with the subject of this sketch it assuredly was otherwise. A deep consciousness of sinfulness kept her humble before Him

who "is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity."

Kettering.

SPREAD THE GLAD TIDINGS.-"At the close of the last war with Great Britain, I was in the city of New York. The prospects of the nation were shrouded in gloom. We had been for two or three years at war with the mightiest nation on earth, and as she had now concluded a peace with the continent of Europe, we were obliged to cope with her single-handed. Our harbours were blockaded. Communications coastwise between our ports were cut off. Our ships were rotting in every creek and cove where they could find a place of security. Our immense annual products were mouldering in our warehouses. The sources of profitable labour were dried up. Our currency was reduced to irredeemable paper. The extreme portions of our country were becoming hostile to each other, and differences of political opinion were embittering the peace of every household. The credit of the government was exhausted. No one could predict when the contest would terminate, or discover the means by which it could be much longer protracted. It happened that on a Saturday afternoon in February, a ship was discovered in the offing, which was supposed to be a cartel, bringing home our commissioners at Ghent, from their unsuccessful mission. The sun had set gloomily before any intelligence from the vessel had reached the city. Expectation became painfully intense as the hours of darkness drew on. length a boat reached the wharf, announcing the fact that a treaty of peace had been signed, and was waiting for nothing but the action of our government to become a law. The men on whose ears these words first fell, rushed in breathless haste into the city, to repeat them to their friends, shouting, as they ran through the streets, Peace! Peace! Peace.' Every one who heard the sound repeated it. From house to house, from street to street, the news spread with electric rapidity. The whole city was in commotion. Men bearing lighted torches were flying to and fro, shouting like madmen, Peace! Peace! Peace!' When the rapture had partially subsided, one idea Occupied every mind. But few men slept that night. In groups they were gathered in the streets and by the fireside, beguiling the hours of midnight by reminding each other that the agonies of war were over, and that a worn-out and distracted country was about to enter again upon its wonted career of prosperity. Thus, every one becoming a herald, the news soon reached every man, woman, and child in the city, and in this sense, the city was evangelised. All this, you see, was reasonable and proper. But when Jehovah has offered to

At

(To be continued.)

our world a treaty of peace; when men doomed to hell may be raised to seats at the right hand of God, why is not a similar zeal displayed in proclaiming the good news? Why are men perishing all around us, while no one has ever personally offered to them salvation through a crucified Redeemer?"-Dr. Wayland.

ABSENT FROM THE PRAYER-MEETING.The prayer-meeting absentee,-how stands the account with him? We mean the absentee whose habit it is not to attend the social-meeting, and that, too, for no good reason. Perhaps he is at the shop or warehouse, or on a friendly visit to a neighbour's family, or at some pleasure gathering, when the hour for the meeting arrives. Suppose he could be persuaded to seek the mind of God at the throne of grace concerning his conduct, in what language can he present his request? Can he find words suited to his case? Yes, he may; for even sin does not lack in phraseology. "Lord, my heart does not incline me to go to the place of prayer. I pray thee have me excused. Bless me in neglecting this means of grace. Go with me to the shop and pleasure circle. They keep my heart from folly, and my lips from speaking guile." Words are not wanting to express his real desires to God; but then they falter on his tongue. His heart chills, and his soul shudders, and his conscience upbraids, as he thinks to utter them; nay, for the world he would not lift his eyes heavenward with such a petition in his heart. His neglect, in the view of prayer, has not a redeeming quality. If his soul were ever goaded by remorse for his sins, such a prayer would increase it a thousand fold. Is his course just and christian? If so, he can pray that God may bless him in it. He can commend it to his notice in solemn supplication, morning and evening, and at all times in the day, sure that divine favour will be added. But if he be not acting the christian part, it is presumption to seek God's blessing; God will hold him in derision as he presents such a request. How, then, does he feel? Has he ever been to the Hearer of prayer with his conduct? Dare he go and tell his Master that he does not intend to share the responsibility of church action, and ask him to bless him in his resolves? If not, how can he continue in such neglect without experiencing pungent remorse? What opiate can he apply to his conscience, to silence its upbraidings?

