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farther, as he aimed to extinguish liberty of thought, while his own master only prevented them from spreading their views, or meeting for worship. Equipped with credentials from the foreign representatives of our Queen, which, in every instance but that of Hesse Cassel and its infamously notorious minister of state, Hassenpflug, commanded respectful attention, and accompanied by our well known Brother Lehmann, of Berlin, as interpreter, they visited six German governments, and one in Switzerland. For details we must refer our readers to the tract itself. Suffice it to say, that in all the Baptists are proscribed by law, not allowed to meet for worship, or even to read a book together as friends, and frequently refused either civil or ecclesiastical marriage. If a teacher is discovered, he is imprisoned, and his goods sold, even to the last means of his livelihood, to pay the costs of his prosecution and of his support in prison. Sometimes they are conducted beyond the frontiers. They are commanded, at the penalty of fines and im- · prisonment, to bring their children to baptism, and sometimes the children are forcibly taken for that purpose. In some instances they contrive to elude the police, and worship by night in a retired house or a wood, commemorating the death of their Lord with the turf for their table. Uniformly the excellence of their social and civil conduct was cheerfully attested; regret expressed at their hardships; but the principle affirmed to be unimpeachable, that they might think and believe what they pleased, but must neither make converts, nor worship in accordance with their faith. If they wished to worship as Baptists, they were told they must emigrate! It was stated even by Lutheran officials, in whose personal piety the deputation could believe, that Baptists could not be suffered in the State! The old saying of the heathen Roman governors and people to christians of old, was literally repeated to Baptist christians by Lutheran christians, Non licet vos esse, "You are not allowed to exist."

In Ecclesiastical matters at home, warfare on the outposts of the secularities of the Establishment still continues. ChurchRates are contested and frequently refused in many places; a most useful mode of enlightening the nation on the sinfulness of the State-Church principle. So useful, indeed, that while as a matter of principle we would earnestly insist on their abolition, we are by no means sure that a wise Providence is not hardening judicially the hearts of clergymen, bishops, and legislators, that they may blindly and proudly refuse a concession, granting which would be greater gain to them than to us. Ministers' money in Ireland, a tax amounting to £15,000 a year, levied only on eight Catholic towns, for the support of the Protestant clergy of the absurdly wealthy church of Ireland, is still adhered to by our precious House of Commons; which despite the census, is determined to carry by force of votes several little church-and-bishop measures. The

tone of debate, however, on these subjects, is evidently improving. Nonconformist members have darted some rays of light upon the long darkness of the House of Commons; and if dissenting £10 householders will henceforth, at every election, think more of their sacred principles than of their shops, and demand their share at least of all liberal constituencies represented by two members, they will not lose their reward, either in the approbation of the God of Truth, or in the visible furtherance of his cause on earth. Relief for those who scruple taking Oaths, is at length proposed in a government measure, not before it was needed; only a short time ago Mr. Alexander, a respectable citizen of Edinburgh, was imprisoned for six weeks with felons in the common gaol, by a Scottish sheriff, because he dared not disobey the literal interpretation of his Lord's command, "Swear not at all." This same Scotland was in a great fury with the Duke of Tuscany for violating the rights of conscience! Lord Palmerston was memorialized, and promised attention, but let a conscientious fellow-citizen lie in the gaol for the six weeks to which the just judge had sentenced him. In Canada, there appears some danger of the Clergy Reserves, that fruitful and odious bone of contention, being, through the cunning of the Colonial government, the efforts of the High Church party at home, and the truckling of Roman Catholics in the colony,-divided amongst the sects mean enough to take portions of the spoil.

Oxford University is at length to be reformed! Lord John's bill is good so far as it goes. It abolishes irresponsible government, somewhat opens the college system, widens the range of studies, and does away with the gross perjury which abounded in taking impracticable oaths. Dissenters are left out. Lord John is quite willing to let them in; he will give his vote and interest for the abolition of tests; but Mr. Gladstone will not, and Lord John, always pliant of late years when liberal propositions are to be sacrificed, gives way. The Society for the Liberation of Religion is making great efforts to carry the abolition of the tests. One hundred members of Parliament waited on Lord John Russell with a memorial on the subject, and they have given notice of a clause in committee. As a point of honour and of right Dissenters ought to petition firmly for it; otherwise we have nothing to gain by sending our sons to such a sink of Popery and all iniquity. They would corrupt us more than we should reform them. It is also only as a point of honour that Churchmen can oppose, since at Cambridge, where Dissenters can receive the education, but not take degrees, almost every Dissenter who has studied there, has ended his course as a Churchman.

