THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN PARIS.

GLORIOUS was the faith of the apostles when looking out upon the Greek and Roman world covered with idolatrous institutions, and with political organizations cast in a despotic mould; the kingdom of heaven upon this earth being as yet only as a grain of mustard seed, they could feel the conscious conviction in their hearts that the Word of God would, nevertheless, have free course and be glorified. I never realized so fully the strength of that faith as when beholding, in Paris, in every direction, the domineering influence of the Papacy, opposing itself in every form to the entrance in the minds of the people of the simple truth as it is in Jesus. In its desire to attain a stronger hold on earthly power, the Roman Church has permitted the State, in every Catholic country, to subordinate her influence to political purposes. In France, it is the sword first, religion afterwards. The apparent helplessness of the conflict of Protestantism with Romanism in that country, is as liable to be impressed on the natural mind as to constitute a great temptation to those who, in Paris, profess religion, to cease from any aggressive effort, and I attribute to the deadening effect of yielding to that temptation the little energy displayed by the pastors and teachers of several of the English congregation in Paris; which languish on without increase of spirituality and energy from year to year.

Seeing that God works by human instrumentality in the extension of his Gospel, that his Spirit is as powerful as on the day of Pentecost, the opposition presented should only serve to stimulate Christian zeal. All this imposing outward display of the Romish Church, has all the unsubstantiality of a phantom, in respect to opposition to divine truth; the reliance of the Roman Church herself for the maintenance of the power she wields is chiefly on numbers, and the cohering power of the parts of the vast composite fabric, ever becoming more diverse, instead of gaining strength with time, are thus becoming more and more weakened.

Faith-not according to a human estimate of what faith should be-but coming up to the divine standard, is required to war against this power. Success is involved less in the number of those engaged in an aggressive warfare than in the character of their weapons.

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In an upper room in Paris, recalling that in which the apostles once assembled, awaiting the coming of the Spirit, may be found the germ of that instrumentality which, in the belief of the writer, is destined to prepare the way of the Lord in that gay, and dissolute, and priest-ridden capital. I allude to what is known as the

French Baptist church, the congregation of which assembles in an edifice in the Rue des Bons Enfants, the lower floors of which are devoted to various purposes. The outside wayfarer, however, is arrested by the words, Culte Evangelique. Two services. are held each Sunday, the one in French, the other in English, each being well attended. The pastors, M. Dez and M. Lepoids, are both Frenchmen, but the former preaches in English with remarkable ease, and his sermons are marked by a power and eloquence which will be long remembered by one who has once listened to him. During the period of the Exhibition there was an immensely full pulpit supply of English and American brethren, and it is to be hoped the present notice will be the means of making the church better known to our Baptist brethren visiting Paris. A fund is already established, and in course of gradual augmentation, for the erection of a separate edifice. The American Baptist Board has contributed a small sum annually to the support of the chapel, and will, no doubt, aid the new enterprise. The evidences of a living faith are not wanting among the members of the congregation; and it is to be hoped that the ministrations in the new edifice, blessed by the influences of the Spirit, may result in a large accession to the number of the faithful.

MOUNT ZION CHAPEL, SUNDAY SCHOOL, ST. MATTHIAS' ROAD, STOKE. NEWINGTON GREEN.-FIRST ANNIVERSARY was held Lord's-day, October 20th. Three sermons were preached; morning by Mr. Cornwell, afternoon by Mr. Kaye, evening by C. W. Banks. On Tuesday, the 22nd, a number of friends took tea after which a public meeting (very greatly enlivened by the Walthamstow singing class, who kindly attended and sang pieces of sacred music at intervals), was held in the chapel. Prayer was offered by Mr. Lee. A few remarks from Mr. Cornwell. Firstannual Report was read by the Superintendent, showing the proceedings of the first year, and closing with a prayer from his fellow labourers; after which, he said, No doubt the question would be asked by some in the meeting that did not understand the routine of Sunday schools, What kind of teaching do you give the children? In answer to this he said, we have no confessional, where the children are taught to confess to sinful creatures like themselves; we put no Ritualistic Prayer Book into their hands to teach them to pray to saints, and to believe in the transubstantiation of bread and wine to be the real body and blood of Christ, as taught in our neighbourhood; but we endeavour to teach them the. love of God as revealed in his holy Word;

