conveyed to the tomb. At an early hour in the afternoon, the chapel in East road, City road, was opened, and was soon filled with persons who evidently were anxious to pay the last tribute of respect to an old minister and steward of God's word. Shortly after three o'clock, it was evident by the deathly stillness that the funeral had arrived. The first who entered the chapel were the ministers, who walked with measured tread down the aisle: these were Mr. Samuel Milner, Mr. George Wyard, Mr. John Hazelton, Mr. Joseph Wilkins, and Mr. Griffin. Mr. William Hawkins (son-in-law of deceased) was also present. The mourners having been conducted to their seats, the coffin was brought in, and placed in front of the pulpit, which was draped in black, as were the family pew and reading desk.

As soon as all arrangements had been completed, Mr. Griffin (successor to Mr. Jones), read a hymn, which being sung, Mr. Hazelton read the fifth chapter of St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God," &c. Prayer followed. Mr. George Wyard, sen., then delivered an address, in the course of which he said they were assembled to pay respect to the remains of an old saint, and an old minister of the Gospel. They were about to take the mortal part of their late beloved friend, and bury it. What was termed the jewel had gone, the casket only remaining. What was the exact condition of the departed soul they were unable to tell. St. John said, "It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." That was all they knew. Referring to Mr. Jones, the speaker said he was much respected; and in travelling about the country lately he had been asked if John Andrews Jones was still alive? He had been asked that question the latter end of last week, and he had to reply in the negative. Many of the quaint sayings of their departed friend would not soon be forgotten. Mr. Wyard concluded the service with prayer.

The funeral procession-which consisted of a hearse drawn by four horses, five mourning coaches, and some private carriages-proceeded to Abney Park Cemetery. In the immediate vicinity of Jireh Chapel some marks of respect were shown, many of the shops being partly closed; and many of the inhabitans were standing outside their doors, talking of the "old minister who preached for many years in Brick lane." +

Having arrived at the cemetery, the corpse was borne to the family grave, the ministers present acting as pall-bearers. A large number of friends also congregated here to bid adieu to the remains of the aged minister of the metropolis, amongst whom were Mr. William Flack, Mr. Samuel Jones, Mr. Evan Edwards, Mr. Syms, and Mr. Sack.

The ceremony at the grave was conducted by Mr. Samuel Milner, who in the course of his address said that it had been the wish of their departed friend to be buried in Bunhill Fields, and he had actually agreed with the sexton, and chosen the spot. But Bunhill Fields had closed, and the old sexton had long since died. And surely no man had merited more, if he (Mr. Milner) might use the term merit, to be buried in Bunhill Fields than he who had written the Memorials of that place. Their late departed friend used to call himself a Gillite. Some were ashamed of Gill, but he (the speaker) was not. There were no Gills

now. A more learned, good, and spiritual man than Gill never lived. He too was a Gillite. Refering to death, Mr. Milner said he had been thinking that the crysalis was a simile of death. There was the caterpillar crawling from cabbage to cabbage. Let the caterpillar be put in a box. It appears to die; but after a time it comes forth a beautiful butterfly or moth. And so their departed friend was now removed from earth his body was now crumbling and mingling with the earth, but kis soul had flown. It was quite possible that some railway might cut through that ground a hundred years hence, but the dust in that grave was in safe keeping, and when the resurrection morn came, God would bring that body up out of the grave." It was a cause for thankfulness that many members of the family were the Lord's people. They would meet their father again--not as their father, but as their brother in Christ, for there was but one Head in Heaven the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet he would be glad to see them, and they would be glad to see him. In conclusion, the speaker urged upon them to hold fast those truths which were so dear to their father, and not be ashamed of them for there is nothing to be ashamed of in the truth of God.

Mr. Wilkins, of Soho, closed the solemnities, by pronouncing the benediction.

The large number of persons-after taking the last look at the coffin which contained all that was mortal of John Andrews Jones→→ dispersed.

The funeral was conducted by Mr. Samuel Minton, of St. John street road.

