist Mission in the East, 81. 18s. ORDINATIONS. 7 man delivered the charge from 2 Tim. iv. 27; Mr. Noyes, of Folkstone, concluded this part of the service with prayer. Dr. Newman introduced the evening ser vice by reading 1 Cor. xii. and praying; Mr. Crump, of St. Peter's, delivered very salutary address to the church from Phil. ii. 14; Mr. Marsh, of Hythe, con cluded the solemnities of the day with prayer; and, we believe, there were but few throughout the day, who could not say with the disciples on the summit of Tabor, "Lord, it is good for us to be here." NEWARK UPON TRENT. ON Thursday, November 6, 1817, the Rev. Willian Perkins, late a student at Bradford, was set apart to the pastoral office, over the church of Christ, at Newark upon Trent, Nottinghamshire. Mr. Coles began the service by reading the scriptures and prayer. The Rev. Mr. Davis, of Lincoln, explained the nature of a gospel church, asked the usual questions, and received Mr. Per kins' confession of faith. The Rev. William Nichols, of Collingham, prayed the ordination prayer, with the laying on of hands. The Rev. Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, gave the charge, from the 1 Tim. vi. 11. The Rey. Mr. Jarman, of Nottingham, addressed the church, from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. and concluded. with prayer. The service was peculi arly solemn and interesting, and the impressions made, we trust, will not soon be forgotten. HUNMANBY. On March 24, 1818, Mr. Hithersay was ordained over the church at Hun manby. Mr. Normanton, of Driffield, read suitable portions of scripture, and prayed. Mr. Beard, of Scarborough, delivered the introductory discourse, and asked the usual questions. Mr. Hayne, of Scarborough, prayed the ordination prayer. Mr. Harness, of Bridlington, gave the charge, from 1 Tim. iv. 16. Mr. Capps, the independent minister of Muston, concluded with prayer. In the afternoon, Mr. Wood, the independent On Thursday, Nov. 27, 1817, Mr. John minister of Bridlington, prayed; Mr. Clark, date of Stepney Academy, was Normanton, of Driffield, gave the charge ordained over the Baptist church, Mill to the people, from Deut. iii. 28. Mr. Bay, Folkstone, Kent. Mr. Marlett, of Harness concluded with prayer. Mr. Deal, commenced by reading 1 Tim. iii. Sykes, of Scarborough, read the hymns, and praying. Mr. Giles, of Eythorne, and preached in the evening, from Pa described the nature of the service, se- xcix. 3. The place was crowded everg lecting as a motto, Eph. v, 27, and put time; and, it is hoped, that the effect the usual questions to the church and to produced will prove what many have the minister. Mr. Broady, of Ashford, since said,that Hunmanby never witnessprayed the ordination prayer. Dr. New-ed such an interesting opportunity. Mia FOLKSTONE. IMPOSTORS. THE alarming increase of religious impostors should operate as a reason why persons should exercise great caution in assisting CASES for building and repairing meeting-houses, unless the characters of the ministers collecting be properly attested, as well as the goodness of the Case. We are desired to enter the following CAUTION, which will, perhaps, lead some of our readers to wonder, that the church at Merthyr Tydfill should not exercise more circumspection in selecting persons to collect for their debt. "The particular Baptist church at Merthyr Tydfill hereby give Notice, that Mr. W. Jones, (a person of about twenty-four years of age, black hair, dark eyes, thick lips, a little marked with the small-pox, stout bufit, and rather bow-legged,) is no longer authorized to receive the contributions of the public in their behalf; and that should any regularly ordained, and well-known minister in the connection, meet with him, he has authority from the above church to demand the case and the money from him, and transmit them to the Rev. David Sanders, Merthyr Tydfill, Glamorganshire." (Signed) J. EVANS, Deacon. There is another person travelling in the north, who has possession of two cases belonging to the churches of Thornhill and Meltham. A respectable correspondent says, "If he should stroll up to London, and call on you, or Mr. Edwards, (who knows him,) stop him, and assure him, that if he does not give you the cases, the parties concerned will advertise him as a swindler." Another correspondent speaks of a woman of middling stature, about 50 or 60 years of age, calling herself Mary Richardson, and who is very familiar with the names of Mr. Blundell, of Northampton, and Mr. Barker, of Towcester; and says, she has been 25 years a member of a