66 and sufferers during the civil wars, and the following period. Kiffin I apprehend to be a tolerably accurate fac-simile of this numerous body, long respectable for its moral worth, its industrious habits, and its enterprising spirit." no proof that he was ever "in the field," or that he belonged to the Parliament army, in which Major Bridgenorth cut so distinguished a figure. This engagement was not incompatible with his filling the humble station of pastor in the persecuted church assembling in We have no objection to this pas Devonshire-square, which he always sage, except so far as it represents did, even while he held this military Mr. Kiffin as a "merchant and commission, and performed those yeoman" merely, thus merging his "military services." These remarks character as a minister of Christ, are made to show, that Mr. Orme's and a pastor of a dissenting church. representation of Mr. Kiffin, as re- It was the latter employments that sembling in many points the puri-formed his character and constituted tanical hero of Peveril of the his chief distinction. His commission Peak,'" is without any foundation. in the City Militia, his engagements Mr. Kiffin never attempted to over- as a merchant, and his honours as throw royalty, and to substitute a one of five aldermen when the city republican government; nor was he was disfranchised, were all suborconstantly restless and unhappy be-dinate to his office as a Baptist micause episcopacy was established by nister. For proof of these remarks, the state instead of presbytery. That we refer to the "Manuscript," and he was involved in afflictions arising even the "Notes,” which form Mr. from "heavy domestic misfortunes," Orme's publication. and religious persecutions," and The prominent feature of Mr. "political intrigues," are not sufficient Kiffin's character, and that which "points of resemblance" to lead any ought to have been principally exone to suppose "the Scottish No-hibited, is that of A CONSISTENT REvelist" bad Mr. Kiffin in his eye. FORMER IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST! Had all religious persoas acted upon Having at an early age, in company the principles of Mr. Kiffin during with a few serious young men, who those troublesome periods, that met at a Morning-lecture on a author would not have been able, Lord's-day in the city, adopted the with any colour of truth, to in-principles that the scriptures were troduce the characters either of Bridgenorth or of Solsgrace,much less of the jesuitical Simon Canter. He could not from Mr. Kiffin's Life, with all his skill, have found matter to justify the charges either of "hypocrisy" or "enthusiasm!" We fearlessly challenge any to produce from Mr. Kifin's manuscript "food for ridicule and satire ;" much less for "holding up fanaticism to laughter or abhorrence." Mr. Orme must be again heard describing the character of Mr. Kiffin. He says, "The Remarkable Passages in the Life of Kiffin' have no pretensions to equality with the charming effusions of conjugal attachment, or those of the classical and scientific courtier [Evelyn] above referred to. They discover, however, the sentiments and general conduct of another class of persons, the merchants and yeomanry of Eng. land, who were the principal actors the only rule of faith and practice, he was at length led to form a Baptist church, of which he became the pastor, and continued in that relation for upwards of fifty years. In this situation he braved the dangers of the Star Chamber, when Laud exercised ecclesiastical tyranny. As pastor of this church, he was persecuted by the Presbyterians for daring to preach against Infantbaptism. Uninfluenced by the love of titles, or the love of clerical distinction, he never became a parishi minister, which even some of the "whether the Baptists did. Being in subjection The Scripture Selection List; compiled principally for the Use of Sunday Schools, but adapted to General and Domestic Reading. By a Sunday School Secretary. 4d. ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness: still, it does not follow that the various chapters of the sacred volume should be read promiscuously; that every part of it is equally adapted for juvenile lessons; nor indeed for domestic reading. The experienced teacher will at once perceive the desirableness of the plan; and, on examination, the judgment with which it has been executed. Although particularly designed for Sunday Schools, it will be found very useful in every school where the scriptures are read; and deeply do we regret that a school should be found in which they are not read. We would further recommend it to the notice of those conductors of domestic worship, who have not leisure nor ability to arrange a plan for themselves. LITERARY INTELLIGENCE. Just Published. The Sunday School Preceptor; chiefly designed for the Use of young Teachers, and as a Reward Book for the Senior Scholars. By a