emancipation from error and sin; that its inhabitants might become true christians, and live and die in the fear of God.

out touching at Ireland. They felt that it was important to do so, and in truth, that was surely the proper way home from such a circumnavigation. After having wept and prayed over the miseries of other unhappy countries, they would be the better prepared for commiserating the moral and spiritual

in their bosoms, to their families and their churches, that spirit of sympathy and zeal which would animate all around them to vigorous exertions for the emancipation of Ireland from its spiritual bondage, and raising a greatly depressed land to the elevation of the Christian character, to happiness and to glory.

Rev. Mr. Saffery, after having adverted to the opposition which had been offered to the operations of the Irish Society, said, that all attempts of this kind would prove as ineffectual as the effort of a puny hand to re-wretchedness of Ireland, and carrying home sist the motion of a ball propelled by the force of its own power. But, although he doubted not of ultimate success, yet there were many who by two different modes of thinking came to the same impotent conclusion that of doing no more than they had done in behalf of the cause. They were apt to come to public meetings, and be cheered by the reports and the speeches, and then to return home, supposing that a great deal bad been done, and flattering themselves that great things had been accomplished in that cause for which the creation sighed, and the church was looking. But though enough had been done to awaken gratitude, excite hope, and stimulate exertion, enough had not been done to induce self-gratulation. Great sacrifices must be made, more vigorous effort must be called forth from those who professed to be under the influence of love to Him "who being rich for our sake became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich."

IV. That the gratuitous services of the Secretaries, the Rev. Joseph Ivimey, and the Rev. George Pritchard, to promote the interests of the Society entitle them to the Christian confidence of this Meeting, and that they be respectfully requested to continue their exertions on its behalf.

Rev. Mr. Campbell, from America, seconded the resolution. He said, as a stranger he would consider it highly improper to trespass upon the time of the Meeting; but as an American, he with great joy wished the officers and members of the Baptist Irish Society God speed in their benevolent work. He could realise something of the importance of the work to which they were now called to attend, in consequence of his acquaintance with the moral condition of that part of the Irish population which had been thrown upon the shores of the United States. It had fallen to his lot, as a minister of theGospel, to preach in the cabins of some of those people, and although they were so deeply degraded, and so totally ignorant, yet he could affirm that they listened to him with attention, and expressed their gratitude for his labours. It was one of the highest honours of man to be a co-worker with Christ and his apostles in evangelising the world; and Rev. Dr. Cox in moving this resolution, said that honour, that privilege, they had when it was a wonderful faculty of the human mind engaged in Missionary enterprise. An Ame by which we were enabled, though retain rican in visiting this country marked the ing the same local situation, to circumna-place where the missionary spirit was kindled vigate the whole globe, by the exertion of this faculty. This had been the interesting business in which they had been engaged during the week. At the early part of it they had started from their own home, had travelled through the various districts and provinces of their own country; and had marked with great satisfaction the progress of religion in its towns and villages. Yesterday and the day before they had launched from the shores, and moved along to the distant continents and islands of the world; not as geographical discoverers, but in the much nobler character of Christian observers. There they had been interested in gazing upon what was going forward. They found that other lands were penetrated by evaugelical light, and cultivated by evangelical labour, and that, in fact, the work of the Lord was prospering in all directions in the east and in the west, in the north and in the south. And now they were returning home from this cheering excursion; but not with

- that spirit which would spread and diffuse itself till the glory of God should cover the earth, as the waters covered the sea. Without flattery, it might be said of the British nation that it was a pillar of fire placed in the earth to illumimate it from north to south, and from east to west. He had much pleasure in seconding the resolution.

Rev. Mr. Pritchard, the secretary, said that his respected colleage had requested him to acknowledge the kindness with which resolution had been received, and to express the assent of both of them to the wishes of the society that they should remain in office for another year. The rev. gentleman pledged himself and his brother secretary to renewed efforts in behalf of the society, and prayed the blessing of God upon all their undertakings.