Death of Mr. Thomas Celall,

PASTOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, MEETING IN ZOAR CHAPEL,

PEACOCK STREET, GRAVESEND.

ON TUESDAY, July 21st, 1868, in the morning at a quarter past seven, Thomas Wall, the Gravesend pastor, was very suddenly summoned to his account. We had just arranged to attend the funeral of Mr. John Andrews Jones (which took place on the same day), when Mr. Lane called at our office with the sad intelligence. At this late period of the month we can only record the fact, but in our September number we shall refer more fully to it.

The two following letters is all we can give this month :—

F

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EARTHEN VESSEL.

"MY DEAR SIR. Will you kindly insert the f following brief but sad account. Next month a further description of the mournful event will be sent for publication. Yours faithfully in the bonds of the covenant, "S. C. DRAYSON.

"We have to record the sudden death of Mr. T. Wall, of Zion Chapel, Peacock street, Gravesend. The mournful event occured on Tuesday, July 21st. The Church and congregation in their suffering from this sad bereavement prayerfully solicit the sympathy and help

of the ministers of the Baptist Churches, by supplying the pulpit for them in this their time of need."

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EARTHEN VESSEL.

"Gravesend, July 21st, 1868.

"DEAR SIR,-This morning on leaving my home I heard a report that our pastor, Mr. Wall, that servant of Christ, had gone to his rest. For some time he has suffered from disease of the heart; and we have sometimes been afraid that he would be taken while preaching. But the Lord sustained him in this troublesome world until Tuesday morning, July 21st. On that morning he was rising about half-past six, having an engagement in London, when he was suddenly seized with pain. He sat down in the chair, but did not speak, and expired immediately. We must say, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, and blessed be the name of the Lord." O that the prayer of his Church may be raised, that this solemn lesson may make a deep impression on all who hear it. Yours in sorrow, "A MEMBER."

Death of Mr. Elijah Packer,

OF HORSELYDOWN.

IN the Editor's absence from town, it is our sorrowing duty to announce the departure to a brighter world of his old, sincere, tried, and devoted friend, Mr. ELIJAH PACKER. This solemn event occurred at his residence on Friday morning, July 24th, 1868, after a few days' illness. During the editor's pastorate at Crosby Row and Unicorn Yard, the deceased occupied the double position of deacon and clerk, and his impressive and cheerful manner of conducting this part of the worship of God, with the beautiful and suitable reading of the hymns, his devotion to the cause, his sympathy for the poor, his "cheering word" for the cast-down, and his general characteristic for kindness to all, has endeared him to thousands of the children of God, and his name is embalmed in their memory associated with feelings of love and gratitude. To us it is a great bereavement. We have lost a good, kind, affectionate, and constant friend; but we know our loss is his everlasting gain.

We expect the Editor will next month, if spared, refer to this solemn event.

A LETTER BY THE LATE ARTHUR TRIGGS TO MISS LOUISA FRANCE.

I AGAIN hail and greet you, because you belong to Christ; peace be unto you, and love with faith, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope, the author and finisher of faith, and the author of eternal salvation; and they killed the Prince or author of life; yet He laid down His life of Himself, and He took it up again. He is the resurrection and the life, living in the presence of God for us, and saith, "Because I live, ye shall live also ;" and we being raised up together with Him, live, dead to sin, and our life is hid with Christ in God, and