and, in doing so, by the help of God, we find it the easiest way to get at the hearts of the children, and also have often been pleased to hear the teachers use the love of God as their principal theme of teaching. C. W. Banks was called upon to move the adoption of the Report. In doing so, he noticed three grand features:-1. Simplicity; 2. Prayer; 3. Appeal to the people for pecuniary aid; he also said he felt deeply interested in our welfare, being a little cause that he had known from the commencement; he also could sympathise with brother Cornwell in his trial and affliction having been in the same path himself, and he prayed that God would fortify his mind, and help him on his way. and he hoped the people would take care of him. Mr. Stanley, in a kind spirit, seconded the adoption of the report. Mr. Battson said, twelve months ago we met at the birth of the school, and now we meet again to celebrate its first birthday; he said, the school is a noble work, and with careful nursing it will grow up a mighty plant, and, under the blessing of God, good will come out of it. He proposed Mr. Cornwell as president, and Mr. E. Trotman as treasurer and secretary to the school. Mr. Lee, in rising, said he had much pleasure in seconding Mr. Cornwell as president, and Mr. E. Trotman as treasurer and secretary. He then spoke on the necessity of Sunday schools, and the good resulting; which he corroborated by mentioning one of the many incidents that came under his notice, he having travelled many thousands of miles by land and by water. After which he concluded by exhorting the teachers to follow on in the good work, asking the friends to support them in their work. Mr. Baugh, after speaking of the notorious neighbourhood in which we are placed, gave an excellent and encouraging address, and Mr. C. Cornwell pronounced the benediction. Thus ended, at 10.25, the best and most lively meeting we ever had.-W. MASLEN, Superintendent.

AN EXPLANATORY NOTE FROM

MR. GEO. WYARD, SEN.

THESE are certainly not times when the aged and faithful ministers of the Gospel should be divided by little misunderstandings. Never was it was more desirable that all the truthful servants of the Lord should be banded together in faith, fellowship, and service and we trust the following kind, conciliatory, and explanatory note will reconcile the aggrieved. We regretted exceedingly the affliction endured by the venerable George Murrell, arising out of the late division. We could heartily have wished that the church should have been kept together until the Lord was pleased to call him home; but we have been thankful to learn from a Christian brother who frequently visits St. Neot's, that although a new chapel has been built nearly opposite Mr. Murrell's, and is filled; and although

Mr. Wyard has large audiences in the hall where he preaches, still, Mr. Murrell's congregations are as large, or nearly as large as ever. We will hope, therefore, that of these divisions, new causes, and apparently new systems of preaching, some good, in some way, will result. We give Mr. Wyard's letter as sent us.-ED.

Dear Mr. Editor,-I regret to have again to call the attention of the churches to the unhappy circumstances which have taken place in connection with the late co-pastorate of my son at St. Neot's. I am sorry that the words which I employed in my letter to Mr. Murrell, (with respect to dutyfaith) were capable of such a construction as they have received; and since from that construction many persons have been made to believe that I have changed my theolological views, it is but right that I should fully and fairly state what I intended by the language I used. The clauses in question are as follow:

"God's command is the only rule and authority; by this we should always abide. And for such a course (as the invitationary and exhortative system) there does appear to be in the word both precept and precedency, while for the other there is only inference and certain conclusions, deducible from certain premises laid down after a logical form."

By the words "For such a course there does appear to be in the word both precept and precedency," I meant that, if we interpreted Scripture by the sound rather than by the sense of it, there are many passages which appear (but only appear) to support the doctrine known as "duty-faith."

With regard to the following clause, which reads thus, "For the other there is only inference and certain conclusions deducible from certain premises laid down after a logical form;" by "the other" I intended the opposite course, that is, that extreme at which some have arrived in opposing Mr. Fuller's system. For while the advocates of one extreme would teach the unconverted that it is their duty to believe savingly in Jesus Christ, those who advocate the opposite assure the ungodly that it is not their duty to believe at all. Hence I intended to say that, while the advocates of "duty-faith" had the appearance of scriptural authority, those who insist upon the other extreme have not an example in Scripture for their guidance, the only possible support for their statements being inferential.