GOD'S TENDERNESS.-How soothing in the hour of sorrow, or bereavement, or death, to have the countenance and sympathy of a tender earthly friend! My soul! there is one nearer, dearer, tenderer still

the friend that never fails-a tender God. By how many endearing epithets does Jesus exhibit the tenderness of his affection to his people! Does a shepherd watch tenderly over his flock? "The Lord is my shepherd!" Does a father exercise the fondest solicitude towards his children? "I will be a father unto you!" Does a mother's love exceed all earthly types of affectionate tenderness ? "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you!" Is the apple of the eye the most susceptible part of the most delicate bodily organ ? "He keeps them as the apple of the eye!" "He will not break the bruised

THE MONTH.

reed!" "When the shepherd and bishop of souls" finds a sinner like a lost sheep stumbling on the dark mountains, how tenderly he deals with him! There is no look of wrath, no word of upbraiding; in silent love" He lays him on his shoulders rejoicing!" When Peter falls, he does not unnecessarily wound him. He might have repeated often and again the piercing look which brought the flood of penitential Borrow. But he gave that look only once; and if he reminds him again of his threefold denial, it is by thrice repeating the gentlest of questions, "Lovest thou me?"

The War has changed its features but little. Blockade of sea-ports, and English and French troops and munitions of war accumulating in Turkey but not moving to the scene of action, are the summary of what has occurred on our part since we last wrote. The news of the brave and splendid repulse of the Russians from Silistria by the Turks is confirmed, the former having been driven across the Danube with fearful loss, and with the death of several of their generals. One of the most interesting facts in connection with the war, is the embarkation of a considerable number of French troops in English ships of war and transports for the Baltic. Happy will it be for the cause of civilization, and we trust of religion too, if the union into which England and France have been forced by the ambition of Russia, and which on the part of the soldiers, sailors, and people, has been so hearty, should prove a lasting one. Mutual good understanding, and appreciation of each other, instead of jealousy and antagonism, will make us invaluable neighbours to each other. Well for us, socially, if they unteach us the aristocratic feeling, which curses our social intercourse from the artificer to the throne; and well for them if we impart to them a little of our love of political freedom, and of our capacity for it. Melancholy, after all, are the unvarnished facts of the war. The waste already of ten or fifteen millions of money, which might have employed our operatives at home, and the partial check to trade, are but the least evils. It is horrid to think of a brutal tyrant, who fancies himself a demigod, ordering his literal slaves to murder, blow up, and kill all the Turks they can, to increase the extent of his barbarous dominion, and of Turks being compelled to mangle and slay in self-defence the superstitious, ignorant savages who do the bidding of the Czar. Thousands and tens of thousands of God's intelligent creatures, beings to save whom Jesus died, are dying the most miserable of all deaths, to subserve a voracious and insatiate tyranny. Such are the facts permitted on God's earth. Facts due to a man who is the head of the religion and worship

of Jesus Christ in Russia! Should any of our readers wish for solid, yet most interesting information about Russia, and to know from an impartial, or rather friendly writer, what a blight Russian dominion would be to all civilization and intelligent worship of God, we refer them to a small book, written by a Catholic however,, "De Custine's Russia" (Longmans). They will understand then the curse of an imperial, a military pope, and will see the necessity of the present war.

It is gratifying to see that the movement against the abuse of Public Houses is gaining strength daily. Public meetings have been successfully held to petition for closing them entirely on the Lord's-day. In this

we entirely concur. While the legislature compels men to abstain from work on that day, while it closes shops which sell inLocuous articles, it is bound, by every consideration of humanity and policy, to shut, what may be properly termed, the gates of hell, to an idle population. The greatest of modern preachers, of our denomination too, styled ardent spirits, "Liquid fire and distilled damnation ;" and this witness is true. We earnestly solicit our sober working friends to petition Parliament, that the new Scotch law of closing all public houses on the Sunday may be extended to England. A petition of workmen's wives would be a desirable one also; what sufferers are they by the opening of gin shops to their unemployed husbands! Parliamentary Committee has just reported in favour of closing more hours on the Lord's-day; and it is remarkable, that several publicans gave evidence in favour of closing them entirely! It is also a favourable sign, that one of the best articles in the lately published number of the Edinburgh Review, the quarterly organ of the old whigs, is in favour of the Maine Liquor Law! It owns that the only weighty argument against it is, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer could not afford to sacrifice fifteen millions of revenue;-this would, however, be made up by domestic brewing, by the use of other exciseable articles, and by the vast diminution of crime, which would be sure to result.

