though, in some cases, I fear, with little effect, except to call forth the censure of those whose prejudices and interest I may have opposed. My object in making this statement is, for the purpose of calling the attention of your readers, and especially of ministers, to this subject, as I am afraid it is one that has not received that serious regard which its high importance demands. If I can, in any humble degree, co-operate with your esteemed contributor to correct the abuses which I fear prevail in our congregations, I shall unfeignedly rejoice. But it may be enquired, what antidote would you propose for the cure of the evil of which you complain? Or how will you prevent persons from making use of language with their lips to which their hearts are strangers, who by thus mocking God, incur the awful guilt of hypocrisy? In reply I am free to confess, that I see almost insurmount able difficulties in the way of effect ing a radical cure; for so long as the praises of the church of God ascend promiscuously with those of men of the world, this evil will prevail less or more, in every assembly. But surely it is worth the effort of every minister, and of every other follower of Christ, to endeavour to lessen this evil; by shewing the criminality of unconverted persons joining in those hymns especially, which breathe the devout, the grateful, and elevated feelings of one whose heart is expanded with the love of God. For instance, what pious mind is there, that is alive to this subject, that does not shudder at hearing a choir of singers (perhaps the greatest part of whom may be young persons, outwardly moral and virtuous, but alas! destitute of grace in their hearts)* stand up, The Writer knows more than one choir of this description. and in the presence of the heart- Or thus address the Saviour, My transport and my trust: Surely, Sir, the impropriety and sinfulness of such procedure as this, must be so obvious to every enlightened mind, as to need no arguments to prove that it is an awful trifling with sacred things, a direct insult on that glorious Being who has declared, that he will not be mocked with impunity; but that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." What, we ask, shall an individual make a direct appeal to the God of heaven, Sabbath after Sabbath, that he is the Sovereign of his heartthat he is the spring of all his joys that he is the glory of his days, and the comfort of his nights-whose heart is " enmity against God!"Shall that man appeal to Christ that he is precious to his soul-that he is his transport-his trust, and his supreme treasure-whose affections-whose hopes-and whose treasure are in the world! What, will a man, we again repeat, thus mock God to his face! To lessen this great evil, I would most respectfully, but most earnestly submit, whether ministers of the gospel who "watch for souls as those who must give an account," should not more frequently, and more specifically bring this subject before their hearers? And whether in public worship, hymus of a general nature should not be more frequently substituted for those which bear particularly on Christian experience? The writer also begs leave to submit to his brethren in the ministry, MENNONITES. LETTER, No. X. Texel, Oct. 2, 1820. MY passage from the Helder, from whence I last wrote, has been favour. able. Mr. Hookstra saw me safe on board. The Mennonite Baptist church nearest the spot where I landed, lay at a distance of about three miles, in a village called Burg; and where also Mr. Fenstra, its pastor, lives. I walk ed there without delay with a person who served me both as porter and guide. At the first call I did not find him in, nor at the second. A message, however, came some time after to the inn to say, that he would be glad to see me in the evening at six, and I went accordingly. At first I thought my reception rather cold and phlegmatic. He was very inquisitive, and the questions were such as soon convinced me that I had to do with a shrewd and intelligent mind, which by the way is no disadvantage to a good and great cause. As we proceeded into the subject of the Mission, I could perceive more affability in Mr. F.'s manner, and more confidence. I was glad, among other things, to learn from him that there was another Baptist church about the centre of the island, at a village called the Horn, and as I had expressed my intention to visit it, he kindly offered to call and take me next morning, which he did in a conveyance. The pastor of this latter church is a Mr. Rijwijk. Nothing could be more hospitable and affectionate than the reception I met with from him. He offered me, from his heart, both bed and board, and pressed me to tarry there some time. I was very sorry the lateness of the season obliged me to decline this offer. He regretted I should have taken up my quarters at an inn, but hoped ere long to receive me under his roof as a friend and brother. Mr. R. is a very zealous and benevolent character, and has contributed by his pen much to the instruction of the youth of his denomination. Mr. F. having to go his pastoral rounds with one of his deacons, left me soon after our arrival at the Horn. These pastoral rounds are pretty common, especially in North Holland, among the Mennonite Baptists. On such excursions among the flocks, the pastor is accompanied by one or other of his deacons, who take it in turn. Each household is visited on such occasions, and should there be any offences or quarrels between members, or any thing out of joint in other respects, care is taken to set all to rights previons to the administering of the Lord's supper, which takes place four times in the year, so that cach member may come up to that solemn and affecting ordinance to the edifying of each other in love. After dinner I walked back with Mr. R. to Burg, where the evening was passed at Mr. F.'s in company with a clergyman of the reformed church. Our conversation flowed in almost one unbroken stream, upon topics connected with the spread of the Redeemer's kingdom, and this lasted till ten o'clock. It is very pleasant to observe, that