Morning Dew Drops. By Mrs. Clara Lucas Balfour. With an introduction by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe. London: Cash. Partridge, Oakey, & Co. THIS is a beautiful book in its outward aspect, with a title significant of its contents. May the excellent doctrine of the gifted writer distil as the dew upon the tender herb! Mrs. Balfour is entitled to the highest esteem of the community for this attractive attempt to conduct the young into the safe paths of sobriety and virtue. We give the brief introduction by Mrs. Stowe:

"It is pleasant to the traveller in England, to remark the benevolent and self-denying efforts that are everywhere making for the education and elevation of all classes of society.

To such an extent have these labours been carried, and such an evident spirit of perseverance and progress is awakened, that there seems but little doubt, that every class of society in this country, will at least be reached by them.

There seems now but one obstacle to the complete emancipation of classes of society, hitherto sunk in wretchedness-and that obstacle is INTEMPERANCE.

Could all the money spent for what is worse than useless, by husbands and fathers, in England, be appropriated to the purposes of family comfort and elevation, the efforts of the charitable would, in many cases, be no longer necessary.

It is computed that the loss to England resulting from the use of intoxicating drinks, including the actual cost of the liquor consumed the cost of pauperism, crime, etc., amounts to the sum of one hundred million pounds per annum. This sum of money is more than sufficient to build all the model lodging houses, support all the schools, buy all the books, and carry through all the sanitary measures that are necessary to make the poor of England no longer poor-but to place them on an equal footing with the labouring classes of any country in the world. In how many forms of beauty, and comfort, and taste, of religion and intellectual improvement, might this sum be made to appear!

Will not those, then, who are disinterestedly labouring for the good of the masses in England, turn their attention to this subject, and see if here be not the very root of the evils with which they are contending and will they not take special pains to train up the rising generation as a band of juvenile abstainers ?"

B 2

Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical, on the Old Testament. By Albert Barnes. Vols. 1 and 2. The Book of the Prophet Daniel. Blackie and Son, London.

WE avail ourselves, in introducing these expected volumes to our readers, of an opinion by a reviewer in the Baptist Magazine for December, who says:"In some respects we consider this the best of all Mr. Barnes's Notes. While we rejoice in the success of his labours as an expositor, and the help he has rendered to ministers, sabbath school teachers, and multitudes of private christians, we have found in his volumes on the New Testament much that was common-place and prosy, as well as much that was fallacious respecting infant baptism and kindred errors. There is less room for animadversion in the volumes before us, which are the fruit of much research and thought. The introduction is one of the most valuable productions of the sort we have seen for a long time. Critical, judicious, clear, conclusive, it meets the need of the student, and yet may in all its chief points be comprehended by the most illiterate persons who can read the word of God. It sketches the history of Daniel; considers the genuineness and authenticity of the book; sets forth its nature, design, worthlessness of all apocryphal additions; and general character; exposes the devotes a section to the ancient versions; and gives a full syllabus of such exegetical helps to the right understanding of the book as it may be necessary to consult."

The Globe prepared for Man: a Guide

to Geology. London: W. J. Adams. AN elementary treatise on the interesting science of geology, illustrated by numerous engravings, and a coloured frontispiece of a volcano in a state of eruption. The author wisely observes:

"The discoveries made in natural history by the study of geology, excited, a few years ago, much alarm in the public mind, lest they should lead to statements at variance

with the revealed account of the Creation.

But as the theories of imaginative minds have been made to yield to solid information, collected by the observation of excellent and learned men, this alarm has subsided. And

the more the science has been pursued, upon the principle of a close investigation of facts, the more completely has it been

found to harmonize with the Bible statements of the character and works of God; whilst at the same time, geologists are free to own that it explains the cause of features in the outward works of creation, unnoticed by the word of Revelation, which dwells chiefly upon the moral and spiritual condition of man as he stands in connection with his Maker."

Titles given to christians, has furnished matter for pious thought and ardent praise to the humble believer.

Successsful Men of Modern Times is another of the Religious Tract Society's monthly series, calculated by the examples it affords to encourage young men to assiduity and perseverance in honourable pursuits.

1.

2.

Bible Class Magazine, 1853. The Child's Own Magazine, 1853. Notes on Scripture Lessons, 1853. The Sunday School Class Register, and Diary, 1854.

Tracts. New Year's Address to Parents; and New Year's Voice to Teachers.

We have pleasure in again introducing these well-known publications of the Sunday School Union to the notice of teachers, and all others who may be engaged in the instruction of the young.

