from speaking in public? Let the place be produced. If the apostle be understood in the way which I have now stated, as prohibiting the female to usurp any authority over the man, by public teaching, the place in the law, to which he refers, may be easily produced;-"Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." Thus saith also the law.

Let me now state some instances, in which the female is authorized to speak in public.

and that our sisters require encouragement rather than discouragement. But this embarrassment happens to men also. They sometimes are overwhelmed by the presence of an assembly, before whom they are unaccustomed to speak. These are rare and painful cases. But, in general, the churches are much edified and animated with the simple and affecting statements, delivered both by women and men, of the sovereignty and efficacy of divine mercy displayed in their conversion. Some of the happiest moments of my life have been at these seasons. Nor can any, who has tasted the sweet

In relating God's mercy to her, when she is first received into Christian communion. In this magazine, it is unnecessary to prove the manner in which persons were added to the primitive church. Believing with the heart, they professed with the mouth unto salvation. They were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Many that believed, came and confessed their deeds. Many of them, also, who used curious arts, brought their books together, and burned them before all men, &c. In this way were believers added to the first churches, both men and women, the same rule being applied to all. Some women, it may be objected, have been overcome by diffidence, and been unable to give any satisfactory account. When this happens, it proves that such essays as the one I am

VOL. VII.

easily induced to accept of a substitute in its place.

In the restoration of backsliders. Their apostacy is distressing; their recovery most animating. If converted sinners, when first added to a church, make a confession of their faith, much more should backsliders give full satisfaction, to all the community, of the sincerity and warmth of their penitence. "Them that sin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." Are women to be exempted from this humiliating discipline? In such matters, female and male stand on

one level. Here public speaking is no assumption of superiority; it is the reverse; and, were it not enjoined by the spirit of the New Testament, should be dispensed with in favour of the weaker vessel. In the business.

discussion of church Your correspondent

3 L

LETTER

1

FROM THE THE

LATE REV. A. FULLER,

IN

ΤΟ A YOUNG MINISTER PROSPECT OF ORDINATION.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

As it is very doubtful whether I shall be able to attend your ordination, you will allow me to fill up the sheet with brotherly counsel.

You are about to enter, my brother, on the solemn work of a pastor; and I heartily wish you God speed. I have seldom engaged in an ordination of late in which I have had to address a younger brother, without thinking of the apostles words in 2 Tim. iv. 5, 6, in reference to myself and others who are going off the stage." Make full proof of thy ministry for I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand!" Your charge at present is small; but if God bless you, it may be expected to increase, and of course your labours and cares will increase with it. If you would preserve spirituality, purity, peace, and good order in the church, you must live near to God yourself, and be diligent to feed the flock of God with evangelical truth. Without these, nothing good will be done. Love

your brethren, and be familiar with them; not, however, with that kind of familiarity which breeds disrespect, by which some have degraded themselves in the eyes of the people, and invited the opposition of the contentious

themselves as a church, that if you were to die, they might continue a wise, holy, and understanding people. The great secret of ruling a church is to convince them that you love them, and say and do every thing for their good. Love, however, requires to be mingled with faithfulness, as well as faithfulness with love. Expect to find defects and faults in your members, and give them to expect free and faithful dealing while connected with you: allow them, also, to be free and faithful towards you in return. There will be many faults which they should be taught and encouraged to correct in one another; others will be proper objects of pastoral admonition; and some must be brought before the church. But do not degrade the dignity of a church by employing it to sit in judgment on the shape of a cap, or a bonnet; or on squabbles between individuals, which had better be healed by the interposition of a common friend. The church should be taught, like a regiment of soldiers, to attend to discipline, when called to it, in a proper spirit: not with ebulitions of anger against an offender, but with fear and trembling, considering themselves, lest they also be tempted. Let no one say to another, "overlook my fault to

day, and I will overlook yours tomorrow;" but, rather, "deal faithfully with me to-day, and I will deal faithfully with you to-morrow."

I have always found it good to have an understanding with the deacons upon every case before it is brought before the church. Neither they nor the members have always been of my opinion; and where this has been the case I have not attempted to carry a measure against them, but have yielded, and this not merely from prudence, but as knowing that others have understanding as well as I, and may therefore be in the right. In this way I have been pastor of the church, which I now serve, for nearly thirty years, without a single difference.

A young man, in your circumstances, will have an advantage in beginning a church on a small scale. It will be like cultivating a garden before you undertake a field. You may also form them, in many respects, to your own mind; but if your mind be not the mind of Christ, it will, after all, be of no use. Labour, to form them after Christ's mind, and you will find your own peace and happiness in it.

keep it in a close dark place for some time, in order to its being turned out for a hunt when opportunity served. Struck with the barbarity of this refinement in the sports of the field, a friend to the brute creation (the amiable and excellent Rev. Dan. Turner) drew up the following lines, under the form of a petition from the poor confined deer, addressed to the gentlemen concerned.

If you deem this fragment worthy of a place in your useful miscellany, it is at your service. Hackney, Aug. 1815.

G. B.

The humble Petition and Remonstrance of Dama, a Deer, now a poor Prisoner in custody of the Abingdon Hunt, to the Gentlemen by whose order, and for whose pleasure she was committed. GENTLEMEN,

Though I am one of the rank of beings of a nature greatly inferior to yours, and which our common Creator and Sovereign has subjected to your despotism, I presume, by the assistance of a kind friend, to address you in this manner, and lay before you my distressed case, in hope of your compassionate regard.

your cares ! A. FULLER.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS EXPOSED,

IN A LETTER

FROM

THE LATE REV. D. TURNER,

OF ABINGDON.

To the Editors of the Baptist Magazine. SOME Sporting gentlemen, at Abingdon, Berks, many years since, had ordered their huntsman to purchase a deer, and

rights, till my lord and master, tempted by the prospect of gain, sold me to your leader of the chase; and, though I have never done him or you any injury, I am, by an act of mere abitrary power, deprived, at once, of all the dear delights of liberty and social life; shut up, a close solitary prisoner, in a place void of light, even at noon-day.

Some of my friends have inquired into the reason of this barbarous treatment of a harmless creature; who are told, that it is in order to prepare me the better for the chase; for, by this