scent of his Spirit on another immortal being rescued by g ace from the dominion of Sin and Satan; and then imagine the influence which that scene is likely to have upon all present. Pastor and people alike rejoice in another fellow-sinuer saved. The young see one, of their own age perhaps, setting out in a course of holy obedience to Christ; the careless see one who, in early life, counts salvation the one thing needful; and the worldly see one who was, like themselves, devoted to frivolous gaieties or earthly gains, now joining the people of God, and seeking as the first and greatest good a place in his kingdom. How many are likely to ask for grace to follow so good an example, and to give themselves up to the Lord! A contemptuous fancy may easily contrive absurdities which never happen, and malevolent zeal may multiply rare accidents into habitual improprieties. Persons who cannot overthrow any material part of the evidence which proves that our Lord has commanded immersion, and who are even destitute of sufficient learning to appreciate that evidence, may yet, by a caricature bordering on profaneness, frighten from their duty those who have little moral courage, and arm with sophisms those who wish to justify their disbelief; but so long as the plain meaning of words proves that our Lord has commanded immersion, and the experience of huudreds of thousands of sober and pious persons attests the practice to be safe and salutary, so long

dutiful disciples of the Redeemer will continue to obey this command, although to the world's contempt is added a measure of ridicule from their own beloved and respected brethren."*

WORDS OF COMFORT; OR, WHY NOT BE SAVED ? THE SINNER INVITED AND WARNED. BY DAVID THOMPSON. Pp. 64. London: Benjamin L. Green.

This little work is a "second edition, enlarged," of "The Sinner's Own Book; or, Bits by the Way." It consists of a number of short pieces, under various titles; a specimen will be found on the last page of the present number of "The Appeal."

SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS THE RESULT OF MAN'S VOLUNTARY OPPOSITION TO THE TRUTH; a Discourse delivered to the Baptist Church, Bristo-Street, Edinburgh. By ANDREW ARTHUR. Pp. 29. Edinburgh: James Hogg.

We noticed this sermon last month, but, by a printer's mistake, the text was wrongly stated. The discourse is an exposition of Mark iv. 10-12. We renew our commendation of its contents.

MR. JOSEPH WILLIAMS,
SURGEON, BRISTOL.

Joseph Williams, the subject of the present sketch, was born December 20, 1822, at Williton, in Somersetshire, being the second son of Mr. Joseph Williams, of that place; and he died on the 8th of September, 1849, of cholera, at Bristol, aged 26 years, having probably fallen a victim to this fearful disease through his excessive labours in attending night and day for a considerable period upon those who were suffering under its attacks.

There was in him, when very young, a great love of truth-a desire for knowledge --and a willingness to listen to any advice given to him. He had also the inestimable privilege of evangelical domestic culture. He was one for whom prayer was often made, before whose mind the great truths of the Gospel were both privately and publicly brought, and who was carefully guarded against all corrupting associations.

In the 17th year of his age, two very important events took place in his life. One of these was his making a public profession of religion. He has left no record behind him to shew the different steps by which his heart and mind were influenced to make this his highest and best resolveto present himself a living sacrifice to God. As he increased in years, heavenly light dawned upon his mind with its holy and happy influences, and made him a willing disciple of the Lord, Christ. The love of Christ constraining him, he was baptized in April, 1840, and became a member of the Baptist church at Watchet. He, in this solemn ordinance, willingly, fully, and publicly yielded himself up to God, with the hope, that as he had confessed Christ before men, the Saviour would confess him before his Father in heaven. His after life both proved the sincerity of his profession and confirmed his own mind in the propriety of this act.

In the same year in which he made a profession of religion, he chose the medical profession as his business in life. After this, he continued with a gentleman in extensive practice, in his native place, for four years, pursuing his medical studies. Whilst here, we have a partial insight into the state of his mind, in a few of his letters, which have been preserved. He thus writes to a sister at school, in October, 1842. Having mentioned the death of a young friend, he adds "Thus, you see, death is no respector of persons, The old and young are equally subject to it. Such an event as this ought not to be suffered to pass without our deriving Improvement from it. How should we be for ever ready for the summons! Why are such worthless creatures as ourselves spared? Well may we exclaim, with the Psalmist, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name." He writes to the same in May, 1843:-"I have felt poorly of late, and am made to realize my own liability to disease, but I hope sanctification will result from it to my soul. God does not afflict without cause. He loves his people too much to lay upon them one stroke more than is necessary. We must be resigned and patient. Attend to the advice I have given you, and let me have a share in your supplications, that I may be humble and heavenly-minded, like my Lord and Master."

