Knibb, is not to be annihilated by allusions to passages in which the disputed word does not occur; nor by declaring that to bury means to wash, or that a man may be dipped and yet not immersed!

BAPTIST MISSIONARY SHIP "THE DOVE."-On Thursday, the 14th Dec. at Liverpool, some very interesting services took place in connection with the starting of this ship from Liverpool. The ship was most gaily decorated with colours of all descriptions. "The Dove" is described as a most beautiful craft, and the admira-, tion of all the naval men in Liverpool. No vessel, it is said, ever went out of the port with such a magnificent collection of flags, all given by the ladies of Liverpool; one of them is a splendid purple silk banner, with a dove on it, bearing an olive branch, and the others include all the naval signals ever required at sea. In the evening a public tea party was held, when one of the largest rooms in the town was filled to overflowing. After tea, the meeting was addressed by Mr. Lister, the oldest minister in Liverpool, Mr. P. J. Saffrey, Mr. Birrell, and the Captain, the Second Mate, and the engineer (Mr. Thompson), of the ship. Mr. Lister alluded, in a very touching manner, to the fact of Liverpool having sent out the first slave ship to Western Africa, and was now sending out the first Mission ship to her shores. During the proceedings, it was announced that news had just been received of the safe arrival of Dr. Prince, and the band who sailed with him, and also of the Deed of Conveyance by which Clarence, the landed property in Fernando Po, purchased by the Baptists, has become theirs. On the whole, the proceedings were of the most cheering and delightful character, and we regret to be obliged to defer the insertion of a fuller account of them.

OPENING OF A NEW PLACE OF WORSHIP. On Wednesday, Jan. 10th, 1843, the new and elegant Chapel belonging to the Baptist Church, Liverpool, under the pastoral care of Mr. Lister, will be opened (D.V.) for divine worship. The morning preacher is unknown to us; but Mr. Giles of Leeds, is expected to preach in the evening.

MORE TAXES FOR "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS."-It is stated by the Press, and confidently believed by the supporters of Sir Robert Peel, that the Government have resolved on proposing to Parliament, the endowment of the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. Infamous as such an attempt must be considered by every sincere follower of the Lamb, we have no apprehension for the results; believing that it will be the prelude to the downfall of all compulsory systems of Religion.

PROPOSED ANTI-STATE - CHURCH CONVENTION.-At a meeting of the Civil Questions' Committee of the West-Riding Association of Baptist Churches, it was resolved unanimously:-"That the time is come when it is the duty of all Christians to demand the separation of Church and State in this country; and the resumption, for civil purposes, of all the revenues conferred by the State upon any sect, whether within or without the Establishment; and that, for this object, a Convention of Ministers and Delegates, as suggested by the Nonconformist Newspaper, should be summoned as soon as possible. "J. E. Giles.

Henry Dowson. Thomas Pottenger. James Richardson. Francis Clowes.

"Leeds, Dec. 4th, 1843."

RUSSIAN DESPOTISM. The Emperor of Russia has, it seems, issued an ukase banishing the Jews from all those parts of his dominions which border on Austria and Prussia. The reasons assigned for this cruel decree, which expels nearly three hundred thousand individuals from house and home, without so much as even assigning them a dwelling wherein they may take refuge, are, forsooth, that the Jews have induced Russian soldiers to desert, and have been guilty of smuggling, and general injustice!

On Lord's-day, Dec. 2nd, there were nine persons solemnly baptized at Westgate Chapel, Bradford;-nine at Sion Chapel, Bradford;-and three at South-Parade Chapel, Leeds.

Within the last two or three months, twenty-eight persons have, in this solemn manner, "put on Christ" at Rotherham; and we understand that several others stand as candidates for the ordinance.

We have no doubt that there were many other Baptisms in the West-Riding, within the last month, though information on the subject has not reached us.

The Editors of "The Church," beg to inform their readers, that it will afford them pleasure to announce Public Services and General Committee Meetings, provided information be sent them prior to the 15th day of the month.

