QUARTERLY REGISTER BAPTIST HOME OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Ir is expected that the chapel in course of erection at Swindon New Town, Great Western Railway, will be opened for divine worship on the 4th of January. The brethren Hinton of London, and Winter of Bristol, have engaged to preach on the occasion; and it is hoped that the assistance of Mr. Sherman will be obtained for the morning service. In a communication just received, Mr. Breeze, whose exertions in collecting for the chapel have been indefatigable, says : "The chapel is certainly an excellent piece of architecture; and everything appears very promising at present. Induce as many of your friends as possible to come to the opening. We have obtained nearly £500, about one-half the amount required. It gives me much pleasure to tell you that a few days ago I received a very polite note from the Earl of Radnor, enclosing £20; and many of the gentry in the neighbourhood have subscribed very handsomely." Through the kindness of the "Boyce Trustees" and a few other friends, the secretary has received a portion of the forty pounds per annum for two years, which he has pledged himself to raise by special effort, towards the support of the ministry at Swindon. As the whole amount, however, even for the first year has not been obtained, he begs to remind the friends of the Society of the claims of this important station. The generous exertions of our excellent friend, George Gould, Esq., of Loughton, on behalf of the cause at Romford, have been crowned with signal success. Mr. Ebenezer Davis, the minister, writes: "We have just held a special meeting in relation to our money affairs. Mr. Gould came over and explained the details of our building fund, when it appeared that a debt of £19 was due to the treasurer, to pay which we raised then and there £22; so that our chapel, which has cost £982 11s. 7d., and which has been opened only sixteen months, is paid for. The old debt on the original place remains; and if we get, as we hope, a loan from the Newman fund, that will be arranged for, and the cause will be emancipated. This is indeed good news, for which we bless the Lord. On the last sabbath in November I baptized four, three of whom have been brought to a knowledge of the truth since the erection of the chapel; the other was my youngest daughter: others are inquiring. We have about 150 children on the books of the British schools recently established, and an average attendance of about 120. Since their commencement, our sabbath school has much increased. On the other hand, we have lost some in consequence of the removal of the factory people from Romford to the Stratford station belonging to the Eastern Counties line." "Our anniversary was held last Thursday, the 14th inst., and the chapel is in effect out of debt. The previous anniversary left us £50 in debt, for which we were paying interest, and the lawyer's bill, which we had not been able to get settled, and £14 unappropriated. All our efforts to get the lawyer's account have still failed; we paid £2 interest, and determined to raise £38, which, with the twelve in hand, would pay the fifty. At a meeting of our own friends on Tuesday evening, several sums were promised, and by Thursday, £20 were thus raised; the eighteen were obtained at the services, so that all we now want is the trifling amount for the lawyer. We feel thankful to God for his rich mercy towards us, and thankful that the chapel is now ou K own. Friends from the neighbouring congregations have been very generous from the beginning. "The Rev. W. Robinson of Kettering preached in the afternoon. A good number of friends took tea together, gratuitously provided. The evening meeting was addressed by Mr. Robinson and Rev. F. Islip of Kibworth, independent. The services were interesting and profitable. Thus far the Lord has led us by a right way." The committee have recently had their attention directed to the state of the cause at Neath, near Swansea; and have engaged, notwithstanding their heavy debt, to render assistance. The following letter from Mr. Jones, the minister, but for whose laborious efforts the interest would probably have become extinct, will sufficiently explain the nature of the case. "The following is a brief account of the condition of the English baptist church at Neath, when I took the oversight of it, and of the success with which it has pleased the Lord to bless my labours. tized are heads of families; there are in this The following is from the missionary at Shiffnal, Shropshire. "I desire to be humbly thankful that I have thus far been sustained in my work, and that the great Master has kindly given me some sources of encouragement. In the preaching of the word he has given me favour in the eyes of the people, and our congregations are increasingly interesting and encouraging. I feared our attendance would have been much thinner when the summer returned, but I am happy to say it has been better than in the previous winter. Several persons have taken sittings of late. "There are hundreds of persons attend the chapel at different periods who are utterly ignorant of the truth. To me it is deeply interesting to see them listen with fixed attention to truths they never hear elsewhere; and I earnestly hope that I shall ere long have to say of them: Many believed and turned to the Lord.' There are three young persons who come to me as anxious inquirers; their cases are very interesting. The Lord opened the heart of one of them under a sermon I preached from Ezek. xxxii. 