venturing the expression of a hope that her sins were forgiven, she adds, "I do not know that I shall send this letter, lest these should not be the true feelings of my heart; although I humbly hope they may. Oh, may I feel what I say; I do fear to be a hypocrite." "Oh, mamma,' says she, in another letter, "I am afraid I think far more of myself than I ought. Pray for me, that I may be kept humble. I try to pray; I think, I hope, I love prayer; and yet my heart is so very hard." In another letter she refers to something in which she thought she had acted unbecomingly; she says, "I wish to be a follower of Christ,to be meek and gentle as he was,-this conduct of mine makes me very uneasy, and I pray to be forgiven. I know you pray for me, that my heart may indeed be changed. I hope I earnestly desire to be more humble." In another letter she says, "I hope I feel a desire to be a disciple of the blessed Jesus ; but my heart is so cold and hard, that I fear I deceive myself. I try to pray for strength and grace, and I do at times find much relief in prayer; but then I fear that I should mock God, by not having the feelings of my heart in my prayer. Oh, I do feel it a dreadful thing not to be feeling the words that I express to God."

Her convictions now assumed a deeper and less transitory character, and were more cordially acquiesced in and seconded by her will. "Last Sunday," says one of her letters, "I had a long conversation with Miss Whall (one of her governesses), which I very much enjoyed; she advised me to have a few minutes' conversation with Mr. Cornwell, which I did: he has made me see things as I never did before. I feel differently, in some respects, from what I did,more desire that others should be partakers of divine grace. I do not feel able to speak; but I can pray: and I do now and then drop a word to dear Sophia." Now, indeed, prayer began to be necessary to her; she says, "I do enjoy seasons of solitude, when I can get them." Hence she greatly felt an inconvenience more or less inseparable from a school life,-that of having no suitable opportunity for private devotion. She was accustomed to retire every morning to an outhouse on the premises, where she could lift up her heart to God without interruption; "then," she said, "I can pray for you and all of us; I do enjoy that season much."

Her removal to school at Norwich, while

it greatly added to her happiness, was also perceptibly followed by spiritual growth. Clearer views of the gospel, and a stronger and steadier hope are gradually to be perceived. She now began seriously to entertain the thought of making a profession of religion. Her letters on serious subjects had been hitherto written exclusively to her mamma; but in August last, in answer to a letter from me, she wrote as follows: "My ever dear Papa,-Many thanks for your kind, earnest note the other day. I have often regretted that I have not opened my mind more to you on religious subjects; but I felt a sort of timidity-I hope not shame; for I should not feel any shame in publicly declaring myself for the Lord, if I could feel sure that I had devoted myself without reserve to his service. I do desire to do so. I felt much encouragement from Mr. Brock's sermon on Sunday, from 'Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.' I hope I can truly say, 'Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief.' But I cannot always

'Read my title clear to mansions in the skies.' These doubts and fears make me very unhappy at times, and I often lie awake at night from this unhappiness. But I find great comfort in prayer and in the bible; more than I ever did." Her next letter is in a happier strain: she says, "I have spent such a happy day (Sunday) that I could not forbear to tell you. I can now hope that God has forgiven my many transgressions. The ordinance of the Lord's-Supper took place this afternoon. Dear papa, I do so long for the time when I may unite with Christ's people in commemorating his dying love. I fear my besetting sin is my temper, it so often rises; but I do trust the Lord is enabling me in some measure to overcome it." To a very dear cousin she wrote, in October last, "Oh, that I had more faith, that I could always feel that Jesus is the chiefest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely! Dearest Maria, I feel many fluctuations: sometimes I hope I have indeed determined (not in my own strength I trust) to devote myself to the Saviour; and then I feel how wicked I am. I don't seem to doubt the willingness of God to pardon even me; but then I am so often sinning without thinking of it, or feeling half so sorry as I ought for it; and then I think, what real love to the Saviour can I have, if I so easily fall into tempta

tion? I have need to pray for help to keep me from falling." She then proceeds to express her earnest desire to be baptized; and entreats her cousin's prayers on her behalf.