V. That the gentlemen composing the late Committee, by their persevering attentions to the business of the Society have es

Rev. Dr. Newman seconded the resolution. He said they had a delightful morning; they were under obligations to Divine Providence for all those precious hours, and he hoped they would be turned to good account. He had had a Passover, and a Pentecost, and a Feast of Tabernacles all in one week. If Christ our Passover, had not been sacrificed for us, we should have had no such feast in London; if the Spirit of God had not been poured out from on high, no such news would have been heard as that of this morn

sentially furthered its designs, and that the Gentlemen whose names will now be read be the Committee:-John Bousfield, Edward Battenshaw, William Bowser, John Chandler, William Cousins, Peter Ellis, Samuel Jackson, John Low, James Low, James Lowther, Stephen Marshall, Paul Millard, Wm. Napier, John Neale, Richard Nicols, William Paxon, John Penny, Alexander Saunders, Joseph Saunders, William L. Smith, Robert Stock, Joseph Warmington, Samuel Watson, White, Eliezer Wilkinson, Joseph Wilson, Charles Young. And that Messrs.Wiling; if the Word had not been made flesh, kinson and Young be the Auditors.

and dwelt among us, we should have had no such Feast of Tabernacles.

Lieutenant Gordon, said that he hoped that the day was fast'approaching when their attention and acknowledgments would be more exclusively directed to Him who bad the hearts of all men in his hands, to turn them whithersoever he would. However, they might derive some instruction from the circumstance; for, as the celebrated Dr. Donne had remarked, compliments reminded us of what we ought to be. He could conscientiously say, that the Society on whose behalf they were assembled was one which, whether he regarded its principles, or its

Rev. Mr. Tinson, from Jamacia, in moving this resolution, said, he had been greatly rejoiced this week in meeting with so many British Christians, engaged in such a noble work. It had been said that Ireland could not be raised from its degradation, so greatly had the body and the mind been brutalised. He feared not, however, to entrust that to the Bible; let the book be circulated among the Roman Catholics of Ireland, and they would soon, by the blessing of God, be emancipated from error. The rev. gentleman then urged the necessity of the combined efforts of the many in the important work of evangelising Ireland, and subduing the giant of in-proceedings, was very near his heart, for fidelity. He had to state one fact which had fallen under his own observation, and which afforded one striking proof of the usefulness of the Baptist Irish Society. It had sent a missionary to Jamaica, in the peron of a private in the 22d regiment, who had been brought to a knowledge of the truth in Ireland, under the instruction of one of the Society's missionaries. This man was now a consistent and zealous Christian, labouring in the cause of God in the West Indies, and he had thought it his duty to mention it for the encouragement of the friends of the institution.

Rev. J. Peggs, of Coventry, formerly a missionary in the East Indies, seconded the resolution. He related the miseries which existed in the East Indies from the Ghaut murders, the Suttees, &c.

VI. That the present Meeting is gratefully impressed by the attention of Lieutenant Gordon to the welfare of this Society in thus again ably occupying the Chair at its -Fifteenth Anniversary.

Rev. Mr. Edwards, of Watford, in rising to move this resolution, urged strongly that it was desirable that for the purpose of enabling the Society to extend its labours the Annual Subscription should be doubled. The Society was now fifteen years of age, it was advancing to manhood, and therefore required strong nutriment to strengthen and invigorative it for its labours; much remained to be done in a little time, and he therefore hoped that they would set about it in good

earnest.

the reasons he had previously stated. He had witnessed its progress, and traversed the field of its operations; he had visited the provinces where its schools and its readers were carrying on their labours; there was scarcely one of its agents with whom he was not personally acquainted; and he could bonestly say, that the one who had that morning addressed them, was a specimen, and but a fair specimen, of the agents employed in Ireland. It was probable that manyfriends to the Society were not fully aware of the great importance of the Schools, for in addition to the benefits immediately conferred upon the children, those which were indirectly conferred upon the parents were much greater. That arose out of the law which obliged the children to commit the Scriptures to memory, thus making the system in fact, an efficient Bible Society. So, with respect to the readers employed, their influence was not confined to the direct benefit of those persons immediately addressed. What they heard, travelled the whole circumference of the country, and produced a desire to possess the Bible itself. There was no doubt as to the success of the Society, if it proceeded as it has hitherto done; it was one of the divinely appointed instruments for brining men to the knowledge of God and of Christ. God would assuredly bless their efforts, because they were pursuing a scriptural end by scriptural means.