In my own ministry, while seeking to avoid both extremes, I have taught that saving faith is the gift of God, arising from vital union to Christ under the new covenant; for the exercise of which those who are not interested in that covenant are not responsible; their responsibility being identical with that of Adam their only federal head, and being bounded by that law under which they are created. Hence I have endeavoured to show that their obligation under the Gospel dispensation is

such only as arises from the law of nature under which they stand, that law requiring them to hear the Gospel when opportunity is afforded, to believe its statements, and to obey its moral precepts.

Allow me again, Mr. Editor, to express my sincere regret that my words should have been so placed, or that I should have used such words as, without the explanation given, might very naturally lead to the construction put upon them in the pamphlet before referred to. Upon a closer inspection of what I then wrote, I must confess the sense put upon my words in the "plain statement" to be such as an upright mind might honestly arrive at. It was a sense of the injustice which seemed to be done me by the implication of a statement expressed in that pamphlet, which prompted my letter inserted in your magazine of last September, in which I described the implication as being "basely false and wickedly cruel." And being convinced, upon mature consideration, that the words I unguardedly used, under exciting circumstances, and the order in which they appear will justify the construction complained of, I feel it right to confess thus publicly my regret for having used expressions in the said letter which reflect upon the moral characters of Mr. Palmer and Mr. Atkinson, and I hereby beg to recall the same. I venture also to express my hope that the explanation thus given will clear my own character in the estimation of the churches, and that the unhappy differences which have existed, may henceforward give place to that love and confidence which should ever characterize the servants of our common Lord. I remain yours in the Gospel,

GEORGE WYARD, Sen.

AN APPEAL FROM SPAIN. DEAR SIR,-It may not be known to all of your readers that in the year 1867 there exists in Europe a country where the Protestant religion is forbidden by law, and that for its subjects to profess it or attempt to promulgate it renders them liable to imprisonment, suffering, and death. That country is Spain, once the first power in Europe, but now sunk as a nation to the lowest state of moral degradation. Here Popery is all powerful, and its fruits are fully seen in the ignorance and abject servility of the people to the priesthood who take care that the gross darkness which envelopes the land shall not as far as they can prevent it be dispelled by the glorious light of the blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shining into their midst. As however, it is impossible to prevent the natural sun from shining upon our earth, so is it impossible, when the Holy Spirit pleases, to keep the Sun of righteousness from shining into men's hearts, and this God is doing, by means of the same blessed power, in Spain, from whence the cry has arisen for the word of life as you will see by the enclosed appeal,

which I should be glad for you to publish. The writer thereof is a French pastor well known to me, I having visited him in the autumn of last year, when I made a short excursion into Spain, but for the reasons therein mentioned I cannot give his name nor that of the Spaniard who writes, as it would subject the latter to all the consequences before mentioned. I have, however, said enough to guarantee the genuineness of the appeal. These poor Spaniards who are longing after the word of life are willing to brave the dangers of the law, if they can but get the pure word of God to read in their own language, and I am satisfied that many of your readers will cheerfully respond to their cry, and that I shall be enabled to send them the unadulterated word of life, so that they may be able to read in their own tongue the wonderful works of God. So great is the darkness overshadowing this unhappy country, owing to its entire subjugation to the Man of Sin and his priests, and the minds of the people are sunk to so low an ebb as regards knowledge either human or divine, that perhaps at the present day there does not exist in Europe so ignorant a population as that of Spain, and the consequent apathy arising from their ignorance (of which they are not aware) is such that they have no desire whatever to lift themselves out of their deplorable state of ignorar ce, and certainly the priests will not help them to do so, for if they did they know full well that their calling would be in danger, it being impossible for Popery and enlightenment to be united. But as the Christian is aware that the entrance of God's word gives light as well as life, he cannot look upon such a state of things with unconcern; and the Spirit which animated Paul of old when God was pleased to open his eyes, animates him now, so that the question "What wilt thou have me to do ?" is frequently arising from his heart when, under the deep sense of his own indebtedness as well as responsibility, he hears of cases such as the present, and this leads him to action as well as resolution, the more especially when he remembers the Master's acknowledgment of any work done for his poor disciples, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." May the Holy Spirit so work upon the hearts of your readers as to cause them to come to the help of their poor Spanish brethren, and by the circulation of the word of life may a large and effectual door be opened eventually for the preaching of the everlasting Gospel in that country. Any contributions which may be sent to me I will acknowledge in your journal.

JAS MOTE. 33, Bucklersbury, London, E.C. Dec. 1867.