Sunday School Teacher. Post 8vo. Price 4s. 6d. The Paramount Importance of communicating the Gospel to the Heathen considered. A Sermon preached at the Half-yearly Meeting of the Baptist Auxiliary Missionary Society for the Western District, held at Bridgewater, Somerset, April 2, 1823. Lent Lecture. Plain Proofs against the Invocation and Saints and Angels, and the Veneration of Images. The Arguments of the Roman Catholics in Favour of this Doctrine are calmly considered and plainly answered. In a Discourse delivered in Plunketstreet Meeting-house, March 13, 1823. By the Rev. J. Petherick. In the Press. And will speedily be Published, in One Vol. 8vo. An Account of the Baptist Mission to the Burman Empire; in a Series of Letters addressed to a Gentleman in London. By Ann H. Judson. On Female Education: adapted particularly to the Regulation of Schools. 1 Vol. 12mo. of Conversations on Algebra. 1 Vol. On Comets, by Wm. Cole, Author small 8vo. Four Treatises, by Mr. I. A. Haldane of Edinburgh.-1. Mystery of Redemption. 2. On the Person of Christ. 3. Doctrine and Duty of Selfexamination. 4. On Faith. In 1 small Pocket Volume. Rev. W. Chaplin's Sermon, preached before the Missionary Society. Price 1s. Nearly ready for Publication, in One Volume, 8vo. (closely printed in double Columns), with a Frontispiece, and comprising nearly One Thousand Articles; the Third London Edition, greatly enlarged, of a Dictionary of all Religions, and Religious Sects, Antient and Modern; also, of Ecclesiastical History and Theological Controversy. Originally drawn up by Mrs. Hannah Adams, (Author of a History of the Jews, &c.) and compared with the Fourth American Edition of her ed to the present Time, by Thomas Work. Carefully revised and correctWilliams, Editor of the last Edition; with Mr. Fuller's Essay on Truth, a brief Missionary Gazetteer, &c. &c. A new and elegant Edition of the whole Works of Mr. Archibald M'Lean of Edinburgh, now first_collected in 7 Vols. 8vo. will be ready in a few Days. J. Mitchell is preparing for the Press, Introductory Exercises to the Writing of Greek, on a Plan similar to that of his Introductory Latin Exercises Intelligence, &c. SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING MAY 9, a most numerous Meeting was held at Freemasons' Tavern, Sir T. Baring, Bart. in the chair. Above 600 ladies were present. Near the chairman sat Lords Bexley, Gambier, Calthorpe, a Russian Prince, Bishop of Gloucester, &c. The Subscriptions this year amounted to £10,924. Since the first institution about 300 Jewish children have been educated in the christian faith, none of whom have returned to the errors of their ancestors. Hundreds of thousands of Tracts and Hebrew Testaments have been circulated. Within the year 8824 Bibles and Testaments, and 74,000 Tracts have been issued. of Rice, Evans, M.P. W. Smith, M.P. Whitmore, M. P. Stapffel, Allen, Lennard, M. P. Key, Williams, M. P. Hume, M. P. Townley (Calcutta), Wilson (Malta), and Paterson (St. Petersburgh). The Persian Ambassador was present. LONDON HIBERNIAN SOCIETY. FREEMASONS' TAVERN, May 12, the Duke of Gloucester in the chair. The number of schools in Ireland under the patronage of this Society;553 Day Schools 103 Sunday Do. 128 Adult Do. 51,889 Scholars 6,824 Do. 8,160 Do. About 5-sixths of them are Catholics. All the speakers agreed that the distresses of Ireland can be removed by nothing but the diffusion of religious knowledge. It gives us great pleasure to find that the funds of the So Amongst the ministers were the Bishop of Gloucester, and the Rev. Messrs. Basil Woodd, Hawtrey, Pin-ciety are in a flourishing condition. kerton, Keiffer, Cunningham, Thistlethwaite, and Marsh. BRITISH AND FOREIGN Freemasons' Tavern, May 12, the The Among the noblemen who addressed the meeting, were the names of Gloucester, Gosford, Lorton, Gambier, and Caledon; among the gentlemen, those of Gordon and Shore; among the ministers, those of Cunningham, Wardlaw, Dillon, Noel, and J. Fletcher. PORT OF LONDON SOCIETY. MAY 12, City of London Tavern, Lord Gambier in the chair. 1 Duke of Sussex in the chair. Report (read by Rev. G. Clayton) stated, that in the central schools there are now 500 boys and 300 girls; that 150 wait for admission; that 22,026 have been admitted since 1798; that 57 schools in the metropolis contain Amongst the speakers, the Rev. E. 9000 children; the the Inverness So- Irving said, It was a proud situation ciety has established 35 schools con- for him to advocate the cause of those taining 1524 scholars; that reading who, on the deck of Fame, had advo makes great progress in the High-cated his cause, and that of his fathers, lands; that 727 schools in Ireland contain 51,637 scholars; that above 100,000 copies of useful publications have been circulated in that country; that the Irish poor ardently desire knowledge; that the French government does not warmly support the diffusion of