NEW BOOKS. DO YOU BELIEVE & OBEY? lieve a brighter day would dawn upon those parts of our Zion where even the muchdespised Particular Baptists dwell. It is to us a most singular fact that, while the ordinance of baptism by immersion "The Dying Command of Christ; or, is increasingly disputed and neglected, the The Duty of Believers to celebrate weekly Lord's Supper is made more and more prothe Sacrament of the Lord's Supper." By minent. What does this mean? We hope the Author of "God is Love ;"Our Hea- too much stress is not laid upon the ordivenly Home;" &c. &c. London: Virtuenance itself. Perhaps no Scriptural eviBrothers and Co., Amen Corner; 136 pp. dence can be adduced why the Lord's (2s.) Without entering into any discussion upon the question of weekly communion, we may say this is a book of much importance and value to the Church of Christ at this time. The author has bestowed immense labour, manifesting a delightful Christian spirit, and throwing his whole heart and soul into the argument-aiming at one thing" to bring all denominations of Christians to a sense of their culpability in systematically disregarding the will of Christ." For years we have grieved over the multitudes of believers who never "do this in remembrance" of their dying Lord. They have (we hope) in heart repented, in life reformed, in Jesus Christ believed, and in the essentials of the Gospel they have become united. They hear the truth, and help to support the cause and kingdom of our Lord and Saviour; but prayer-meetings, baptizing, the Lord's Supper, and associated church communionthey almost perpetually neglect and turn away from. We have sorrowfully witnessed this for a very long time. If, therefore, the great stir now making to persuade the churches to a more frequent communion, should result in constraining total neglecters to bethink themselves, and seriously to listen to our Lord's most sacred injunction-"THIS DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME''-we shall be glad indeed. There is no reason on earth-yea, we believe there is none in heaven-why our churches should not be twice, thrice, or four times as large as they are-only that multitudes of believers too much neglect those ordinances wherein the real devotion of the heart and soul to the Lord is practically seen. Why is this? The fault mainly lies with the churches themselves. Ministers, deacons, and members altogether, we believe, are in this respect, much to blame. Let them not be angry with us: let them not be careless of the well-being of those who sit with them beneath the sound of the Gospel. Let stumbling-blocks and hindrances be removed; let loving-kindness and tender mercies fill the souls of our Christian people; let holy zeal and pure decision for God, for truth, and for the happiness of the people, animate our whole lives; and we must be We Supper should not be observed every Sabbath; but there are some difficulties in the way-in some places at any rate. We cannot now look this question fully in the face; but we can recommend Mr. Grant's volume to the careful perusal of our readers. The spirit evinced in this volume is excellent; the author is evidently getting nearer the cross; the Saviour and His Institutions are increasingly esteemed: the result is an ardent desire to glorify the HEAD, and do good to the members. carefully commend this book to all who are living, either in the neglect of the ordinance altogether, or who merely to quiet conscience now and then attend to it. It will be useful to all; and then, if they will read Dr. Spencer's elegant volume (published by Thomas Nelson and Sons), entitled, "The Banqueting House."-they will, under the Divine blessing, realize a wholesome spiritual feast, arising from a sacred unfolding of all the different branches of that great and God-like injunction, "This do in remembrance of Me!" And like Toplady, they will sing "From whence this fear and unbelief? Which, Lord, was charged on Thee? The whole of wrath divine: Turn, then, my soul, unto thy rest, By "The Present Dissatisfaction, and the Future Happiness of the Saints." William Flack, pastor of the Baptist church meeting at Salem Chapel, Wiltonsquare, New North-road. London: J. Paul. When Edward Blackstock came to supply at Zoar Chapel, Great Alie-street, in 1832, it was November outside and all fog and cold, and cramp and desolation inside; and after his first sermon, he heard the deacons criticising him severely. Poor fellow; he felt ill; and wished himself away. Satan said, "Ah, London is the place to test a man's ability for preaching." Down went poor Blackstock's heart into his shoes: and all who saw him that Sunday evening pitied him from their very soul. But this did him good. It flung him clean out of himself; and then he fell entirely into the dust before the Lord; and in came many