SEPTEMBER, 1858. RATHMINES, DUBLIN. THE SECRETARY of the Society spent the month of August in visiting several of the stations in Ireland. He supplied two Lord's days at Rathmines. His visit has fully confirmed every anticipation of the success of the effort to establish a Christian church in that important suburb of Dublin. The few friends resident there who are associated in the good work, are devoting themselves most earnestly to it. The congregations are very encouraging, the hall being nearly filled in the morning, and still more so in the evening. Persons of various denominations have become regular attendants, and thankfully avail themselves of the means of grace thus presented to them. The spirit that prevails is such as to give the greatest encouragement. Every prospect is presented of a still larger congregation being gathered when a suitable chapel has been erected. This cause promises to be, by the divine blessing, one of the most successful efforts the Society has ever made. CORK. The following communication from Mr. MCCLELLAND relates an incident marked by great interest. The serious and earnest inquiry after truth, and the fidelity with which conviction has been carried into practice, are well deserving of thankful acknowledgment. "On last Lord's day I had an unusually witnessed anything to surpass it, either in interesting service, and, as it was one of the this country or in England. Amongst happiest days I have had since my coming those present on the occasion I saw Episcohere, I am sure you will be pleased to hear palians, Presbyterians, Methodists, and something of the occasion. Some time ago Romanists; and since Sabbath I have been I was visited by a man named Splaine, who much pleased to hear such expressions as wished to converse with me on the subject these from our own members :-'We never of baptism. After repeated visits, and when had such an occasion before.' 'The Lord I became thoroughly convinced of his de- was with us,' &c. Strangers, I was told, sire to follow the example of Jesus Christ made such remarks as these:-'He was in that ordinance, I proposed him for mem- right in all that he said.' 'He had the bership at our last church meeting, when it Scriptures on his side.' 'I shall go and was resolved that he should be baptized and hear him again,' &c. But whoever might received. The next day I wrote him to say that I was 'right,' the son of our that effect, and appointed a day for his bap-brother felt it, and at once resolved to act tism. On Saturday last he arrived here with his son, both having travelled thirtyfive Irish miles to obey the Master's command. I was pleased, delighted, to see the son who had come all that distance to witness his father's baptism; and still more delighted to see the old man so intent on following the Saviour. Forcibly reminded of Jesus Christ himself coming from Nazareth of Galilee to be baptized of John in Jordan, next day I preached from Mark i. 9. The congregation was good, the people were attentive-apparently much interested — and all present seemed deeply to feel the great solemnity of the occasion; and although baptisms are so infrequent in this part of the country that one might expect some of the people to evince a good deal of curiosity, yet such was the solemn feeling produced, such the decorum observed, that I must indeed say I have never VOL. II.-NEW SERIES. upon his convictions; for, before leaving some time you may too; and as I shall give it verbatim, in reading it you will please bear in mind that it was written by a plain, unlettered countryman. "I was born and educated in the Church of Rome in my early days; but in the year 1836 it pleased God to put the English and Irish Bible into my hands, by the instrumentality of a man who had been denounced by the Romish priests. I immediately began to compare the doctrines of the Church of Rome with the word of God, and found them quite opposed to it. I studied very closely chapters ix. and x. of Paul to the Hebrews, and I clearly saw that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross was perfect, and that satisfaction had been made for the sins of the whole world. I also saw in chapter xix. of St. John that "it was finished," by which is meant that he finished the salvation of every believer. I was fully satisfied that the sacrifice of the mass was wrong, that the Romish priests were recrucifying him. These, with some others, led to my conversion. I embraced the Protestant faith, and thought I was all right. Then I became a Scripture reader, both in the Irish and English languages; and, thank God, many believed and received the gospel through me. "About twelve years ago it was the will of God to put into my hands a tract, with a concise view of baptism, written by J. Craps. After reading it carefully I saw that infant baptism was unscriptural and injurious. I could not find a single passage in the word of God authorising infant baptism, sprinkling, consecration of water, sponsors, confirmation, or the sign of the cross. Having considered these points, I will obey and follow my great Master, and will be immersed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. I find in the New Testament that baptism is nothing until a person believes; and is then only a profession of faith in Christ.' and here is some encouragement for all who are labouring for their conversion. In the next place it affords us an additional evidence of the power of God's word not only to uproot Popery, and break down the strongest prejudicesconsuming both together like stubble-but also of its power, through the agency of the Spirit, to convince men of their sins, convert them to God, and constrain them to become faithful followers of Christ. Here, too, we may see that the Scriptures are not merely to be read as if it were a task to read them, but, as our brother says he did, they must be studied closely;' and if when they are thus used they can produce such results in one case, they are of course, under God's blessing, adapted to produce similar results in any number of cases: for we may lay it down as a rule that God invariably blesses the earnest, prayerful study of his own word. Hence, then, the necessity of urging men not only to have the Scriptures in their houses, but also in their hearts: "Thy word have I hid in my heart.' But lest you should think that I am multiplying deductions, I shall only add one more-and that is, there is in this case great encouragement for us all to work for the dissemination of the truth. When Mr. Craps wrote the tract referred to above, and