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most unexceptionable kind, for loss by fire, because the clergyman and his churchwardens in establishment spite, refused to certify. There were no legal means of compelling them to do it. All Dissenters may secure themselves without trouble, by transferring their insurances to the Dissenter's and General Insurance Company, which requires no such degrading and hazardous certificate.

PROGRESS OF ANTI-STATE-CHURCH PRINCIPLES IN JAMAICA.-An immense meeting, in favour of the voluntary principle, has been held in Jamaica, at which, besides Mr. Knibb and the Baptist ministers, and some Independent ministers, numbers of the planters themselves were present; and, though the opposite party were promised a patient hearing, no one manifested the slightest opposition.

We find that not less than five voluntaries have been returned as members of assembly, one of them the chairman of the voluntary convention!! May England do in like proportion at the next election!

HORTON COLLEGE.-The Editor of "The Antimonopolist” (a stamped threepenny monthly newspaper, published at Newcastle) recently offered a prize of £5 to the Students of Horton-College, for the best Essay on the question:-"Is there any scriptural warrant for the opinion, that only ordained ministers should preide at the Lord's supper." Several weres sent in; Mr. Stuart from Glasgow, was the successful competitor. The essay will soon appear in the above mentioned publication.

THE INCUMBENT OF ILLINGWORTH, NEAR HALIFAX.-Many of our readers will remember the conduct of Dr. Hook, on the subject of the authorship of Sir James Graham's Education Bill, as it appeared in the columns of the newspapers. The Rev. W. Gillmor of Illingworth, has far surpassed him; he denied that "bishop, priest, or deacon, was consulted respecting it," in a small, vile, puseyite tract, entitled, "The Spirit of Dissent." A very able answer to it (well worth our readers purchasing), quotes from Mr. Saunders the factory inspector's report, the statement that he (Mr. Saunders) had consulted personally this very Mr. Gillmor!!! Dr. Hook, Archdeacon Musgrave, LL.D. &c. &c. See "The Defence, a Letter to the

Rev. Wm. Gillmor, M.A. &c. in reply to his letter, entitled, "The Spirit of Dissent." BAPTISMS.-Rotherham.-The showers of divine blessing are yet falling upon us in this part of the Saviour's vineyard, and the ministry of the word is owned to the conversion of sinners around us. On the first Sabbath in November, we baptized six on a profession of faith in Jesus, one of whom is an Independent, and still continues in communion with that body. Two were baptized in October, and three stand proposed for December. The first Monday being Statute day, a Tea-meeting was held in the chapel to devise means for the liquidation of the debt, amounting to nearly £600. £78 was subscribed by the people, who intend to augment the sum to £100; and it is hoped that a personal appeal, to be made to churches of ampler means, will not be met without due sympathy and assistance.

Sion Chapel, Bradford.-Seven persons were baptized Nov. 3rd, all of whom were subsequently added to the church.

Bingley. Seven persons were baptized Nov. 3rd, on a profession of faith in Jesus.

Salendine-Nook.-On Thursday, Nov. 7, eleven persons received the ordinance of baptism, and were added to the church here.

OBITUARY.- - Died at Upper-House, Bowling, near Bradford, on the 9th of November, 1844, Mrs. Firth, wife of J. Firth, Esq. Mrs. Firth was baptized in the month of April, 1827, by Dr. Godwin, now of Oxford, and united with the Church, meeting at Sion Chapel. As long as health and strength continued, she was a regular attendant in the house of God, "not a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home." During the whole period of her affliction, the hopes and consolations of the gospel sustained her mind, and enabled her to view death as going home to her Father's house. Her piety was eminent, her end was peace, her death was gain. On Lord's-day morning, November 17, Mr. Pottinger improved her death in a sermon from cxvi. Psalm, 15 verse."Precious in the sight of the Lord is the Ideath of the saints."

Leeds:

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

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

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THE CHURCH.

"Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."-Eph. ii. 20.

JANUARY, 1845.

EDITORIAL SALUTATION FOR THE NEW YEAR.

In entering upon a new stage of our periodical existence, we devoutly and heartily wish to all our readers, "a happy New Year." Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon them. Most sincerely do we congratulate them, as, doubtless, they do us, that, through the difficulties and perils attendant on all new undertakings, especially for the maintenance of principles that are persecuted or despised, "The Church" has not only lived, but steadily advanced in usefulness and strength, until it has reached a circulation of more than twelve hundred; which, if we may judge from the pleasing results of the last three months, is likely still to increase. This circulation, though not sufficient to save the publisher from loss, has been deemed, by persons well acquainted with the religious periodical press, surprisingly great; especially when they have been informed, that scarcely any artificial means of promoting it (such as advertising, &c.) have been employed. And as nothing more promotes the growth of opinion than a strong periodical press, it is with no little satisfaction we call the attention of our readers to the proof which our circulation affords, that "The Church," through their kind and zealous support, has already opened a channel, far from despicable, for spreading the sentiments they love. Encouraged "by the good hand of our God upon us through the past year, it will be seen that we have ventured, at the urgent request of many of our supporters, to hoist a broader and bolder sail to the wind; and should "The Church," in its VOL. II. ENLARGED SERIES.

