BAPTIST HOME MISSIONS.

CHURCH EXTENSION.

To the Editors of "The Church."

Dear Brethren,

I am thankful to have to report to your readers, that the contributions to the Itinerant Society are continuing to increase. Ministers have doubled their subscriptions. Several others have adopted this plan who have not given larger sums, and some have given this year to the Society who never gave before. Another year will, I trust, secure a greater number of friends. But the present increase to the funds will enable the Committee to commence some new Station, where the providence of God may set open the field.

This is encouraging, as far as it goes; but the West-Riding, at the present moment, demands not one new station, but fifty. Look at its population-not equalled throughout the country, except in Lancashire and London. Think of its many villages, made, or enlarged, by the erection of mills; and of its large parishes, and important towns. Besides the many small places that require attention, there are in the West-Riding more than thirty, the least of which has above five thousand inhabitants, all of them having an average of twelve thousand, with a total population of nearly four hundred thousand souls, for whose best interests the Baptists are doing nothing. And what is one new Station amidst such a community?

In the manufacturing districts the gospel may yet be preached. It is not so in many other parts of the country. There are scores of places where the people are without the gospel, and to whom it cannot be sent. The persecuting spirit of the Church party is keeping it out, and is excluding it from some places where it has been taken. The periodical reports of the Independent Home Mission, as well as others, shew that there is a rapidly increasing number of such places. Christians are called upon now to exert themselves, because ground must be occupied soon, or all hope of occupying it will be lost. And the places now possessed must not be deemed secure. With the enemies of liberty and truth, the firm occupation of one post will only be the signal for attack against another. We must seek after conquest, or be prepared for ejectment.

We have no cause for despair. Should the Church of Christ in our country be more severely persecuted than ever, it would only compel the emigration of the best instead of the worst, and thus, again, the sufferings of one nation would contribute to the welfare of many. But we serve God, who is able to revive his cause in Britain, to renew the triumphs of the

first churches in Britain,-to bring the counsels of his foes to confusion,-and lead his people forth from conquest to conquest, until our towns and villages shall unite in one acclamation of praise for themselves, and in one cry of intercession for all the other nations of the world.

To obtain this, however, there must be fervent, not languid piety,-self-denying, not easy consecration,-bounteous, not hesitating and timid liberality, and the prayerfulness that cries mightily unto God.

That we may have these christian graces greatly multiplied among us and brightened, is the fervent prayer of,

Yours very affectionately,

JOSEPH BURTON.

"The parties assembled, declare;

That

1. That they will act only in a manner consistent with the word of God. accordingly, they deem it incumbent upon them to obey the magistrate, in all that is not contrary to the word of God, and to abstain from the use of all means, for the attainment of the end they propose to themselves, that are not in accordance with that word; but that in order to render unto God that which is God's, they consider it to be their duty to use every endeavour to promote the kingdom of CHRIST; or, in other words, the triumph of the truth in matters of faith, and purity of worship, and of life: and that it is for that purpose they are assembled.

2. "That they believe that God has forbidden equally to the Church and to the State, all pretensions to interfere, as such, in the respective provinces of each other.

3. "That one of the characteristic doctrines of the gospel is, in their opinion, that religious acts are agree

able to God, only when they are voluntary and spontaneous.

4. "They believe that it is both the duty and precious privilege of christian churches, to govern themselves, according to the word of God alone, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the Supreme authority of Jesus Christ, the only Head of the Church."

The meeting adjourned till the 5th of March. The procès verbal will be

published.

Thus is the great Anti-State-Church principle publicly avowed by men of learning, piety, and influence, in that country to which Protestantism owes so much; christians of various denominations having united in these resolutions. The greater part of those present belonging to the Canton de Vaud, do not disavow the Presbyterian Church, of which they are members, but simply repudiate its connection with the State. Their moderation is

a guarantee for their perseverance, and, we trust, an earnest of their success.

STATISTICS OF THE AMERICAN
BAPTISTS.

The "Almanac and Baptist Register for the year of our Lord 1845," contains, in addition to the ordinary contents of an almanac, the statistics of the Baptist denomination in the United States, and interesting particulars respecting the Institutions supported by the Baptists.

There are in the United States 7,323 churches, with 4,508 ministers, and 916 licentiates. These churches contain 638,279 members, and 86,254 were baptized in one year.

The Anti-Mission Baptists are a considerable body, numbering 1,907 churches, and 69,663 members. They have 865 ministers and 88 licentiates. These Baptists "oppose all organized plans of benevolence in the form of societies, as not being specially mentioned in the scriptures," and refuse fellowship with their brethren who think it right to seek the extension of the cause of God by these means. It is gratifying to learn, that their number is lessening yearly.

