OBITUARY OF MR. PARKIN, OF LEEDS. A valuable member of the Particular Baptist church, South Parade, Leeds, and one of its deacons-Mr. Joseph Parkin At another time, she was asked, "Do | a numerous audience in reference to the you feel happy?" The answer was, "I solemn event from 1 Thess. iv. 13-18, at can see Jesus, but not so clearly as I Trinity Chapel, Southwark. could wish." "But do you love Jesus?" She answered, "I can hardly lay claim to loving him, but-O yes, I do love him; and I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day."" Her husband, standing by her side, repeated to her some sweet and appro-was, on the twenty-fifth of January, sumpriate portions, such as, "Thou wilt make his bed in his sickness;" "Underneath thee are the everlasting arms," "The Eternal God is thy refuge;" "I love the Lord because he hath heard my voice and my supplication;" "I was brought low, and he helped me." She expressed her appreciation and enjoyment of them, though too low and faint to say much. At another time, she repeated those verses "In vain our fancy strives to paint The moment after death,-- We scarce can say, 'He's gone!' Her mansion near the throne," &c. The promise-"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins;" and again-"Our God ...... will abundantly pardon,"'—were of great comfort to her. She requested to have read that hymn to her "Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me," &c. ; and remarked that "he has pardoned, and he will receive me.' Shortly before her death, being restless and in pain, she exclaimed, "Heavenly Father, help me to bear it." This was her last expression. Soon after a short struggle for breath, when all attempts to revive her failed, she sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, Jan. 21, 1859. Thus she lived, and thus she died. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." On Friday, Jan. 28, 1859, her mortal remains were interred in Abney Park Cemetery; and on the following Sabbath evening, the Rev. W. H. Bonner addressed moned to his eternal home. Our departed He entered the church when about nineteen years of age, and was one of the first persons baptized after the removal to the present meeting-house by the Rev. J. (now Dr.) Acworth. Mr. Parkin showed his gratitude for gospel blessings by evangelical effort for the good of others. He was a zealous Sabbath-school teacher, many years superintendent, and leader of the singing in the congregation. In 1832, he married in the Lord, having chosen for his wife Miss Hannah Turner, a member of the church; and the union was blessed to them "as heirs together of the grace of life." His addresses in the Sunday-school showed a capacity for wider usefulness; and the church, in 1836, unanimously requested him to exercise his gift for occasional preaching, as he might have opportunity; and this he did efficiently for a number of years. Along with these public labours, he was assiduous in the duty of visiting the sick. When he had been about thirteen years a member, and the church, according to inspired command, had "proved him to be one "holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience," he was chosen a deacon, which office he filled in an exemplary manner for the remaining nineteen years of his life. Warmly attached to the principles of our denomination as Particular Baptists, he maintained them in the spirit of love. Latterly, his working power was gradually lessened by increasing bronchial disease; yet he continued to fill up his place, even when unfit. While he yet lingered on earth, that strong faith and cheerful resignation which he had shown during a former dangerous illness, were manifested, amidst much suffering, to the last. The great Redeemer, whose person and finished work he had ever delighted to exalt, was present with him. He realized the truth that "the foundation of God standeth sure;" and, "in full assurance of faith," he calmly entered into rest. H. A. C. DEATH OF THE REV. JAMES BISSET, Father and Founder of the "Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society." THE removal from the midst of the church of any one heir of immortality is a circumstance fraught with interest to every surviving believer. How emphatic, then, must be the voice which reaches us in the departure of a servant of God, long spared and eminent in his day as a humble, sincere follower of Jesus, and of earnest soul to minister to the necessities of the church! And such an one was the Rev. James Bisset, father and founder of the "Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society," whose active public labours have extended over more than half a century. In August, 1807, he with Mr. Watkins, the late treasurer, and a few other godly men, united to carry out