[TRANSLATION.]

In the midst of the disquiet of Spain, the Lord carries on his work, and employs the trials which men suffer as a means of making them sensible of their

spiritual misery and their need of heavenly consolations. If it is the duty of all Christians to work for the salvation of souls, the evangelization of Spain especially claims the attention of French Protestants, and it is desirable that a religious society should undertake this work, and pursue it with the intelligence, the energy, and the prudence which it demands.

May there not be found, in some one of our great towns, two or three members of our church with hearts touched by the anguish of these thousands of Spaniards who are thirsting for truth, for holiness, and for peace? May it please God to arouse the consciences of many Christians, and to incline their hearts in favour of this unhappy people, so closely connected with us by language, character, and origin.

Pending the formation of a committee, I wish to enlist the sympathies, the prayers, and the support of all who, either in France or in any other countries, are interested in the advancement of the kingdom of God, in order that I may be placed in a position to distribute the Holy Scriptures and to publish some of our best tracts, in the Spanish language.

The communications and counsel of my brethren will not be less precious to me than their gifts.

I take the liberty of begging those who have it in their power to place copies of the Holy Scriptures in the hands of the Spanish refugees in France, Switzerland, and Belgium. The Word of God will be almost always gladly and thankfully received.

In order to give an idea of the wants which have to be satisfied, I venture to communicate some extracts, necessarily very incomplete, from the letters of a Spaniard. I withhold his name. When

we are writing of Spain, the introduction of initials or names of places or persons may compromise the position, the liberty, and often the life of our friends. Discretion is, therefore, indispensable, even though it prevent our citing facts calculated to awaken interest and stimulate liberality.

August 16, 1867.

We beg you, in the name of God, to send us two Bibles, or at least a Bible and a New Testament, so that we may have the ineffable gratification of being able to read and hear the Word of God, which we ask on our knees. By granti ng us this favour the Word of God will be made known to poor souls who are thirsting for it, and who know no more of it than the We would have read it even with the notes of the Church of Antichrist; we have tried to sell the few clothes which some of us still possessed; but we found it impossible to raise the sum of fifteen duros (£3), which is asked for the version of San Miguel.

name.

August 28, 1867.

Since I received the Bible, two New Testa ments, and three little tracts, these books have not ceased to pass from hand to hand, I am infinitely rejoiced to witness the avidity of these poor souls for instruction in the truth. They say to me: "It is indeed true! It is indeed well written and explained! Everybody may understand these books, for nothing could be more simple and clear."

If you can, send me one more Bible, a prayer-book, and a hymn-book.

Salute all our brethren, and beg them not to forget us in their prayers. We should be glad to receive some controversial books, which would be useful to us.

GEORGE COOK, AND THE CAUSE OF GOD AT IRTHLINGBOROUGH.— DEAR BROTHER,-Being a constant reader of "THE EARTHEN VESSEL,' I have watched with intense interest the rise and of progress many causes of truth, especially during the rise and progress of many, causes of truth, especially during the last few Is it not a pleasing and cheeryears. ing fact that even in these days of spiritual declension some are able to report progress? I have read some very well written reports of very encouraging meetings held in Mr. George Cook's chapel, Irthlingborough, and also a tract written by him entitled, "The Gospel; What is it, and who opposed it?" And being in the neighbourhood on Lord's day evening, November 3rd, 1867, I felt very anxious to hear and see him; and should have called upon him before the time of evening service, but when I arrived, to my great astonishment I found between 700 and 800 persons in the street. Upon making inquiry, I learned that a funeral service was to be conducted by the object of my search. Mr. Cook walked in front of the coffin through the crowd into the chapel where he conducted a very solemn and impressive service; I shall never forget the prayer. With all his might he wrestled with God, he evidently was in right earnest when he asked the Lord to bless the church, congregation, and schools; but when he besought Heaven, in a very especial way and manner, to bless, support, and comfort, the sorrowing mother, he was in such agony of soul, and prayed so earnestly, that the big drops

of perspiration trickled down his face, the people were affected to tears, and the mother lifted up her head and wept aloud. The chapel was crowded in every part at this service, which was brought to a close about a quarter before six o'clock.