The Six Principle Baptists have 17 churches, 22 elders, and 3,055 members.

The Seventh-Day Baptists report 59 churches, 46 ministers, 23 licentiates, and 6,077 members.

The Free-Will Baptists have 1,165 churches, 771 ministers, 150 licentiates, and 61,372 members.

Besides these, there are certain Baptists styling themselves, the Church of God. They reckon 125 churches, 83 ministers, and 10,000 members. There are also the Reformers or Campbellite Baptists, who are estimated at 2,000 churches, 1,500

ministers, and 175,000 members:- and the Christian Connexion, or Unitarian Baptists, comprising 650 churches, 782 preachers, and 35,600 members.

Leaving out the three last-mentioned classes, the grand total is as follows:Churches, 10,471-ministers, 6,212-licentiates, 1,177-members, 778,446.

Our readers will particularly observe the great want of pastors in the States. It would require an increase of more than 4,000 ministers in order to supply the deficiency. It is true that there are 1,177 licentiates, but they cannot meet the demand for instruction, and their labours are probably required, for the most part, in out-stations and itinerances. Montreal Register.

MISCELLANEOUS.

EXTRACT OF A REVIEW OF DR. Cox ON THE BAPTIST MISSION, FROM THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS, FOR DEC. "With respect to literature, our esteemed Baptist brethren have a good deal yet to learn. Although they have been honoured to produce three of the greatest writers the world has seen, yet, as a body, they do not seem to be strongly pervaded by the literary spirit. The ordinance of baptism is apparently the alpha and the omega of the majority of them. On this subject their authors write with a zeal, and their people read with an avidity, truly marvellous; but the higher opera. tions of authorship appear to have no charm for the former, and to find but little favour with the latter. Before us are two volumes on the greatest subject that can occupy the mind of mortals, the production of their greatest living ornament, and cheap far beyond ordinary cheapness, and yet the first edition is not sold, even now, in the third year of its appearance, notwithstanding the profits of the first thousand copies were to be given to the Baptist Missionary Society! When Dr. Cox wrote on baptism, was such his treatment ?"

[The above extract, we assure our readers, is accurately copied from Dr. Campbell's Magazine. Is this, then, the holy testimony, which the Christian (?) Witness it employed, in the name of the Congregational Union, to bear? Is this a specimen of the literature and literary taste, in which Baptists are deficient? If it be, may they remain in ignorance for ever!-EDTS.]

BIBLE MONOPOLY.-Among the many expedients resorted to by the agents of the Bible Society, to depreciate the endeavours of the anti-monopolist Christians, it has been said that Dr. Thomson, of Cold

stream, grinds the faces of his workmen, and is thus enabled to sell his Bibles at the low prices for which they may be obtained. At a dinner lately given to that gentleman, this, with the other charges, was fairly met; and Mr. Ker, the manager of the printing establishment, stated, that there was not a man in his offices, who did not receive Three Shillings a week more than any other journeyman printer in any town on the border. Surely, such unworthy and dishonest expedients will serve no cause permanently, and must fall back with redoubled violence upon those who can condescend to resort to them.

BAPTISTS IN DENMARK.-The Baptist Church at Copenhagen, has, at last, the prospect of enjoying the benefit of their beloved pastor's presence and labours. Within a week or two, it is expected he will be set at liberty. After six months' imprisonment, under severe restrictions, Mr. Mönster is brought to trial. His case is submitted to two courts, and both tribunals decree that he shall pay a fine of two hundred rix bank dollars, with costs, (about thirty pounds). The persecuted brethren in Copenhagen, never, for several reasons, pay the fines levied on them;

and Mr. Mönster is to atone for the non-payment of the exaction, by twentyfive days' imprisonment on bread and water. By the liberality of christian friends in England, the best advice was secured on behalf of Mr. Mönster, which, under the good providence of God, has, no doubt, contributed to the comparative leniency of the sentence. "The tender mercies of the wicked," however, are always "cruel."

ECCLESIASTICAL PERSECUTIONS. A circumstance has just occurred at Bradford, Wilts, which has excited a great deal of interest, and given us a still clearer insight into the selfish and persecuting spirit of the Church. Mr. J. H. Bradney, who has officiated gratuitously for the last three years at the new church, has just terminated his labours, to the great regret of his parishioners by whom he is much beloved. The Rev. Mr. Erle, who is appointed curate, a very young man, has succeeded him, and in his first sermon after full ordination, carried out his now fully developed christian sentiments, by dealing out damnation to all Dissenters. On the afternoon of the same day, Mr. J. H. Bradney took occasion to deprecate the tone and temper adopted by the curate in the morning, stating that he looked on all men as brethren, and on Dissenters, if good men, in quite as favourable a light as Churchmen. We hear that the bishop sent for both sermons, and to the surprise of all well-thinking men, timated through the vicar, to Mr. Bradney, that if he did not change his opinions as to Dissenters, he must leave the church.

in

The former of these he conscientiously refused to do. His farewell sermon was preached last Sunday, before a crowded audience, who were much affected at the thought of losing their loved and respected pastor. The address made a deep impression, and will long be remembered by all who heard it.