After the meeting had joined in singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," the Meeting was adjourned.

Subscriptions and Donations in aid of this Society will be thankfully received at the Baptist Missionary House, No. 6, Fen Court, Fenchurch Street, London: or by any of the Ministers and Friends whose names are inserted in the Cover of the Annual Report.

BAPTIST MISSION.

HOME PROCEEDINGS.

ANNUAL MEETINGS.

effort should at once be made towards the removal of this heavy incumbrance, and a few friends who met as a sub-committee in the afternoon, agreed to communicate their own impressions as generally as they could, by way of preparation for the following days.

On Wednesday morning, at eleven, the It is recorded that, on the demise of friends of the Society assembled in the spaQueen Anne, the celebrated Joseph Addison, cious chapel occupied by our Wesleyan who was then Secretary of State for the brethren, in the City road. Appropriate Foreign department, was so much overcome bymns were given out by Mr. Steane of by the suddenness of the event, and the Camberwell, and Mr. Payne of Ashford. magnitude of the interests involved in it, Mr. Shirley of Sevenoaks read the Scripthat he was incapable of drawing up the tures, and offered prayer to Almighty God official communication to be made to the on behalf of the Institution, and the general Court of Hanover by the time it was want- interests of the kingdom of Christ. A ed, and a clerk in his office had to supply discourse, distinguished by evangelical feelthe deficiency. The writer of these lines ing, theological acumen, and chaste and feels himself placed in a difficulty nearly impressive eloquence, was then delivered similar. The proceedings of our Anniver-by Mr. Murch, the esteemed theological sary, just closed, have been such as to tutor of the Stepney Institution, from 2 Cor. baffle ordinary powers of description, and iii. 11. For if that which was done away was have involved, moreover, such a subsequent glorious, much more that which remaineth is occupation of time, as to leave very little glorious. After some introductory observa< indeed for the task of preparing an account tions on the variety of the divine dispensafor the public eye. Still that account will tions, and the unity of their design, the be impatiently expected; and while it is preacher proposed to consider, First, the commended to the candour of our indulgent glory of the Mosaic economy; and Secondreaders, they are requested to lift up their ly, the superior glory of the Christian dishearts in devout thanksgiving to the God of pensation. The glory of the former was all grace, who has been pleased to favour contemplated in the purity of the principles our Society with such an unprecedented and it inculcated-in the typical significancy of seasonable display of his bounty, by stirring the rites and ceremonies it appointed-and up the hearts of his people so liberally to in the illustrious support it received from contribute to its necessities. the attestation of miracles and the instru

The more public services of the week mentality of prophets. The superior glory were preceded, as usual, by an open Com- of the latter was exhibited in the clearness mittee meeting, held at Salters' Hall chapel, of the revelation given by it, concerning on Tuesday morning, the 16th of June. those truths which are most important to About the same number of ministers and human salvation-in the spirituality of its other friends were present as have attended nature-in the universality of its designin former years; and in the course of the and in the perpetuity of its duration. The proceedings a statement was made of the preacher then pourtrayed, with much anifinancial situation of the Society, from which mation, the future prosperity of the church, it appeared, that in consequence of a conti- adverted to the probability of its being nued excess of the expenditure above the ushered in with the seventh millenary of the income for the three preceding years, toge- world, defended the spirituality of the milther with a diminution in the receipts for lenial reign of Christ, and reprobated the the present year, a debt had accrued, which sentiment that miraculous agency is neceson the very lowest calculation amounted to sary to secure the ultimate triumphs of 40001. This intelligence appeared to pro- Christianity. Having shewn that the prosduce a very general conviction, that some pects of the church ought to rejoice the

EE

hearts, excite the prayers, and awaken the zeal of the friends of Christ, Mr. Murch concluded by a most urgent and spirited appeal on behalf of the Society, especially with a view to the immediate relief of the embarrassments by which its operations are impeded. The concluding prayer was offered up by Mr. Saunders of Liverpool.