19 THE BAPTISTS.

To the Editor of the Baptist Reporter. DEAR SIR,-My attention has been directed to an article in your number for September last, entitled, “A recent eccentrical attack on the baptists," and to the able reply of Mr. J. H. Wood, in October and November. If you conceive that the readers of the Reporter will tolerate another paper on the same subject, I should be glad to offer a few thoughts as they naturally occur to my own mind.

Every real lover of divine truth must be willing to see that truth investigated. We wish men to "search the scriptures." We do not desire to stand in the position of Romish priests, and to demand assent to our own principles because they are ours. We wish the believer in Christ to recognize his privilege of being personally led by the Spirit of truth to the right understanding of the Word of God. We do not, therefore, complain that baptism has been brought forward by the Editor of the Melbourne Times: but we do regret that the author of the article in

which we cannot but consider as detrimental to the interests of christianity, and as evil in its influence on personal piety. In proof, let us quote his own words :

"It has at length become very evident, that if the baptists possessed the power which the Roman Catholics once had, they would rival the arch-persecutor; not, indeed, by burning heretics alive, but by drowning them alive."

Now, on this point, at least, the writer may make himself quite easy. So far from wishing to baptize him, much less to drown him, it would be our duty to require very clear proof of a radical change of heart in him, before we could administer to him the ordinance of baptism. Whether he knows it or not, the baptistry is not, like the "font" or the "altar" of the Anglican Church, open to all comers. We would count hearts rather than heads.

Again, what are we to understand by the words "The baptists, never too wide awake, have read their Bibles backward, and upside down." And this is language intended to apply to Booth and Carson! Then, too, we are told,

"There is not a man among them whose opinion would be taken on any question of learning, out of their own little sect.' Who could have imagined that, in these days, any writer could have penned and printed, even in a Derbyshire village, such a reckless assertion as this. To mention but a few-had William Carey, Andrew Fuller, Robert Hall, and John Foster, ro fame "out of their own little sect?" But the writer says, "There is not." To mention only one living baptist, we ask, has the Hon. B. W. Noel lost all his academic lore, and become stultified, because he has been baptized? Did I suppose the writer in the Melbourne Times capable of understanding the Greek Testament, I should certainly deem him guilty of gross intentional misrepresentation. What could be more outrageously unfair than to quote texts speaking of baptism "with water," if he really knew that the original term is "in water ?" My own opinion, however, and which I have formed from the internal evidence abundantly afforded by his production, is, that his fault is that of presumptuously meddling with things beyond his mind's reach. "Quod erat demonstratum" does not look like a printer's mistake.

But we are told also of "harlequin leaps," "columbine tricks," and "buffoonery exhibitions." Let me just indulge in one remark, by way of comment, on this very chaste and elegant language. I have witnessed very many "rites and ceremonies." I have heard "mass." I have seen "christenings," in and out of the establishment. I have been present at "confirmations" and "ordinations:" but never did I witness one external rite which produced in my mind the solemn feeling and the deep emotion which I have felt when present at the burial of a believer in baptism: and this was the case quite as much before my own baptism as it has been since. Are there not many who will unite in this testimony? Blessed be God! we, who "have been baptized into Christ," know that we were not, in our baptism, enacting a "buffoonery exhibition," but intelligently and happily obeying the command of our only Lord and Master in matters religious.

Allow me, in conclusion, to suggest to our beloved brethren who are now found among "Pædobaptists," and are really desirous of knowing their Lord's will, a

few questions for their prayerful consideration.

1. Is there any doubt whatever, that believer's baptism was practised in the Apostolic Church? We have three thousand instances on the day of Pentecost, and many subsequent cases. This is absolutely clear and indisputable. Can the same be said of "infant baptism ?" If not, can we avoid this conclusionBelievers Baptism is PROVED: Infant Baptism is guessed at.

2. Ought a burial ever to take place before death? By burial we acknowledge a man as dead, and take a formal (usually a public) leave of him. This nation had not solemnly bidden farewell to the Duke of Wellington till the day of his public sepulture. Is not this illustration of christian baptism, wherein we bury, in Christ's name, those, and those only, who give us reason to believe that they have died with Christ?

3. Can baptizo in any case be proved to imply sprinkle? I have been a teacher of Greek for twenty years. I have anxiously sought for every instance in which this word is used by a Greek author. I long wished to confirm my anti-baptist sentiments: but I could not, and cannot, find one case where I dare thus translate the word. But I find abundance of instances wherein the word necessarily implies total immersion. Is not Immersion guessed at?