when the Baptist Tract Society issued it, I suppose neither he nor they thought of it finding its way, so soon at least, into a remote district in the south of Ireland; and yet, by some means or other, it makes its way, directs the attention of the reader to look more into the word of God, and finally produces results which must last throughout eternity. Many Baptist tracts have since been sent to that neighbourhood, and circulated; and I am informed that there is now much anxious inquiry amongst the people on the subject of believer's baptism. "Now, I think this short sketch from our "My tracts are out, and I need a new brother is really interesting; for, first, it supply very much. I should like to carry shows us his earnest desire whilst still a some there myself, and talk with the people. Romanist to find out the truth; and from I have got an invitation to preach, which this we may fairly conclude that, al- I mean to avail myself of; and if, when though unknown to us, thousands of there, I should see or hear anything worth Romanists in Ireland and elsewhere may communicating, you shall have it; and I be, and most probably are, at the pre- have some hopes of finding it a good field sent anxiously seeking for the truth also; for usefulness." CONLIG. MR. BROWN, who labours at this station, gives the following pleasing statement of the increased encouragement with which he has recently been favoured : : "I am glad to assure you that the favourable symptoms to which I referred in a former letter are not diminished, but rather increased. Besides preaching on the Lord's day in Conlig and Newtonards, I preach twice on week evenings in the village, viz., on Monday evening and Wednesday evening. These meetings average about forty, and are generally attended by the same persons, comprising a few Christians of different denominations, and a number who were utterly careless before. About forty persons, too, meet regularly in our publicly and with much propriety at the school-house on the Lord's day, between fellowship meeting on Lord's day afternoon. the services, for conversation and prayer. I may also mention the case of a young All the meetings are characterised by an unusual degree of seriousness, and there are hopeful evidences of some conversions. Some of the most careless of the people have become greatly alarmed, as well as some who formerly thought themselves Christians, and were esteemed as such by others. One evening, for example, I preached from 2 Cor. v. 17, 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,' &c., and when I had finished, an old professor came forward and declared before the people that it was his conviction that his religion was a delusion, and that he was still in his sins. This man was wont to be very much opposed to us; but his mind is now so far changed that I preach in his house; and though he does not attend on the Lord's day, he has not been absent from a week evening meeting during the last three months. Another day I was passing by the door of a man who has not been in a place of worship, I believe, for four years. He called me in, as he said he had become much alarmed about his soul, and we had some serious conversation. His convictions have become strong, and his practice is altogether changed. He not only attends our worship on Sabbath days and week days, but has set up an altar in his family-a duty which would require no small amount of courage, as his children are grown up and opposed to these things, as he himself formerly was. I understand that he prays man who seems recently to have been brought under concern. On the evening of Monday was a week, I preached from Isa. xxxiii. 14, 'The sinners in Zion are afraid,' &c. During the time of preaching I observed much emotion in the meeting, and some cheeks moistened with tears. Next day one of the deacons told me that this young man had expressed his feelings on leaving, and begged another man to go into a field with him that they might pray. The young man prayed himself, and on rising from his knees said, it was the first time that he had prayed in his life. I called on him to say that I should be glad to see him occasionally; that I had learned that he was anxious about his soul. His lips quivered, and he was unable to make any reply. He also regularly attends, and would not be absent under any consideration. I hope he may be soon introduced into the liberty of the gospel. There are other cases which I could name, but these are the most strongly marked, and I forbear to mention them lest I make this letter too long. Last evening, when I went to the meeting to preach, I found the people on their knees, and a member of the covenanting church leading their devotions-a good preparation for hearing the gospel. May the God of all grace pour out his Spirit upon us more and more, and cause the wilderness and the solitary place to be glad, and the desert to rejoice and blossom like the rose !'" ATHLONE. MICHAEL WALSH, the Scripture reader at this place, states in recent communications : whose wife is a Roman Catholic. There I met this man and had a close conversation with him. He had become convinced of the errors of Popery, and said, 'I have the Bible that you gave me still.' Now, to bring my narrative to a close, he came boldly out from among them in the past month, and went to the little church in that locality, passing the Roman Catholic chapel and the people going to mass at the time. I trust this man and his wife are brands plucked from the burning. In the course of the past month I have had interesting conversations with some Roman Catholics." "I have been engaged as usual in relating to my fellow-men the simple story of the cross. I shall narrate a circumstance just as it occurred. I met with the subject of my narrative more than seven years ago. He was then teaching a little school, called in this country a hedge school. It was outside the town in the Connaught district. After some conversation with him, he came to my house, and I gave him a Bible. After a little time he left the place and, I believe, wandered to various parts of the country; some time since he came back to the adjoining parish, about two miles from the town. Last April, I went to that neighbourhood to visit an aged Protestant man In a subsequent letter Mr. W. says:"My constant theme is the finished work of Christ, persuading those whom I visit, that we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. I find, by experience, that the less we dabble in controversy with Roman Catholics the bet ter, so that we bring