blessed scriptures, revealing in his heart the love and faithfulness of the Lord his God; and from thence he went on preaching with great power; so that his host said, "Latterly, we have had many preachers whom the people like best at first; but your preaching is better and better as we hear on." Thus poor Edward was encouraged. Similar to this has been the course with William Flack. When he first came to London from the Cambridge flats, almost everybody thought he was a flat to think of being a London pastor; and some of them tried hard to hurl him back into the fens again; but William has more good stuff about him than appears at first. If he is not a powerful orator, he has had three things on his side. First, a gracious Providence has wrought for him; second, a pure spirit has wrought in him; thirdly, a large amount of patient endurance has upheld him; and hence he grows in usefulness, in the affections of his people; and his confidence in God makes him bolder and happier in the work wherein his very soul can revel with great delight. The sermon just published gives evidence of careful study, of growing ability, and of an earnest desire to be useful in Zion. We wish the preacher and his printed sermon all the favour a gracious God may see well to bestow, "The Adjuster Adjusted." A second reply to Mr. Philip Pugh. By SAMUEL COZENS. London: published by Robert Banks, 9, Crane Court, Fleet Street; G. J. Stevenson, 296 pp. 2s. Mr. Cozens says, in his preface to this edition, "My first edition of two thousand had a very quick sale, and met with a very gracious reception by many men of learning, of letters, and of high standing in society, and in the church." This is a high recommendation of the work. We could not write such a book for a thousand worlds. Nature gave Samuel Cozens a war-like bias; and having caught Philip Pugh he has pummelled him most desperately. The Primitives send out a Quarterly called The Christian Ambassador. Its editor took pity upon poor Philip Pugh, and turned round to thrash Samuel Cozens with all his might; calls him "small game;" and says he is "one of those small men who can only force themselves to the surface of society, and secure public attention by their powers of mischief; and who, for the sake of notoriety, rather than with malicious intention, are ever and anon producing commotion and trouble by the exercise of their mischievous powers." We wonder how Samuel looked when he first read this! Beyond all doubt, he searched into his motive, and having assured himself that was right, he then re-read his book, and believing it to be no fruit of a mischievous mind, but rather the result of a solemn conviction of the necessity of defending the truth, up he jumps. "I'll not be beat," 46 Another edi tion!" To work he goes revising, printing, and publishing; and here you have a thick, solid volume, as full of powder, pepper, and protestant principle, as it can hold. Good George Abrahams thinks he is the successor of Huntington; Spurgeon is said to be a greater man than ever George Whitfield was; but Samuel Cozens comes in like another Martin Luther to blow the Arminian heresies to the winds. Among so many little men who can do nothing in these days it is cheering here and there to find a "Stonewall Jackson." "The Bunyan Library"-published by Messrs. Heaton and Son (Freeman office), Warwick-lane, London. The two last vols., ix. and X. are very superior books. Christmas Evans is referred to in an article by Mr. Messer, who having travelled so much in Wales, is well adapted to review that most worthy and singularly eccentric man's life. The memoir of Christmas Evans is as full of pithy gems as a good Christmas pudding is full of plums. It is declared to be the best piece of spiritual biography extant; reflects the highest credit on the publishers, Messrs. Heaton; and great praise is due to the author. The tenth vol., containing "The Literary Remains of John Foster," is a book of more mental weight. An Essay on "The Improvement of Time," followed by some sermons and letters, furnish an amount of reading which no man-who knows the value of thought, and the use of utterancewill not profit by. Wonderful fountain, is the truly sanctified mind! Streams of wisdom, in an endless variety, flow therefrom, when the great living Teacher dwells therein. How thankful should we be that God has not only sent His Son to redeem us; but He has also sent His Holy Spirit to quicken, to open, to sanctify, and to pour in large measures of heavenly wisdom, whereby the more extensive glories of His character and workmanship are discovered and declared. Read, brethren, read; and pray and think; and so shall edification adorn, while conversion shall increase, our churches and our schools. Intelligence from our Churches, their Pastors and People. BRIDGENORTH. "THE