11. She is, I believe, now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in her right mind. have just added one to our church by letter. We "This church, owing to a series of painful circumstances, not, I presume, altogether unknown to you, had been reduced almost to nothing. I believe I have already told you that the few who continued to hold public services in the chapel, being unable in any way to meet the current expenses connected with the place, had determined to close the doors but God, who seeth the end from the beginning, would not have it to be so. He put it into their hearts to communicate their intention to Mr. Evans of Swansea, Mr. Evans came over to consult them as to the best measures to be adopted. He advised them to make one effort more, telling them that I had just returned from Brittany, and that he would write to me, which he did. "At the request of brother Evans I visited the friends at Neath, and supplied them several Sundays. When about to leave, they expressed a wish that I should become their pastor, a proposition which I knew not how to accept, considering the few they were in number, and the many difficulties they had to contend with, till assured by the neighbouring ministers that, should the committee of the Home Mission refuse aid, they would do what they could to assist the friends at Neath, until they might be able to support their own pastor. I removed with my family in April. The first sabbath in May I ad- have visited in his own cottage. He was, ministered the Lord's supper to sixteen when I first saw him, a notorious drunkard, individuals: the number has since increased and used to shamefully ill-treat and halfto forty-five; twelve have been added by im- starve his wife and his two children. He has 'mersion, a few by letter, and the others are been induced, however, through my conbacksliders restored. Perhaps it would be versing with him, to abandon his intemperate well to observe, that ten of the twelve bap-habits, and now is, as his wife says to me with "My bible class continues to be an increasingly interesting department of labour. It is quite a new thing' in Shiffnal, and the young people attend it with much interest, and I hope profit. In a note received from one of the class the other day, she says, I do indeed feel very thankful to you for the instruction I have at our bible class and other times received from you, and wish it lay in my power to repay you.' One young man who has for some time attended the class, has recently been received as a teacher in the Sunday school. He is an intelligent and hopeful youth. There is a pleasing instance of reformation in the case of a young man that I gratitude of heart, quite a different man, and their's is now a happy home.' His poor mother has since attended the chapel, and I trust hears and understands the word," The following communications from the agents in the Wiltshire auxiliary, supply a tolerably fair specimen of the letters from the rural districts generally. The season has arrived for sending you a report of the state and prospects of this station; and in doing this, we have to record the faithful care and kindness of the Head of the church. He has led us through another year; and at its close we have again to set up our grateful Ebenezer and say, 'Hitherto the Lord hath helped us.' "First. The attendance at Gillingham was never so good as at present; and at the three other stations it is very encouraging, namely, at Staur, Fifehead, and Longham. while we are thankful to witness an increased But attendance, we long to see a more striking manifestation of divine power in the conversion of sinners. We have not, indeed, been left without some encouraging tokens of God's presence and blessing. But alas! what numbers still remain hearers only. Eight persons have been added to us during the past year, so that our present number of members is fifty-five. "Second. As it regards our sabbath school at Gillingham, it has lately been increasing, so that we have now more than ninety children; and how much reason have we to be thankful to God that he has raised up even in this place some pious and efficient teachers to instruct them, and put it into the hearts of our treasurer, and his excellent partner, to send us an ample supply of useful and necessary books. We look forward with hope to a future day when we trust the fruit of these useful and unostentatious labours will appear. The importance of sabbath school instruction in this neighbourhood is very great, so little has been done in past years in the way of imparting truly religious instruction to the rising generation. The number of adults who are unable to read is surprising. In the village of Staur, if a person can read he is regarded as a very learned man. Excepting one family all those who have joined us in that village have, at the time of their conversion, been unable to read. It is indeed a pleasing evidence in connection with others of their love to Christ, and to that word which testifies of him, that they soon began to learn. "Third. As it regards