his cherished plan of rendering more permanent the relief afforded to aged and infirm members of the mystical body of Christ. Thirty-one years did Mr. Bisset and Mr. Watkins work together, and then the one departed, and the other was left for twenty-one years to see enlisted in the cause younger and multiplying helps, until the fulfilment of the promise was literally doubled, and the "little one" had so grown that the present income exceeds £2000 per annum, for distribution, and at least 1780 aged saints had been cheered by its bounty. During the last few years, our honored and venerable brother had been reluc tantly compelled to relinquish some of the more active duties of his office; but his anxiety on behalf of the Society never diminished, and when at last the pen dropped from his withered hand, and a friend, present with Mr. Box, a joint se cretary and long attached friend, remarked Now you must take off the yoke service"-he was deeply affected, and wept; and who can wonder, for on that very day (Aug. 12) fifty-one years before, he had organized that noble Institution. Mr. Bisset was well known and esteemed as a minister of the gospel; his first pastoral settlement being at Stoke Newington. Afterwards he laboured at Walkern, Welwyn, Hertford, and Stevenage; while in his latter days he had been the regular afternoon preacher at Salem Chapel, Hitchin. In December last, Mrs. Bisset died, and this bereavement appeared to weigh heavily on our aged and revered brother, whose strength, energy, and even faculties gradually failed from that period. On the 2nd of April, 1859, in perfect calm and sweet reliance upon Jesus, he breathed his soul away, and left his dust to the keeping of the same gracious Redeemer, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. In his last days that two-fold consolation of the immutable oath of God was the sheet anchor of his soul (Heb. vi. 18); for he felt that he had fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before him, and that the Lord had sworn by himself in no wise to cast out one such. Surely we who remain do hear a voice from heaven, saying, "Write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, from hence forth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." The interment took place on Saturday, April 9th, in the burial ground attached to the chapel lately the scene of the Rev. John Broad's pastoral labours. The members of the family, together with the secretaries of the Society surrounded the grave, which already had received but recently the remains of Mrs. Bisset. The Rev. Short, the present pastor of the church conducted the service, and gave an appropriate address; and on the following day preached a funeral sermon on the occasion. "Servant of God, well done! Rest from thy loved employ; Correspondence. NORWICH CHAPEL CASE. To the Editor of the Primitive Church Magazine. DEAR SIR, At a meeting of the united committee of the Strict Baptist churches in Norwich, held April 5th, the following resolution was unanimously passed: "That the best thanks of this committee are justly due and are hereby given to the editors of those periodicals who have so promptly inserted the addresses and resolutions of our churches, and also for their earnest defence of, and energetic appeal to, the Strict Baptist churches on behalf of the plaintiffs in the Norwich Chapel case." JOHN BARBER, Chairman. GEORGE BARBER, Secretary, NORWICH CHAPEL CASE.-NO. II. THE Strict Baptist church assembling in Providence Chapel, Broadstairs, under the pastoral care of Mr. John Brook, adopted, at a meeting held April 11, 1859, the following resolutions : That they do most deeply sympathize with the 130 Strict members of St. Mary's, Norwich, under the treatment which they have received, Also, that they desire to express their grateful and cordial approbation of the Christian and noble conduct of the two trustees, Messrs. Wilkin and Norton, in the firm stand they have made for truth and justice; and if, in their efforts to secure this important object, any aid be needed, the Broadstairs Church will, as has been already expressed by sister churches, feel it a privilege, as far as possible, to render it. And further, that they unanimously desire that the above be forwarded to the Editor of the Primitive Church Magazine, for insertion in that periodical. Signed on behalf of the church, JOHN BROOK, Pastor. THOMAS HODGMAN, Deacon. FORMATION OF A STRICT BAPTIST CHURCH AT BROMYARD, HEREFORDSHIRE. To the Editor of the Primitive Church Magazine. DEAR SIR, You will be pleased to hear that the Baptist interest in this town (the commencement of which was reported in your January number) is flourishing. Since Feb. 6th, we have secured the pastoral labours of Mr. W. D. Rees, whose