This, Sir, is the plain state of But if any man would seek to rethe question, and in the discus-duce those who were gone astray from the truth, into the fold of Christ, that is, into the unity of the faith, by and by these rise up against him, which are named Pastors, but indeed are Wolves, which seek no other thing of their flock, than the milk, the wool, and the fell-leaving both their own souls and the souls of their flocks unto the Devil.

sion of it, I shall be glad to meet the writer in the Baptist Magazine, or any of his brethren on this side of the water, whether in or out of the ministry. I throw down the gauntlet, and hope to find some Doctor in Divinity taking it up.

In the mean time,

I am yours,
NANUS.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM
THOMAS BILNEY, TO CUTH-
BERT TUNSTALL, BISHOP OF
LONDON.

[Bilney, the writer of the following letter, was burnt for heresy in the reign of Queen Mary. He was the means in the hands of God of converting Latimer from a bigotted Catholic into a zealous Protestant. There is so much of the simplicity of the truth in his letter, that it cannot fail of interesting our readers.]

These are those physicians upon whom the woman who was twelve years vexed with the bloody flux, had consumed all that she had, but was still worse and worse, until such time as she at last came to Christ, and after she had once touched the hem of his garment through faith she was so healed, that by and by she felt the same in her body.-O mighty power of the most Highest; which I also MOST reverend Father in Christ, a miserable sinner have often I think myself most happy that I tasted and felt; which before that am to be called to examination I could come unto Christ, had before your reverence, although even likewise spent all that I had I know nothing of any error upon those ignorant physicians; in my sermons, neither of any that is to say, unlearned hearers heresy or sedition which divers do of confessions, so that there was slander me of, seeking rather their but a small portion of strength left own advantage than the health of in me, which by nature, was but souls; notwithstanding I do re- weak, small store of money and joice that I am to be brought be- very little wit or understanding; fore the seat of Tunstall, who for they appointed me fastings, knoweth as well as any other that watchings, buying of pardons, and there never will be wanting, some masses, &c. in all which things, as Jannes and Jambres who will re- I now understand, they sought sist the truth, and there will not rather their own gain than the be lacking some Elymas, who will salvation of my sick and languishgo about to subvert the right waying soul. But at last I heard of of the Lord, and who will not Jesus-even then, when the New cease greedily to hunt and seek | Testament was set forth by Erasafter that which pertaineth to mus, which when I heard to be themselves, not that which per- elegantly done by Erasmus, altaineth to Jesus Christ. How lured rather by the love of learncan it then be that they can suffering than by the word of God, Christ to be truly and sincerely though at that time I knew not preached? for if the people begin what it meant, I bought it even once wholly to place their confi- by the providence of God, as I dence in Christ, who was for now do well understand, and at them crucified, then that which the first reading I chanced on this they have hitherto embraced, in- saying of St. Paul; Oh most sweet stead of Christ, shall then utterly and comfortable sentence to my decay in the heart of the faithful. 'soul, in his 1 Tim. i. 14. 'Tis a true

saying, and worthy of all men to be embraced, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief and principal. This one sentence through God's instruction and inward working, which I did not then perceive, did so exhilarate my heart, being before wounded with the guilt of my sins, and being almost in despair, that immediately I felt marvellous comfort and quietness, insomuch that my bruised bones leaped for joy.

ed His ways, which are mercy and truth, and that the wicked may be converted unto Him by me, who some time was also wicked; which thing with all my power I did endeavour before my Lord Cardinal and your Fatherhood. Christ is blasphemed in me, and this is my only comfort in my afflictions; with my whole power I do teach and set forth Him being made for us, by God his Father, our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Finally, our satisfaction, being made sin for us, that is to say, a sacrifice that we through Him should be made the righ

accursed for us, to redeem man from the curse of the law; who' also came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.

EPIGRAM PARAPHRASED.

Fleres, si scires unum tua tempora men

sem;

Rides, cum non sit forsitan una dies.

After this the scripture began to be more pleasant to me than the honey or the honey-comb; wherein I learned that all my travail, all my fasting, my watch-teousness of God, who became ing, my masses and pardons, being done without faith in Christ, who alone saveth people from their sins; these, Isay, I learned to be nothing else than, even as Augustine saith, an hasty and swift running out of the right way, or else much like the vesture made with figleaves, wherewith Adam and Eve went about in vain to cover their nakedness, and could never before obtain quietness and rest until they believed in the promise of God, that Christ the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head; neither could I be cleared or eased of the sharp stings or bitings of my sins, before I was taught of God that lesson of which Christ speaketh of in the iiird of John, "Even as Moses exalted the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be exalted, that all who believe on him should not perish but have life everlasting."

Martialis Epigrammata. ENGLISHED. "You would weep, if you knew you should live but a month, "You laugh, when perhaps you may not live a day."

PARAPHRASED.

Sorrow would fill thine eyes with tears,

And fill thine heart with woe,
Thy life cut off from numerous years,
Brief as one month to know.

Vain mortal! yet, surpassing strange,
When ah! to day thy soul may change,
Mirth dances in thine eye,
Time for eternity.
Walworth,
August 8, 1817.

J. JENKINS.

This Epigram in Latin is carved As soon as according to the in wood over the front window of measure of grace given me of God, the Four Crosses Inn, in StaffordI began to taste the savour of this shire, facing the London road. heavenly lesson, which no man can I was struck with it as I rode by teach but God only, who revealed on horse-back, in 1777; and the same unto Peter; I desired amused myself in translating and the Lord to increase my faith-versifying it. I did not then and at last I desired nothing more know it was Martial's. than that I being so comforted by Him, might be strengthened by his Holy Spirit with grace from above, that I may teach the wick

I was riding to Dunstable and London, at the time, by Dr. Currie's advice, for the benefit of my health. J. J.