OFFENCE OF THE CROSS." OUR friend, Mr. T. Jones, of Blackheath, has been supplying at his old pastorate, Broseley, the last two months, and we invited him to preach in the Baptist chapel here, his native town. His text was Psalm XXV. 14,-"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant." He shewed that this fear of the Lord is a new covenant bless ing-a Divine principle implanted in the chosen seed by the Holy Ghost. He discriminated between this fear and that of fixed, unmitigated guilt, as of Cain, Judas, and devils; and also those shocks of reli gious fright such as shook Herod and Felix, but which have no saving results. This fear is born of faith (Heb. xi. 7.), is pure, the beginning of wisdom, and by it men depart from evil. To the possessors of this fear is confided the secret of the Lord. They have a knowledge of Him; of His character, His attributes, His purposes, His word, and His ways, such as the natural man knoweth not, "neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Without attempting to give even an outline of the sermon, I may say it was a faithful exposition of the text, and drew a line between the living and the dead; at the same time it contained no harsh or unkind declamation against those not in the secret. To many it was a word in season. We over his ideal victim, and it became a question with us whether we should content ourselves with pitying his ignorance and vanity, and allow him to return to his tutors with his stolen laurels, or whether that such rapid effusions were as discreditwe should tell him, faithfully and kindly, able to him as they were useless to us. decided to do the latter, and two of our number went to him in the vestry, told him we were sorry a young man who came here professedly to preach the Gospel of the grace of God, should go so entirely out of his way to caricature a belief he knew nothing about, and to cover with contempt Christ-loving, soul-seeking men of our own time, and the memories of others whose self-denying labours were blessed of God, We asked him candidly to say if he had and are now enjoying the promised rest. ever met with such persons as he had been describing, or any one minister who daringly intruded into the throne of the Eternal, picking out the elect on his own knowledge, and ruthlessly reprobating all who did not articulate his shibboleth? We told him separating word, divides the precious from that the word faithfully preached is a the living and the dead. The mere prothe vile, and broadly distinguishes between fessor cannot endure this discrimination; he has not the Spirit's witness within, so he hopes to push through with a crowd. Not so the quickened, earnest soul: he prays to be searched and tried, to see his signs, to "read his title clear to mansions in the On the following Sabbath, we were favoured (?) with the attentions of an all but skies ;" and gives diligence to make his callfinished student of a clerical seminary in the neighbourhood of Birmingham. ing and election sure. Our visitor evaded We suppose he had been told of our danger deprecated our criticisms, and thought it our questions as far as he could, and from high doctrine, though we had reason would have been better if we had prayed to believe that, substantially, his deliverances were stock essays which had been for him. Very pious this, and in admirable read or said many times before. His morn- he had used in the pulpit. Our conversakeeping with the nonchalant defiant tone ing text was, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ?" And both tion was interrupted by the entrance of a morning and evening he was engaged in neighbouring minister, so we wished him dressing up a sort of Guy Fawkes, and pelt-preacher a letter a few days after, to which good evening. A young brother wrote the ing him with anathemas and vituperative epithets. This desperate incendiary of the orator's imagining represented hyper-Calvinism, as regarded through college spectacles. A hideous monster truly. This feigned "ism" preached, and thankfully appreciated among the Baptists in Bridgnorth, many years is opposed the preacher said-to the proclamation of the Gospel's glad tidings, who know the joyful sound. We have a ago, and through mercy here are some still deals itself in a niggard Gospel, picks out the elect with presumptuous arrogance, and sermon preached more than a hundred mercilessly consigns to eternal perdition years since by a faithful man to whose those who do not pronounce, with full family the cause of nonconformity in this mouth, its "canting shibboleth." The preacher was quite elate with his triumph that letter is enclosed.