Baptist church. Her atory has been ascertained to be false, and the minister adds: deacons of the church to which they be BAPTIST LOAN FUND. THE Committee of this Institution are anxious, from time to time, to submit an account of their progress, that the expediency and practicability of the plan may be seen, and that the further cooperation of the friends of the denomi nation may be obtained. The applications from needy churches increase, wherein the parties state their ability and willingness to comply with the terms of the loan, and express their the hearts of their friends to devise a gratitude to God, for having put it into plan whereby they can help themselves, without the trouble and expense of journeying. If The committee, therefore, earnestly invite the ministers and deacons of the respective churches, to explain the plan to their friends, and request a congrega tional collection, which, however small, will be thankfully acknowledged. this could be conveniently done before the middle of June next, it would be peculiarly desirable; but, if this be too much to ask, if ministers would kindly inform the secretary, before that period, when, at a future time, such co-operation would be allowed, it will materially forward the object, and contribute to the interest of their report, which must be given at the approaching annual meet ing. It could be wished, that the singular advantage of this plan, in perpetuating the use of every guinea subscribed to its funds, even to the end of time, and that the rapid increase of its capital, even when but 5001, are raised, should be duly considered. As 10l. per cent. of the sum borrowed, at an interest of S. per cent. are to be paid, it will "I have frequently been annoyed by be found, that, supposing this society to similar applications, and where investi commence its operations with the capital gation has been made, the result has been of only 500l. and that after such sum is almost uniformly the same. May I take raised, no additional subscriptions, donathis opportunity of suggesting to my bre-tions, or collections were received; this thren in the ministry, that if necessity sum will nearly double itself in 5 years, it *should constrain any of their indigent will be increased to nearly 3 times the orifriends to leave home, in order to pro-ginal sum in 9 years, 4 times in 12 years, 5 cure work, &c. at a distance, they should times in 16 years, 6 times in 18 years, 7 be furnished with a regular attestation times in 20 years, and 10 times in 24 of membership, signed by the pastor and years. But allowing for subscriptions, donations, collections, and bequests, which, when its operations are practically shown, cannot but be anticipated, it would be a moderate computation to suppose its capital will soon be 1000l. which, in the period specified (24 years) will place at the disposal of the denomination a sum of 10,000l. for the repairs, enlargement, and increase of its places of worship; and should the thoughtful friend pursue his calculations still further, he will be gratified to find how large a capital would be at this society's controul in the course of 30 or 40 years. And as we are now reaping the advan tages of our forefathers' exertions in the cause of religious liberty, we may indulge the pleasing prospect of our children's children enjoying the benefits of our liberality. It is ardently hoped, therefore, that many churches will be inclined to enter with zeal into the design. All communications addressed, free of expense, to the Secretary, 36, Hunter Street, will be inmediately attended to; or to either of the Committee, to whom the enquirers may be known. J. Marshall, Esq. Treasurer. Subscriptions received for the late Mr. £ s. d. 72 6 0 ... 26 11 3 The Friends meeting in Can- Alcester.. ...... 23 1 0000 ...... 13 13 0 .......... 12 8 11 0 11 10 8022064 The annual sermons for the Baptist mission in London will be preached, (Providence permitting,) on Wednes day the 24th of June, by the Rev. S. Saunders, of Frome; and the Rev. F. A. Cox, of Hackney. The morning service at the Methodist Chapel, Great Queenstreet; and the evening at Sion Chapel. Other particulars in our next. The anniversary of the Bedfordshire Union of Christians will be held at Bur. ford on Wednesday, May 20, when Mr. Thorpe, of Bristol, and Mr. Hobson, of Malden, are expected to preach. The next meeting of the Bucks and Herts Association will be held at Risborough, on Wednesday, May 27; service to begin at 10 o'clock. Anniversary at Harrow on the Hill.