In some private memorandums, evidently not intended for any eyes but her own, she repeatedly refers to the same subject: the following are extracts :-"I would hope I can sometimes feel the Saviour to be altogether lovely. I have been thinking a great deal about being baptized; I think that if I have really given my heart to Christ, I ought to express my determination to follow him. The next church-meeting at Ingham takes place soon when shall I be proposed for membership? I would humbly hope I have some love to the Saviour: may I be guided what to do, and be enabled to speak to dear papa on the subject." She did not live to realize her desire; but it was well that it was in her heart!

I will not proceed any farther in extracting from her letters and memorandums; they agree with those already given, in shewing the deep earnestness of her religious feeling; and the perusal of them has filled me with satisfaction and gratitude.

This warmth of inward piety produced its full effect upon her external character. She became less solicitous about the opinion of men, and more desirous to please God who trieth the hearts: whatever in her manners had been artificial, and studied for effect, gave way to the natural, and simple, and unassuming. At the last midsummer vacation I observed a manifest change for the better in this aspect of her character; but much more so in the brief interval of health which passed after she last came home. With a considerable taste for the elegant and ornamental in dress, she latterly displayed a remarkable readiness to content herself with whatever might be assigned her, putting on "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." Her temper, too, became sweeter; she was more uniformly kind and forbearing to those about her, and more ready to give up what would have gratified herself in order to gratify others.

It does not appear that the prospect of death appalled her during her illness, though, from many expressions, it was plain that she contemplated such a result as likely. She said to her mamma, in answer to an expression of hope that

there might be good news in the morning, "Whatever is is best, mamma; I have not been afraid of death for some time." Her mamma asked her "Why not?" "Because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin." On another occasion she said, in my hearing, “I think I shall soon die." I said, "You are not afraid to die, are you?" She unhesitatingly replied, "No, papa.' I asked her, "Why not, my dear?" "Because Christ shed his blood for me."

Though her mind was often disordered during her illness, and always in the latter part of it, yet many sentences fell from her which indicated the state of her heart. Once she was overheard to say, in the language of Psalms cxvi. and xl. "I love the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of.the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings." At another time, when her sufferings were spoken of, she uttered Psalm ciii. 10: "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities ;" and proceeded, slowly and thoughtfully, with the remaining verses to the 18th, as if each verse suggested its successor, and excited the assent of her heart to its sentiment. In one of her paroxysms of suffering, her mamma tenderly and compassionately said, "Dear precious lamb!" She replied,

"Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more."

Often, during the intensest of her sufferings, she mixed with her exclamations of distress, expressions of fear lest she should be impatient, and earnest prayers for patience.

For an hour or so before her death her agony was tremendous, and her prayers for divine support and deliverance were proportionately fervent. At length the time of her relief approached, and composing herself as if for sleep, a few convulsive breathings closed the scene; the calmness of death settled on her features, and the silence of death pervaded the room so lately filled with her cries of anguish. We felt that she had left us, we trusted, for a better and a happier world.

Her funeral sermon, by the Rev. J. Alexander, of Norwich, delivered on Sunday, January 28th, to a very crowded auditory, was founded on Rev. xxi. 4: "There shall be no more death."