knowledge; that the Spanish government sanctions and promotes the system of mutual instruction, which is rapidly advancing; that our government has introduced the British system into the Ionian islands; that education is making progress in Italy, Russia, India, the Cape of Good Hope, the West India islands, the United States, Nova Scotia, Canada, Monte Video, Columbia, Peru, Chili, &c. Among the speakers were the names with the best blood of their hearts. Was not every one present moved with a moral, christian, manly feeling, to give to seamen the blessings of religious knowledge? If he could but bestow them upon only one seaman, it would give him the most sweetlypleasing sensations. There was an opinion, among certain sons of Belial (should he say?) that they were taking away the native spirit of our seamen. On the contrary, they gave them new sinews and new nerves. Christianity was the death of death, and the triumph of everlasting life. He could not forget that service was performed on board our gallant Admiral's ships during the time of the Commonwealth; and that on board the ship of the im mortal Nelson there was a Methodist Association, the religious exercises of which he never would suffer to be disturbed. He could never forget, as a Scotsman, that while his ancestors were struggling against Catholic superstition, they could get no Bibles printed, and the captains of the merchant-vessels brought them to them from Holland. In Leith they had established a Floating Chapel, and had added lodgings for seamen, to keep them out of the snares of vice; and a school for the cabin-boys. He opened the first Floating Chapel in Glasgow; it was on board an American vessel called "The Morning Star." The men listened to him explaining the doctrines of eternal life, with an anxious attention which hung upon his lips. When he prayed for them, there was a solemn silence; but when he came to put up a petition to the Throne of Grace for their wives and children, there burst from them one hallowed sigh of affection; and should they not be taught to pray for those who were so dear to them? LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Queen-street Chapel, May 15, W. A. Hankey, Esq. in the chair. nese.. Report, by Rev. Mr. Arundel.--The christian religion has been introduced into the Sandwich islands, among a population of above 100,000 souls.-Civilization and christianity are advancing in Otaheite, Eimeo, Huaheine, &c. The Tahietan version of the scriptures is printing.-Chinese versions of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, &c. are in the Malacca press.-In Java, &c. public worship is statedly carried on in ChiAt Amboyna Mr. Kam has translated twenty-five of Mr. Burder's Village Sermons into Malay. His church contains 100 members, received in December last.-At Calcutta, the native schools are on the increase. In Chinsurah, they contain 2500 scholars. At Madras, 538. At Betgaum, a Brahmin and his wife have been converted. At Bellary, the scriptures are translating into Canara. At Bangalore, nineteen heathens have been baptized. At Surat, the Gujuratee New Testament is nearly finished.-In Siberia, the scriptures are translating into Mongolian and Calmuc.-Doddridge's Rise and Progress, and the Pilgrim's Progress are translating into Modern Greek. The intelligence is pleasing from Africa and the West Indies.-The expenses of the year have been £33,187. 19s. 5d.; the receipts, £32,039. 11s. Id. The different motions were enforced by the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, and the Rev. Messrs. J. Julian, T. Smith of Rotheram, H. Townley, D. Stewart, J. Morison, J. Fletcher, E. Irving, and Mark Wilks. HOME MISSIONARY Spafields Chapel, May 20, Thomas Walker, Esq. in the chair. There are now 24 Stations, and 22 Missionaries, who preach in 189 villages, and have nearly 3000 children in their Sunday Schools. Speakers, Rev. Messrs. Irving, Wardlaw, Lacey, Kilpin of Exeter, Douglas, Irons, Kemp of Cheshunt College, &c. The amount received at the meetings was £260. THE CONTINENTAL SOCIETY, For the Diffusion of Religious Knowledge over the Continent of Europe, by Native Local Preachers. THE Fifth Annual Meeting was held May 21, at Freemasons' Hall, and was respectably attended. The Presi dent, Sir T. Baring, Bart. M.P. took the chair, and opened the business of the day with some appropriate remarks. Indisposition, however, compelled him to retire before the conclusion of the meeting, when he was succeeded by General Neville, one of the Vice Presidents of the Society. A very interesting Report was read by the Secretary, the Rev. Isaac Saunders, A.M. and suitable resolutions, founded on the proceedings of the Institution, were moved and seconded by Lord Powerscourt, Spencer Perceval, Esq. the Earl of Rocksavage, the Rev. John Townsend, Wm. Wilberforce, Esq. M.P. the Rev. M. Wilks, the Rev. Edward Irving, Dr. Parker, W. Cunninghame, Esq. Sir C. S. Hunter, Bart. the Rev. A. M'Neil, and the Rev. J. Bunting. The number of agents employed on the Continent is twenty. The gospel has been preached by them in several hundred towns and villages. The expenditure of the last year amounted to £1450. A large number of New Testaments have been distributed. The speeches delivered were very excellent and animating. Great feeling was excited on behalf of the spiritual necessities of the nations on the Continent, and the sum of £62 was collected.