A

It

Wonderful to tell, the Lords have actually liberalized the Oxford University Bill. They passed, without objection, the clauses admitting Dissenters without Church of England oaths, and permitting them to take degrees; and repealed some clauses conservative of abuses, which the opposition had carried in the House of Commons. remains to be seen what use Dissenters will make of their new rights. We fear they will only facilitate the passage of wealthy Dissenters' sons into the Church. Unhappily piety and deadness to the world do not increase ordinarily with wealth; Dissenters feel this as much as others. The wealthy among them are tempted to seek "genteel" associations for their children, and their children are thus thrown into a religious circle, if religious it can be called, which sneers at Dissent, though grossly ignorant of it, and which, most conveniently for flesh and blood, draws no line between the Church and the world. feel pretty confident that our English Universities are to Dissenters a by-path meadow, if they do not rather lie in the broad way itself. The facts which prove this have come very close and painfully to the writer's personal experience. Still, doubtless, the passing of the Bill is an advance in the direction of true religious equality, and in this view all earnest Nonconformists and liberals ought to hail it as a "sign of the times."

We

The

We are truly thankful to a kind Providence that while we write the fields are, in the literal sense, "whitening to harvest," with every indication of at least adequate, probably, if the mercies of the weather be continued, excellent crops. A good harvest with free trade would, more than anything else, lighten the penalties of war on our home population. Of the spiritual harvest we know not what to say. conviction is, we think, pervading all classes that real religion is not carried as it ought to be to the indifferent and the unwilling. One clergyman has actually become a street preacher; preached only, we presume,-not used the prayer-book on unconsecrated ground. May his example be followed extensively, and may the competent among Dissenters revive their old practice. A few hearty, original, homely speaking, but judicious and pious men, might wonderfully change, in a single summer, the character of some of our worst localities. But the three division sermons, with all the five points duly stated from the Fall to Glory, are waste words to the human heart. Jesus

of Nazareth, as he was, as he is,-Jesus himself, not metaphysical and logical abstractions, is the power to touch the hearts of the prodigals in all ages. If the Gospel regain and signalize its efficacy again in England, it will not be by attempting to revive the dead theology of the middle ages, or even of the Reformation, but by bringing home to men's bosoms the personal claims of a living and loving Saviour. But that will demand of our preachers more time in the closet, even if they spend less in the study.

WALTHAMSTOW, ESSEX.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, June 21st, the foundation stone of a new chapel, for the use of the church and congregation at present assembling at Wood Street in this village, was laid by Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire, in the presence of five hundred spectators. The Revs. S. S. England, J. de Kewer Williams, and W. H. Hooper, and Mr. Ebenezer Clarke, took parts in the service. The friends then adjourned to a spacious tent, where tea was provided for upwards of three hundred persons; after which a public meeting was held, presided over by Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire. From a statement then read, it appeared that the estimated cost of the building was between £700 and £800, towards which the friends immediately connected with the cause had given or collected £260. During the evening amounts were received or promised which raised this sum to £330. The Revs. J. Woodard, R. Wallace, S. S. England, W. Barnett, S. Murch, W. N. Vines, S. Brawn, and W. H. Hooper (the pastor), respectively addressed the meeting. The friends are much encouraged by the fraternal spirit shown by the pastors and members of surrounding congregations; and, aided by their continued manifestation of practical sympathy, hope within a short time to witness the completion of the chapel.

HOLLAND FEN, LINCOLNSHIRE.

On

A neat little Baptist chapel has recently been erected in this extensive and important agricultural district. The gentleman of whom the ground was purchased, has most generously returned the whole of the purchase money, thus reducing the present remaining debt to £30. the Monday after the first anniversary, which was held on Sunday, June 24th, when Mr. Twelvetrees, of Boston, preached two sermons on its behalf, a large public tea meeting was held, when the Revs. D. Jones and J. Ruff, Mr. Twelvetrees, and other friends, addressed the audience. An aged friend (84 years of age), through whose exertions most of the funds for the above chapel have been collected, declared at this meeting his determination to re-commence his efforts, and endeavour to get the remaining debt cleared off within twelve months, that he may close his eyes in peace. [SIX postage stamps from each of our readers, enclosed in an envelope, and addressed to this poor and venerated octogenarian, Mr. Joseph Wells, Holland Fen, Boston, would save him walking many hundreds of miles to and fro over a fen country, and a considerable amount of bodily fatigue, in prosecution of his object.]

