that dogma as Baptists themselves. How, then, can such a thing as a Christian nation exist? We disown, with grief, even an approximate right to such a name for the people of our beloved land. We hold it, indeed, to be a delusive misuse of language to designate any nation a Christian nation, unless it could be shown that each infant in it was sanctified from its birth. Hence, brethren, "we are not careful to answer you in this matter."

So, also, in regard to a national disowning of the authority of Christ. Show us that a national recognition is demanded. The peculiarity of the New Dispensation is the absence of nationality. God now commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent. Men, as men, and Christian societies, are forbidden, at their peril, to disown Christ's authority-nations, as nations, never. Nay, the New Testament is not merely silent on this point; it expressly denies nationality in Christ. "Henceforth know we no man after the flesh." Greek, Jew, Barbarian, and Scythian, are one in Christ Jesus. No act of naturalization is needed but the act of faith. Every believer is a member of "a holy nation"-a nation marked out, not by geographical boundaries, but by the call of divine grace. Indeed, that part of the great holy nation which Peter refers to, was actually composed of "strangers scattered throughout (the several nations of) Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia!" Are such representations compatible with the view which would define a Christian nation by territorial boundaries, and propagate it by natural means?

You state that you do not oppose the Voluntary Principle, but only the Non-establishment principle. Wherein, on this point, lies the difference between you and us? We both agree to accept free-will offerings there we stop; but there you will not stop. You demand, in addition, the physical force of the State to compel the unwilling. But, brethren, you must allow us solemnly and affectionately to re

you,

mind that to support Christ's religion by physical force (the only force by which rulers get their money) is infidelity indeed, and a fearful “disowning of the authority of Christ."

He has expressly denied, that "his servants" may "fight;" forbidden them even to "strive;" blamed them even for "going to law before the ungodly." How, then, must that system "disown Christ's authority," which seizes the property of Christians and Infidels alike; with the allegation too of doing it in the name of Christ.

Such a system does not, indeed, "repudiate the name of Christ," it does far worse, it forgets his name; for where, in the New Covenant, can you find his signature to deeds of compulsion in support of his cause? Brethren, we repeat, show us how governments ever did or ever could support religion by spiritual weapons only, and we might almost offer to become State-Churchmen.

You somewhat pathetically remark, "We love our Jerusalem, and we cannot forget her." Allow us, brethren, to ask, with Christian pleasantry, Is it the lost temporalities which you cannot forget? You are separated from nothing else. You have with you your standards, your ministers, and your flocks. If the beauty of the State be not upon you, the beauty of the Lord will. The voice of joy from your younger brethren will, we trust, soon drown the lamentations of the older ones, who remember

the secular splendour of your old temple. The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to your new one, and by his presence make it far more glorious than it was ever rendered by the presence of the Lord High Commissioner, or of Royalty itself.

Finally, dear brethren, allow us to suggest, that you would do well to avoid even the appearance (we would think it nothing more) of assumption, in regard to the numerous churches in Scotland, to whom you must allow the honour of having been free long before you. You speak of "making the Free Church commensurate with the boundaries of your beloved country." You surely do not wish to swallow up our numerous Brother-Dissenters in Scotland, who were in Christian freedom before you,-who asserted the "crown rights of Jesus," when, in your communities, they were trampled under the feet of lay-patrons and worldly rulers; who, in truth, pointed out to you the way to freedom. It was not, we are sure, to annihilate Scotch Dissenters, that you asked English Dissenters' aid. No, you can only mean, that you hope to join the Secession, the Relief, the Baptists, the Independents, the Methodists, and other free Christian bodies, in disenthralling every Christian community in your (and their) beloved country.

Most sincerely reciprocating all your expressions of Christian good-will, We are, dear Sir, yours, in our common Lord,

Signed on behalf of the Association,
HENRY DOWSON,
THOS. POTTENGER,)
To Rev. P. Macfarlane, Convener, Glasgow.

Secretaries.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

CONFIRMATIONS OF SCRIPTURE. Inscriptions in a character hitherto unknown, on the rocks of Arabia, have just been decyphered. They are in the language and Alphabet of an extinct Arabian tribe, and are contemporary with Jacob and Joseph, of course prior to the time of Moses. The discoverer terms them such "a testimony to revealed religion as Job desired xix. 23-27.”