SIR,

DR. STOCK'S LETTER TO THE REV. JOHN ROWE.

To the Editor of the New Evangelical Magazine.

DR. STOCK"the writer of the following Letter," has stated as one reason for privately printing a limited number of copies of his Letter to Mr. Rowe, that "Some pious and valuable friends for whose judgment he feels much deference, have expressed an opinion that it might be of service to others." This is one of many reasons why I send a copy of it to you, for insertion in your valuable Magazine, as it is reasonable to conclude that the wider it is disseminated, the more extensively useful it is likely to become.

I cannot conjecture why the distribution of this Letter should have been hitherto confined to the private circle of the Doctor's friends, as the subjects they refer to possess more than a local interest. They appear to have been examined with all the critical acumen of the scholar, as well as the seriousness of the Christian. It is well known in our churches here, that Dr. Stock was a leading character among the Unitarians-that he was the channel of communication from that Society to Dr. Lant Carpenter of Exeter, inviting him to become a Colleague in the ministry with Mr. Rowe; and that, in the capacity of a Physician, he attended the deceased Mr. Vernon, the Baptist Minister at Downend, near this city, who embraced the opportunity of conversing with him upon religious subjects, particularly respecting the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the personality and influences of the Holy Spirit. The result of this was the renunciation of his Unitarian, and the adoption of Trinitarian sentiments. It is natural to conclude that a change of views so extensive as this, in a character eminent for his literary acquirements, should become the subject of much speculation in the religious world.

Trinitarians and Anti-Trinitarians who are acquainted with Dr. Stock have given him every credit for the integrity of his motives.

His Letter which evidently was never intended for publication, does so beautifully delineate the progression of his mind in the investigation of truth, that it is of peculiar value to the Philosopher as well as to the Theologian. Soliciting that it may obtain an early insertion, I remain Yours, &c.

Bristol, August 25, 1817.

A.

THE writer of the following letter never intended or expected that its circulation should extend beyond a very small circle. At the desire of the friend to whom he felt himself so deeply indebted, he transcribed it for his use; but, at the same time, accompanied it with a request, that no second copy should be taken; a request with which his friend rigidly complied. Nor was it till he found that the scope of it had been much misunderstood or misrepresented, and that some detached passages had found their way in various directions, that, in justice to himself, and "to the truths which he had embraced, he permitted the circulation of it to be at all extended. In the mean time, he has been frequently solicited for copies of it, which his other avocations would by no means permit him to furnish; and as some pious and valuable friends, for whose judgment he feels much deference, have expressed an opinion that it might be of service to others, he has ordered a few to be privately printed, in order to comply with their wishes and to save himself the trouble of transcribing.

VOL. III,

2 N

TO THE REV. JOHN ROWE.

MY DEAR SIR.

Clifton, Nov. 6. 1816.

I SCARCELY know in what terms to begin this letter, or how to communicate to you the object of it. Yet I am anxious to be the first to convey to you the intelligence, because I am unwilling that it should reach you, unattended by those expressions of personal regard and respect, by which I could wish that it should be accompanied. It will surprise you to be told, that it is become with me a matter of absolute duty to withdraw myself henceforth from the Lewin's Mead Society.

by the affectionate earnestness of his manner. Now and then he produced a passage of scripture which puzzled me exceedingly: but as I was always distrustful, I scarcely [ever allowed any weight to it, till after I had coolly examined it at home. I began, however, sometimes, to consider, whether it was not possible that his observations might contain some truth; and of course was led to examine them with more care and impartiality.

It is necessary here, to state, that my letter to Dr. Carpenter, though drawn up some little time before, was dispatched about this period. I advert to this circum. stance, because it marks a curious, though I fear, not an uncom mon feature in the human mind. I must, however, make the avowal, that it was precisely about the interval that occured between the preparation and the dispatch of the letter alluded to, and of that to you and the second to Dr. Estlin, that the doubts above stated, now and then, at rare intervals would force themselves upon my mind. Such, however, was my hostility to the sentiments to which these doubts pointed, that!

Yes! my Dear Sir, such is the fact. In the month of July last my professional attendance was required for the Rev. John Vernon, the Baptist Minister of Downend, who was then on a visit to a friend in Bristol. I found him very ill: so much so, that his other medical attendant and myself have since judged it necessary that he should suspend all his public labours. After attending him here, for two or three days, he removed to Downend; where I have since continued to see him about once a week. He felt it a duty to endea-resisted every suspicion of this kind. vour to lead me to reconsider my I treated it as a mere delusion of religious opinions; and at length, the imagination: I felt ashamed with much delicacy and timidity even to have yielded to such sugled to the subject. I felt fully gestions for a moment; and when confident of their truth, and did Mr. Bright pointed out to me a not, on my part, shun the investi- strong passage in the address to gation. For some weeks his efforts Dr. Carpenter, as if he thought did not produce the smallest effect; that it might be softened a little, and it required all the affectionate I persisted in retaining it. In fact, patience of his character to induce I seemed to seek, in the strength me to look upon the arguments on of the terms that I made use of, his side, as even worth examining. to deepen my own convictions of The spirit of levity, however, was my previous opinions.* at length subdued and restrained

The letters were sent, and the To elucidate this paragraph, it may, perhaps, be proper to state, that Dr. Estlin, the senior minister of Lewin's Mead, having announced his intention to resign that office, the congregation met, and voted an address of thanks to him for his services. Some time afterwards, they met for the purpose of electing a successor. Their choice fell upon Dr. Carpenter of Exeter, and an invitation was, accordingly, sent him, which was accepted, and his acceptance announced in another address to each of their ministers. The writer of the above letter was requested to be the organ of expressing the sentiments of the Society, upon these several occasions, a request with which he cheerfully complied,