At the time we write War is not declared, but a powerful fleet, under Sir Charles Napier, has been sent to the Baltic. The circumstance of the month most interesting to us is, that the Earl of Shaftesbury, in a

speech in the House of Lords, shewed at great length, and by the citation of numerous indisputable facts, that so far from being a war for Mahommedanism against Christianity, it is a war for the defence of christian liberty against the Tuscan intolerance of Russia. Nicholas first put down the Bible Society to which his predecessor Alexander subscribed largely, and now strictly prohibits the printing and circulating of the Bible in the Russian language; he has also suppressed every mission to the numerous heathen in his own dominions, forbidding them to be converted and baptized except by orthodox Greek priests;- some of these missions had been established twenty years, and were both active and successful. Turkey, on the other hand, permits the freest circulation of the Scriptures; there are forty depôts for the native colporteurs who distribute these, and two printing presses, one at Constantinople, the other at Bucharest, where they are printed in the Turkish and all other Oriental languages. Missionaries are free, and encouraged everywhere. There is no persecution by the general Government, but the contrary. Persecutions have been most frequent on the part of the Greek clergy themselves against their brethren who become Protestants; but the Sultan has placed all Protestants in his dominions under their own elected agent, delivering them wholly from the Greeks. The only properly Turkish persecutions are perpetrated by local Turkish authorities, very similar in character to parish squire persecution of Dissenters in England; but upon proof of delinquency these parties are removed. For the last fifteen years and more the Turkish Government has been acting upon the enlightened advice of Sir Stratford Canning, our ambassador, in regard to religious liberty. And the truth is, that the present war originated in great part from the determination of the Czar to put down religious liberty, Protestantism, and the Bible, in Turkey, as effectually as he has done it in Russia. He dreads the light so near him. May the God of Battles be with our brave soldiers and sailors in this war for civil and religious liberty, for justice, order, and national independence! Let all our churches invoke his blessing, that good may arise out of the tremendous evil of war! As we go to press, some hitherto withheld correspondence has placed the bad faith and duplicity of Nicholas in the most revolting light. SALENDINE NOOK, NEAR HUDDERSFIELD.

TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV. J. STUCK. The Rev. J. Stock, pastor of the Baptist church at Salendine Nook, having received an invitation to become the second classical tutor at Horton College, Bradford, and having decided to remain with the people of his charge, the church and congregation held a meeting on Wednesday evening, the 15th March, for the purpose of presenting a testimonial of their esteem and respect, and of their joy at the decision to which he had come, to continue with them. About 250 persons partook of tea in the vestry

adjoining the chapel, after which they ad journed to the latter place. W. Shaw, Esq., of Bottom Hall, senior deacon of the church, occupied the chair. Mr. John Haigh, of Quarmby, then read a very interesting statement of the history of the church and congregation during Mr. Stock's pastorate, which commenced on the 21st of May, 1848, and of their present condition The chairman next presented the testimonial, which consisted of two handsome purses, one containing eighty sovereigns for Mr. Stock, and the other twenty sovereigns for Mrs. Stock. The purses were worked by two young ladies, members of the church. The formal ceremony of presentation having been gone through, Mr. Stock responded in a very impressive address, explanatory of the reasons which had induced him to decide to remain amongst them, and expressive of his ardent desires for their increased spiritual prosperity. The meeting was subsequently addressed by the Revs. T. Thomas, of Meltham, H. W. Holmes, of Pole Moor, J. Barker, of Lockwood, J. Hanson, of Milnsbridge, and Mr. R. Hibbett, of Lindley.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA.

The intelligence of the wreck of the barque "Meridian," and of the totally destitute condition of the passengers, whose worldly property perished in that vessel, has induced their expectant friends to provide for immediate necessities, on their arrival here from the Mauritius. Among the sufferers by this calamity was the Rev. J. Voller, a minister selected and sent out from England, for the Baptist church in Bathurst-Street, accompanied by his wife and three children. There was a numerous attendance of the congregation yesterday evening, at this place of worship, and liberal contributions were made towards supplying the temporary and pressing wants of the expected minister on his landing: the amount collected exceeded £200. committee was appointed for the management of the fund, and for a further collection from friends of the cause, who were unavoidably absent from the meeting, and who would be desirous of assisting on an occasion of such emergency. Similar ef

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forts will doubtless be shortly made to relieve the other sufferers by this catastrophe. [The above is from "The Empire," an Australian paper. We have no doubt the announcement will gratify many friends. EDS.]