tract distribution we have thirteen districts, three in Gillingham, three in East Stour, one at Langham, one at Magiston, one at Ecliff, one at Kington, one at Fifehead, one at West Stour, and one at Stour Provost. And here again we desire to "It is with feelings of unfeigned gratitude that I again lay before you a brief account of the state of the Home Missionary cause în this neighbourhood. I may commence by saying, that since I last wrote, we have had much to humble and much to encourage us. "Our church never enjoyed greater harmony than it did at the commencement of the past year; nor were our congregations at any previous time better; yet we were conWe continued, however, to employ the means. siderably depressed at the want of success. Our hope was in God, and after patiently filled his promise, that They who sow in waiting awhile, the Lord has graciously fultears shall reap in joy;' and we have been privileged to experience a season of refreshing from the presence of our Redeemer. "Within the past few months several have been awakened; while some have already come forward, amidst much opposition, to testify their attachment to the cause of Christ. "It also gives me pleasure to say that many of our friends manifest a spirit of activity, and seek, according to their ability, the advancement of God's glory and the conversion of souls. About twelve young persons, members of our church, are engaged on the sabbath in the tuition of the young, lately joined us stated that she received her nor have they laboured in vain, as one who first impressions while in the sabbath school, and another, who has just been baptized in Bath, bore similar testimony. Several friends are employed in circulating and exchanging tracts, and I have lately heard of one or two cases, in which these silent monitors have been blessed. Three have been baptized and added to the church, together with a young man who had been baptized in London, making an addition of four. "Some persons whom I visited in affliction, and who have since exchanged time for eternity, afforded us reason to hope in their death. too, apart from these things, that Berwick is sharing in that deadness and indifference to spiritual realities, which alas! prevails throughout our country to a great extent. "As a church we enjoy uninterrupted peace; and I believe in the hearts of many of its members religion is a growing vital principle. Many and fervent are the prayers they offer for the revival of religion in their own souls, their families, and in the church. "Religious tracts are circulated at every cottage in the village, and are received with thankfulness. Our sabbath school continues the same as to number. Two of our friends take a lively interest in its welfare, and one of them conducts an evening class, twice in the week, during the winter season. This is a source of much interest to the children, which is evinced by their constant attendance. "With regard to Bower Chack, my other village station, things wear a very encouraging aspect, the attendance is remarkably good. Many are obliged to stand the whole of the service, from the want of better accommodation. The house in which we worship, is much too small, so that many have to remain outside the door. The usual attendance is from eighty to a hundred. The greater part of whom appear to be interested in the solemn realities that are brought before them, and in some we hope serious impressions have been produced. "Berwick St. John. "JOHN ROWE." It is one of the peculiar glories of the gospel, that it knows nothing of exclusiveness. It is not like the various systems of ancient philosophy which, while they addressed themselves to the higher classes of society, left the common people, always the great mass of the population, in entire ignorance and helplessness. It is not like the Mosaic dispensation, which provided for the religious instruction of the Jews, while it left the Gentile world in the darkness and wretchedness of heathenism. Christianity is the religion of mankind; it bears a benevolent aspect, not towards a few, but towards all; it is adapted to the capacities, suited to the wants, and intended for the benefit of the whole human race; it is emphatically "the grace of God which bringeth salvation unto all men." As Christianity is distinguished by diffusive benevolence, so it induces catholicity and enlargedness of spirit in those who are brought under its influence. It breaks down the walls of partition which ignorance, prejudice, pride, and selfishness have raised between man and his fellow. It destroys the intense nationality of the Jew, and the exclusive patriotism of the Roman, and induces the universal philanthropy of Jesus. It teaches us to aim, ultimately, at nothing less than the universal good which the gospel is intended and fitted to accomplish. But it teaches us also to act wisely; to seek the general good in accordance with the laws of our common nature, and with the principles of the divine government. In opposition to the visions of individual and think only of the community--who some modern philanthropists, who lose sight of the would produce universal good, not by the development of personal worth in every member of the community, but, by a certain adjustment of the general interests, from intense individual selfishness-Christianity