* We have good no answer has been received. A copy of reason to know that Christ's truth was * Will be given next month. plex person, both in relation to the splendour of His work and gifts of righteousness; truth, too, Spirit of God. Therefore we are anxious that as to the person and operations of the Holy the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, should be proclaimed here. The Bible truth, in relation to the saving blood of Christ, in relathe truth in relation to God, in relation to man, tion to the descriptive character of man, and as it relates to His eternal destiny. Then it is consecrated to the highest possible union, to the holiest service, and to the communication of the richest blessings. These and the latter part were spoken to with great clearness, in forcible expressions, and with an earnestness truly characteristic of the favoured preacher. THIS place of worship having been closed for the purpose of undergoing some important repairs in the shape of cleansing, better ventilating, relighting, &c., was opened on Sunday the 28th of LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONE June. The chapel now presents a comfortable, inviting appearance, and it is confidently hoped, OF MR. MOYLE'S NEW CHAPEL. the long-complained-of defective ventilation has "THE Surrey side of the water," as we Lonbeen remedied. The expense incurred by the re-doners term it, appears likely to stand out rapairs amounts to about £100; and, we believe we ther prominent for new chapels in the Baptist are correct in stating, the money is all paid or interest just now-no less than three having been promised. The opening was observed by three commenced within a few days of each other. sermons being preached; in the morning and Very recently, the foundation stone of a subevening by the pastor of the place, Mr. John stantial chapel for the church at present worBloomfield; and in the afternoon by Mr. John shipping in Lion Street, New Kent Road, was Foreman. Mr. Bloomfield, we are sorry to say, laid the position is very excellent, having a is still suffering from the effects of his late ill- frontage in the best part of the Walworth Road. ness. His season's work has been too much for The pastor of this church is Mr. William Howiehim; but he now states he is determined to con- son. On the 14th, Sir Morton Peto laid the fue himself to his home labours. In the morn- foundation stone of another new Baptist chapel, ing's discourse, though he craved the indulgence to be built at Barkham Terrace, St. George's of his hearers, he seemed particularly happy in Road. This is for the church who formerly wor his work, while he spoke from the following shipped at Church Street chapel, Blacktriars expressive words: "In this place will I give Road, where for many years James Upton mipeace, saith the Lord of hosts." After some in- nistered the truth. The present pastor is Mr. troductory remarks in reference to the glory of Barker. We are pleased to find that in building the two temples, drawing a contrast between this new place of worship the valuable labours of their glories, reminding his hearers the mud- the former pastor have been in some measure wall cottage or the dark deep cellar, if God be recognized, for the new chapel is to be known as there, was filled with glory. So with Salem; "Upton Chapel." Both of these new chapels are that was a love-spot, not the more so because it within five minutes walk of either Mr. Wells' or was renovated, not because in its appearance it Mr. Spurgeon's Tabernacles. looked perhaps better than he (Mr. B.) had ever On Tuesday afternoon, July 7th, the memorial seen it before, but its glory consisted because in it stone of the new chapel for Mr. Moyle's church the Gospel was preached; here spiritual worship-at Peckham was laid by Mr. John Vickers. In pers met-here, above all, God deigned to dwell. Here He manifested His power; shed abroad His love in the hearts of the people. It was God's house: in it the truth was faithfully proclaimed, At four o'clock, a number of friends gathered and it was the place where prayer was earnestly round the front of the new chapel, the walls of and unitedly offered. There were two points which are now ready for roofing in. The sun more particularly spoken to by the esteemed mi- shone forth brilliantly, and the venerable-looknister: First, the place in which peace was pro- ing pastor opened the service by giving out a mised; secondly, the certainty of the promise hymn; Mr. Hawkins read the eighty-fourth being fulfilled. First, it was a place consecrated Psalm; prayer was offered by Mr. Attwood; and to God's worship. It was built for God, not for Mr. John Vickers, previous to laying the stone, man; consecrated, not by a bishop, an arch- said,-"My friends, it is now more than eleven bishop, or cardinal, but by the presence of God. years ago since I had the honour of laying the In it God worked; the dead in sin were raised foundation stone of Dacre Park Chapel, where anto spiritual life; those