which he engaged to pay me thirty shillings weekly. Thus the Lord in bringing me, though sadly against my will, back again from Wales to London, brought me from the very verge of destitution, to the receipt of nearly a hundred and ninety pounds per annum. 'Tis the right way, and even here, Faith loves to call it so; But more when viewed from yonder sphere, I continued at the till the Lord opened the way for me into the ministry. But how he did this and how I became introduced into, and identified with the Strict Baptist body, I must defer the relation of till my next; simply adding here, that in less than six months after the Lord had brought me to a knowledge of Himself, he met with my dear wife also, while we were for a few weeks sojourning at Oxford, and from that hour to this we have enjoyed sweet fellowship together in the things of God. THE CHURCH OF OUR FOREFATHERS AT WALTHAM WALTHAM ABBEY, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHAPEL, FOUNTAIN SQUARE. [The following report is, to us, very interesting; its insertion is calculated THIS newly erected house of prayer was opened for the public worship of It has been requested of me, by this old tried church of Christ, to give an epitome of its history, in order to acquaint the churches of the same faith and practice, of the glorious interposition of divine providence, recently displayed on their behalf in their removal from Bethel to Ebenezer Baptist chapel, through which they are privileged to exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" This only known Strict Communion Baptist church in the town of Waltham, rented and assembled for the worship of God, a place called "Bethel chapel," for upwards of twenty-three years past, this place being authoritatively required of them, after a legal term, at the expiration of which they were necessitated nolens volens, to make a final exit therefrom. In the first stage of this eventful crisis, the mind of the church was expressive of Jacob's trouble, that "all these things are against me," but their cries and groans entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth concerning it. The answer speedily followed, "This is the way, walk ye in it," and before the friends bestirred themselves to any external means, a door was opened, an unsought volunteer and friend presented himself (in the hour of need) knowing the position of the church (see Luke vii. 5,) agreed to render any and every assistance (irrespective of personal aggrandizement) that lay within his power, which he has to the fullest extent carried out, in the completion of a very substantial, neat, and comfortable house of prayer, where the church and congregation may, blessed be the Lord, serve him without any fear of molestation, which place will, by divine help, and the exertions and sympathy of friends be purchased (without rental) by the church in their own time. This little despised family is a branch from the parent church first planted in the neighbourhood of Paradise row, Waltham Abbey, in the year 1729, under the pastorate of Mr. John Author. This church grew amazingly in number and grace, and at that period it occupied no small position in the annals of nonconformity and patronized by some very eminent men. In August 15th, 1764, the venerable John Davis entered upon his public ministry there, and that masterly divine and oriental scholar John Gill, D.D. (whom Dr. Newman called the great English Rabbi,) preached the ordination sermon, in the morning from these words, Ezek. x. 20, "This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar, and I knew that they were the cherubims. Mr. Samuel Burford preached in the evening. From this church, Mr. James Upton, (forty-eight years pastor of the church in Blackfriars road), went forth to preach in the 18th year of his age, and on Feb. 20th, 1785, he delivered his first sermon from the pulpit at Waltham Abbey from 1 Cor. xv. 10. These minutia may be deemed frivolous, but I venerate the men whose hearts are warm, Here Dr. W. Newman frequently preached, and I believe was sent out from this church to Bow, where he became settled. In a neighbouring house the quaint yet famous godly divine John Ryland, preached, and one old saint of God, Mr. W. Maynard, now member of "Ebenezer,” near ninety years of age, was then a child, and heard the good old preacher, Mr. Joseph Ivimy, the Baptist church historian, and Mr. Pritchard, Dr. Newman's biographer, often supplied the pulpit here. During the commencement of the present century a dark dispensation of providence came over this church of Paradise row. They were without a settled pastor for thirteen years, in which they termed themselves in a state of widowhood, and did not break bread the whole of that time. In the year 1824, a disruption took place in this church arising from the propagation of doctrinal errors by the officiating minister, Mr. K- -n. This worked disaffection in the minds of many in connection therewith, and a few deemed it expedient to withdraw themselves from church fellowship, one of whom had held the office of deacon for upwards of forty-three years. But a clear perception of the divine rights of the church, together with a keen apprehension of injured innocence, for the truth's sake, has been the marked feature in the character of this people for many years past. They soon met as of old, with one accord in one place, which was taken upon a lease of twenty-one years at £3 per annum, made suitable for the purpose, where they might worship him, for whose glory they found no sacrifice too great, with a zeal for the Lord of hosts, according to experimental knowledge; they united into a duly organized church, based upon Strict Communion principles, enjoying the full demands of conscience, and private judgment, in things pertaining unto life and godliness; nor was even then in them a known infirmity to cringe beneath the mock sceptre of any peccable lord, or to call any