COLNE.

In the spring of last year, the teachers and friends of the Baptist Sunday School in this town, determined on erecting a suitable building in which to carry on their labours, and opened a subscription for that purpose. The ladies of the church and congregation, anxious to aid the good work, resolved to hold a bazaar, which was

opened on the 2nd of May, 1854, in a room in the Cloth-hall. All expectations were surpassed in the quantity and quality of the various articles, while the proceeds have satisfied the most sanguine, £100 being the nett gain. The committee wish to acknowledge the kindness of many distant friends, who aided them both by gifts and purchases, as also the active christian sym. pathy of friends of every denomination in the town. In connexion with the bazaar, an application for assistance was made to Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., M.P. for Derby. He most generously presented seventy Bibles and twenty Testaments, to be used in the new school room.

RUSHDEN, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

The Rev. J. Peacock, senior pastor of the Baptist church, Spencer Place, Goswell Road, London, having completed the fiftieth year of his ministerial labours, a public service was held on Thursday, June 8th, 1854, in the Old Baptist Meeting, Rushden, Northamptonshire, the scene of his old pastoral labours. A large congregation was assembled on the occasion. The venerated minister, who was in excellent health, delivered a very suitable and characteristic address from Joshua xxiii. 14. The devotional services were conducted by the Revs. Thomas Williams, of Sharnbrook, Beds; J. Rowe, of Steventon, Beds; J. Dixon, of Rischy, Beds; and W. Kitchen, of Ringstead, Northamptonshire. After which, about two hundred and fifty members and friends partook of tea.

STRATFORD, ESSEX.

The foundation stone of the new Baptist chapel, Stratford Grove, designed by A. Trimen, Esq., architect, Adelphi, was laid on Thursday, the 6th July, by Mr. Alderman and Sheriff Wire. The Rev. Dr. Angus gave the address, and the Rev. S. Davis, of Bow Road, offered prayer. In the evening a public meeting was held at Rokeby House, at which Mr. Alderman Wire presided, and the Revs. G. W. Fishbourne (pastor), T. E. Stally brass, B. A., W. Deering, S. Murch, J. Hooper, and J. Woodward, took part in the proceedings. On Mr. Alderman Wire retiring from the meeting, the chair was taken by Ebenezer Clarke, Esq. An additional sum of between fifty and sixty pounds was promised towards the new chapel, including donations from S. M. Peto, Esq., M.P., and Mr. Alderman Wire.

NEW BAPTIST CHAPEL, TENBU

On Thursday, June 8th, the foundation stone of a new chapel was laid at Tenbury. Mrs. Heritage, wife of the Rev. A. W. Heritage, pastor of the new chapel, performed the ceremony. Several addresses were delivered, and subsequently the Rev. J. Jones, of Lays Hill, preached an excellent sermon. The new chapel is to be fortysix feet by thirty-two feet in size.

TOTTLEBANK, LANCASHIRE.

On Tuesday evening, June 27th, the congregation of the Baptist chapel, Tottlebank, presented their pastor, the Rev.

THE REV J. T. GRAY, PH.D.

Died, on the 13th of July, aged 45 years, at his mother's residence, 1, Stuart Villa, Sydenham Road, Bristol, the Rev. J. T. Gray, Ph.D., late Classical Tutor of Stepney College, London.

The malady that has thus, in the full vigour of life, and course of honourable and useful labour, removed our beloved and respected friend, was insidious in its form, and slow in its operation, making its first appearance in the rupture of a blood-vessel, in June, 1852.

Having been advised to avail himself of change of air, and total cessation from study, he spent a short time in the neighbourhood of Bristol, in Cornwall, and at Sidmouth; during which time fear and hope alternately prevailed.

At length, by medical suggestion, he undertook a voyage to America, in the month of July, 1853, returning in October of the same year, when he immediately resumed his duties at Stepney College. Alas! it was for a short period. It soon appeared that the disease, though for a while checked, was not removed. however, had the satisfaction of continuing his engagements in the college until near the close of the session just past, when, unable to attend the examination of the students, he hastened home, within a month of his lamented decease.

He,

Although, through extreme weakness, and, perhaps, constitutional reserve, his communications were few, it was evident that a settled peace pervaded his mind. He fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle or a sigh.