weeks before his decease, -a blow 80 heavy to his wounded spirit, that it probably accelerated the time of his departure. When a Baptist chapel was built for Mr. Rushbrook; when Mr. Eason, once of Homerton-row Baptist Chapel, and afterwards of Chatteris, laboured at this cathedral town; and when the present Baptist chapel was built, George Hardy's zeal, diligence, and willing support appeared conspicuous. By his wisdom, prudence, hospitality and talents, he nourished the cause of God and truth at Ely; while his strict regard to integrity, his intelligence, and his unwavering stedfastness in the truth, made him looked up to as a representative man. He was one of the few who, through a long life, maintained, without flinching, his devout adherence to the distinguishing doctrines of grace and the institutional order of a Christian church.

promoted his domestic happiness, and became the mother of several children, eight of whom are now living. On March 21st, 1866, after a union of 51 years, 2 months, and 5 days, this relationship was dissolved, and the ransomed spirit of the deceased went to be with Jesus, in whom she had long believed, and in whose finished work she had found rest and peace. This bereavement, though borne with Christian resignation, was keenly felt by the survivor, who, on the 15th of September, 1869, was seized by paralysis, which in a very short period terminated his earthly existence; when, without a struggle, he was absent from the body, and present with the Lord. Mr. Marks, of Cambridge, preached a sermon relative to his decease, from Isa. lvii. 1, in Salem Chapel, where the deceased had attended the last few weeks of his terrene abode. His life was a life of grace, and his departure one of peace. So tranquil and happy did he seem in affliction and death, that one can hardly help exclaiming, "Let my last end be like his !"

Benjamin's Mess. By BENJAMIN TAYLOR Price 28.; post free for 28. 3d. Whoever has a relish for the truth without protracted argument may safely purchase this little book, which is made up of miscellaneous pieces and letters to Christian friends. Some of the thoughts are perhaps more fanciful than solid; but the spirit and tendency of the whole may be safely commended, while some of the ideas, as in chapters 1 and 2, are refreshing and well expressed. There is one section or chapter, however, to which we take an exception. It is "on the Sonship of Christ, which like the fly in the apothecary's ointment, affects the sweet savour. We had thought the dogma of eternal generation was pretty well worn out; but Mr. T. will have his "God of God," whom he calls "the Son of God," and whom he says, “must be God of God." The logic is curious, and we give it in the author's own words:-"What was the Word? Not the human nature of Christ, nor yet the person of the Father. The Word is called God, and this Person was with the Father, and so must be God of God, or the Son of God." Now there seems to us a long leap from the premiss to the conclusion. The premiss is, the Word is not the human nature of Christ;

the proof is, "the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Now this we venture to say, is no proof at all. It is no proof that the human nature is not contained in the title, "Word of God," because (1) this name is given to Christ, which name implies his human nature. (2) The preposition with-with God-expresses something different from divinity, for the divinity is expressed by the phrase, "was God." What could that something be if it were not the human nature of Christ? And why should the Son of God, if simply a Divine Person, be spoken of as being with God, any more than the other Divine Person? Admit Christ's complexity, and sense and beauty are apparent. (3) Suppose he was with God in the beginning, this will not prove that he was with God without a beginning, or from eternity, in the sense of making him eternal in his human nature. The human nature of Christ was with the Father in the Son, who, as a complex agent, was that Eternal Life who was with the Father, the Image of the invisible God, the First-born of every creature, and the chosen Representative of all the elect, in whom the scheme of redemption ever stood, and eternal life was immutably received. As a Divine Person, the Son is eternal; but he

nected with Sunday-schools and Sunday school work. We give a specimen of one of the principles laid down, descriptive of the chief object of Sunday schools,-"The object of the Sunday school is the salvation of the child; to bring him to Christ, to develop in him the life of Christ, and to insure for him a place with Christ at the right hand of the Father." "The aim of Sabbath school teaching is, or ought to be, the immediate conversion of the children to Christ." We advocate Sunday-schools on the ground of Divine truth, as that truth unfolds itself in the economy of grace. The sovereign acts of the Father in election, the meritorious acts of Christ in redemption, and the efficacious acts of the Holy Spirit in salvation relate to the same objects and the same ends; consequently, whatever teachings ignore, becloud, derange, or throw into confusion the harmonious work of the divine persons in their official engagements, are not of God; and we are bound to believe must, in the end, notwithstanding incidental benefits, prove injurious. How this chief end of a Sunday

School, and the chief aim of such Sunday. school teaching can be reconciled to the plan of grace, just hinted at, we leave to its advocates the task of explaining. Some will probably take the bull by the horns, and deny that such an economy exists; maintaining on the contrary, that the love of God is universal, redemption by Christ universal also, and that the Holy Spirit strives with all mankind in order to their salvation; thus making the salvation of sinners dependent on man's free will and instrumental agency. Now, however erroneous this scheme is,-and nothing, we think, can be further from the truth, nor in more direct antagonism to it,—there is, notwithstanding, something that is intelligible about it, and we can discern the fitness of the notions and the teachings described by the quotations just given, to this indiscriminate and universal theory; but in all-deference to the laborious and philanthropic author, and to the authors he has quoted from, we can see no relevancy between the aims and teachings they advocate, and “all the counsel of God."