man master. Blessed be the Lord of life and glory wealth cannot purchase nor annihilate spiritual peace and unspeakable liberty in His Zion, this is His divine prerogative, to give or withhold. This little church began to find the place too strait for them, after receiving in 1842 another increase of eleven members from Paradise row, who came out from that place, on the entrance of that mongrel system of open-communion. After this the church thought it desirable to enlarge, or to pull down and rebuild the chapel, known at that time by the name of "Pigeon house," they then licensed a room in Bland's yard, for the preaching of the Gospel, and commenced collecting for the above purpose, when £50, was soon raised towards it; but the design was then thwarted by a more alluring device, which was, that a place suitable should be privately built, and the church could hire it at a moderate rental. This scheme was too readily acceded to by the friends, as the new project was blighted in the bud, and vividly portrayed by Cowper, in his "Table Talk," i.e., You told me, I remember, glory built The friends laboured in that place in much sorrow, but that is past; the ministration of the word was set forth and blessed, (to many a needy humble soul,) by nearly the whole staff of able ministers of the Gospel in the Strict Baptist denomination, but even that could not make a large church at Waltham Abbey. However, the steady progress of the church, and their close adherence to the truth of the Gospel, and to each other as at this present time in the new sanctuary, must be clearly visible, that the whole result is of the Lord; and may it never be other than the insignia it now bears Ebenezer, 66 a stone of help," prays yours respectfully on behalf of the W. WINTERS. church, Oct. 10, 1868. "CHRISTIAN INFIDELS." NEW BOOKS. THIS singularly paradoxical term stands forth prominently in the preface to the last new volume from the pen of Mr. JAMES GRANT, the author of God is love, and several other theological works. The title of this new book, reads thus: The Religious Tendencies of the Times: or, How to Deal with the Deadly Errors and Dangerous Delusions of the Day. By James Grant, &c. London: Published by William Macintosh, Pater noster row. This is altogether a strong and decided witness against the most fearful perversions of truth which are now poured forth from pulpit, press, and platform, in all parts of the United Kingdom. A more seasonable, or a more useful production, Mr. Grant has never given to the people. But, it is like a little lifeboat put out to sea at a time when the perilous waves are breaking and dashing on the vessel with such united force as to threaten irrecoverable ruin to craft, and crew, and all on board. Our nation, our "Protestant " country, our "Gospel England," and the visible Protestant church which stands in our midst, are in great danger of losing their power, their privileges, and their position altogether, as a Christian nation, and as a people faithful to their God. Arminianism, says Bailey, in his Lexicon, "is the doctrine of the Arminian, so called from JACOBUS ARMINIUS, who held free-grace, and universal redemption." This Arminianism, like a flood, has been coming in to inundate the churches of this land for many generations. It has almost entirely driven back the river of electing love and of eternal life; that is, so far as the public ministry of the doctrines of grace are concerned. But very few men comparatively speaking dare to be faithful to the truth of the Gospel in these times. Moreover, from these floods of Arminianism, other poisonous streams are gushing out in all directions, until, as Mr. Grant says in his preface, "Never was there a time in the annals of Christianity, in which the religion of Jesus was exposed to so many and such fierce assaults from its foes." Depend upon it, this is true; and very few have suffered more severely in the conflict than ourselves. Three times have we endeavoured to establish a weekly witness to the truth as it is in Jesus; but the enmity and powerful forces of the enemies have driven us back, thrown us down, triumphed over us, and while our foes are rejoicing over our ruin, our friends (?) if ever we had any, are flying over to the hosts of our adversaries as fast as they can do so. Now is the time to read the prophet Joel. We had almost said, Satan has set up an immense number of intoxicating drug palaces, in which the people may drink in Arminianism, Free-willism, Fullerism, Annihilationism, Ritualism, and so on; until, there is indeed an appropriateness in the alarming voice of the Lord by the prophet Joel, "Awake, ye drunkards, and weep, and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, for a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number;" and how true is the following: "the meat-offering and the drink-offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; THE LORD'S MINISTERS MOURN !" We almost fear to make any effort or we would willingly take this bold testimony of Mr. Grant's, and read it, with notes and comments, in the streets, in the villages, in the schools, in the chapels; yea, everywhere where our voice, in sounding out the alarms contained in this book might be heard until many must awake from their present lethargy and indifference. Mr. James Grant has gone into some of the dens of Deadly Errors, he has taken hold of the lions by their beards; and he has given them a sound shaking; as we will show next month. THE DENS, AND THE DIRT OF OUR ENGLISH PEASANTRY. WHENEVER We take up The Gardener's Magazine, and look into its contents, (although we do not personally know the editor,) we silently say "What a first-class, noble-minded philosopher, philanthropist, and genuine Christian, this Shirley Hibberd must be!" There is stamped upon every page of this paper, such evidences of greatness of mind, and of practical knowledge in every branch of floriculture, botany, gardening, and