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stances of sudden conversions, as on the Day of Pentecost, we have no cases of a sudden sanctification. Paul was suddenly converted, but about his sanctification, which followed his conversion, he writes to the Philippians: "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended," &c. (Phil. iii. 12-15).

Many have in their houses more looking-glasses than they are aware of. Parents, for instance, have as many looking-glasses as they have children, and many have seen already in the bad conduct of their children

their own picture. A farmer once was much given to cursing; one day he was engaged with ploughing near to his house, when his oxen would not obey him satisfactorily. Whilst beating them he cursed fearfully. His little son who was with him, and just in the age for learning to speak, tried to stammer the fearful curses he just had heard. When the father remarked this, he was greatly moved. After a while he stood still, then sat down and wept bitterly. His curses caused him much pain, and he could find no rest till he had sought and found a full pardon at the feet of Jesus Christ.

If the keeper of a public-house, or a dealer in brandy, &c., will be honest he would at the opening of his business have to write on his firm the following:-"With this, my business, I shall send so and so, and many inhabitants of this town (or village) to the poor-house and constrain others to care for their families; another number I shall cause to commit various crimes, so that the tributes of the citizens will become more and their safety less; I shall send so and so, and many others to the prisons, and some even to the gallows. I shall occasion a number of diseases, and make such diseases as might have been cured incurable; a goodly number I shall bereave of their reason, and several I shall even cause a sudden death; I shall make so and so, and many wives to widows, and a lot of children to poor orphans; and not

to forget, I shall continually help to hinder the preaching and the effects of the gospel, but rather ruin all the souls I can get as customers or in my shop. And this same people will ever pay me for that, and that so well that I may keep a fine house and live sumptuously every day.”

A good old minister had once been slandered very much by two of his members. When he was lying on his death-bed the two backbiters repented of their devilish deeds, and went to him to ask his pardon. He forgave them from all his heart, but in the same time he asked them to carry one of his pillows on the church-tower, and there to shake out all the feathers in it. However strange this seemed to them, they did the old dying man's will. When they returned to him with the empty cloth, he said he had only one other favour to ask, namely, to go and gather again all those feathers they had poured out. Astonished at him they said: “Sir, that is impossible, for they are blown into all the winds." "So you see," he said to them, " though your sin of slander may be forgiven by God and by me, those evil reports you have scattered you can never gather again, nor stop or blot out the evil consequences; therefore take heed for another time."

Faith relies on what Christ has done, and looks backward to Calvary. Hope relies on what Christ will do, and looks forward to heaven. Love, however, relies on Christ himself, and looks to him and his person. Is not love "the greatest of these?

In a town in Switzerland they had in olden times the usage that the keeper of the gates of the town, a short time before he at night would close them, cried out of the gates into the fields: "Who yet will come in, let him run!" So we, and all the preachers of the gospel, cry, concerning the door of heaven which now is still open: "Who yet will come in, let him run!"

It is a great thing to have God's word and a piece of bread. There is none in the world who had all, and none who had nothing at all. Give thyself to Christ, just as thou

art, and receive him just as he is.

REPORT.

THE last summer, indeed. was an exception to the common rule; it was, at least with us on the continent, a time of great heat and dryness; the whole creation, as well as men, groaned for the refreshing rain, whilst the sun did day after day send down his burning rays. But still there was no occasion to lament against God, for we have got a harvest through all that, and even a good one, the weather also has altered already again, and even the great heat was just the fulfilment of God's promise and declared his faithfulness, for he has said:"While the earth remaineth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.'

Very similar to what it was in the kingdom of nature, it was in the kingdom of grace, for also this kingdom has its own peculiar weather and its various seasons, its bright and its cloudy days; sometimes we rejoice in feeling the soft zephyr, of the Holy Spirit, and at other times we are terrified by the wild roaring of the storms of dissension, temptations and persecutions; but also this kingdom has the promise that, "while the earth remaineth, &c." If therefore, the last season was a time of heat, and what is generally connected with it, a time of dryness, it was no unheard of thing, but just according to the promise, and certainly as good and necessary as the fertile rain. Of course the Missionary, and every labourer in the Lord's vineyard, likes more a fruitful than a dry season; and the contributors to the Mission, desire more to hear reports of harvests and much success; but this would be unnatural, and though it may be expected and liked more, cannot be demanded. Faithful reports from the Mission-field will not always speak of the ingathering of

souls, of bright days, of a promising spring and a plenteous autumn, but also of nights and storms, of dry summers and frosty winters, of hindrances as well as of success; and the Missionary can not only or always be engaged with harvests, but must be engaged and is mostly engaged with sowing, ploughing, planting, watching and praying. In fact the full harvest will not be left to him alone, but also become the harvest of his supporters, and will therefore not take place till at a future period, when he and they all be together in heaven.