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After he had pursued his medical studies in the country, he proceeded to London. Soon after his arrival in the great metropolis, he joined a class of his fellow-students, who met weekly for social prayer, and he communed with the Baptist church, Keppel-Street, Bloomsbury. When he had completed his term, he passed his examination with great credit, and the testimonials to his diligence and skill were of the highest order.

Being desirous of extending his knowledge of the world in general, and his own profession in particular, he took, immediately after his studies in London were completed, and in the year 1846, the medical charge of the merchant ship Barham, commanded by his kind friend and relative, Captain Gimblett, and bound for the East Indies. His conduct, on this voyage, displayed his usual kindness of heart and punctual attention to his duties as a surgeon..

***When he arrived in Calcutta, he wrote to his parents-"I have this morning been to

the Baptist chapel. Oh, that the Spirit of God may be abundantly poured out on the ministers and churches of Christ here, blessing His ministers in their efforts, and making them mighty to the pulling down of strongholds and every thing which exalteth itself against God. Do pray for the out-pouring of the Spirit. The superstitions of the Hindoos are awfully great." This letter strikingly shews the flow of his mind towards religious objects. He had, from a child, been in the habit of hearing and reading of the missionary labours and success of Carey, Ward, Yates, Pearce, and others, in India; hence his first desire, on landing in Calcutta, was-not to visit its palaces, halls of commerce, or fortressesbut to visit the sanctuary of God's missionary servants, and to join with them in their hallowed worship.

1

After his return from India, the important question arose, where should he take up his settled habitation. Many favourable circumstances, which it is not necessary to mention, directed his attention to Bristol. He settled there in the latter end of the year 1847. His practice gradually increased, and he was happy in his work. He now

became a member of the church under the pastoral care of Mr. Davis. Had it pleased the Great Arbitrator of human life to spare him for a few years in this sphere of labour, there is no doubt that he would have succeeded to his utmost wishes, and have been a source of comfort to many of the suffering members of the human family.

When the cholera visited Bristol, about Midsummer, 1849, the deceased, with his characteristic energy, immediately devoted himself to the service of those suffering from its attacks. He was first appointed the medical officer of his own district, and after this he received the appointment of general superintendent for the city in the cholera medical department.

He at this period thus wrote to his parents:-"I am thankful I have been so far preserved. The disease has again broke out with great virulence; indeed, so severe is it, that in one hour it alters a familiar countenance to such a degree that I cannot recognize it. I find I must begin to husband my powers. Be not too anxious about me, as I shall adopt means to preserve my health. I want rest more than any thing else, having been disturbed for many nights past. I should be delighted to be with you for a little while, but it is impossible, Pray

that we may all be preserved from this dreadful pestilence."

This was his last letter to them. In the discharge of his duties, he had to visit the poor-house at Stapleton, where the disease was raging most fearfully. Here he took up his abode for nearly a week, only occasionally returning to his own house.

On Saturday morning, the 8th of September, 1849, he came home; and, conscious the disease was upon him, he took a strong dose of medicine. All which skill and friendship could do, was done; but in vain. In labouring to save others, he himself found an early grave. His race was run.

His pastor, Mr. Davis, thus describes his final conflict with the King of Terrors :"When I first saw him on this fatal day, he was struggling with cramps. At such a season as this, the physician and minister feel themselves alike helpless. We can only use the means of consolation; an higher power must render them effectual. The only observations or replies the disease permitted were these: You know in whom to trust in this trying hour?' 'Yes, I do.' 'Jesus is able to save to the utmost.' To the utmost,' he repeated.

'You now know

the value of these words, God so loved the world as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life?'' 'Yes,' he said, 'I do.' He then whispered slowly, 'Death! death! death!' 'But death has lost its sting to you?' 'Yes,' he replied, 'it has.' I then prayed with him; but before I had concluded he became insensible, and in a little time he fell asleep without a struggle or a groan.'

Funeral sermons on the occasion of his death were preached- in Bristol, by Mr. Davis, and at Williton, by Mr. Sutton-to

The

large and attentive congregations. Corporation of the Poor, in Bristol, have also resolved to erect a monument to his memory.

Of this young christian it may be said, in the language of Howe:-"Whom shall it not induce to mourn, to see God gathering out of the world that which is most excellent, most pure, most desirable, and most capable of being useful in it? Oh, how much of spirit and life is gone out of it, when one such man dies-when the holy, divine life is thus exhaled from it. But we

have something more to do than to mourn; all this tends to make a glorious heaven; one bright star the more is now added to it. There is nothing of this holy life lost. Whatever of excellency, purity, goodness, life, and loveliness vanishes from among us, is but transfered to its own native place; returns to its proper element, as the forsaken dust hath its own. Heaven has its part out of every such person, as the earth draws into its bosom its own terrene part; not without a sacredness and rich perfume adhering to that also."