PROVED - Sprinkling

4. Can anything done for us, to us, or by us, when we were in our natural state, be accepted by an enlightened conscience, in place of that voluntary personal obedience which is due from us as new creatures-" children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"-partakers now of the Saviour's grace, and heirs with him of his glory? BIBLICUS.

P. S. Does the writer in the "Melbourne Times know, that some years since, a gentleman offered, through an advertisement in the Patriot, a reward of £100 to any one who could bring forward a New Testament precept for, or an example of, infant baptism? Why does he not try for the prize in these dear times? Though the advertisement has been so long neglected, I know enough of its worthy author to feel quite assured that he will come forward with the money to any one who may produce the required evidence.

by the arms of the Russ. In his own country he was a landed proprietor, but when once exiled, no letter from or to Russia-Poland could pass the frontier. One he sent was opened and returned; so, after a long lapse of years, he was unable even to communicate with his friends; there was no friendly frontier near, to which a letter could be clandestinely conveyed.

I have reason to believe this child of misfortune was in a hopeful condition of mind; the instruction he received appeared to produce much impression upon him. No priest came to visit him, nor did he wish for one; he called me mon père, and listened reverently to the enunciation of divine truth. Fragments of Romish superstition, however, hung about him to the last-remnants of

"The Papal web."

He did not believe that a priest could forgive sins absolutely; I am of opinion he was too enlightened; but he believed I could absolve him, on repentance and faith in Christ on his part. Upon the great subject-man's redemption-I of course had much conversation with him, and catechised him continually, and he firmly avowed his conviction that he was a sinner by nature and a sinner by practice, that no works of his own could save him, and respecting the person and work of our one Saviour, he could give a very correct account; but the fragments of Romish error hung around him to the last, although I have good reason to hope they were shattered fragments, and that saving faith had penetrated between them to his soul; but it was "smoking flax," a feeble flame.

He

"Are

As he approached death, he became very anxious that I should hear his conession. In reply to this request, I said, 'Do you feel you are a sinner ?" mphatically declared, "I do." you," said I, "truly sorry for all your sins?" He replied fervently that he was. "Do you," said I, "renounce and forsake them all?" He declared very solemnly, "I do." He lay on his humble pallet of straw, which charity had procured him, and the pallor of death, which I have seen too many hundred times to mistake, was on his face, and on his eye and clammy forehead-a period in human life when men are perhaps least apt to simulate. "Now," said I, 66 you have confessed; what remains is, for you to pray to our Saviour Christ, for forgive

ness, who only can forgive you." He said, "Yes," and we prayed. But the shattered remnants of Papal superstition hung around him to the last. He afterwards wished me to give him a crucifix to kiss, to put him in remembrance of Jesus. I told him it would not answer any good purpose so to do, and said, "Adore Christ in your heart," and I then repeated a little impromptu adoration of our Redeemer. He placed his hands together, and appeared deeply engaged in divine meditation whilst I spoke.

Perhaps this young man had a fond mother, for he was evidently well and gentle bred, who would have given half the world to have been there, to have closed the eyes of her child; or a sister, perhaps who might just then have been thinking and weeping over the remembrance of her long exiled brotherthinking, perhaps, of the days, when on their own lands in childhood, they played together on the greensward :—

"The grateful breeze was breathing round,
And golden flowers bedeck'd the ground;
Health, peace, and calm content, were there,-
Those halcyon days!"

But there were none of earth to stand
by him in the hour of death but a com-
rade and a missionary. Just before he
died, he made an effort to reach my hand,
which, on offering to him, he took between
his own, and with extreme difficulty
raised to his lips and kissed it, and then
placed it upon his heart, and endeavoured
but "the silver cord was loosed," the
to express his thankfulness for my visits;
"dust returned to the dust as it was,
and the spirit returned to God who gave
it."
He passed into eternity.—

"Eternity, that vast unknown,
Who can that deep abyss explore,
Which swallows up the ages gone,
And rolls its billows evermore?
Oh! may we find that boundless sea,
A bright, a bless'd Eternity !"

EVANGELISTIC LABOURS IN WARWICKSHIRE.

THE Warwick Advertiser newspaper for Oct. 29, 1853, contains a paragraph which we give below. We need not say how much pleasure and hope the perusal of this paragraph afforded us. Pleasure that these things were done in this particular county, and hope that such things will be done in other counties-nay, in all the counties of England and Walesduring the next season. We might ask, Why should they not? but we cannot