They will also be thankful for information respecting Baptisms, and Marriages and Deaths, among believers.

Leeds:

PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY J. HEATON, No. 7, Briggate;

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

No. 2.]

There is nothing in which men have more presumptuously trifled with lawful authority, than in religion. Thoughtless mortals who, in their own houses, are most jealous of interference with their power, and most careful in the houses of their fellow-worms, to render all deference that is due, venture to take, or sanction others in taking, the most unwarrantable liberties in "the House of God;" as if, in the Church, which, as involving the highest exercise of his government, is emphatically called his kingdom, he had thrown away his sceptre, or surrendered his authority to creatures of the dust. It behoves us, however, most solemnly to remember, that God, by immutable decree, has set a King of his own choice, "upon his holy hill of Zion," and determined that He alone shall be the Sovereign and Head of the Church who "purchased it with his own blood." For unto the Son he saith, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever."

The government of the church of God, being altogether mediatorial, and designed to promote the salvation of those whom his justice had condemned, could never have been administered but by one who, besides divine appointment and the requisite personal qualifications, was able to reconcile the maintenance of justice with the reign of grace, and thus establish a mediatorial right to the mediatorial throne. Now, this mighty undertaking, which, without blasphemy, we could not suppose either men or angels able to effect, God

[PRICE 1D.

himself assures us has been accomplished by the divinely-constituted Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name, that, at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

cross.

In virtue of the office thus acquired, he is Lord above as well as here below; "for all power," says he, "is given unto me in heaven and in earth:" he is Lord of the living and the dead. "I keep," says he, "the keys of death and of hell," or the invisible state; he is the Lord of angels and devils, as well as men, for to Him every knee, whether of things in heaven, things on the earth, or things under the earth, is commanded to bow; in a word, he is the Lord of all worlds, for "he is Head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of Him that filleth

all in all."

Nor is his authority less extensive than his power. All the treasures of divine grace, not excepting the gift of the Holy Spirit, are at his disposal; for it hath pleased God that in Him should all fulness

dwell. The laws, offices, and ordinances of the Church, He alone has a right to institute, "teaching them," says he to his apostles, "to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you;" and to Him the homage of the Church must be exclusively paid, "Hearken, O daughter, forget thy own people and thy father's house, for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him."

Moreover, as to Christ alone the prerogatives of this exalted office belong, so in him alone the personal qualifications for sustaining it are to be found. The office, it is true, has been conferred upon him by the eternal Father; but it is only upon a divine person such an office could have been conferred. That mighty trust, which extends to all worlds and to all orders of existence, none but a being of infinite wisdom and power could hold. Beneath the weight of such an office, a finite creature, however exalted, would be crushed. It is not, therefore, upon the shoulder of any mere man or angel, that the government has, by the eternal Father, been laid; but upon that of his equal and only-begotten Son, who is revealed to us in his word, as "God over all, blessed for evermore.'

99

To Him then, dear christian readers, let the homage of our hearts be exclusively given. As churches, and as individuals, let us believe his word, observe his ordinances, and obey his laws-and his alone. Every attempt of human authority to meddle with the doctrines, institutions, or support of religion, is an act of high treason against the King of Kings, which his subjects are bound, by all lawful means, and at all personal risk, firmly and solemnly to resist. Ceremonies not enjoined by him, are insulting mockeries; articles and creeds that have no sanction in his word, are "the doctrines of devils," and intended to undermine his power; while the tithes, churchrates, and "easter-dues," which some have deemed essential to the maintenance of Christianity, are but exactions of "the man of sin," the "black mail" of a robber and usurper of his throne. And to contribute, by a fraction of money or the smallest particle of respect, to the support

of such a system, is to be an accomplice in the treason, and to "render unto Cæsar the things that are God's."