In the career of this interesting young christian, how much cause is there for gratitude, and for admiration of the riches of divine grace. His was an early and continuous consecration of himself to Christ, to his church, and to the cause of suffering humanity. Nor can his death be called untimely. True, he was young, and his removal was sudden; but if he lived but a short time, he lived well.

"It matters little at what time o' the day
The good man falls asleep. Death cannot come
To him untimely who is fit to die.

The less of this cold life, the more of heaven-
The briefer life, the earlier immortality."

THE SOUL RESIGNED TO CHRIST.-When a soul is busy asking after Jesus Christ, if it be enquired, "What would you do with him ?""Why this is my purpose," will it say, "I would worship him; I would not only be saved by him, but I would fall down and adore him, and acknowledge him my King; and if I had anything better than another, I would offer it him." what hast thou? Hast thou rich presents for him ?" "Alas, no; I am a foolish and a poor creature, and I have nothing to offer." .. Nothing Hast thou a heart ?"

"But

66

"

Yes, a heart I have; but, alas, there can be nothing more unfit for him, and unworthy of him; it is dark, and foul, and hard all disorder and filthiness.' "Yet wilt thou give it to him as it is, and be willing that he use and dispose of it as it pleases him?" "Oh, that he would accept of it, that he would take it upon any terms! Here it is if it would fly out from this offer I would he would lay hold of it! Oh, that it were once received by him; that it were in his hand, and then let him do with it what seems him good!" "Sayest thou

BO?

Then it is done. Give it really and freely, and he will take and make it better, at its worst, than all the gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, of all those rich coun. tries where they abound; and will purify, rectify, and make it quite another thing than it is; and it shall never repent thee to have made a gift of it to him. He shall frame it to his own likeness, and in return will give thee himself, and be thine for ever!"-Leighton.

TO BEREAVED PARENTS.-Two little boys belonging to a poor woman of Cheltenham, of whom one was about three, the other two years old, attended the infant school of the place. The elder took great pleasure in teaching his little brother what he had learnt himself. In the winter of 1832 both children took the measles; and whilst they lay in the same room the elder was often heard attempting to make the younger pronounce the words, "Hallelujah, praise the Lord!" but without success; and the child died before he could repeat them. When his brother was told of his death, he was silent for a moment, and then said, looking kindly up to his mother, "Mother, Johnny can say, Hallelujah,' now." After some hours this dear child also died, and could sing the same song of praise before the Redeemer's throne. Yes, bereaved parent, your departed infant can say, "Hallelujah," now. While it hung on your breast it could not articulate a word, but now its infant voice gives utterance to the high praises of your Redeemer, as one of "the multitude which no man can number." was painful to part with it,

"Yet when the first wild throb is past
Of anguish and despair,

To lift the eye of faith to heaven,
And think my child is there:"

This best can dry the gushing tears,
This yield the heart relief;
Until the christian's pious hope
O'ercomes the parent's grief."

It

A JEWISH PARABLE.-A poor man was travelling on a hot day, carrying a heavy load upon his back. A rich man passing by in his chariot took pity on him, and invited him to take a seat in his chariot behind. Shortly after, on turning round, the rich man saw the pilgrim still oppressed with the load upon his back, and asked him why he did not lay it on his chariot. The poor man

said that it was enough that he had been allowed to be himself carried in the chariot, and he could not presume to ask for more. "Oh, foolish man," was the reply, "if I am willing and able to carry you, am I not able also to carry your burden ?" Oppressed and anxious christian, do you not see in this man your own unbelief and folly? He who has accepted your person, and is your reconciled Father in Christ Jesus, expects you to cast upon him all your burden of cares too, and he is able to sustain it.

ON SUFFERING INJURIES.-I have this moment heard of a most malignant attempt to injure my character, and I take up my pen to record, to the praise and glory of my God, that my soul is kept in perfect peace. I pity those who delight in the exercise of such wicked dispositions. Little do they think that they injure themselves more than me; and that there is a day coming when the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. It is an unspeakable consolation that God knoweth everything, and will judge righteous judgment. To him I can make my appeal, that in the point referred to I am greatly injured; but whilst I have the testimony of my own conscience, and the light of my Redeemer's countenance, none of these things do move me, or ought to move me.-Simeon.

JESUS CHRIST THE GREAT THEME FOR ALL SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.-A very little boy was recently told by his mother that he was to attend a Sabbath school at Newcastle-on-Tyne. He asked what he should learn there, and was told that he would hear of Jesus Christ. He went, and was placed in the infant-class; and on going home said, " Mother, I have not heard any thing about Jesus Christ." His mother told him no doubt he would do so. The second Sunday he went again, but had the same tale to tell, and again his mother told him he certainly would hear of the Saviour. But on the third Sabbath he made the same complaint, and then his mother found, on enquiry, that the teacher had been detained by illness, leaving his class in the care of young assistants. The teacher returned, and spoke of a loving and condescending Redeemer, and the child was satisfied.