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enlarged and improved form, receive from the ministers and members of our congregations that hearty countenance which, as the only periodical representative of their opinions in these parts, it may justly claim, it cannot fail, through the divine blessing, to give unity and strength to their move

ments.

Hitherto, from want of room either to amplify or adorn, it has been impossible that any thing more than a brief and simple statement, enforcement, or illustration of truth should be attempted. But our enlarged space will remove a restraint which, by all our writers, has been painfully felt; while it will afford the opportunity of introducing a greater variety of topics, and of presenting a much larger amount of denominational and other intelligence.

What may be the fortunes of "The Church," or the lot of those connected with it, during the year upon which we have just entered, the Great Disposer of our lives alone can tell. We cannot, however, but remember that during the past year many of our readers have been summoned into a world, from which there is no return; and if, through mercy, none of the conductors have fallen, one of them was brought, for a time, very near the grave. With the solemn sense of our responsibility, and the uncertainty of our time for labour, which such recollections ought to inspire, we desire to gird ourselves once more for our work.

Among the public events of the past year, many, as having a most powerful bearing on the principles which we are

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pledged to maintain, might be noticed. But there are two which appear to us to throw a stronger light over our future prospects than any others, and, therefore, to demand our special regard. One of these is the formation of a General Association, the first we believe on such a scale ever known, for the honest, avowed, and sole purpose of using all lawful and scriptural means of destroying the Union of Church and State, or, in scriptural phrase, "the fornication of the Mother of Harlots with the kings of the earth." The other is the inexplicable hostility which large masses of nominal Dissenters are beginning to manifest, not against the common enemy, but their own brethren. And both these events are full of the most valuable instruction.

It is impossible to look at the ranks of the Anti-State-Church Association, without seeing that, while they abound in genius and piety, they have little, comparatively speaking, to boast of in the way of worldly wealth and power. As it is said of a regiment of Belgian "gentlemen," that because they were "gentlemen," they thought proper, when the battle of Waterloo began in good earnest, to skulk from the field, so may it be recorded of our fine "gentlemanly Dissenters" in the present day. When Nonconformity is a mere matter of shew and holiday parade, none are braver Dissenters than they; but when it exposes them to sacrifice and conflict, they leave it to shift for itself. More solemnly than ever let us act, then, on the conviction, that it is not by wealth, nor by might, nor by power, that our object is to be secured, but by truth, by holiness, and by prayer. Instead of attempting to coax and wheedle the rich and mighty, as if, in a spiritual warfare, their help could be of the slightest importance, let us wield more vigorously than ever "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;" and, "holding no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but putting on the armour of light," let us mingle, with every struggle and effort of the New Year, that prayer, which has "power with God."

From the well-known infirmity of human nature, it was to be expected, that many would be led, through caution, timidity, or self-interest, to shrink from the bolder movements and more perilous posts of christian duty; contented with waiting for favourable opportunities, or with cheering onward their more courageous and self-denying brethren. But that, among Dissenters, any party should be found so faithless to their principles as to take up a hostile position, and, under the appearance of neutrality, lie in wait for an opportunity of attacking their brethren covertly and in the rear,-nothing, in the past his

tory of the Nonconformists, could have led us to expect. Such, however, is the fact. After months of mystery and manœuvre, it now appears, that those whom we mistook for mere neutrals or idlers in our camp, have been secretly engaged in forming plans to thwart and oppose. Under various pretexts, it seems to have been agreed, that the principles for which our forefathers bled shall be abandoned;-that our noblest periodicals shall be under-sold and crushed;-that our most eloquent speakers shall be defamed as "dirt-throwing Dissenters," and held up to public contempt;-that our cause shall be denounced as that of a set of vulgar, ignorant men, seeking they know not what; and that the kingdom of antichrist, already shaking from external assaults and internal dissentions, shall be confirmed, comforted, and strengthened, by the smiles and blandishments of the genteelest of the genteel, and the most aristocratical of the aristocracy of Dissent. Sad, indeed, are the feelings which, in every honest mind, such departures from consistency and public duty must awaken! Truly melancholy to see the great interests of religion and religious liberty thus betrayed by men who, by their very name and profession, are bound to maintain them; and yet more melancholy, when we consider some of the little narrow-minded motives out of which this apostacy has avowedly sprung! Such, for instance, as that some of the leaders of the Anti-State-Church movement, belong to parties that are not the largest of christian denominations!

But what are we to conclude from all this? that, because others betray the holy cause, we should become treacherous and "genteel" too? in fear or unbelief throw away our weapons, and surrender at discretion to the enemy? No! It is simply that, "ceasing from man," we should fix our confidence more exclusively on Him "in whose name we have set up our banner." The Great Captain of Salvation has ever been accustomed to see the instruments well tempered, which he intends to wield for his glory; and in this fiery trial of our faith and patience, however hot the flame, we behold only the means which he is using for that purpose. Embarked in a cause, which nothing can destroy or impede, let us "hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end," resolved to let nothing stop or turn us from our course. Then, whatever winds may blow, that Being whose footsteps are in the sea, will ever be near to help us; and the storms we encounter, fiercely as they may sometimes dash over us the spray of that hostile element through which we are moving, will only swell our sails, and speed our way.

.G.

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