BIRKENHEAD, CHESHIRE.

The church in this place have unanimously invited the Rev. W. H. Bonner, late of Keppel Street, Londen, to become their pastor. He has consented, and purposes to commence his labours there on the second Lord's day in this month.

BOLTON.

The Rev. J. J. Owen, of Sabden, has accepted the cordial and unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist church meeting in Moor Lane Chapel, Bolton, and commenced his labours there, March 26th.

THE CHURCH.

"Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."—Eph. ii. 20.

MAY, 1854.

OUR PRAYERS AND GOD'S ANSWERS.

BY DR. F. A. G. THOLUCK.*

"He hears not, though I pray !'
What! because he answers, Nay?
Is this refusal? with his every No,
Does he not in his love bestow
Some greater good?"

"If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."-Matt. xviii. 19.

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."-John xv. 7.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name, he will give it you."-John xvi. 23.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us."-1 John v. 14.

These blessed promises, given by the Lord to his children, have become in the lives of many christians a stone of stumbling, over which many have fallen, and upon which many have made shipwreck. In these words the Saviour has given the promise indefinitely, that every individual prayer which has been put up in faith shall have an answer. Happy indeed was I when first I understood this promise of the Holy Scriptures, and afterwards reviewed the innumerable instances in which God had redeemed his promise, in the history of a Gideon to an Elisha, and from Elisha to Aug. Herm. Francke. I saw, as it were, the heavens opened, and a ladder let down from heaven to earth, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. What Jacob saw only in a dream, I saw in reality. Do we require to exercise faith, I exclaimed, when he who made heaven and earth is pleased to approach so near, and visibly stretch, as it were, his hand from the clouds to interchange a greeting with us? Only one half is faith, the other half is sight! I am aware that in those blissful hours of the first love, many a soul exults in a similar manner. But results are so different from their expectations. They pray, they would rend the heavens with their prayers; but the heavens are shut, and their prayers fall back upon their hearts unanswered. This sounds awful. And may we not conclude, that there must be some indescribable power over man in the truths of Christianity, when thousands who have made these experiments continue still to pray and to believe? But the child in Christ will by degrees attain to manhood. There are children's diseases of the awakened; and to these belongs that feverish

VOL. VIII.

*From "Stunden Christlicher Andacht."

F

ardour with which they desire to obtain direct and extraordinary answers to prayer.

Eternal Wisdom! my heart has bled over my misconception of thy promises; but I never blamed Thee, but my own blindness; and, therefore, thou hast not withdrawn from me thy light, thou hast borne with my weakness, and hast trained me up to christian manhood. Yes, it is from the God of truth that these words have issued: "All that ye ask in faith believing, ye shall receive!" Only we must not forget that it was those same lips which uttered the words, "FATHER, NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE." And how can we avoid feeling that we shall be truly children, in the full meaning of the term, only when we can lay down all our own will in the presence of God, and can say out of deep sincerity of heart,

"Father, whate'er thy wisdom may ordain,
My lips will echo but the heart's 'Amen.'"

All that the christian has to ask from his God is comprehended in a single petition: "THY KINGDOM COME!" Now, when we search the deep recesses of our hearts, and bring forth the innermost and most urgent of all our desires, is it this: May God reign over me! may there be no thought, no pulsation in my heart, which is not in subjection to Him? Is this, then, my daily enquiry? God reigns in me! Overwhelming thought! What is the heart of man, with all its antagonistic thoughts, wishes, feelings, but a kingdom in revolt against its King. Yet the time will come when he shall rule, and all that in me is shall serve Him in holy love. Is there a higher prayer for fallen man to offer? Not one!