FOURTH IMPRISONMENT OF PASTOR MÖNSTER IN COPENHAGEN. The pertinacity with which the authorities in Denmark continue their persecutions of the Baptists, in that Protestant state, is extremely remarkable and unjustifiable. That excellent and devoted man, Mr. Mönster, the pastor of the Baptist church in Copenhagen, has now, for the fourth time in five years, been immured in a dungeon on account of his religion; this time it is under severer restrictions than on any previous occasion. Formerly, when incarcerated, he might write to his friends; now, he must write to no one. Before, he might be visited by members

of his flock; now, no one is permitted to see him, but his wife, his daughter, and his medical adviser. The number of the members of his Church is nearly three hundred; and in several other parts of the kingdom, there are little bands of disciples, "two or three in the name of Christ," contending "earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," and opposing, with all their power, the errors and superstition of the State establishment. The clergy, kind and charitable men, say "This is not to be endured." They have so far succeeded in their attempts to crush Mr. Mönster and his brethren, as to prevent the King from allowing them to carry on their worship unmolested; they are once more immuring him in a loathsome dungeon, and robbing him of his property, his liberty, and his religious rights; "but he is taking joyfully the spoiling of his goods, knowing that he will have at last in heaven, a better and a more enduring substance." How long will the princes of the earth remain practically ignorant of the fact, that "there is a GOD who dwelleth in the heavens," and that he will at last, come with "his angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not him, and who continue to despise the gospel of his Son."

A DISSENTING MAGISTRATE BEATING HIS BRETHREN. We deeply regret to see that a brother of Mr. John Angell James of Birmingham, and a deacon of his church, has been the acting magistrate in granting distress-warrants at Birmingham, for Church-rate seizures. Does Mr. James think compulsion to support religion wicked? If not, let him hide his head in the compulsory church; if he does, then ought he to suffer any consequences himself, rather than execute a law which insults God and degrades man. Many dissenting magistrates have already refused to sign distress-warrants for Church-rates. If they cannot do this, let them lay down an office which tempts them to sin. Luke xii. 45, 46.

CHURCH-RATES. Contests, vestrymeetings, polls, victories, defeats, seizures, wanton sales of valuable property for a trifle, extravagant charges for seizures only to be got rid of by more extravagant law expenses, fierce quarrels in churches and church-yards, such are the occurrences

under this head, with which we might fill columns. Christians, loyal enough to Immanuel to refuse religious demands to Cæsar and his scarlet-clotted woman, are the subjects of this "spoiling of their goods." Their faithfulness will not be forgotten on high. Let them not fear a scorning world, or what is far harder to bear, the reproaches of brethren, whose consciences reproach themselves, for want of like readiness to "suffer for his name."

A SLAVE WHIPPED TO DEATH.-A man by the name of Lamb (!), was recently tried at Charleston, South-Carolina, for whipping a negro to death. Though it was proved that he inflicted three hundred and fifty lashes in twenty-four hours! and that the slave died immediately after, the jury found him "Not guilty," and he was, consequently, acquitted! Such are the tender mercies of Slavery ! — AntiSlavery Reporter.

MARRIAGES.-On the 19th of June, Mr. S. Scarlett, son of the late Mr. Scarlett, Baptist minister, Gildersome, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Jonas Illingworth, both of Bradford.

July 3rd, Mr. T. Lomas, Baptist minister, Salendine - Nook, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Haslam, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

On Monday, the 8th of July, at the Baptist Chapel, Horsforth, Mr. W. Colcroft, pastor of the Baptist Church at Rawden, to Hannah, eldest surviving daughter of the late Jonathan Stables, Esq. of the former place.

On Tuesday, the 16th of July, at the Baptist Chapel, Rawden, by Mr. Liddell, Mr. Thos. Stead, grocer, Bradford, to Hannah, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Michael Billingsley, engineer of Bowling Iron Works.

OBITUARY. On the 12th July, in her 80th year, after a painful illness of four years, Mrs. Giles, wife of Mr. Giles, minister of the gospel, of Ashton-underLyne, and mother of Mr. J. E. Giles, pastor of the Baptist church at Leeds. Her end was peace.

Leeds:

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To whom all communications for the Editors are to be addressed, Post-paid.

No. 9.]