nursery work, as must commend it to the grateful esteem of many thousands. One article on the great contrast between the dens and the dirt of many thousands of the English, Irish, Scotch, and Welsh peasantry, and the beautiful cots, and cottage gardens, here and there to be seen, is so powerful in its descriptions and suggestions, that we could wish every farmer, land-owner, and cottager could read it; and lay it well to heart. If the huts, the dens, and the dirty deserts, where thousands exist, could be turned into clean neat cottages, with well cultivated plots of garden-ground, beer and brutalism would give way to sobriety, thrift, and a love of peace and order; and the moral and social advantages to all classes would be incalculable. One little paragraph caught up at random, from the bottom of one of the pages of this Gardener's Magazine, must suffice now. "A garden is a beautiful book, writ by the finger of God; every flower and every leaf is a letter. You have only to learn them—and he is a poor dunce that cannot, if he will, do that—to learn them and join them, and then go on reading and reading. And you will find yourself carried away from the earth by the beautiful story you are going through. You do not know what beautiful thoughts grow out of the ground, and seem to talk to a man. And then there are some flowers that seem to me like over-dutiful children: tend them but ever so little, and they_come up and flourish, and show, as I may say, their bright and happy faces to you." The Religious Tendencies of the Times; or, How to Deal with the Deadly Errors, and Dangerous Delusions of the Day. By James Grant. Published by William Macintosh. Under the heading, "Christian Infidels," we have given a notice of this weighty volume. Let the popular ministers of the day well understand one thing; in this important book Mr. Grant has not hesi tated faithfully to charge the majority of the men who occupy the pulpits of our day with a most fearful departure from the Gospel of the grace of God. He says distinctly, "They preach another Gospel than that of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of them has a Gospel of his own, of which Satan cordially approves, because nothing could more effectually do his work." What does this mean? It means nothing more nor less than that, "in most of our present pulpits," the gentlemen who occupy them are not the servants of God at all, they are not the ambassadors of Christ in any measure, they are really in disguise, the vassals of that creature of whom it is said, "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made ;" and he deceived the woman, seduced, and led her and her husband into awful transgression, a transgression which involved their posterity in misery, sorrow, bloodshed, and ruin inexpressibly woeful and overwhelming. And is it a fact, that the men who Occupy most of the pulpits in our day, are only helping on the great delusion? That the gentlemen deacons who invite and pay them, are auxiliaries to the furtherance of Satan's kingdom? That the immense congregations who give their large subscriptions to support their ministers, and who surrender themselves to their teaching, are simply the blind devotees of a blinded ministry, both of whom, the Saviour said, must fall into the ditch? What, is this the plight we poor English people are reduced to? Are we not only in danger of being deceitfully caressed by the Romish pope, his pontiffs, cardinals, doctors, &c., but are our professed Protestant advocates, who stand in most of our pulpits only of that class of whom Paul to the Corintians wrote, when of them he said, they "preach another Jesus," they are "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ ?" And then, with all the coolness and authority imaginable he adds, "And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." What! we ask again, is this our condition as a professing Christian people? If Mr. Grant has not, or cannot, shew that this charge is founded on, and proved by, indisputable evidence, we say, he ought not to write any more of these books; but, if like Paul, he will back up these solemn assertions by proof; if like Paul, he can add, "I say again, let no man think me a fool," (and we certainly do not think Mr. Grant, in this book, is either a fool or a false witness,) then, if this is our condition, we call upon the respectable publisher of this book to have large posters posted up in every part of the united kingdom, with these words on them, Treason in the pulpits, delusion in the pews. See Mr. James Grant's last work on 'Our Dangers, and our Duties,' and we would call upon every man who occupies professedly the position of a minister of the Gospel, to go, with all speed and earnestness, to the throne of grace with that prayer of David's, Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." And we would, finally, call upon all who are really concerned about their souls' salvation, to take heed who and what they hear, for if Mr. Grant has not uttered a solemn and truthful warning to them all, we are mistaken. But we have not done with this subject yet. An Ancient Cobbler. Two hundred years ago, perhaps more, there lived in the city of London a cobbler, named Samuel How. He mended shoes and studied the Bible during the six working-days, and on Sundays he preached the Gospel to a few people over whom he was placed as their spiritual pastor. À clergyman who resided in that part of the city, derided the idea of a cobbler preaching; he said, indeed, no man out of the National Church, and not educated for, and duly initiated into its ministry, either could or should preach. The cobbler's friends challenged the clergyman to give Samuel How a text, and then to come and hear him preach the sermon. It is a fact, well authenticated, that the clergyman did both. The ancient print, which I have seen, shows the clergyman entering the cobbler's stall, and presenting him |