If, then, this petition embody the proper aim of every pious heart, what can be the meaning of this or that particular prayer for this or that particular good, but simply that we ask for it because we regard it as the best means by which the Eternal King may attain to his rightful sovereignty over us. And if this be so, then when Eternal Wisdom, who alone knows what is the suitable means to this highest end, refuses to grant our prayer, this denial is just as much a blessing as if he had given a direct answer. The objects on which the inmost desires of the heart are centred may be quite as well effected by his refusing to give us the life of our dying friend, to remove the thorn from the flesh, to send the sunshine or the rain upon our fields, as if he had granted the petition. There is a passage in the life of that great prince amongst divines, the holy Augustine, which has often given me both light and consolation. He was desirous of leaving Carthage, where sin had deeply entangled him in her nets, and of going to the metropolis, Rome. His pious mother, however, feared that still worse snares might meet him in the temptations of the capital. With tears she withheld him, and would not let him go. He promised to remain. In the secrecy of night, however, the faithless son went on board the ship and set sail. But it was in the very place where the mother's love feared he should be lost that he was to find salvation. He was converted there. And in after years, while forming a retrospect of his life, and reflecting on the manner in which Eternal Love had led him to that place where he was only meaning to walk according to the vanity of his own heart, he thus expresses himself in his "Confessions:" "But thou, oh, my God, hearing in thy high and holy council what the object of my mother's wishes was, hast refused what she at that time asked, in order that thou mightest grant what she was always asking!"

Eternal Wisdom! when with thine illuminating influences thou hadst banished the darkness of my faith's childhood, how plainly have I seen

that those fierce flames of my heart had burned most impurely! I wished that the heavens would rend above me, merely because I had not faith nor patience enough to recognise thy ruling hand in the ordinary course of earthly events! It was concealed from me, that that faith which recognises thy unseen hand behind the natural order of things, and waits with patience till thine hour has come,

"When plainly to thy children dear

Thine unseen guidance shall appear,"

is a much more severe exercise than that which will not trust unless thy hand is every moment evidently stretched forth from heaven!

What a noble example in this respect is that of Paul! At that period when Thou wast laying the foundation of thy church, he had seen thine arm manifestly stretched forth from heaven; he had experienced that even the earth quakes at thy nod, and the chains fall off which hold thy servants captive. He had experienced the might of thy wondrous arm more than once, and yet he had never desired it of Thee. For two long years he bore his chains in the dungeons of Cæsarea, for two long years and more in confinement at Rome, and yet we read neither of the desire nor of the expectation of being led forth by thy miraculous interposition. He humbly left it to the Lord to allow him to depart, or to allow him to remain in the flesh; just as he left it to the Lord whether he would fulfil his anxious desire, and be pleased to send him to the brethren at Rome, or not (Romans i. 13).

According, then, to the light given me in thy holy Word, I thus interpret thy gracious promises. Thy true disciples will never have any other object in their prayers but this, "Thy kingdom come;" and if they allow other desires to cling about their hearts, it will be only in so far as they may regard them as a means by which thy kingdom may come. The desire that lies deepest in the recesses of their soul is, that thou alone shouldst sway the sceptre,-thou to whom all sovereignty belongs. Yes, this is their prayer,—and no silent unuttered prayer, but one which thou their gracious Lord art always fulfilling, whether thou seest fit in thy wisdom to refuse or to grant particular petitions. In our final home they will all be so. At present, we may perhaps ask for wings, and thou wisely givest us only a wagon. Another may ask for a wagon, and thou wilt give him nothing but the pilgrim's staff. What matter, if, nevertheless, we all arrive!

There may be, indeed, some souls specially dear to Thee, whom thou mayst honour by putting into their hearts and in their lips those particular prayers which thou hadst beforehand determined to grant them. But shall I conclude from this that thou must do the same to me? "Secrets are for kings;" but I am no king in the kingdom of God, but a plebeian child. Upon the great highroad which leads to Zion there are particular footpaths, and this is one of them. I am for the present directed to go with the multitude. I see that my shoulders are not yet strong enough to bear honours which thou mightest bestow upon the dignitaries of thy kingdom without any danger. What a temptation it would be for any of us were we able to say, like Peter to the lame man, "Rise up and walk;" or, as Paul to the possessed, "Go out of him! and yet to receive an answer on behalf of a similar case of distress is not less miraculous. I am still in the lowest class of thy school. O Lord, for me, who have not learned to believe aright many of the revealed wonders of thy grace, the performance of miracles is not suited. And should it come to pass that thou shouldst be pleased to distinguish even me thus, it must be only when I am able to pray wholly in thy name, and

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