in darkness were en- much good has been done. I might have found lightened; those in bonds were loosened; the a reasonable excuse for not accepting the invitasorrowful were made glad. This made it a con- tion you have so kindly given me to-day; but I secrated spot. And could the man who is born happen to know a good deal of the history of into spiritual life, who knows the time and the your old chapel. My aged father, who enters place when the change took place-could he for- upon his eighty-fifth year this day, informs me get the place? Could he forget the instrumen- that Mr. Powell, your first minister, began his tality? Could that soul who was in darkness-ministrations in a barn, and my father had the who was sorrowful, but now rejoices-could he forget the spot? No; it is a consecrated spot to him. Then the temple was consecrated to God's truth. So was Salem, not to a little clique, or party, but to the truth, the unmixed, the immutable truth of God. I should be sorry, said the minister, if anything in my time, contrary to the truth in its doctrine, contrary to it in its promises, contrary to it in precept, should be proclaimed here. We want this place consecrated to the unmixed vital truth of the Bible; truth as to he power of sin; truth as to the cross of Christ, as to the atonement of Christ; truth as to the dignity of Christ's person, as to His com our June number, we gave our readers the full particulars concerning this removal, to which we now refer them. honour to contribute towards the erection of your first chapel; and well I can remember accompanying him on some occasions to hear the late Mr Powell, where my only sister was a constant attendant; therefore you see I have a kind of family connexion with Rye-lane chapel. Some people question the importance of the work we are doing here; but I hold that we are doing a more important work than those who built heathen temples, or than those who constructed the mighty pyramids of Egypt. The Egyptians believed that when the spirit left the body it wandered on, never resting, giving life to some beast of the field, some bird of the air, or some fish of "Stands like a palace built for God, the sea; and they took pains to preserve their poor perishing bodies in what they called tombproof mansions, expecting the re-union of the As we entered, our good brother Sampford, the body and the spirit at a future date. The Egyp-pastor, was reading, tian kings built the pyramids for their tombs, and it is believed that Job referred to these curious edifices (Job iii. 14.) when he speaks of kings and councillors who had built desolate places for themselves. But here we raise a temple unto the living God, in which, after the toils of the week, we may assemble to listen to the Word of God, from the lips of your worthy pas-stand the reading," and he blessed the Lord, the tor, and be led to exclaim with the Psalmist How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Lord God of Hosts.'" Mr. Vickers having lowered and adjusted the stone, declared it laid. "When Zion's sons, great God, appear," &c., after which our good brother Anderson (of Bethesda), " stood up in the pulpit of wood made for the purpose," as Ezra did of old, and having "opened the book in the sight of all the people,' "he read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to undergreat God. and "all the people said, Amen! Amen!" Upon reading his text, which he chose from Rev. xix., 12, he said, he stood in an unenviable place, seeing he was but a substitute for The service was then closed with singing and another. Brother Bloomfield had been announced prayer, and the friends adjourned to the large by bills and periodicals; but through illness, he assembly room, where tea was served to a could not come; and he had been chosen in his numerous party. In the evening, a public meet-place. However, he promised to do his besting was held on behalf of the school fund. Mr. He divided his text very simply, dwelling first Vickers presided; and Mr. Wyard opened the upon the unknown name; second, upon the omnisciproceedings with prayer. The chairman, in the ence; and thirdly, upon the glory of the Person course of his opening remarks, gave an account treated. Upon the unknown name, he said he should of his own baptising. It appears Mr. Vickers's not attempt to describe it; and that because his text parents were attendants of the late William said it was a name "that no man knew but HimHuntington's, and by that champion for truth self:" by which, he said, it appeared clear, our chairman was first "baptized." But when there was something relating to the person of the Mr. Huntington's chapel was burnt down, the Lord Jesus that was not revealed; and as such, whole of the books and registers were at the not intended to be known here. And here he exsame time