During the last summer, the good work in Saxony has been going on; though there were not many conversions; whilst we enjoyed fair weather, pleasant days, and the soft zephyr of peace in the churches, we looked for the fertile rain from above, and prayed for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In such seasons we learn that God it is who gives the increase, and how all success depends upon the agency of the Holy Spirit. But, however dry the season was, we have had a harvest with some souls we could receive, and expect soon

some more to come.

On my journeys I visited most of the Stations, and preached also in some new places. On Sunday evenings I held, whenever 1 could get the opportunity, open air services in the country, where we had large gatherings. When I was in Halle, I was enabled to conduct all the services of the church; besides this I was engaged with literary labours, so much so that I found in this hot summer, not yet the time for only one day of recreation.

Asking your continued prayers for my poor self and the good cause of Christ in Saxony,

I am, Yours in best respects,

MORITZ GEISSLER. Halle, Saxony, Sep. 3rd, 1868.

BAPTISM.-Rev. Sereno D. Clark, Secretary of the Congregational Board of Publication, in the July number of the Bibliotheca Sacra, teaches that "vital union to Christ is the determinative qualification for Christian baptism;" that "Christian baptism, as the initiatory rite to the Christian Church-a church of regenerated members-demands the evidence of regeneration." Is not the exclusive baptism of believers the logical consequence from this position?

Intelligence.

YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION IN AID OF THE BAPTIST

MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE Committee of the Young Men's Association in aid of the Baptist Missionary Society, invite the young men and women of the Baptist churches, seriously to consider the following statement:

The Baptist Missionary Society was established more than 75 years ago. At that time, the British Islands and North America could alone be said to possess vital Christianity to any extent. Since then, the Gospel has been preached in most of the nations of the earth, and countries long closed against its entrance, now welcome the approach of the missionary.

More than two hundred and thirty brethren have been sent forth by the society, and devoted the energy of their days to the preaching of the cross. The success of its missions in India, China, Africa, West Indies, Brittany, and Norway, evidences that the blessing of God has rested upon the earnest and devoted labours of his servants. At the present time, some of the stations urgently call for additional helpers; and the places of others who have gone from toil to rest remain unoccupied, whilst new openings present themselves.

The importance of sending out additional labourers, has pressed very seriously upon those having the direction of the society; and to meet the desire expressed in many quarters, they have resolved, in addition to the acceptance of missionaries as heretofore, to receive proposals from young men willing to enter upon the work of evangelisation in heathen lands, receiving their support either wholly or principally from the people among whom they labour, the society rendering only such aid as it may at any time be in their power to afford. They will also gladly receive any contributions specially given for the use of such brethren, by churches or private Christians, and forward the amounts

to those for whose aid they are designed.

The labours of the Young Men's Association, (formed more than twenty years since,) have been principally confined to the metropolis. The Committee, however, deem the present to be a time when its efforts should be extended to the country, and they earnestly appeal to the young men and women of the churches, on behalf of the work of the Lord in foreign lands.

MEN OF EARNEST, DEVOTED CHRISTIANITY ARE NEEDED, who for the sake of the love they bear their Lord, and from sympathy with the heathen in their ignorance and sin, will enter into the field, counting not their lives dear unto them if they may but preach the gospel of the kingdom.

MONEY IS ALSO REQUIRED. The Society needs a permanent increase of £5,000 per annum, to render its present agencies efficient. To every young and energetic disciple of the Saviour, this appeal is made for an increased liberality in their contributions. Surely, if brethren, relying upon a faithful God to provide for them, can be found who are willing to give themselves to this work, (and some have already offered,) those whom He has made the trustees of his bounty, will give with no niggardly hand towards their support.