CHRISTIANITY A TRIED RELIGION.-It is delightful to contemplate what numbers have lived and died in the faith of Christ. Each of these has been, and is, a solemn witness for the gospel. Multitudes now on earth, and countless millions gathered together in heaven, from all generations, during these last eighteen hundred years, combine their testimony. They embraced its doctrines, reposed on its promises, obeyed its laws, and exemplified its spirit. It was the source and the distinction of their spiritual life. It found them in most dissimilar circumstances, and yet blessed them all. Some were naked savages, in brutish ignorance, and loathsome degradation; and others were blessed with all the energies and refinement and luxuries of civilization and learning. Some were slaves under the lash, and in the dungeon; and others were free as the air they breathed. Amongst them were philosophers who could traverse the region of the stars, and peasants who could but imperfectly utter their mother tongue; monarchs who lived in palaces and sat on thrones, and beggars who pined in the hovel or on the dunghill; children whose first accents were in hymns of praise to Jesus; and hoary-headed sinners who, bowing beneath the weight of years and crimes, came to Christ for the stay of their last days on earth, and then for a merciful admission into heaven. Some of them sought the Saviour when prosperity smiled, and health was strong, and many happy years appeared before them; but others came to Him when every earthly treasure had been plundered, when every hope in time was blighted, when disease and pain had dried up all consolation, and when the terrors of death and judgment loomed in upon the guilty and despairing soul. And all were saved and blessed. They trusted the gospel wholly, and drew upon it largely, for nothing else could help them. They lived in it, and by it. They entered its profoundest secrets, and tested its very essence. Yet they have never denied its truth, or depreciated its worth; but, like the queen of Sheba, they have confessed that the half of its glory had not been told. They have been as spiritual spies to track and examine the land of promise. If we ask them, they will tell us that it is a goodly land, and flows with milk and honey. Some, indeed, there have been who have brought an evil report upon it, but it is well known that they have never really seen it. They never loved or trusted or obeyed the Saviour. They reproach the banquet which they are too carnal to taste, and condemn the service, of which indeed they wore the livery, but never received the wages, nor enjoyed the honour. As for the real followers of Jesus, they encompass us as a mighty cloud, a multitude whom no man can number, ten thousand times ten thousand out of every kindred and

tribe and people. They sing their song of triumph and gratitude. "Their voice is as the voice of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunders." The murmur of unbelief, and the clamour of falsehood, are drowned in it. Eternity shall be filled with their joyful testimony, "Thou art worthy, for thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood."-From "The Excellent Glory," by the Rev. J. Aldis.

SHOULD MINISTERS ENGAGE IN SECULAR EMPLOYMENT ?-It may be asked, are ministers to be devoted entirely to their work? or are they to blend secular employment with their sacred calling, so as to maintain themselves independently of the Church? To this I would reply, that while we rejoice that there are, and have been, many good and useful men, who, while they have been diligent in the business of this life, have also laboured for, the increase and edification of the Church; yet, as a general rule it appears to be the mind of God, that ministers should be entirely devoted to their hallowed work, We think this statement may be fairly deduced from various passages of Scripture. When the deacon's office was first instituted, the reason assigned was, that the apostles might "give themselves to prayer CONTINUALLY and the ministry of the word." Surely if the apostles, endowed as they were with the extraordinary power of the Holy Ghost, found abstraction from secular affairs necessary or desirable, those who do not possess such extraordinary qualifications, require to a much greater extent, to be freed from all secular employment and anxiety. This Scripture demands the attention of both ministers and churches in the present day. The apostles would not occupy their time even with the necessities of the poor-their work was sufficient to absorb their whole attention they "gave themselves" ENTIRELY to it; and who does not admire and approve of this devotedness? who will affirm, that the work of a Christian minister is not sufficient to absorb the whole man? He has to watch for souls, as one that must give account"-to feed the Church of God to stand as a watchman upon the walls of Zion-and to declare the whole counsel of God, that he may be free from the blood of his hearers; and is this not enough to occupy the hands, and the heart, and the soul of any man? will it not be sufficient to command the physical strength of the most robust body-the mental energies of the most vigorous intellect-and the sympathies of the most enlarged heart? Who can reflect upon the entire consecration of the apostles of the Lord-who can read the counsel of the venerable Paul to young Timothy," Meditate on these things, give thyself WHOLLY to them, that thy profiting may appear to all; take heed unto

thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them, for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee;' -who can ponder these things, and not perceive the beauty and force of the following lines :

"Tis not a cause of small import,
The pastor's care demands;

But what might fill an angel's heart,
And fill a Saviour's hands."

-From the Rev. J. Milligan's Circular
Letter to the Baptist Churches in Ireland.

