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The next Half Yearly Meeting is appointed to be on Tuesday, October 20 next, to meet at ten in the forenoon, and the brethren Podmore and Gooding are nominated to preach, the one in the afternoon, and the other in the evening. And in cafe of failure, the brethren Fowler and Kent. To meet at Mr. Ralph's, Maidstone.

The fecond General Meeting of the BENEVOLENT SOCIETY of Pro ́testant Diffenters in the County of NORFOLK, for the affistance of their aged and infirm ministers, their widows and orphans, instituted the 20th of October last, was holden on the 13th of May at Norwich.

The benefactions amounted to about -
Two annual fubfcriptions not compleat
One congregational collection

Together nearly

£.340

140

40

530

The fuccefs in fo fhort a time which has attended this inftitution, where the diffenting congregations in the county are moitly very fmall, will it is hoped, encourage the diffenters of other counties, who may have been deteried by a diffidence in their refources, to undertake fimilar establish

ments.

We are informed, that the annual meeting of the KENTISH Association of independent minifters, will be held at Mr. Gore's meeting at Sandwich, on the 8th of July next. Mr. Gurteen, of Canterbury, to preach in the morning. Mr. Slatterie, of Chatham, in the evening.

The SURRY Miffion Society, will hold their next Quarterly Meeting, at Batterfea, on the 3d of June, at 11 o'clock. The fermon by Mr. Harper.

ORDINATIONS.

April 22d. The Rev. Walter Knox was ordained affiftant, with view to fucceed the Rev. Mr. Rae, at North Shields, Northumberland. Mr. Stodart of Monkwearmouth, began the fervice with prayer. Mr. Hutton, of Newcastle, preached. Mr. M'Indoe, of the fame town, afked the questions and received Mr. K's confeffion of faith. Mr. Toohack, of South Shields, prayed the ordination prayer. Mr. M'Connel, of Gateshead, gave the charge, and concluded with prayer.

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All the fervices were conducted with great folemnity, and the chapel was crowded with very attentive hearers.

On Wednesday, May 6th. The Rev. Jofeph Holmes (late of Stamford) was ordained to the paftoral office, at the old meeting in Ware, Hertfordfhire. Mr. Ward, (affiftant tutor at Wymondly) began with prayer and reading the fcriptures. Mr. Chaplin, of Bifhop Stortford, delivered the introductory difcourfe, and received Mr. Holmes's confeffion of faith. Mr. Williams, of Hitchin, prayed the ordination prayer. Mr. Carver, of Milbourn, delivered the charge from 2 Cor. iv. 5. Mr. Parry (prefident of the academy at Wymondly) preached to the people from 2 Theff.

V. 12, 13.

There was public fervice in the evening, when Mr. Anthony, of Bedford, prayed, and Mr. Chaplain preached from Col. iii. 16.

OPENING OF A NEW CHAPEL.

Feb. 22. A new chapel was opened at New Shoreham, in Suffex, when three fermons were preached by the following minifters: Mr. George Lee (in Lady Huntingdon's connection) in the morning, from Pf. cxlix. Mr. Hamilton, of Brighton, in the afternoon, from Acts xvi. Mr. Griffin, of Portfea, in the evening, trom Pf. cxviii. 25. The gospel has been but lately introduced here, but the congregation was large, ferious, attentive, and encouraging. O that God may fend profperity!

10.

POETRY.

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SUNG AT SURREY CHAPEL EASTER
MONDAY, 1801.

Te fhall be the Sons and Daughters of the
Lord Almighty. 2 Cor. vi. 18.
LET us adore the grace that feeks

To draw our hearts above;
"Tis God, the holy Saviour, fpeaks,
And every word is love.

Tho' fill'd with awe before his throne,
Each angel veils his face;
He'll take poor children for his own,
And fave them by his grace..
O may the child that lives in fin,
Enflav'd by Satan's pow'r,
Meekly obey the call divine,
In this appointed hour!