"FIXED" PRINCIPLES. To the Editor of the "Voice of Truth." DEAR SIR,-That children should adopt the sentiments of their parents, or that the creed of a congregation should be affected by the principles of its pastor, is not surprising,--and in an unstable age like the present, when everyone is craving for novelty or revelling in religious sensationalism, alterations in creed and ritual have become matters of every-day occurrence, and cease to excite wonder; but I must confess to being startled by reading the following in a letter received from a correspondent, a Baptist minister :

:

"I feel more and more determined to make all our efforts thoroughly denominational; for I feel certain, that they need be none the less evangelical and useful to the souls of men. I have recently seen a congregation which was formerly presided over by a Baptist minister, go bodily over to the Church of England, because their chapel was sold, and a clergyman was appointed minister. Such a thing could not have taken place if my Baptist friend had trained them in principles of truth. I am anxious so to train my people, that if I should be removed from them, they would

still hold fast to gospel doctrines and ordinances; hence I am very thankful to have the help which your tracts will afford "-[the tracts of the Baptist Tract Society, many of which are directed especially against the inconsistencies referred to.]

An occurrence like this, sir, indicates that in some quarter there must be something radically wrong in our pulpit ministrations. Are the principles for which our forefathers suffered become of so little value to their degenerate children, that they may be either professed or renounced at pleasure, or for mere convenience. And if distinctive principles are held so lightly that our faith may be turned to any point of the compass, by "every wind of doctrine," am I wrong in fearing that the belief of a large body of professors of religion in the grand verities of the gospel is equally slight.

I feel, sir, that in an age so dangerous as the present, when the professing church is crucified between rationalism on the one side, and ritualism on the other, it is time to rise in defence of our common faith and it is to stimulate others (especially those to whom the work of religious instruction is committed) to be bolder in

enunciating our distinctive principles as Baptists, that I have drawn your attention to this case of lamentable defection. Verily we have need by, Divine help, to strengthen the things that remain, and are "ready to die," or we shall soon arrive at a state in which we shall have no principles left to barter, and reach an age of cold speculation, wherein all that was once regarded as essential to the vitality of religion shall have been exchanged for that spirit of proud scepticism which ends in a "shipwreck of faith."

I am, yours sincerely,

FIDELIS.

A LETTER TO A CHRISTIAN

FRIEND.

MY DEAR SIR,-I received your kind letter of the 9th, and hope you will excuse me not writing sooner, but one reason is,

my only child has been very ill for nearly

three weeks with water on the brain; so much so that we thought her past recovery, but I am happy to say she is now much better. My mother, who lives near me, is about entering into eternity, after about forty years travel in this wilderness of trouble and distress. Another reason is, I sometimes feel so mentally dark, hard, blind, carnal, and lifeless, that I seem to have nothing to say about spiritual things, and often fear I know nothing aright, and am deceived altogether, and am deceiving others, and shall prove a hypocrite in the end; these feelings cause searchings of heart, and make me groan and cry, Lord

LONDON:

quicken me into life-revive thy work in my heart-remove this deadness, barrenness, and make me watchful, wakeful, and prayerful, and keep me a humble beggar at thy footstool. Ah, sir, I am sure that nothing short of power, life, and feeling, will satisfy a living soul. It is not enough to believe that God has a chosen people whom he has loved from everlasting; no, I want him to say unto my soul, "I am thy salvation;" "I have loved thee with an everlasting love;" for "where the word of a king is, there is power." And it is sweet, precious, and soul-comforting when the Lord is pleased to speak a word by the blessed Spirit to the heart: the soul feels humbled, melted, and broken-hearted at the Lord's feet, and wishes to stop there. I have thought one smile of the Lord's countenance, one token of his love, is worth a thousand worlds; but I have to lament

I am so seldom favoured with these things. We still keep on in our despised way, in the little room, sometimes cast down and sometimes encouraged, and I do hope the Lord will keep us separate from the professors of the day, and enable us to con tend for a feeling religion. Mr. His very well, and the reason he did not come to London in July, was, his wife was taken ill. I am glad to say, Mrs. T.'s health, has much improved, and she desires her love to you and Mrs. H

I hope you will excuse this scribble, for I am a poor thing, and believe me your unworthy friend,

SILVER-STREET CHAPEL, NOTTING HILL, W. The Fourth Anniversary of the commencement of the cause under the pastorate of Mr. Crumpton, was held on Lord's-day, November 14th, 1869, and the following Tuesday. Mr. S. Collins, of Grundisbugh, Suffolk, preached Lord's-day morning and evening; and Mr. J. Wilkins, of Soho Chapel, in the afternoon. On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. John Foreman, of Hillstreet Chapel preached; after which a large number of friends took tea in the school-room. A Public Meeting was held in the evening, Thomas Pickworth, Esq., presiding; and addresses were given by the following brethren :-Messrs. Flack, Box, Anderson, Meeres, Webb, and Battersby.