— On Whit Monday, May 11, 1818, two sermons will be preached; that in the morning by the Rev. James Elvey, of Fetter-lane; and that in the afternoon by the Rev. William Farmer, of Henley, Staffordshire. Services to begin at halfpast ten in the morning, and at three in the afternoon. The Chapel for Seamen, moored near Wapping Old Stairs, will be opened on Monday, May 4; when two sermons will be preached on board-that in the morning by the Rev. Rowland Hill, and that in the afternoon by the Rev. T. Roberts, of Bristol. The services will commence at eleven in the morning and three in the afternoon. The eleventh annual meeting of the London Female Penitentiary will be held at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen14 4 0 street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, ou Monday. 10 10 Broadmead, Bristol ... C May 11. Charles Grant, Esq. M. P. is expected to take the chair, at twelve o'clock at noon precisely. The Protestant Union for the Protection of Religious Liberty will be held at half-past ten, Saturday, May 16, at the Albion Tavern, Bishopsgate-street. The Society for the Relief of Superannuated. Baptist. Ministers will hold their annual meeting at Bristol, on Wednesday, June 10, when the Rev. John Foster will preach on the occasion. In the interim, the beneficiary members, annual subscribers, and congregations, who are disposed to aid the fands of the society by a collection, are respectfully requested to pay their several subscriptions and collections to any member of the Committee, who are de sired to remit all sums received on account of the Society to the Secretary, the Rev. J. P. Porter. The first public meeting of the General Wesleyan Missionary Society will be held in the City-road chapel, London, on Monday, May 4-The religious services connected with this meeting are as follow: On Friday, May 1, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the Rev. Adam Clarke, L. L. D. will preach in Great Queen-street chapel. In the evening, at half past six, the Rev. Thomas Roberts, of Bath, will preach at Hinde street chapel, Manchester-square. And on Monday evening, May 4, at seven, the Rev. Robert Newton, of Li verpool, will preach in the City-road chapel. Collections, in aid of the foreign Missions, carried on under the direction of the Wesleyan Methodists, will be made after each of the sermons, and at the public meetings both of the Auxiliary Society and of the General Society. On Sunday, May 3, sermons will be preached, and the usual annual I collections for the above-mentioned Missions will be made, in all the chapels of the Wesleyan Methodists in the London circuits. The annual meeting of the Church Missionary Society will be held May 5 at the Freemasons' Tavern, chair to be taken at two o'clock.-Sermon at St. Ann's, Blackfriars, Professor Farish, of Cambridge. The annual meeting of the Bible So. ciety will be held, May 6, at the same place; chair taken at 12 o'clock, London Missionary Society.-13th, sernions at Surry chapel in the morning, Tabernacle in the evening.-14th, Tot tenham Court.-Ministers: Messrs. R. Wardlaw, of Glasgow; William Cooper, of Dublin, and Johnstone, of Edinburghi The Sunday School Union, the Tract Society, and the Hibernian Society, hold their meetings on the mornings of Wedof the same week, at seven o'clock, at nesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate street. Poetry. THE RETURNING BACKSLIDER Oh the pains of once backsliding, From the Saviour's easy yoke; Always follows dreadful chiding; All our peace must long be broke, Satan tempts to shrink from duty, Or commit some direful sin; Points us out in haste its beauty, Then succeeds assent to win Tells us pleasures round it hover, Peace will now no longer stay. God our former help in trouble, Grants no more a cheering smile; Frowning makes the anguish double, Nor can ought the pain beguile. Satan, ere the foul transaction, Cloth'd the sin in beauteous dress; But amidst the soul's distraction, He upbraiding adds distress.' If within our eyes be turning, There's a heart as hard as stone; Once with love to Jesus burning, Now completely callous grown.. Fears of hell the soul tormenting, Doubts of e'er aright repenting Who this agony can bear? What can follow but despair ? Pious youth the Saviour loving, Shun the first approach of sin ; If you dread the Lord's removing, Keep your garments white and clean, Though you now enjoy the morning, Take, Oh take, this dear bought warning Sin may soon becloud your day; And for him who warns you pray. 1 DESERTOR MISER. London: Printed by J. BARFIELD, 91, Wardour-Street, Soho, |