destroyed, leaving no proof (as then pressed a wish that all men would be content required by law) of the birth and registering of with proclaiming what they knew, and with the youthful Vickers. Mr. Vickers's father being stopping where God stopped. But he said, while a thoughtful and careful parent, and anticipating there was one name that no man knew, it was that much difficulty might some day arise it the but one; while on the other hand, the names by legal register of his son could not be found, which He was known were many. And here he sought to remedy the evil; and to do this, he dwelt upon the names Immanuel, Jesus, &c. had all his children again "baptized" by the But I must not attempt to give even an outline Church of England. But our chairman, when of this very excellent discourse; because I could he arrived at the age when people begin to think neither do it justice, and it would take up too much for themselves, and to read for themselves, was room. Suffice it to say, it was sound and good; not quite so satisfied, although he had already full of illustration by incidents of his own expebeen "baptized" twice: still he felt some un-rience. And I think I may say, nobody comeasiness, and especially so when he read in the plained of disappointment, or fell out with the New Testament that they "went down" and substitute. In the afternoon, Brother Bowles (of "came up out of the water;" and the Spirit of Hertford) proved himself a workman not to be God so impressed him with the fact, that the ashamed. He apologized for appearing before the primitive mode of baptism was by immersion, audience unprepared, and begged to be excused that he could not rest till he was for the third preaching "a great sermon," seeing he had been time baptized, which was about nineteen years called upon so unexpectedly. However, like a ago, when Mr. John Foreman led him into the scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of water, and there immersed him in the name of heaven; or unto a man that is an householder; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, upon a profes- he brought forth out of the treasury of his heart, sion of his faith. things new and old, from a text that came into his mind on the morning of that day. He was not like some of the good men we have heard of, who always carry a sermon in their pockets in case of emergency: no, he did not scientifically draw his sermon out of the pocket, nor did he merely bring it out of his head; it clearly came warm from his heart. Ah! that's the preaching we love, warm and savoury; from the heart to the heart; from heaven to heaven; i.e., coming from heaven and taking us out of ourselves, and carrying us up to heaven. After this came a good cup of tea, and during this time I related some things that stirred my heart, and moved my tongue, relative to the days of my boyhood, when my little feet had run about the fields on which that chapel stood; or when more subsequently my. self and many of the friends by whom I was then surrounded, used to meet in little groups in the cottages around us, and warm each other's hearts by speaking of what the Lord had done; when out of the simplicity of our childlike hearts we poured forth fervent cries and tears for blessings to come down upon the town of our nativity: and when in rustic song, the heart-making melody, we poured forth heart-felt praises to our triune God. Yes! yes! they were happy days. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Daniel Pratt, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Betts, Mr. Wyard, Mr. Hawkins, and Mr. White. Mr. Congreve, as the secretary, gave a statement of the position of affairs; and a number of subscriptions, amounting to about £100 towards the new school fund, were announced. THE CAUSE AT WARE, HERTS. MR. FLACK, MR. ANDERSON, MR. BOWLES, AND THE "OLD SOLDIER.' MY DEAR BROTHER.—I will endeavour to give you some account of a very recent visit into Hertfordshire as briefly as I can. I left home on Tuesday, the 7th, for Ware. At the Great Eastern Station, I found myself surrounded by about forty of my friends; all of whom had put on their holiday looks, and were as cheerful as the bright morning shining out of the heavens. The journey was greatly shortened by the singing of several good old hymns, such as God moves in a mysterious way," "There is a fountain filled with blood," &c. Our great steam-horse having taken us safelydown, we hastened to the neat, clean, and beautiful little "Zoar;" and I think a prettier or more beautifully situated little chapel never was seen. Its neat and unassuming, yet modestly beautiful appearance, seems to say it "How sweet their mem❜ry still." But they are gone, and many more have followed them. Days, and weeks, and months, and years have passed since then that will scarcely bear reflec |