THE CHURCHES OF AMERICA "FREE INDEED." No potentate claims to be their head; they are at liberty to adopt what alterations in their constitution they please; they do not bow to Congress to sanction a prayer-book or to ratify a confession. No man has power to intrude a pastor upon a parish some son or nephew that must be provided for. The Churches are not in fear of a Court of Queen's Bench if they exercise discipline; sale of advowsons is unheard of; squabbles about church-rates are unknown. The Church exercises all its functions with the utmost fearlessness and ease no sect tramples on another. The Episcopalian assumes no lordly dignity over the Baptist; no bishop rears his mitred front in the halls of Congress; the arrogancy and indolence of a hireling priesthood are not to be seen; nor yet is the nation horrified at the pompous and inhuman dicta of clerical justices of the peace, in whose eyes poaching is the worst of crimes, and preservation of the gamelaws the first of duties; the days and nights of their legislators are not wasted by interminable controversies about firstfruits and tithes, Church-lands, and regium donum. No man pays for the support of another's religion, and the term "toleration" is not found on the statute book. The Church of Christ stands fast in the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free, neither cast in the mould of antique fashion, nor crushed beneath the patronage of civil power. "The Churches have rest, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, are multiplied."-Eclectic Review.

STATE CHURCHES.-It has been said that the object of a State Church is to make the State religious, and not to make the Church political. But to this it may be answered, that whatever may be the object, the result is, to make the Church political, without making the State religious. We have profane Peers, and political Prelates: (query, what proportion of each ?)

A RYGHTE ROYALE DEED. "On the Sabbath before he left his home, there to become the chief magistrate of his country, the late President Harrison met, as usual, his Bible class, in an humble Sunday School on the banks of the Ohio." When will so honourable a fact be narrated of any of our Legislators? Never, no never, while there exists that blight upon our country and our religion-an Act of Parliament Church!

THE OLDEST PREACHER LIVING.The New York Baptist Register gives a description of the preaching of Elder Harvey, on a Sabbath, recently in Rochester:-"We had the privilege of hearing in the Broad Street Baptist Chapel, last Lord's day afternoon, a Baptist minister, in the one hundred and tenth year of his age, deliver a discourse more than an hour in length; and embracing a surprising amount of excellent matter. A severe snow storm, with uncommonly bad walking, prevented many from getting out. The congregation was large notwithstanding. The passage from which he spoke was Rev. xix. 7,-'Let us be glad, and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.' He delivered himself not only with ease and fluency, but with a clear and vigorous utterance to the very last. He was heard

in all parts of the house, and he could have filled a larger house without inconvenience. We supposed when he commenced, that fifteen minutes would be the extent to which he would hold out, but he seemed rather to gain strength as he proceeded, and held the congregation in unflagging attention throughout the sermon."

THE SUFFERINGS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.-A published account states that there has been taken from the members of this society, for ecclesiastical purposes, no less than £1,078,075, in the one hundred and forty years from A.D. 1700, to A.D. 1843! In the forty-five years previous to 1700, "their sufferings cannot be stated at less than £180,000! On the whole, it is computed, on good authority, that the spoliation of the property of the members of the Society of Friends, has amounted, in one hundred and eightyfour years, to upwards of one million two hundred and fifty-eight thousand pounds sterling! The excessive injustice towards the Quakers, which this state of things so palpably exhibits, as well as the extreme wickedness of those proceedings which our 'glorious and holy mother church" is so constantly enacting towards every religious sect differing in any degree from her infallible self, will, we hope, be the means of inducing the whole of the Society of Friends to follow the example that has been set them by several of their more distinguished brethren, and to throw themselves into the present movement, in opposition to the union between Church and State.

66

THE PROTESTANT DECLARATION.A declaration of attachment to the Church of England, and of disavowal of Tractarianism, has been signed by two thousand, three hundred and twenty-eight clergymen of the Establishment. The whole number of clergymen in England and Wales is about fifteen thousand.