J. R

The sermons and addresses were most encharacterized by the well known ability of couraging, thoroughly evangelical, and the men of God who delivered them. The themes, though various, were well selected :-Mr. Collins dwelt on the mercy and grace of God, in the forgiveness of sin, and on His wondrous power and love in regenerating, sanctifying, and glorifying His chosen and beloved people; Mr. Wilkins directed attention to the exaltation of Immanuel; Mr. Flack compared Divine truth to the bread with which Jesus fed the multitudes; when broken it increased, and after they had all eaten and were filled, there were still "basketfuls to gather up." Mr. Box spoke on Preservation, Peace, and Prosperity,' illustrating, in these respects, the goodness of God to the

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friends assembled; Mr. Anderson made allusions to the Papal Letter, remarking that it was written, not so much to the Roman prelate, as for the Protestants of this kingdom; he then warned the churches and exhorted them to watchfulness, prayer, steadfastness, and zealous efforts. Mr. Meeres dwelt on the tender care and gracious help of God to ministers and churches; Mr. Webb gave important exhortations and encouragements to the people; and Mr. Battersby expressed his earnest desire that the Sabbath-school, recently instituted by the friends, might prove a great blessing. At the commencement of the meeting, the pastor, Mr. Crumpton, gratefully alluded to the good ness of God in restoring him again to health and his much-loved work, after so long and heavy an affliction; he also said, that owing to indisposition, several brethren, announced to be present, were unavoidably absent; and that he regretted that Mr. Collins was called by special engagements to return home; and such was the prostration and weakness of their dear friend and brother, Mr. Foreman, he could not stay for that meeting, and they all must feel deeply indebted to him for making so great an effort to come and preach to them in the afternoon; and he trusted the precious word he had spoken on the "Justification of all the seed of Israel," would be embalmed in their hearts, and its blessed results appear in their lives. The Chairman also, in his opening and closing addresses, made some very judicious and and weighty remarks, and expressed his Christian sympathy with, and affection to, the pastor and the church, which he evidenced by privately handing the pastor a cheque for five pounds. Many friends from Mr. Foreman's, Soho, Carmel, Pimlico, and other places, were present.

LONDON:

Mr. Flack, of Salem Chapel, New Northroad, having prayed, deeply interesting addresses were delivered as follow: Mr. Bennett, of Woolwich, "The Mission of the Church;" Mr. Evans, of Hounslow, "The Peace of the Church;" the venerable Mr. Woollacott, "Indications of Prosperity in a church;" Mr. Sankey, of Hackney," The best means of promoting Prosperity;" and Mr. Dearsly, of Kingsland, "The final Glory of the Church."

During the intervals between the addreses, a number of the Sabbath scholars sang some musical selections very nicely, under the superintendence of Mr. Joseph Walton, and the public meeting concluded about nine o'clock, the friends present having expressed their pleasure at the uniform excellence of the evening services.

About seventy friends stayed to a supper prepared by Mr. Newby, one of the senior deacons, and a most pleasant evening was terminated by singing

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

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GRUNDISBURGH, SUFFOLK.

A LARGE and enthusiastic meeting was held here on November 19th, to celebrate the Forty-third Anniversary of the ministry of the much honoured pastor of the church, Mr. S. Collins. Addresses, both kind and wise, were delivered by several of the ministers of the county present, Messrs. Bland, (Beccles,) Poock, (Ipswich,) Thornley, (Stowmarket,) Woodgate, (Otley,) Worlow, (Chelmondiston,) &c., and during the evening one of the deacons presented the pastor a purse knitted by the willing hands of a very aged lady, and well lined with the free-will offerings of the people (£30).

held at

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK HOME MISSION. AN animated meeting to promote the objects of this Mission, was on Tuesday, the 16th of Rishangles, November, Mr. George Harris, the indefatigable pastor of that church, presiding. Mr. Collins, of Grundisburgh, who may indeed be called the father of the Society, gave a deeply interesting account of its early struggles, and subsequent wide usefulness in carrying the gospel into many dark parts of this district, and the planting of many causes of truth which have been the birth-places of many souls. Earnest addresses were also given by the brethren Cooper, Hill, Bland, Masterson and Lambert, and the offerings of the people heartly given to this good cause.