an attentive consideration of these | agreeable necessity of calling you things. "Let brotherly love con- to an account for criminal negtinue," and increase. "See that lects. Learn the importance of ye love one another with a pure your attendance at church meetheart fervently." Consider how ings, and upon other social occanearly you are related and closely sions, from the conduct of all other connected by the bonds of the gos- connected bodies of men in the pel, which of all others are the world. All who are in fellowship, most endearing and enduring. Live whether of a literary, commercial, in peace, and social cordiality, as political, or military nature, and fellow-citizens, and fellow-heirs of even those who have fellowship the grace of life; heirs of God, in iniquity, feel the necessity of and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. meeting frequently, and conversBe therefore fellow-helpers to the ing freely, in order to accomplish truth, and of each other's faith and those ends for which such connecjoy. Exert yourselves as fellow- tions are formed. And shall chrislabourers, or workers-together for tians, whose fellowship is of a and with God. As fellow-soldiers, superior nature, and for the most unite in opposition to all who in- important purposes, keep at a disvade the Redeemer's kingdom, de-tance, and be shy and unsociable grade his person, rob him of his one towards another, yea, even right, alter his institutions, adul- after they have openly covenanted terate his gospel, or in any respect together to serve the Lord with diminish his authority in and over one consent? God forbid! O let the consciences of men. But be- it never be said that they are a ware of indulging a furious or cap-company of all others the most tious disposition under a pretence negligent, and who pay the least of zeal for the truth. In a word, attention to their own interest. be ye lovers of good men, even all Strictly regard the authority of of every name who bear the image Christ as the head of the church, of Christ; and love those best who and master of your assemblies. appear to resemble him in the Conscientiously attend to the rules highest degree. But ever consi- he has prescribed, relating to adder you are to judge for your-mission and exclusion. Admit selves in all matters of religion, none but such as appear well and act as you seriously think is affected to the person and interest most agreeable to the mind of of Christ. Watch over one anoChrist, who is the great centre of ther. Comfort and strengthen the love, the author of faith, and the lord of conscience. feeble, warn the unruly, and after proper admonition, exclude those We wish you, brethren, to con- you cannot reclaim. Be faithful tinue "stedfast in the apostles' as a collective body, in keeping doctrine and in fellowship, and in what is committed to your care. breaking of bread, and in prayers. See that the ordinances of baptism Not forsaking the assembling of and the Lord's supper be preserved yourselves together, as the manner in their native purity and original of some is." As you are mutually simplicity, and for no other ends concerned in all the solemn trans- than those, for which they were actions in the respective churches instituted. By the one is expressto which you belong, do not grieve ed a voluntary putting on of Christ, your brethren by your frequent and a solemn surrender of a perabsence, and put them to the dis-son's whole self, body and so to him; while as an indication of other objectionable methods of fellowship with him in his suffer- procuring money for benevolent ings, and conformity to his death, objects. It is, indeed, high time the believer according to scripture to urge on professing Christians example, is "buried with Him by the importance of consistency; for baptism," Rom. vi. 4. Gal. iii. 27. the church and the world are now Col. ii. 12. By the other, believ- so intermingled, that unless some ers call to remembrance the Re-alteration soon take place, a large deemer's dying love, by which portion of the apostolic writings fellowship and communion with will become inapplicable and obhim, and with each other is pos- solete. sessed, enjoyed, and greatly increased. of Will you allow me, Sir, to call the attention of your readers to a To conclude: as the assembling subject of no small interest—the of saints, so the association of conduct of Christians at watering churches is for the purpose pro- places? Many of my relatives and moting what relates to the king-friends reside in the vicinity of dom of Christ in the world, which some fashionable places of resort, renders such connections worthy less than a hundred miles from their encouragement who wish for London. They have frequently its increase, and pray for its pros- mentioned to me how much they perity. O that every such owning have been grieved by the inconsisof God and of one another, may tencies of professors who visit be blessed in preparing us for, those parts; and I must confess, and be found sweet pledges of that what I have myself seen and that great association, when all heard has justified their complaints. the redeemed of the Lord shall They are willing to make all suitmeet and part no more! There able allowance for individuals who his servants shall serve him with- leave town in quest of relaxation out weariness, love and worship and health. They do not object him with intense delight, without to the promenade, the library, the a wandering thought; and in that pier, and other harmless pleasures, world of pleasure enjoy fellowship EXCEPT ON LORD'S-DAYS. But and communion with their God when members of churches, deaand with each other, without any cons, and even ministers, are found interruption, for ever and ever. at public gardens, which are as Finally, brethren, pray for us, that avowedly the rendezvous of the the word of the Lord may have gay world as the ball-room and the free course and be glorified. The theatre, and where many hundreds grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and assemble to enjoy music and danthe love of God, and the commu-cing, singing of songs, and similar nion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen! frivolities, my friends cannot help thinking that such conduct is in direct opposition to the spirit and ON THE CONDUCT OF CHRISTIANS AT precepts of the New Testament; WATERING PLACES. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. I WAS much gratified with the and they are continually witnessing its injurious tendency. The minds of sincere Christians are greatly distressed-inquirers are stumbled-conformity to the world is encouraged religion is ridiculed and reviled-hypocrisy is charged, and with some show of reason, on those who profess it and many young persons are tempted to believe that there is no evil in worldly amusements, seeing that even the grave and the godly, and ministers themselves, can enjoy them. Sir, I speak of facts. I write from knowledge and observation. I would ask our brethren, whether they cannot find some better method of occupying their time? Is there no scenery to view? No works of nature or art to visit and admire? No deeds of benevolence to employ their energies? No minister or church in need of encouragement and help? If health is their object, cannot they have relaxation, air, and exercise, without mingling with vain persons, and becoming vain? If they seek ease and enjoyment, need they ask the world for the blessing? Is time so little worth, that it may be thus unconscionably, not to say sinfully, wasted? Does responsibility hang so loose, that it may be put off in the country and worn only in town? Above all, have they forgotten that the vows of God are upon them that they profess to be partakers of a holy and heavenly calling-that if they are beyond the inspection of their fellow-members and brethren, they are observed by Him who "searcheth the reins and heart," and that He hath said, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world:" "Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing :" “No man can serve two masters?" If you think the above strictures just, the insertion of this paper will much oblige, London. Sir, PHILALETHES. WELSH BAPTIST ASSOCIATIONS. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. MR. EDITOR, THE Welsh Baptist Associations are composed of numerous, and some of them, of large churches ; but I have lately heard that they have not, as in England, any AsSOCIATION FUNDS. What can be the cause of this neglect? If I am rightly informed, it is not the large amount of salary received by their respective ministers! cach of whom, I apprehend, could adopt Paul's expression to the church at Corinth, "Did I make a gain of you?" I greatly fear the churches in Wales do not understand the LORD's command, that "they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel ;" and that they have yet to enjoy the full pleasure alluded to in "the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." These churches have for more than a century received from the London Baptist Fund, for ministers of insufficient incomes; but they have never yet raised any fund of their own for such a purpose. Ought they not to do so? They have some rich people among them. Let me entreat them immediately to about raising a fund for each of their Associations, from which additional aid might be afforded to their poorer, and more respectable, and most laborious ministers.Surely each associated church might make an annual collection for that purpose, and if only two pounds from every such church were sent by their minister or messengers, what an useful auxiliary would this prove to that which they already receive, and which is so far below the necessities of the respectable ministers on whom it is bestowed. I wish not by these hints to give offence to our brethren in Wales; | Amidst the wondering multitude that they may, as in other excel- With love the rising youth he took, AN ENGLISH BAPTIST London, Aug. 1827. they quickly found Legions of hell, plagues, sicknesses, Around the mournful tomb he shed As thus his mercy be displayed A widow's son from thence was borne, How long, O Lord, how long And magnify thy grace. The captive tribes of Israel free, Not Pharaoh's captives now, Yet prisoners still they be ; In greater misery. O God, arise, and set them free- Dissolve the fatal snare Spoil Satan of his prey; Daughter, "weep not," the Saviour cries, "Twixt anxious hope and fear. Jesus the power of God displays, "Young man," I say, "arise!" REVIEW. 1. An Essay on Terms of Communion. and that, "consequently, the question By CATHOLICUS. 18mo. sewed. pp. is one that cannot be decided by prece72. Price 9d. Aberdeen, King; Lon-dent, but by general principles, which don, Wightman and Cramp. 2. Arguments against the Practice of are at least as authoritative as precedent, and in their operation far more extensive." p. 11. He observes, "Notwithstanding all that has been said, of strict communion having Scripture precedent in its favour, it must be evident, to every one who thinks sufficiently close upon the subject, that the contrary is the fact. Indeed, if it can be satisfactorily shown, as we think it can, that the analogous precedents, and general precepts of the gospel involve no less a reflection upon Scripture, are opposed to it; the supposition would than that of supposing that its precedents and precepts are in opposition to each other, and that its precedents are at variance among 4. A Candid Statement of the Reasons themselves. But we are thoroughly conwhich induce_the Baptists to differ in vinced, that all the precepts and precedents Opinion and Practice from their Chris- of the gospel are so entirely in harmony, tian Brethren. By JOHN RYLAND, that in no case can one party justly claim D.D. Second Edition, enlarged and the support of authoritative scripture precorrected. With a Letter on the Sub-cedent, while an opposite party can justly ject of Communion, by the late Rev. W. CLARKE, of Exeter. 12mo. sewed. pp. 88. Price 2s. 6d. London, Wightman and Cramp. We do not intend, for obvious reasons, to criticise these works. Our object is to furnish our readers with a brief and impartial analysis of their contents, but to abstain from giving an opinion on the arguments advanced by their authors, or the style and method they have employed. claim the support of Scripture precept. Both must necessarily coincide; and hence, in the present case, if we find that the general tenor of Scripture precept decidedly inculcates the principles of free communion, we might safely affirm, à priori, that its opponents can have no support from Scripture precedent; and this, on examination, we find to be the fact. Mr. Hall, in granting that the advocates of strict communion have the show of precedent,' while he contends that we have the substance:' that their conformity is to the letter only, while ours is to the spirit,' has conceded by far too The writer of the Essay is, we believe, much; for they have not even the show of a deacon of the Baptist church at Aber-precedent for what is strictly peculiar to deen. He is a warm advocate for free communion, and has endeavoured to compress in a short, comprehensive tract," the leading arguments in favour of that practice, and to answer the objections usually urged against it. 66 More than half the Essay consists of an examination of the argument for strict communion, derived from apostolic precedent. The author contends, that while there is no precedent for admitting Pædobaptists to communion, neither is there any for rejecting them; their system. It is true, they have abundance of precedent, that the baptized were admitted to the Lord's Supper; and precedent, too, in support of the position, that when all believers are baptized, none but the baptized ought to be admitted; but we claim the full advantage of all this, as well as our brethren: for we, as well as they, admit the baptized; and were all believers baptized now, as they were in apostolic times, we would admit none but the haptized. What distinguishes strict Baptists because they conceive them to be in error is their rejecting sincere Christians, respecting baptism; and for this they can have no precedent, because no error on the from us, |