THE FAMILY ROD.-Sickness takes us aside, and sets us alone with God. We are taken into his private chamber, and there he converses with us face to face. The world is far off, our relish for it is gone, and we are alone with God. Many are the words of grace and truth which he then speaks to us. All our former props are struck away, and we must now lean on God alone. The things of earth are felt to be vanity; man's help useless. Man's praise and man's sympathy desert us; we are cast wholly upon God, that we may learn that his praise and his sympathy are, enough. "If it was not for pain," says one, "I should spend less time with God. If I had not been kept awake with pain, I should have lost one of the sweetest experiences I ever had in my life. The disorder of my body is the very help I want from God; and if it does its work before it lays me in the dust, it will raise me up to heaven." It was thus that Job was "chastened upon his bed with pain, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain," that after being tried, he might "come forth as gold." Sickness teaches us, that activity of service is not the only way in which God is glorified. "They also serve who only stand and wait." Active duty is that which man judges most acceptable; but God shows us that in bearing and suffering he is also glorified. Perhaps we were pursuing a path of our own, and required to be arrested. Perhaps we were too much harrassed by a bustling world, and needed retirement, yet could find no way of obtaining it, till God laid us down, and drew us aside into a desert place, because of the multitude pressing upon us. No one of the family rods is more in use than this; sometimes falling lightly on us, at other times more heavily. Let us kiss the rod, seeking so to profit by each bodily ailment, slight or severe, that it may bring forth in us the peaceful fruits of righteousness. "I know," says one, "of no greater blessing than health, except pain and sickness."-Bonar.

WHAT IS AFFLICTION?-Affliction is the dark soil in which is deposited the heavenly seed, that germinates, and brings forth fruit to the glory of God. Affliction is a furnace, in whose ardent flame the refiner of souls is consuming our human imperfections. Affliction is a rod, under whose kindly chastisement the Father of Spirits is educating us for immortality. Affliction is a baptism, from whose cleansing wave the saints of the Most High come forth fit for the marriage-supper of the Lamb. Affliction is a cup, whose bitter draught is admi

nistered by the good physician to purify our spiritual natures. Affliction is a dark cloud, on which the God of covenant has painted the rainbow of hope, and which he has irradiated with the halo of celestial glory. Would you, then, bring forth much fruit? would you be purified of remaining imperfections? would you be trained for immortality? would you be fitted for the marriage-supper? would you be sanctified in your spiritual nature? would you be encircled in the bow of promise, or ardorned with the halo of glory? You must needs suffer affliction; for "it is through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom."From "Words of Comfort for the Afflicted."

CHARITY.-Charity, in reference to other other men's sins, is not cultivated. It may sound paradoxical, but it is true, that in proportion as the Church is holy itself, it will be compassionate to the backslider; and conversely, that in a declining and lukewarm state it will be more severe in its treatment of offenders. The truth of the matter is, that love is a grace which blooms last in the garden of the regenerated soul, and the degree in which it is developed is a sure test of the state of the renewed and inner man. In the Church of Christ we are indebted to the love of God for every thing we possess. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." From this the conclusion is self-evident"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." But this cordial and full forgiveness of those who have injured us, or are supposed to have done so, is manifested too little, and there is reason to fear lest our Master should have occasion to say to us, "Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee?" Under various excuses, a malignant spirit is too often allowed to display itself. One man will absent himself from the Lord's Supper, because another is there who has offended him, although he may have made ample apology, or although he may be in entire ignorance of the feeling existing against him. Another considers it his duty to protest against sin, by keeping the penitent offender for a long time under his frowns. We need more of that truly religious spirit. which makes us unhappy when at all estranged from our brother, and will not allow us "to let the sun go down upon our wrath." A full, frank, and lasting pardon should be spontaneously granted by a good man, since his own sins are freely forgiven at the throne of grace. This is a serious subject, for we are clearly told that no answer will be given to our own prayers, till we have, from our very hearts, forgiven our brother his trespasses. From Burgess's "Eminent Personal Piety."

AFFLICTION.-God teaches some of his best lessons in the school of affliction. It is said that Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians has quite the spirit and air of a prison. That school must be truly excellent that produces such experience and wisdom.-Cecil.

BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONS.

THE DOVE.