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"And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold it was very good," "and he rested on the seventh day." This was not then a rest like that in which we seek refreshment and strength after weariness, it resembled the rest of contemplating our finished work, when all is good and we need add nothing more. "Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary.'

992

Besides, God never ceases working. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work;" but He, the All-wise and the All-gracious, rested in the look of holy joy upon his own work, because it was the work of wisdom and of love. If He is happy in the contemplation of himself (as he has promised to make us, at some time, sharers in this happiness), must he not also be happy in the contemplation of each of the works of his own wisdom and love. On the day which he has made, He invites me also to communion in that blessed look of his upon all his creatures; He wishes me to rejoice with him, "who by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath established the heavens;" who hath "fearfully and wonderfully made us: whose works are marvellous."4 come, this is the day which the Lord hath made, "let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker."5 He invites even me on this day, to enter

1. Isaiah xl. 28. 2. John v. 17. 3. Prov. iii. 19. 4. Ps. cxxxix. 14. 5. Ps. xcv. 6.

into his rest, and to become companion of his joy. In Him, how gracious and condescending! Yea, Lord, I see the heavens the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars; mine ear perceives how "the morning stars sing together, and all the sons of God shout for joy." Thy world is fairfrom thy Throne which thou hast established in the heavens, to the earth here below, the footstool of thy feet. Wisdom has been thy architect, and Love thy counsellor. If on other days I pass thoughtlessly by the beauty of thy works, how can I on this day? the day on which thou invitest me to rejoice in them, in fellowship with thyself!

Yea, Lord, over thy six days' work well may man rejoice, rejoice as thou didst in it. O! that I could also rejoice in my own. Surely thou hast invited me to participation in thy joy, to awaken in me a salutary shame, and I own it with thankful heart. One week, and one six days' work, passes away after another, and when will the Sabbath-day come for me, when I shall be able to look back and say, "Behold, it was all good!" Indeed, had the Eternal only invited us to share in the rest of his creation's-work, must not such a Sabbath have been a mourning day? In the morning of the sixth day, having created us men, he could still say, "it was very good." How soon is it said of the beautiful earth, "and God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the

1. Job xxxviii. 7.

earth." We have spoiled for thee thy beautiful work; yes, we with our sins and offences, so that even thus early it must bear thorns and thistles, and "drink the blood of murdered man." 192

The Sabbath-rest of God is troubled, my own Sabbath-rest is troubled also, and on me lies the guilt.

But there exists another Rest of God; a new "Let there be," has run through the world, and it says, "Behold, I make all things new.' 993 Again, has the voice of God exclaimed, "It is finished."4 In the resurrection-day of the Lord we perceive a new, a spiritual Sabbath. "Peace be with you," he exclaims once and again, and we see the Risen One journey to Emmaus and the Sea of Tiberias, surrounded as it were with torches of joy. He, then, rested from the work of Redemption, as did his heavenly Father on the seventh day from the work of creation. Thus in the christian church, the Sabbath has passed away into Sunday,* and attained its true glory therein, just as did the work of Creation in that of Redemption. The christian host shout for joy on their Sundays, no longer merely over the beauty of heaven, and of earth, and of man in his pristine state, but over his beauty as he was new created in the fulness of times. O holy Sabbath-stillness, thou figurest not merely the solemn stillness in which the young world lay before the gaze of the first man, thou elevatest also my soul to that solemn peace, in which the Risen One, having finished all things, stood before his disciples. Now has my Jesus taken away the despondency with which on the day of rest, I look back on the work of the days of labour. When apart from him, my soul would draw near to the throne of God on the day of rest, the six week-days, like six avenging angels, stepped between and held back my prayer. Now on each Sunday I can sooth my heart, since the six weekdays condemn me not before God; each Sunday I can wash my countenance in the stream which flows from Calvary.

Hitherto, indeed, he, my Lord and my Saviour, has accomplished all that is need

1. Gen. vi. 12. 2. Gen. iv. 11. 3. Rev. xxi. 5. 4. John xix. 30.

*The day on which the "Sun of Righteousness arose upon us with healing beneath his wings."

ful to my salvation; I, however, have not yet appropriated it entirely, but his word has given me the prospect of a day which his Spirit will bring to pass, when I shall rest from my works, even as God from his. Much, very much lies behind me, of which, with a thousand tears, I must say, "it is not good," yet can I by faith again say, now all is good." What I now say by faith, at some time I shall say by sight. When the great Sabbath of the children of God shall dawn, and God receive them entirely into his holy rest, of which he has given them here so many foretastes, then shall all the thousands of years of the earth lie behind us like a troublesome week of labour.