ministry has been eminently successful, especially among the young. Could we but obtain a little pecuniary aid from some of our wealthier churches, we have every reason to believe that a church might be raised here to the praise of the Redeemer. On April 3rd, about fifteen hundred people assembled upon the banks of a "certain water," to witness the administration of the ordinance of baptism. The service was introduced with reading and prayer by Mr. T. Webb, of Leominster; then Mr. T. Hill, of Ross, preached from Eph. iv. 5,-"One baptism;" confining his remarks to the mode of baptism. Afterwards, Mr. W. D. Rees delivered a discourse upon the design of Christian baptism," taking as a text Exod. xii. 26: "What mean ye by this service?" Mr. Rees then had the pleasure of leading seven believers into the water, and baptizing them into the name of the triune God. Six of the candidates were young females; three were daughters of our esteemed friend who was the means of first introducing the Baptist denomination into this town. Thus has the Lord al ready rewarded him. On Sunday, April 10th, Mr. J. More, of Whitestone, preached for us in the afternoon upon the nature of a Christian church. At the close of the sermon, the ordinance of the Lord's supper was administered, and the right hand of fellowship given to the eight believers baptized at Bromyard, and to four others who had letters of dismission from the Baptist church meeting at Leominster. Thus there is now formed in this town a Baptist church of the primitive order. Sprinklers of every name have united their forces against us; but hitherto the Lord hath helped us. CHARLES WILLIAMS. GENEROSITY IN A WORKING MECHANIC. be in the good cause, for as he is simply a Our dear brother's heart must certainly mechanic labouring hard for his livelihood, his contribution shews great liberality. It cannot, I think, but tend to cheer our brethren on the continent, to know that the sinews of working men are strained to maintain them at their posts. He thus for the sum of $20 which you will please writes: "Enclosed you will find an order transmit to the Editor of the Primitive him to the cause of our Blessed Redeemer Church Magazine, to be appropriated by cularly in connection with the mission of on the continent of Europe, more partibrother Geissler. I was very much struck in reading the statement in the summary of the Primitive Church Magazine for the month of November last, to the To the Editor of the Primitive Church effect that it would take more than 600 Magazine. Johnstone, near Paisley, 21st March, 1859. DEAR SIR,-From a very dear brother in Providence, Rhode Island, I have received the sum of £5 4s., which he wishes me to transmit to you for the cause of Christ on the continent, more particularly in connection with the mission of brother Geissler. $20 of that sum are his own contributions and other $5 are from a sister, so that if you acknowledge the years to supply every heathen in the world with a Bible, at the present rate that Bible Societies were being supported. * * * Since writing the foregoing on the subject of missions, I have seen sister Jane McKechnie, and she saw it to be her duty to add $5 to the above mentioned sum, to be appropriated to the cause of the Blessed Redeemer on continent of Europe, which accounts for the sum amounting to its present size!" * * * Your's truly, A. SKENE SMITH. Reviews. The Truth of the Gospel; or, Doctrinal Considerations, &c. By ALEXANDER MACLEOD. Glasgow: George Gallie, 99, Buchananstreet. Pp. 48. Whatever issues from the well-known pen of Mr. Macleod deserves the deep consideration of the churches. He is no mere book-maker or flippant pamphleteer, but a grave, sound, able divine,—one of a school now rapidly disappearing, and whose place promises to be filled with theological charlatans and conceited empirics with a religious name. The above production is a timely and weighty protest against the popular divinity of the day, which it reviews with an admir | able sagacity, and exposes with a fearless fidelity which is absolutely refreshing in these truculent days. Mr. Macleod darts his vivid glance through "Another gospel," "The rise and progress of Arminianism," "The system of Arminianism," "Denominational Arminianism," "The progress of error in England," "The new doctrine of Baptists in Scotland," &c., &c.; and, with a clearness and force but seldom exhibited, points out the pernicious errors which abound in the land. He touches with an Ithuriel spear the toad-squat demon at the ear of the modern Eve, and transforms the reptile deceiver into his natural proportions of the escaped traitor from the bottomless pit. He exhibits Arminianism in its true tract give the public his name? Although character, and by a masterly analysis of its the author is severe in his castigation of natural tendencies, shows it to be "the sum the proud and bickering churches of moand staple of all error and false doctrine." dern times, he is not more so than the state (page 23). And after a comprehensive ex- of things among them richly deserves. The position of its alarming consequences, he following, from page 15, is caustic, but who closes the last chapter but one in the fol- will say that it is not honest and approprilowing impressive manner:-" -"Exploded ate ?