prominently before their minds the great truth, that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; and that no man can come unto the Father but by him. The month before last, I gave some account of the time-keeper that attended the building of the Roman Catholic chapel, quite convinced of the errors of Rome. He and stated that I had given him a Testa- has also become acquainted with two ment early in the spring. He has since readers in connection with the Irish Church called frequently at my house, and we have Mission. He is, I believe, just on the eve had many profitable conversations. He is of coming out from Rome." MR. BERRY gives the following report of his labours, and of the congregations under his care : "You will be glad to hear that our heavenly Father is blessing and sustaining me. I am in a measure realising the promise that the morning weeping seed-sowers will in the evening rejoice in the full sheaves; may we all more fully have this experience. The past (though suffering much from a hurt which prevented visiting) has been a month of much comfort, joy, and hope. I was able to preach as usual at all my stations, and had the happiness of seeing increased attendance, increased earnestness, and unmistakable evidence of a shaking among the dry bones, and among the members an evident influence of the Spirit of God. In the four little churches under my care, there is an increase of number, union, peace, and joy; also in every congregation a steady improving increase. With deep gratitude, I have to say, 'The Lord is doing great things for us, whereof we are glad.' Rahue. "I had a happy day in Rahue last week. It having been known there was to be a baptizing, a much larger congrega tion than usual was present, and much serious, solemn attention. One lady especially and a young man I saw weeping. After the sermon, I proceeded to the 'Silver River,' an appropriate name, for the water is clear like crystal and the sand like silver particles, and there I baptized two dear young friends. The day was fine, the people orderly, and Roman Catholics and Protestants said plainly by their looks, 'We respect your practice.' deacon at Cork when Mr. Trestrail presided there;-a pastor and deacon never to be forgotten in Îreland. Moate. who came first to the Baptist chapel at Athlone to hear you preach, and whom you noticed weeping, now resides at—; for communion with the church. I do hope he is constant with us, and has proposed soon to have to report from Moate a greater - remarkable cause of joy than baptism · conversion. Auburne. "Here there is cause of much thankfulness in the continued desire of the people to hear. One of the brethren said, after service last week, 'You must get us more room.' The place is literally filled. It has been more than a year on trial, and well does it prove it to be a station blessed by God. "Yesterday [August 3rd] Mr. Turner, from Doone, visited me with a request from himself and neighbours that I should establish a school there. They offer a house and garden, &c., and £15 a year, which equals £20. Would you kindly add £10? If I had there a good man that would visit in the evenings, I would expect much good; it is one of my preachingstations, and one that would yield fruit. "I made there arrangements for another Other pleasing details I will reserve till baptizing the end of this month. Having next month. We hope when you have a spent the day at Rahue, I saw and heard minister established in Rathmines, to be much to cheer me. A young man asked favoured with visits from him, and indeed me would I baptize him? I found with it will form no inconsiderable portion of joy that he read his New Testament with joy to him or us if he bestows such profit, and that he was the nephew of the visits." The List of Contributions is necessarily deferred in consequence of the Secretary's absence from London. SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DONATIONS will be thankfully received by the Treasurer, THOMAS PEWTRESS, Esq., or the Secretary, the Rev. CHARLES JAMES MIDDLEDITCH, at the Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street; or the London Collector, Mr. W. F. CAREY, 1, Vernon Terrace, Portobello Road, Kensington Park; and by the Baptist Ministers in any of our principal towns. BAPTIST THE MAGAZINE. OCTOBER, 1858. THE CHRISTIAN'S RESOURCE IN AFFLICTION. BY THE REV. J. J. BROWN. "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray."-JAMES v. 13. HUMAN life consists of alternations of joy and sorrow. These make up both the experience and the discipline of the present state. They form the chief elements which enter into individual experience, and they mark the changes which constitute the history of families and of nations. The one follows the other in rapid succession; and sometimes joy and sorrow are so intermingled that it is difficult to determine which feeling preponderates. No one is entirely free from "affliction;" no one is wholly precluded from being "merry." Now adversity depresses the soul, and then prosperity elates the mind. Joy and sorrow are frequently found mingled in the same families, ofttimes struggling in the same heart. They resemble the changeable season of spring: as at one moment the sun shines in mild, but unclouded radiance, and at another the heavens are clothed with vapour, and the refreshing shower descends; so at one instant the heart is "merry," and the smile lights up the countenance, and at the next the tears suffuse the cheeks, and chase away the transient gleam. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is designed to regulate every state in which we can be placed. Its holy and consolatory influences extend to every condition and circumstance of human life. It is intended to sanctify both our trials and our pleasures. It does not promise exemption from affliction, but it provides a resource for the afflicted; it does not secure constant joy and gladness, but it increases, purifies, and regulates them when possessed. There are many who reserve religion for special seasons and circumstances. They deem it suitable for adversity, affliction, and death. They think it can minister support in trial, consolation in sorrow, and hope in death. It enters the house with the physician, and leaves it with him also. They do not see its excellency, nor feel their need of it in prosperity. They think it detracts from their enjoyments, and casts a gloom upon their happiest moments. It interferes with the desires, affections, and pursuits which they cherish. It prescribes a dis VOL. II.-NEW SERIES. 3 0 |