BAPTIST WORTHIES.-No. 6.

ROGER WILLIAMS.

ROGER WILLIAMS! Honoured name! May it never be forgotten! He was the apostle of religious liberty, and one of the noblest men that any age or country has produced. Common report says he was born in Wales about the year 1599, and became a subject of divine grace in his tenth or twelfth year. Taking notes of a sermon at church, secured him an introduction to Sir E. Coke, under whose patronage he was sent to the University of Oxford, and commenced the study of Law, which he afterwards relinquished for Theology and Orders in the Established Church.

Williams entered public life at one of the most memorable periods in the history of this nation, but nature and grace had fitted him for the part he was to act on the theatre of stupendous events, where his name has ever since been gathering renown from a grateful posterity. Monarchs and Parliaments had long trampled upon the rights and liberties of our forefathers, under the sanction of bad laws, and by means of Courts worthy of the Inquisition in Spain. The battle of civil and religious freedom had begun,-Charles I. was upon the throne, and Laud behind it. The eagle-eyed archbishop soon discovered the metal of our Worthy, who was turned out of his living without ceremony; after which, feeling that this country was no longer his home, he followed the Pilgrim Fathers to New England. Behold this

heroic man in the year 1630, in the depth of winter, accompanied with his wife, sailing for the distant shores of America! Soon after his arrival the Church at Salem invited him to the pastoral office, but when this was known at Boston, the Governor and Council forbad it, on the ground that Williams held objectionable opinions,— among which he had denied the right of magistrates to punish men for neglecting divine worship! Indignant at such conduct, the Church at Salem confirmed his election; but the opposition continued so violent, that before the summer ended he was driven away from his flock, and found an asylum at Plymouth. "He was freely entertained among us," said Governor Bradford, "exercised his gifts among us, and, after some time, was admitted a member of the church, and his teaching was well approved." After a sojourn of three years at this place he returned to Salem, fondly hoping that his enemies would no longer "compass him about like bees," but in this he was painfully disappointed. Rage and jealousy swayed their minds: they were unable to appreciate his generous regards for the rights of the natives; both in preaching and in writing he had said, "Do justice to the Indians,-respect their rights, BUY THEIR LANDS, treat them as fellow-men, and deal with them on fair terms:" while many of the colonists were disposed to act upon the maxims, that might gives right, and that the white christian may trample on the red savage. Persecutors had no sympathy with these noble sentiments taught by Williams!

Summoned again before their tribunal, they banished him from the colony, and allowed him six weeks to prepare for his departure. This unjust sentence "threw the town into an uproar, for he was esteemed an honest, disinterested man, and of popular talents in the pulpit." Thinking banishment from the colony too mild a punishment, these petty despots now resolved to send him back to England by the first ship that sailed, lest the infection of his noble principles should spread among the colonists; but their plans were defeated by Governor Winthorp sending Williams information, and beseeching him for many "high, and heavenly, and public ends," to seek a refuge in Narraganset-Bay. In the depth of a severe winter this martyr of li

berty was driven from the pleasures and comforts of home, by Christian men who had fled from the tyranny of English bishops, to set up their own in the far distant wilderness. Tearing himself away from his wife, children, and friends, he went forth in search of a spot of ground, where the despotism of man could not trample on the divine inheritance of liberty. Follow this champion of human rights as he leaves behind him the dearest pledges of his love and friendship, plunging deep and far into the untrodden recesses of nature, yet directed by the same providence that went before Israel in a pillar of cloud by day, and by night in a pillar of fire, and rejoicing in the prospect of finding a place of refuge for the oppressed of all lands and of all times, who might gather beneath the shield of freedom, and live together in harmony. Pursuing his way for fourteen days and nights, through trackless deserts of snow, and in forests which seemed to have no end, his sufferings were beyond description, for, during that time, to use his own words, "he did not know what bread or bed did mean.' Led on by an energy that despotism could not quench, and by the wonder-working hand of God, he at length settled on a spot now called Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, a spot on which he impressed, in characters that will last as long as the creation, the great lessonthat "the civil power has no jurisdiction over the conscience."