Our readers were informed last month that" The Dove " had left the Isle of Wight on the 19th of December with a fair wind. We regret to learn, by letters from Funchal, in the island of Madeira, that on the 23rd, when in the Bay of Biscay, she encountered a storm, which, on the following day, increased in violence, and continued for several days; that one of the sails was torn into ribbons, the tiller broken, the aft-skylight stove in, and the vessel nearly engulphed, the passengers, especially the females, suffering severely from the incursions of the sea, as well as of the rain. Mr. Newbegin says, "We lifted up our hearts to God in our distress, and he heard and delivered us, and on the 6th of January we reached Funchal, where we found that within eight days six vessels had been wrecked there, as well as many others at some distance. The day following, we returned public thanks in the Presbyterian chapel for our deliverance." The letters stated that they had received much kindness, and were recovering from the very severe effects of the storm. Capt. Milbourne's letter, dated the 13th of January, is as follows:

Little did I anticipate when I left England that I should have to address you from this island. I deem it a great mercy that we had such a port to resort to. Up to the 23rd ult. our voyage was prosperous and pleasant. On the evening of that day a gale commenced from the south-west, which increased to a hurricane. At two A.M. Lord's day (the 24th) the sea was terrific. I then, for the first time, felt alarmed for the safety of "The Dove" and the lives of all on board. I hove the vessel to, but not having my storm-sails bent, she did not head the sea as she was wont to do, but often fell into the trough of the sea, which alarmed me very much. When the storm was at its height, and all was done that could be done, I deemed it my duty to let the friends, who were slumbering below, know of their perilous condition. We then gave ourselves to prayer. Before daybreak a change for the better was apparent, for which we immediately returned thanks. On the following day a sea broke in upon us, and stove in our after-skylight, a large portion of which fell into the beds on which three of the friends were resting. It was immediately secured and battened down. During all this boisterous weather we were greatly annoyed by several leaks, which wetted our beds, and rendered us all as miserable as we could well be. It was not till about the 3rd inst. that we began to have fine weather, and I could unbatten the skylight. All our clothes, beds, bedding, &c. were thoroughly soaked with salt water, which has rendered it necessary for every thing to be sent on shore.

We arrived off Funchal on the 6th. At present the wind is from the east, blowing very hard, which prevents my getting off.

P.S. Monday 15th. The weather is now moderate and fine, and at six o'clock I shall be under weigh.”—Missionary Herald.

BAPTISTS THE FIRST ANTI-STATE CHURCH

MEN.

I cannot find any class of christians who were "protesters against State-Churches in the days of Elizabeth" but the Baptists. Many protested against the State Church of the time, but not against State Churches. Many protested against the magistrate meddling too much with the Church, the Baptists alone against his meddling with it at all. They alone adopted the view now rising into universal honour, of excluding the magistrate from all jurisdiction-whether "preference, penalty, or pay" in religious matters. Mr. Jacob, of whom Mr. Hanbury boasts so much, was probably not an Independent but a Presbyterian; but even he says, "We grant that civil magistrates may, and sometimes ought, to impose good things on a true church against their wills, if they stiffly err as they sometimes may." It would go rather hardly with Baptists (granting this principle), under some Pædobaptist magistrates. Mr. Robinson, the confessed father of modern Independents, adopts, on this point, the Belgic confession: what is it? "Moreover it is their duty, not only to be careful to preserve the civil government, but also to endeavour that the ministry may be preserved, that all idolatry and counterfeit worship of God may be clean abolished, that the kingdom of antichrist may be overthrown, and that the kingdom of Christ may be enlarged. To conclude, it is their duty to bring to pass, that the holy word of the gospel may be preached everywhere, that all men may serve and worship God purely and freely, according to the prescript rule of his word." And they finish with the following damnatory clause:-"Wherefore we condemn the Anabaptists, and all those troublesome spirits, who do reject higher powers and magistrates, overthrow all laws and judgments, make all goods common, and to conclude, do abolish and confound all those orders and degrees, which God hath appointed among men for honesty's sake." Hard measure, again, under such principles, for Baptists. Even the Brownists or Barrowists admitted the fatal concession (like modern Free-Churchmen), that the magistrates ought to uphold the "true church." Thus Mr. Greenwood, in the conference with Cooper, says, "The magistrates ought to compel the infidels to hear the doctrine of the Church, and also with the approbation of the Church, to send forth meet men, with gifts and graces, to instruct the infidels." Mr. Barrowe gives the magistrate