"Come forth," he fays, "no more purfuc,

"The path that leads to death; "Look up, a bleeding Saviour view, "Look, and be fav'd by faith. "My fons and daughters you fhall be,

"Through my atoning blood; "And you shall claim, and find in me "A Saviour, and a God."

Lord, fpeak thefe words to every heart,
By thine almighty voice;
Early from fin may we depart,

And make thy love our choice.

If now we learn to feek thy face,
By Chrift the living way,
We'll praife thee for this hour of grace,
Through an eternal day. R. H.

SONNET.

TO SACRED MUSIC.

WHAT heart expanding with the wifa fublime,

But glows enraptur'd, while thy warblings roll,

Thou holy Pow'r, whofe voice, in every

clime

Alike refiftlefs, wins the feeling foul! Sweet foretafte of the bleffedness above! Celeftial Mufic! by thy folemn ftrains, My foul obdurate, melted into love,

No longer groveling on the earth remains;

Ah! prone to languish, when thy voice fhall cease,

I dread to feel again an icy heart, Unconscious of this pure and placid peace. O come, ye years, when, never more to

part;

With thee I mingle in thy rapturous lays, Jehovah's love, the ceafelefs theme of ALZIRA.

praife.

TRUST IN GOD., PSALM Cxviii. 8. SHALL mortal man engage my truft,

He whofe foundation's in the duft, Dwelling in tents of clay? Vain is his help,-a fellow worm, Expos'd with me to ev'ry storm,

Nor keeping in one stay. In the all-folemn hour of death, His riches cannot keep the breath, Nor eafe the troubled mind: In his conceit a wall they feem, To guard from woe;-but all's a dream All must be left behind! Then let me feek a nobler ftay, For mortal props all fall away,

They quickly change-or die ; Something fuperior to their aid, A Friend that will not change nor fade, On whom I may rely.

Where fhall I meet with fuch a Friend,
Who will my ev'ry woe attend,

And ready help atford?
Only on Chrift can I rely:
Then quick to him, my foul, apply,

And fully truit thy Lord!
He has all hearts within his hand,
All things obey his high command,
He will fulfil his word:

O bleffed ftay!-May I not fear,
Though things a gloomy afpect wear,
But wait on thee, my Lord!
Westminster.

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THE

FOR JULY, 1801.

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF ROBERT GALLAND, Late Independent Minifter at Holmfirth, in the Wef Riding of the County of York.

AS

(CONCLUDED FROM OUR LAST.)

S it is defirable, in reviewing the lives of our Chriftian friends, to fee as much as poffible the inclination of the mind, with its views and tendency towards God; and as this can only be known by their own account, we will prefent our Readers with a few more extracts from Mr. Galland's written account.

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January 1ft, 1796. It is now twenty-feven years this day fince I first preached to a ftated congregation. How poorly, how very poorly, have I fulfilled the miniftry I have received! I am afhamed before God, to think that my heart has been fo cold and formal in fo good a caufe, and that I have no more zeal in the fervice of fo kind a Mafter. However, through the help of God, I continue hitherto, testifying to a loft world, that there is falvation in the name of Jefus, and in no other. O that I may be more fervent and faithful the remaining part of my time on earth, that at last I may receive a crown of life, not as a reward of my labours, for I am fure they deferve none, but through the. mediation of Jefus Chrift!"

At another time, he expreffes himself in fuch language as this: "I defire to acknowledge with gratitude the kindness of God, in preferving me for more than thirty-one years from bringing a reproach on the Redeemer's caufc. Yet, notwithstanding this, what deep defects and imperfections have attended my Chriftian course! I blush to think what pride, vanity, and cenforiousness have been manifefted in my converfation! and what a fountain of depravity there is in my heart ftill! But, under all this consciousness of guilt and depravity, I find relief in looking to my glorious Redeemer, and exalted Head-He is my hope and joy. In him was no fin when he was made fin for me, VOL. IX.

NA

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