Mr. Cook left the chapel for a few minutes, but ascended the pulpit at six o'clock and preached a most powerful sermon. First, the brevity of life and time and the solemnities of death and eternity. Secondly, the origin, powers, immortality, value, natural condition, and destiny of the soul. Thirdly, of salvation as a deliverance from sin, degradation, the world, Satan, misery, death and hell. Fourthly and lastly, of salvation as a restoration to all good, to holiness, happiness, honour and heaven. The whole Gospel was preached, saints were built up, seekers encouraged and sinners warned; and I am quite sure that the young pastor of the Baptist church retired to rest on the 3rd of Nov. 1867, "with his hands pure from the blood of all men." I came away praying in my heart, O Lord, send many such earnest, fearless, bold, and praying men into thy vineyard. I have since learned that eleven have been added to the church at Irthlingborough lately. Let us bless the Lord for what he has done and is doing. Let us look upward, take courage, and go ahead. The Lord is doing very many great and wonderful things in the kingdom of grace, bless his holy name. "Arise, O Lord, send prosperity." My dear brother, we have lost several brave soldiers lately, Parks, Palmer, and Abrahams. Doudney, is not well, and Cook is very ill; may the Lord spare your valuable life to us a little longer if it be his will. Mr. Cook has not fought so many battles as you, and it strikes me he never will. He is tall and thin; about twenty-four years of age, and is (it is thought) consumptive; the Lord can do great things, may he remove the physical indisposition and send him much prosperity. Yours in Jesus, B. M. K.

MR. JAMES WELLS: AND MR. NEWMAN HALL IN AMERICA PREACHING TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

То

THE EDITOR OF THE "EARTHEN
VESSEL."

DEAR SIR,-You are aware that Mr. Hall, of Surrey chapel, London, has been in America several weeks, and has been preaching to thousands of people in every large city. On Sunday, November 3rd, he preached four times in Brooklyn, each time to about 2,500 people, thousands went away each time, not being able to get into the churches. Never has there been such a time since the days of Whitfield in America.

But while Mr. Hall has been preaching to thousands in every kind of church except the Baptist, to satisfy the latter, part of a sermon preached by Mr. Wells on Sunday

morning, August 11, 1867, "Prosperity and Adversity," appeared in a Baptist paper, The Christian Press; a copy of which was sent to nearly every Baptist pastor in the United States; and it was read by thousands, and on the following day letters came to the editor asking, Why did you not publish all of that sermon? you must do so in the next edition. So out came all the sermon. The Baptists of America would welcome Mr. Wells as a true Baptist, and allow him to preach in their churches, or most of them if he were to come out to America. They would not like all he had to say; still, no doubt, great good would attend the word spoken by this truly sent servant of the Most High God. His is the preaching that we want in these parts. We cannot find anything to encourage us on our way; but all is despondency. The best that is preached is-You must come down to a certain standard, or else we cannot have any sympathy with you; the other is, You must be and do so and so, and join the church, and then you are all right. Such is the state of things. Still there are thousands in this land that would like to see honest men of God sent to preach to them; men who give the glory to God.

Is there no one of all the thousands of Gospel preachers in England that feel they are sent to preach in any place but England? Do they not read "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature?" While men come out here of the mongrel school, and gain thousands of friends, is there no one on the side of truth that will come and tell of the Saviour who found them out, and sent them to preach His truth to Greeks, Jews, and Gentiles? I do hope to see something in answer to this in the VESSEL in a few weeks. Cannot Mr. M'Cure come this way home to Australia ? Let us know about the matter.

Mr.Editor, how is your Tabernacle getting on? I will get all I can for you. The friends out here gave a little towards Mr. Wells's Tabernacle, and are waiting to do the same for you. I should feel great pleasure in receiving any amounts if you will make it known in the VESSEL. You are made very useful in going from place to place in Old England, preaching the Gospel to thousands of his dear people. May you live still to a good old age to carry the same from town to town, and from village to village in the land of Gospel truth, so prays yours by the grace of God, ROBERT LEE.

51, Nassau street, Brooklyn, New York.

ZION, GOLDINGTON CRESCENT. -That beautiful, and most pleasantly situated Baptist chapel, built by the exertions of the late beloved Mr. James Nunn is gone out of the denomination. This is to us most painful; but it is a solemn proof of the lack of united zeal, and of evangelical labour in our connexion. We would freely criticise this loss; but we should tread too heavily somewhere, therefore we only give a few lines from a note received. Our