-Reports may be had, and subscriptions received, at the Continental Society Office, 8, St. Andrew's Hill, Doctors' Commons. Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline. Freemasons'-Hall, May 26, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester in the chair. ORDINATIONS, &c. April 1, the last half-yearly Asso ciation of Baptist ministers and churches, in the West of CORNWALL, was held in Helston. Messrs. Green of Falmouth preached in the morning from Psalm cxxvi. 5, 6; Sprague of Bovey Tracey in the evening, from Isa. lii. 7; and Dore of Redruth on the preceding evening, from Micah vii. 7. Messrs. Smith, Sprague, Gill, and Clarke, engaged in the other services. The next Association to be held at Redruth, October 14. To preach, Messrs. Lane and Clarke. received Mr. Whilst the Report details numerous instances of the wretched internal management of prisons, five to seven men locked up nightly in a cell 7 feet by 10-no infirmary-cells used for sick wards-insane men among misApril 9, the Rev. James M'Pherson, demeanants, &c. it speaks highly in from Edinburgh, (late of Bradford favour of the Tread Mill. It appears Academy,) was publicly set apart to that in the nineteen English counties the pastoral office over the Baptist in which criminals have been subjected church, Salthouse-lane, HULL.-Mr. to the discipline of that machine, they Wm. Wade (late pastor of the church) have uniformly, at the expiration of commenced the service; Mr. Berry of their imprisonment, shown a disposi- Bishop Burton delivered the introduc tion to forsake their former dissolute tory discourse, and habits, and have returned to society M'Pherson's confession of faith; Dr. much improved. Opinions were read Steadman of Bradford offered up the of several medical gentlemen, that the ordination prayer, and delivered the activity which it compels is conducive charge from Rom. i. 9; and Mr. to health. In the case of females, the Rowse (of Kilham) concluded with machine is so regulated, that they do prayer.-In the evening Mr. Normannot suffer a greater punishment than ton of Driffield commenced the ser the law contemplates. The exertions vice; Mr. Joseph Gilbert (Independin England have had a very great in-ent) addressed the church from Titus fluence on the prisons of Ireland, ii. 10; and Mr. Moses Saunders of Hanover, Bavaria, Wirtemburg, Den- Bradford Academy concluded with mark, Russia, Prussia, and Paris. prayer. The chapel was very much The Ladies' Committees, also, have crowded, and all present seemed to produced important benefits. be deeply affected, and highly interested. May the Lord appear in his glory, and crown the union with his abundant blessing! Several noble and distinguished persons were amongst the speakers. Mr. Wilberforce, speaking of the present state of our prisons, said,-It is against the feelings of humanity, that such a state of things should continue. He is to be pitied who, when young, committed some imprudence for which in a prison he was suffered to contract habits which were more dangerous to him than the most loathsome diseases of the body, and which sank him below the ordinary level of his species. Not only humanity, but justice, demands that we should make the prisons more fitted for the reception of criminals, that they may not pass on from less to greater crimes, and perfect their criminal education. Let us visit them in prison; let us speak to them in the language of religion; and let us endeavour to make them respectable members of society in the evening of their lives. We are happy to learn that the Legislature has taken this subject under its consideration. VOL. XY. April 29, a new Particular Baptist Chapel was opened at YARMOUTH, (Isle of Wight,) when two sermons were preached; one in the morning by Mr. Mileham of Portsea, (1 Cor. i. 2;) and the other in the evening by Mr. Draper of Southampton, (Heb. vii. 25.) The devotional services were conducted by Messrs. Read, Mursell, Franks, and Clay. The services were well attended, solemn, and highly interesting, and the prospects are encouraging. Various attempts have been made by Mr. Read, pastor of the Baptist church at Wellow, (a village about two miles from Yarmouth,) to introduce the gospel into this town, but without any permanent success. About four years ago, a few persons, residing in Yarmouth, chiefly members of the church at Wellow, being grieved at the great ignorance of the children 2 D |