— heresies are now revived and vaunted as a "Where are the disciples that love one new and heavenly light; and the result is, another? Where are the disciples who deenmities, contentions, swellings, tumults, light in rendering, the one to the other, the separations; disciples are held in bondage; humblest services by which they may show their spirits are embittered and perplexed; their brotherly affection? Are these they and they fall into a state of alienation and these that have quarrelled with their discomfort. There is, then, an urgent pastor, and by every petty artifice are call to all who love the truth, and especially striving to render him uncomfortable? Are to the teachers and overseers of the flocks these they-these that shift all the hard of God, to do all that in them lies that the labour and responsibility of the church on truth of the gospel may continue in the to the shoulders of their rich and active church in all its purity and fulness. Can deacon, and then complain that he has too they value it too highly or too earnestly contend for it?" (page 47). When we inform our readers that this valuable work can be obtained for sixpence, is there one among them who will neglect the purchase? On Communion with God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, &c. By JOHN OWEN, D.D. London: W. H. Collingridge, City Press, Long-lane; and John Kendrick, Ludgatestreet. Pp. 308. much weight and influence, and that it is not as Christ would have it, for one person to possess so much power in the church? Are these they-these, apparelled in costly raiment, who will not shake hands with a poor disciple, lest they should soil their a loving, friendly word, lest their wealthy, delicate gloves? who will not speak to him worldly friends should think the less of them? Are these they-these that can laugh with a gay acquaintance at a brother's defects, and make mockery of a sister's This is a neat and portable reprint of one foibles? Are these Christ's disciples, that of Dr. Owen's best treatises on practical can talk scandal and pull to pieces the reand experimental divinity, and the spirited putation of their own Father's children? proprietor of the "City Press" has conferred Truly, how is the gold become dim! how a valuable boon upon the religious world is the most fine gold changed!" by its republication. One powerful means of checking the loose religionism of this superficial age is the wide circulation of the "old divinity" of which Dr. Owen was an illustrious teacher. This volume should be A read, studied, and digested by every Christian in the land. The Whisper. No. 9. Would that we had more of this faithful dealing among our churches. A far better condition would very speedily ensue. Compendious English Grammar, in which the elements of the language are simplified and explained, interspersed with ample progressive exercises in parsing. By H. MARLES, L. R. C. P. London: Jarrold and Sons, 47, St. Paul's Churchyard. Pp. 172. Why does the writer of this penny serial put out his lucubrations anonymously? He The author informs us in his preface that attacks Mr. Wells and Mr. Banks by name; "this little book is the result of years of then why does he not give his own? His attention; every lesson it contains has been cognomen of "Gideon" is but a mask, and studied from the original manuscripts with whatever may be the merit of his produc- great advantage, and, consequently, the tions, we hold that, as an honest man, he whole has been subjected to the best of should show himself to the world. If the tests." That is to say, the author has compresent number may be taken as a specimen piled this work as the result of his own of the whole series, the writer belongs to experience in educational pursuits, and that, the "whisperers and backbiters" whom all consequently, he has been able to subgodly men should study to avoid. ject it to that best of tests, which is practice. The Severed Bond: a Word to the Church. London: A. W. Bennett, 5, Bishopsgate-statement. Our grammars have too often We perfectly agree with him in this street. Pp. 23. been philosophical essays on language, ra Why did not the writer of this sensible ther than practical manuals; and while VOL. XVI.NO. CLXXXIII. L |