inculcates the greatness and the importance of the individual; it regards society as man for man, not man for society; and bids us look for the universal prevalence of the empire of truth and righteousness, by the formation of its principles in the heart of successive individuals. In accordance with this principle, the gospel teaches us also to seek immediately the good of our own neighbourhood. It bids us act as Jesus acted, and do as he directed. But by his example we are taught to devote the first efforts of our benevolence to the improvement of our own country, and of our own neighbourhood; his unwearied labours and innumerable miracles, were devoted to the good of his brethren, his "kinsmen according to the flesh." The twelve apostles whom he chose, and afterwards the seventy disciples whom he sent forth to preach the kingdom of God-all these were sent to their countrymen and His, to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." And the line of conduct which he prescribed to the apostles and to their brethren, that "repentance and the remission of sins be preached amongst all nations in his name, beginning at Jerusalem," is based on a principle of universal application, and is therefore binding on his people in every age. And the consistency of Christian benevolence requires this. Are we moved with compassion for the miseries of the heathen? Is it a sincere desire to alleviate their sorrows and to save their souls, that induces us to contribute to the support of foreign missions; and to pray for the success of those apostolic men who have sacrificed all the endearinents of their native land-who have left her her hearths, and have gone far hence to the heathen, with the sanctity of her altars and the comfort of that they might proclaim to those who are perishing for lack of knowledge the unsearchable riches of Christ, and who count not their lives dear unto themselves so that they may finish their course with joy, and the ministry which they have received of the Lord Jesus? Is it indeed the miserable condition of the heathen which thus melts our hearts, and causes the best feelings of our nature to flow out in expressions of tenderness and in deeds of charity? But these miseries abound at home no less than they do abroad; they may be found in our own neighbourhoods no less than on the plains of India, or on the shores of Africa. The evils may vary in form, but in essence they are one. As to its essential elements, human nature is everywhere the same; and the only remedy for its deep-seated disease is, the "gospel of the grace of God." These remarks do more than vindicate the propriety of the institution. Donations and Subscriptions will be gratefully received on behalf of the Society, by the Treasurer, J. R. BOUSFIELD, Esq. 126, Houndsditch; or by the Secretary, THE REV. STEPHEN JOSHUA DAVIS, 33, MOORGATE STREET, LONDON. Much trouble will be saved, both to the Secretary and his correspondents, if in making payments by Post Office orders, they will give his name in full; or, at any rate, advise him of the name they have communicated to the Post office authorities, Collector for London, MR. W. PARNELL, 6, Benyon Cottages, De Beauvoir Sq., Kingsland. J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY. THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. FEBRUARY, 1849. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MRS. JANE DALLEWELL, WIDOW OF THE LATE REV. JOHN DALLEWELL, MISSIONARY TO JAMAICA. As the florist carefully trains the tender plant, watches it with eager interest as the leaves expand, the bud appears, and the blossom begins to unfold, and then removes it to another place where its beauties may be more observed, and its value more correctly estimated-so does God often deal with his people here below. He guards the soul of the young believer from the storms and tempests that beat around him, gradually develops the capabilities of his mind and the affections of his heart, partially unfolds the blossom, and then removes the plant to bloom more fully and more perfectly in heaven. So has it been in the case of the happy individual whose brief but useful career is here endeavoured to be portrayed. She was born at Alnwick, Northumberland, in the year 1814. Her childhood and youth were spent without the occurrence of any unusual incident. VOL. XII.YOURTH SERIES. Her mind was from time to time during this period impressed with a sense of religious truth, but became as often free from its control, until God, in his providence and mercy, visited her with severe affliction, and she was brought near to the borders of the grave. His purposes respecting her were, however, not yet fulfilled; she was a chosen vessel to bear the message of salvation to those sitting in darkness; and the sufferings through which she now passed were but to prepare her more fully for her work. She gradually recovered; her affliction induced a serious and thoughtful state of mind, whereby she was the more open to the full reception of the truth as it is in Jesus. It was her happiness now to enjoy the companionship of a dear friend, who afterwards became her sister-in-law, and whose conversation tended to deepen the impressions she already experienced, and was the means of inducing her to yield herself up to the constraining love L |