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY. PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES. To the Editor of "The Church." Dear Sir,

In reply to many enquiries and kind suggestions from esteemed brethren, on the subject of the resolutions to be

brought forward by us at the next annual meeting of the Missionary Society, which appear in the last report, we take the liberty of requesting the insertion of a few sentences in the pages of your magazine. The attention which, during past months, we have been able to give to the subject, and the kind communications of brethren, have led us to a conviction of the importance of thoroughly discussing these reso

lutions, as connected with the welfare of our Society, and the maintenance and enlargement of the sympathy and support of our churches in its proceedings. We pur. pose, therefore, if life and strength permit, to bring these resolutions, in the form of which we have given notice, under the consideration of the Annual Meeting, and desire, by thus early reminding our brethren of our intentions, to invite the exercise of their deliberate wisdom in the spirit of reverent obedience and humble dependance towards our Great Master.

The resolutions, as they now stand, if adopted by the General Meeting, will occasion certain changes in the constitution of the Society, which we think are required by the faithful application of scriptural principles, and by the necessity which is strongly felt among us to unite our Society more completely with those on whom it must depend for support. The changes will consist-first, in the abolition of a fixed amount of pecuniary contribution as a condition of membership; secondly, in the substitution for it of a religious qualification, viz., connexion with a church by which the Missionary Society is approved and supported, and, thirdly, in the transference of the control of the Society from persons possessing the property qualification (and only such, as defined by the present law), to the representatives of contributing churches, who are to meet once a year for the dispatch of business and the choice of officers.

The first resolution to be brought forward is one affirming the general principle, that our society should be esteemed a religious society, and have a religious constitution. We proceed to apply it in two ways-first, by rendering the qualification for membership, connexion with a contributing church; and, secondly, by entrusting the representatives of such churches with the management.

It may, perhaps, help towards a clear understanding of our intentions, to print the rules as we propose they shall stand, respecting "members" and the "general meeting." By a reference to the report, our friends will be able to compare the effect of our proposed changes with the rules as they now stand. The rule for members, according to our plan, will read as follows:

"MEMBERS.

"That the Society shall consist of the officers and members of those churches who make an annual contribution to its funds." The rule respecting the general meeting will stand thus, reprinting the law with our proposed alterations:

"GENERAL MEETING OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHURCHES.

"A General Meeting of Representatives of the Churches shall be held annually, at which the Committee and Officers shall be chosen for the ensuing year, the Auditors of Accounts appointed, and any other

business pertaining to the Society transacted. This meeting shall consist of Representatives of all Churches which shall have made a contribution towards the funds of the Society during the past year. Not more than the Pastor and two other Representatives to be allowed to each Church."

We are not altogether ignorant of the objections which may be brought against these changes, but regard any inconvenience to which they may subject us as more than counterbalanced by their advantages. Legal objections may be taken, but we believe them to be invalid, It may be said that the plan encourages centralization; it is not, however, more centralizing than the present constitution; and, whilst it provides for central action, it neutralizes and destroys central government. It is admitted to be an inconvenience that it will disfranchise many who are now contributors to the Society, but are not members of contributing churches; but if the Society is a Christian institution, and for the spread of certain principles, it is a natural inference that it should be under the management of those who give to those principles their professed adherence. Any loss to the constituency resulting from this change will surely be amply compensated by the introduction of a large number of persons religiously qualified, who are now disfranchised, but who then, as members of contributing churches, will become members of the Baptist Missionary Society. The representative system may be thought too cumbrous and costly for practical purposes. The number of contributing churches will not, however, so far exceed the present members of the Society who are entitled to attend the General Meeting as to render this an important objection, and the cost may be greatly diminished if churches at a distance think fit to appoint as their representatives persons residing near the place of meeting, on whose judgment they can rely. There will be nothing under the amended regulations to prevent the meeting of representatives from being held, as may be thought desirable, in the country or in London, or to preclude two or more churches from uniting, as an auxiliary or district, in the appointment of representatives. It is admitted, that in religious societies the life which animates them is practically of more importance than the form they assume; but the latter, whilst it is the expression of the former, exerts upon it a beneficial or pernicious influence. The present plan is simple, interferes to a small extent with existing machinery, and is capable of varied application. We recommend it, on mature deliberation, to the churches, as identifying the Society which they sustain with themselves, and enabling them, by vigorous and systematic action, to maintain, extend, and direct its operations.

We remain, dear Sir,
Yours truly,

J. P. MURSELL

E. S. PRYCE.