BAPTIST CHAPEL, FARSLEY.-This Chapel was re-opened for divine worship, on the 20th of November, 1844, when, in the morning, Mr. T. F. Burchell of Rochdale preached from Rev. v. 11, 12; and in the evening, Mr. J. E. Giles of Leeds, from 2 Cor. v. 13. On the following Lord's-day, Mr. C. H. Roe of Birmingham, and Mr. Henry Dowson of Bradford, preached. And on Tuesday evening, the 26th of November, Mr. G. B. Macdonald of Wakefield, preached. The Collections at the different services amounted to £275 14s. This Chapel was originally built in the year 1777, by a few Baptists who were members of the Church at Bradford, under the pastoral care of Mr. W. Crabtree, and was rebuilt and enlarged in the year 1836. In 1844, more School and Chapel accommodation being required, the Church resolved to build a School and Children's Gallery, and make some additional room by adding twentythree feet to the length of the Chapel. This has greatly improved the appearance of the building, which is now seventy-two feet by thirty-nine inside, and capable of accommodating about 800 hearers. The cost of the enlargement is about £750; the whole of which was defrayed at and before the opening services. So much for the voluntary principle, and the exercise of christian liberality.

KEIGHLEY. On a review of the proceedings of the Baptist Church and the Sunday School connected with this place, there is great reason for our friends to thank God and take courage, and to attempt, and to expect great success in the Redeemer's cause. The attendance upon the instructions of the Sunday School, and the regular ministrations of the Sanctuary, is increased; and a conviction prevails, that every disciple of Jesus should do what he can to advance his kingdom in the world. Seventeen have been baptized during the year, and sixteen have joined the church. Eleven of these, sixteen teachers and four scholars, were from the Sunday School. May our friends at Keighley have more and more of the Spirit of our Master, and the blessings of his grace.

.

HAWORTH.-A set of silver casters and a skeleton clock, are about to be presented to Mr. M. Saunders of Haworth, as a token of affection and esteem entertained towards him by his people, for his pastoral care, during the last twenty years.

BAPTISMS.-Dec. 1st. Three Sabbath School Teachers were baptized at Hunslet.

Leeds:

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

To whom all communications for the Editors must be addressed.

This admonition of the Apostle Paul, which will be found in his 1st Epistle to the Corinthians xii. and which is beautifully illustrated in that and the two following chapters, manifestly refers to those gifts of the Spirit which are designed for promoting the usefulness of the members of the church individually, and without which the kingdom of our Redeemer cannot be expected to advance in the earth. The gifts of the Bishops or Pastors of our churches are matters of deep interest, and ought to be the subject of continual persevering prayer amongst the people. But "there are diversities of gifts;" and, as the Bishops or Pastors cannot be expected to possess every diversity of gifts, it becomes us to look for spiritual gifts in the lay-members of the church. What a lifeless state must that church present, in which all the gifts of the Holy Spirit for usefulness, are embodied in the minister. How oppressive the labours, how cheerless the prospects of that Under Shepherd, who sees around him a body of professing christians, members of the church over which he presides, not manifesting the gifts of the Spirit; or, if at all manifesting them, putting them forth so feebly as to lead to the inquiry, Are not these professors, whose talents are buried in the earth? Yet such is the state of many, we had almost said of a large majority of our Baptist churches. How does this arise? Christians do not attend to the apostolic admonition, "covet earnestly the best gifts."

If our brethren and sisters could be aroused to self-examination, surely we should find that the people are to be censured. My dear reader, do you know any

VOL. II.-ENLARGED SERIES.

thing of this covetousness, this covetousness to receive the gifts of usefulness? Is it the subject of your prayers in the closet, in the family, and in the church? Covetousness for money is a strong passion, but the believer's covetousness for gifts of usefulness ought to be far stronger;-the one prepares the soul for destruction, the other for activity and energy in the cause of Christ. This is not all, multitudes of christians are so steeped in this world's business, that they have no leisure to employ the gifts of usefulness which are given to them. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are assuredly infinitely more valuable than the gifts of fortune, and yet how many refuse to exercise the gifts of the Spirit, and devote their utmost energies to the extension of this world's goods. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,' that is, to every regenerate man. How, then, is it that so little of this manifestation is seen in our churches? The gifts of the Spirit, when given to ourselves, are not exercised, and when given to our fellow-members, are not encouraged. In this latter particular, discouragement, or want of encouragement, the people are to be censured, but the Pastors and the Deacons probably are still more culpable.

Let us take a leaf out of our neighbour's book for our instruction. The Wesleyans, of different names, set us a good example. They are much more earnest in prayer than other denominations for the increase of the gifts of the Spirit, the gifts of usefulness, amongst the people. These prayers have been extensively answered, and much good has

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