While appealing for men and means, the Committee would ask THE EARNEST AND CONTINUED PRAYERS of every reader of this appeal. Missionary Societies were the result of prayer. Country after country has been opened to the missionary in answer to earnest supplication; the localities most blest have been those constantly remembered at the throne of grace; and surely the present is no time for restraining prayer. The whitened fields of missionary labour; the enervated condition of many brethren there; the lack of zeal at home; these and other signs call for prayer, that the will of the Lord of the Harvest may be revealed, and His promise to his Son fulfilled.

The responsibility of the work is individual, for he that gathereth not with the Lord, scattereth abroad. We therefore urge every reader of this appeal to consecrate themselves and their substance to Him who lived, loved, and died for them, for "ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

It may be necessary to state that the association does not desire by this effort to interfere with the action of any local organisation in connection with the churches; it wishes rather to increase their efficiency by interesting the young men and women more thoroughly in the work.

The money contributed will be paid into the general funds of the Baptist Missionary Society; but where, in the opinion of friends, a special object is preferred, it is only necessary in sending the money to state how it is to be appropriated.

A neat collecting book has been prepared, which will be forwarded on application to the Secretaries of the Young Men's Association, 2, Johnstreet, Bedford-row, London, W.C. On behalf of the Committee, J. E. TRESIDDER, Treasurer. W. TRESSIDER, J. P. BACON,

W. HANNAM,

C. ROBOTTOM,

Hon. Secs.

2, John-street, Bedford row, London, September, 1868.

[We have inserted the above address by request. In connection with it, we would call attention to the following resolutions recently adopted by the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society:

RESOLVED. "That the Committee will be happy to receive proposals to labour in China under the auspices of the society, (as has been done with respect to other parts of the mission field), from brethren who are disposed to enter on the service of Christ, to find, mainly or altogether, their support in the resources which the country they seek to evangelize may furnish, the Committee rendering only such aid, from time to time, as it may be in their power to afford. "RESOLVED.-"That the Committee are prepared to receive any contributions

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HARGREAVES BROWN. On the 24th of September, at the Baptist Chapel, Clough Fold, Rossendale, by the Rev. Abraham Nichols, of Sunnyside, assisted in the devotional exercises of the morning, by the Rev. James Patterson, (pastor) Dugdale, eldest son of Mr. Richard Hargreaves, of the Reedsholme, Sunnyside, Crawshawbooth, to Sarah, second daughter of Mr. Michael Brown, Holmes Cottages, Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

FENWICK-EASTWOOD.-On the 3rd October, at the Baptist Chapel, Pleasant Street, Haslingden, by the Rev. P. Prout, Mr. James Fenwick, of Carr Mill, Haslingden, to Sarah Eastwood, of Holdenwood, Haslingden.

MADEN-SPENCER.- On the 31st October, at the Baptist Chapel, Pleasant Street, Haslingden, by the Rev. P. Prout, Mr. John Maden, to Miss Ann Spencer, both of Dobbinwood, Newchurch.

RAMSBOTTOM-LUND.-On the 6th October, at the Baptist Chapel, Pleasant Street, Haslingden, by the Rev. P. Prout, Mr. James Henry Ramsbottom, of Egypt Terrace, Lower Booths, to Miss Ann Lund, of Deardengate, Haslingden.

BOOTH-PARKINSON.-On the 8th October, at the Baptist Chapel, Pleasant Street, Haslingden, by the Rev. P. Prout, Mr. Thomas Booth, of Chatterton, Tottington, Higher End,

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Secretary

RECEIVED FOR THE BAPTIST TRACT

SOCIETY.

By MR. WHITEHEAD.

George Gould, Esq., Loughton...
Mr. W. G. Ansell, Newcastle.
Mr. William Hilton, Manchester.
Mr. Albert Broomfield, Southampton S.
Mr. James Taylor, Manchester......S.
Rev. J. Green, Stogumber....... .8.
Rev. Isaac Bridge & Friends, Aldbro' S.
Rev. William Brown, Friston ......S.
Mr. Benjamin Newman, Tunstall ..S.
W. H. Westrop, Esq., Bures St. Marys.
Mr. C. Hale and Friends, Clare
Rev. A. Spencer, Little Leigh
Mr. Read, Brighton...

......

Collection at Bishops Stratford, by the

H. Cooper, Esq., London

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Downham.

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Mr. E. Saunders Friends

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9006

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Mr. C. Ibberson

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Mr. J. R. Reach

Mr. W. K. Martin..

Mr. R. S. Baker

Seven Friends, 2/6 each..

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Fakenham.

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