cannot die any more, are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. And thus we are partakers of the first resurrection, are passed from death unto life, and cannot come into condemnation. What a miserable life professors are living, judging after the flesh, and its constant changes in feeling; and thus they do despite to the Spirit of grace, and set aside Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. But to the believers in Him He is precious, in life or death, sickness or health, sorrow or joy; and He is made of God unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. The person, fulness and salvation of Christ appears to be but little known, consequently, contending for the faith once delivered to the saints is almost obsolete, the differing parties striving for the mastery; thus the potsherds are striving with the potsherds of the earth, and confusion and evil works are manifest and my once Bethel hath been made an hole of the asp and like the cockatrice den; fair words and plausible speech were plentifully propelled from the tongue, but deceit and hypocrisy were nursed until a convenient time when it was developed by lies, and now the propagators of the same are caught in their own craftiness, and are dethroned and gone into exile. Nor will the crafty words published in the newspaper prove them to be what they desire; they, the late so-called deacons, the church, and congregation, have no more right to Trinity chapel than I have. This is enough on the subject of the doings of men who keep back the wages of the labourer which they engaged to him; but it was great mercy from the Lord that I was delivered from the mouth of the lion and the paw of bear and the uncircumcised Philistine, and I sing unto the Lord, "The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and let the God of my salvation be exalted." I live in and by and for the Lord,

"We

kept in perfect peace, with the mind stayed upon the Lord, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none on earth I deside beside thee," Jehovah, our everlasting light, our God and our glory, hallelujah. Love, blood, and salvation abound in your heart, and all those with you that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, and it is good at all times to consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself lest we be wearied and faint in our minds. And it is through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom, this is the Lord's love way, and I love it, because by living and walking in it, we learn to say, know that all things work together for good to them that love God," and are the called according to His purpose; and the purpose of God according to election must stand, each of your moving and movements makes one less, and with me the last will soon came out of the lower house into the upper to see Him as He is, &c. Cheer up, beloved, "For if God be for us, who can be against us?" and we may say continually, "The Lord is my portion," saith my soul, "therefore will I hope in Him." And we are the Lord's portion, His inheritance and His possession, joined to Him and one spirit, and it is written, "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." O sacred mystery, glorious truth, and precious, precious, precious Lord Jesus. In the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace, my Mary, with me, salutes you and your sisters, married or virgins, all one in Christ Jesus, and of Him

is said unto us, "Thy maker is thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth shall He be called." Our love also to our sisters you mention, Mrs. C, and D, the widow, her daughter, and her son Ben. thank you for your kind remembrance; the daughters send love to you. One verse to sing :→→→

I thank you for the stamps, all is well.-Yours in our precious Lord Jesus,

3, Argyll Road, Brixton Road, London, S.

A. TRIGGS.

THE EDITOR OF "THE GOSPEL STANDARD'S "ANSWER TO "A WEAKLING."

the

REALLY one is accustomed to hear so much of the editor of the Gospel Standard, of his great mind, and sound judgment, that we were fairly astonished when we read his answer in the last number of that magazine to a correspondent signing himself "A Weakling." It appears this person had upon his mind some doubts as to the possibility of falling finally from grace, which doubts were caused by some friend relating to him the circumstances of a celebrated hymn writer having committed suicide. This poor "weakling" goes with his burdened conscience to the editor and lays before him a letter. The great and learned man instead of proving the invalidness of the agreement, by remarking that very frequently, in fact almost all suicides are committed when t mind is in an unsound state, and consequently could have had nothing to do with a man's spiritual standing, he attacks the person who put the problem to the "weakling," and disposes of him thus: "You can tell him that if he likes to fall, he is quite free to do so, but that the children of God have a firmer standing, and a better warrant for their full and final safety than he is acquainted with." What a dreadful thing to tell a man, note the almost blasphemous language, "Tell him if he likes to fall, he is free to do so." If Mr. Wells had made use of such a remark, how this editor would have thundered, how he would have been shocked; it would have been worse than the Rahab business, but though I know nothing of Mr. Wells, and have never seen or heard him, I venture to say he would not have used such an expression. It really is not only shocking when viewed with regard to so solemn a thing as a man falling, but it is so senseless when viewed in the light of the doctrine of election and predestination, of which doctrines Mr. Philpott is such a firm advocate, and would have us believe he is such a strong believer in, if we may trust his writings, which is all I know of him, as I have only seen him once which was at Gower street. "Tell him if he likes to fall," fall from what I ask? If a man fall from a house top, common sense would say he must have been on the house top or he could not have fallen from it; so then it follows that before a

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