At the same time that we resist the attempts of others to invade his authority, let us see that we reverence it ourselves. Let us give more earnest heed to his word; render more willing obedience to his laws; confide more implicitly in him, as "mighty to save;" and make it the great end of our existence, that Christ may be magnified in our bodies, whether it be by life or by death; remembering, that "for this end, he both died, rose, and revived, that he might be Lord of the living and the dead."

"With Him, I leave the dead,

With Him, my life returns;
My soul with glory crown that Head,
Which sinners crowned with thorns."

G.

THE POWERS INTRUSTED TO THE CHURCH.

Having shewn, in our last Number, who are members of the Church, we shall now inquire what powers Christ has intrusted to them.

Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Methodists, allow the members of their christian assemblies very little power. We do not wish to censure what they consider expedient, but we do wish our members to have a reasonable ground of attachment to their order, as well as to their faith. We affirm, then, that all power was, in the New Testament churches, lodged in the people, and that church officers merely acted for the church. The church in the New Testament never means its officers, but the assembly of believers. We learn this, 1st. From the apostles renunciation of all authority over the churches. If any had a right to command, surely they. Modern bishops, claiming to be the successors of the apostles, claim absolute power; but Paul (2 Cor. i. 24.) says, "Not for that we have dominion over your faith;" and Peter (1 Epistle v. 1-3.) first styles himself "an elder," then exhorts the elders not to "be lords over God's heritage." 2ndly. All the epistles are addressed to the assemblies generally,

"to the saints," to "the faithful brethren, &c." while the "bishops and deacons," i. e. literally "overseers and servants," are placed last, not first.* 3rdly. It is very remarkable, that the important letter of advice (Acts xv. 23.) is written in the name of the "apostles," "elders," and "brethren." 4thly. Paul and John intrust to the churches the most weighty ecclesiastical duties. As,-The trying of their teacher's soundness in the faith. (1 John iv. 1.-Rev. ii. 2.) The exclusion of members. (1 Cor. v. 1-5.) Their forgiveness and readmission. (2 Cor. ii. 6, 7, 8.) Want of space forbids comment; but when we find the members of the "assemblies of God" thus addressed, such solemn duties intrusted to them,-such disclaim. ing of authority on the part of the apostles,-how forcibly does it illustrate the great principle taught by our Lord (Matt. xxiii. 8-11. and Paul 1 Cor. iii. 21-23.) that all christians are equal. That officers are for the people, and not the people for them. On another occasion we shall point out how essential it is, that a christian assembly should support the bishop and deacons whom they have chosen, in exercising the powers which they intrust to them: we now conclude with two remarks:

1. Since Jesus Christ has intrusted to the members of his churches the decision of the highest matters, each member should recollect the great responsibility resting upon him. He is intrusted with a vote respecting no mere political question, no merely temporal interest, he votes on the most solemn affairs of Christ's holy and glorious kingdom. How humbly, prayerfully, and seriously, with what dependence on the teaching of Christ, should he meet with his brethren to deliberate in Christ's assembly, to fulfil Christ's purposes.

2. Though the Lord gives all his members, young and old, male and female, equal constitutional rights, he expects them to use these rights with discretion. He

* Some will refer to the "angel," in the epistles to the churches in Revelations. The writer understands these literally of angels, according to the prophetic view in Dan. x. 13-20. Acts xii. 15. Matthew xviii. 10.

does not subvert natural order; he does not allow women "to speak in the assemblies, or to usurp authority over the men;" "the child to disobey its parent," or "the younger to control the elder." (1 Pet. v. 5.) Since assemblies of God, especially where any extensive revival has taken place, must include a large proportion of young and newly received, and also a few naturally weakminded members, all such ought, without surrendering their right, to use it very modestly. "God is not the author of confusion," and what confusion can be greater than to see a young or ill-informed member dogmatically opposing his elders or superiors, much more those whom the whole church has placed in office? Those who may be disposed to misuse these cautions as arguments against the order of Baptist churches, should remember that the apostles had the same cautions to give, and therefore, doubtless, wrote to churches which needed them, because the same constitution was liable to the same dangers.

C.

FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

While we sincerely rejoice in all the good connected with this secession, there are several points which Dissenters should not suffer Free-church-men to forget:

1. While they assert, so strongly, the right of the people to choose their own minister, they mean not, any one whom the people thinks fit, but one who has been first licensed by their higher authorities.

2. Their communion is nearly or quite as corrupt as that of the Established Churches.

3. They retain, in spite of remonstrance, an article asserting the right of the magistrate to fine and imprison heretics, and even put them to death.

4. Another article asserting the magistrate's right to "take order" for the worship of God.

5. Their own right to be established, that is, to support themselves by money forcibly extorted from Dissenters, by the secular power.

6. They will not express any sorrow

for having fined and imprisoned Dissenters, and having excluded them from University and Parish offices, but claim power still to do it.

7. They assert loudly that they are the Church of Scotland! tacitly denying (with Dr. Chalmers) that former Dissenting Churches are churches at all.

If we give kindly therefore to their need, we "should not suffer sin upon our neighbour, we should in anywise rebuke him." (Lev. xix. 17.) C.

BAPTIST WORTHIES.-No. 2.

Among the ministers of our denomination who rose to eminence, both for piety and learning, during the dismal times of Charles I. and under the Commonwealth, the name of Francis Cornwall, A.M. is worthy of respect and grateful remembrance. He was educated at Cambridge, ordained to the ministry in the Established Church, and afterwards settled at Marsden, in the county of Kent. While minister of this place, Laud sent him to Maidstone Gaol, for refusing conformity to the Popish customs of wearing a surplice, using the cross in Baptism, kneeling at the Lord's Supper, and bowing at the name of Jesus. During his imprisonment he was visited by a good woman, whose mind had been disturbed about the scripturalness of Infant Baptism; but the effort made by Mr. Cornwall to remove her scruples, not only failed of success, but convinced him that the practice was not justified by any command or example in the New Testament, and was the means of making him a Baptist. Guided by the great Protestant principle, that the Word of God is the sole rule of faith and conduct among the disciples of Jesus, in opposition to those who pleaded for the authority of tradition and custom, he was led to the conclusion, that Infant Baptism derived no support from the Holy Scriptures, that it rested upon the decrees of councils and synods,-that it was at variance with the voluntary nature of Christianity, and that repentance and faith were required of all who wished to be buried with Christ in baptism. Consistently with this change of sentiment, he was immersed

on a profession of his faith in the Son of God.

Having found the good old way of baptism, he zealously made it known both from the pulpit and from the press. After obtaining his freedom, he published a book entitled, "The Royal Commission of King Jesus," which contains the following appeal to the Assembly of Divines then sit, ting at Westminster: "Oh that the learned English ministry would inform me how shall I admit the infant of a believer to be made a visible member of a particular church, and be baptized before it is able to make confession of its faith and repentance?" Whether the Divines answered his question, the writer has no means of finding out, though, as they were wise in their generation, it is most probable they held their peace. Cornwall dedicated his book to the Parliament, and had many copies of it given away to the members as they left the House of Commons, which greatly offended the Pædo-baptists. Before its publication, and ere his new opinions on Baptism were generally known, he was chosen to preach a visitation sermon at Cranbrook, when he took the opportu nity of explaining the nature and design of this ordinance, in a discourse founded upon the words, "in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." In the presence of the assembled clergy, he boldly declared Infant Baptism "an antichristian innovation, a human tradition, and a custom for which there was neither precept, example, nor deduction, in the Word of God." Some of them were startled by these bold assertions, others were amazed,-many were offended, and at the close of the service, they gathered around the preacher for the purpose of disputation. There was present on that occasion one Mr. Blackwood, who put an end to the discussion by entering into an engagement to answer the arguments which Mr. Cornwall had brought forward in his sermon in favour of Believer's Immersion. In the full assurance of victory, he plunged into the controversy, read the Fathers, searched the Sacred Books, and endeavoured to prop up the venerable, but tottering system of Infant