At six o'clock in the evening a large congregation assembled at Surrey chapel. The hymns were given out by Mr. Blakeman of Crayford, and Mr. Tyso of Wallingford. The Scriptures having been read, and supplication presented by Mr. Pritchard of London, an impassioned and powerful discourse was delivered by Mr. Swan of Birmingham, formerly of Serampore College. The passage selected for consideration was Psalm lxxii. 17. Men shall be blessed in him. Some prefatory remarks on the primary application of the passage to Solomon, and its typical reference to Christ having been adduced, the preacher proceeded to consider the religion of Christ as the only source of national, domestic, and individual felicity the spiritual character of the blessings conferred by the Saviour-the manner in which he became their author and then enumerated several of the benedictions connected with union to Christ-the gift of the Holy Spirit, the pardon of sin, a holy dread of sin, the spirit of devotion, spiritual understanding, and the prospect of eternal felicity. A solemn appeal was then made to those who have never desired to be blessed in Christ, especially the young. Allusions to the miseries of the heathen were interspersed throughout the discourse, which was concluded by a powerful advocacy of missionary enterprise. Mr. Hinton of Oxford closed the services of the day by

prayer.

The Annual Meeting was held on Thursday morning at Spa Fields Chapel. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Isaac Mann, after which W. B. Gurney, Esq. was called to the chair, in the absence of John Foster, Esq. of Biggleswade, who was prevented from attending by severe domestic affliction.

occupied, and they had determined not to receive from each other expressions of gratitude: to be immediately engaged in the cause of Missions was in itself a suflicient reward.

The Rev. John Dyer then proceeded to read the Annual Report, comprising a summary of intelligence from the various stations connected with the Society both in the East and West Indies. It noticed, among a variety of other particulars, the recent death of two Missionaries, Mr. Burton at Digab, and Mr. Chater of Ceylon. It stated also, the opposition which the Society had met with in Jamaica, and the remarkable success which had attended the cause there upwards of twelve thousand persons being in connexion with the various churches in that island. Mention was afterwards made of the pecuniary assistance which had been rendered to the Society by various public bodies, and by collections and subscriptions in England and Scotland. The whole was closed by a statement of a partial deficiency in the funds, introducing a forcible appeal to the audience for increased aid.

The Ren. W. Giles (of Chatham) moved that the Report be adopted, &c. The Society (he said) during the past year had been called to sustain difficulties and trials; but certainly the Report that had been read would operate as an antidote to any unpleasant effect from the reflections upon past distresses. He never recollected on any former occasion to have heard a report so gratifying. If the Society had been tried in some respects, God had evidently blessed it in others. It should not be forgotten or overlooked, that God had preserved all the Society's missionaries from bringing a reproach upon the solemn profession they had Imade, and the solemn work in which they were engaged. It was a subject that demanded thanksgiving, that in the East Indies, notwithstanding all the difficulties which presented themselves, the good cause had been going forward. With respect to the West Indies, he was almost going to say, that God was about to revive there what took place in the apostolic age. What then, were the friends of the Society distressed about? Why, that the funds were minus 4,000l. The income during the past year was about 1,5007. less than the preceding year. When he considered the depressed state of commerce in this country, and the change which had taken place in consequence of the late separation, he really wondered that the funds were not still more

Mr. Gurney remarked that it was not his intention to trespass upon the meeting at any length. In the course of the business of the day, he might take the liberty of making a few remarks upon a particular subject that would be submitted to their notice. There was one circumstance, however, connected with the resolutions of the day, to which he felt it necessary to allude, lest it should be supposed that the Com-deficient. Regarding the four thousand mittee had unintentionally omitted that part of their duty. It had been determined to dispense with the customary votes of thanks. It was the privilege of those engaged in conducting the Society's affairs to be so

pounds, he felt persuaded that the liberality of the assembly combined with the measures that would be adopted on the spot would in a short time liquidate the amount. He, for one, pledged himself that whatever