brotherly love and mutual forbearance in matters of religion are visibly on the increase; and it cannot be doubted that Missions have much contributed to this happy change, 1 say a change, for many recollect when it was far otherwise. The Baptists exchange pulpits now with the reformed church in many parts of Holland. This, fifty years ago, would have been thought as extraordinary as for a Protestant minister to preach for a Roman Catholic, and vice versa. The two Mennonite Baptist churches on the Texel are composed of about eight hundred members, and which, if I am correctly informed, make about one half of the population. Piloting ships in and out of the Zuider Zee, fishing, extensive rabbit warrens, and feeding sheep, for which the island appears well-suited from the richness and delicacy of its grass, these are the principal sources of subsistence to the inhabitants of the Texel. I purpose setting off to-morrow for the sea-coast in search of a vessel to embark for Friesland. I am always yours, W. H. ANGAS. Enkhuizen, October 4, 1820. THE day after I last wrote you, the ministers of both Baptist churches in the Texel, walked with me about four miles through the rain, and saw me safely embarked and under sail. On arriving off this port our vessel hove to and made a signal for a boat, which took me on shore, when she filled her sails again for Amsterdam, her final destination. This was the first time, and perhaps may be the last in my life, I shall sail in a vessel where captain, crew, and passengers, were all Baptists. You are no doubt already aware, that I wrote you from this place on my way up to the Helder. My return here was occasioned by the want of a con VOL. XVII. veyance from the Texel to the coast of Friesland, where, however, a packet goes from twice a week across the Zuider Zee. As I cannot leave this for the opposite coast before next week, I shall, in the mean time, do what I can to deepen any Missionary impression I may have made on my first visit to this place. I am anxious to be amongst the churches in Friesland, where I understand the Mennonite Baptists are more numerous than in any other part of the United Provinces; till I have that pleasure, I remain Yours always, W. H. ANGAS.: Dissenters' Registers of Births. 1 To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. `· SIR, I I am induced again to trouble you with a few lines on this subject, from reading a letter in your last month's Magazine, signed G. The writer therein states, that " I omitted to notice one species of Regis ter which became primary evidence whenever it could be established, and upon which therefore it was important no doubt should be thrown," viz. a Register in the family Bible by the parent. In answer to this I should first observe, that my letters in the Magazines for August and September last, treated of those Registers, and those only which were peculiar to. Dissenters. Now a Register (if it may be so called; I should rather say a private memorandum) in a family Bible, is, I apprehend, as frequently made by members of the Established Church as by Dissenters. However, your correspondent goes on to observe, that " Many cases bad occurred in which property had been lost by the continuance of the custody of the Bible in the family, and the entries being acknowledged as part of the family history being incapable of proof." This statement certainly seems to me to throw more doubt upon such Registers than any omissions of mine respecting them, when the subject did not relate to them, could do. I am afraid, Sir, that your Correspondent's letter will have a tendency 2 T to make Dissenters 'rest contented with the imperfect mode of registering which they now adopt. I will suppose a suit instituted in the Court of Chancery, that the birth of one of the contending parties, was, on the hearing, considered a material feature in the case-that the party was a Dissenter-that no Register of Baptism could be produced, and that the only evidence to prove the fact was, the entry in a family Bible. This question must then be sent to a jury to decide; who on such evidence as your Correspondent mentions, as having been produced on the recent trial at York, would most likely be satisfied. Admitting then, that such evidence could be produced, (but at the same time remembering how very often the contrary would happen) the fortunate Dissenter would incur all the expense of a trial at law, to prove that, which had bis parents exerted themselves as they ought to have done, to procure from the legislature a proper Registry, the production of an extract from it would have instantly settled the question. As to the plan suggested concerning Wills, it seems to me that innumerable objections would occur. In the first place, how many Dissenters have nothing to leave-if they have, then immediately after a child is born a Will must be made-and at every birth or marriage, either a fresh Will or a Codicil must be drawn-most likely a professional man would be employed each time, and thus an endless expense would be incurred. If the parents themselves dictated the Will, then there would be the risk of its being ambiguously expressed, and thus give rise to a Chancery Suit. The case also of posthumous children occurs to me, how could this be provided against? As to what your Correspondent recommends, of the son reciting in his Will who his parents were, it cannot surely be supposed, that at any time this will form as good a Registry as the parochial ones; for what is to hinder an unprincipled man from reciting some rich persons to have been his parents, calculating at some time or other, the advancement of his family by such means ? But this suggestion as to Wills, your Correspondent recommends only in case of “ no general Register being provided," and thus in estate, acquired his large fortune by industry and economy. He was a man of eminent piety, and honourably distinguished among his fellow-citizens as the friend of the poor, and the liberal patron of charitable institutions. For his connexions, both in the United States and in Germany, he had made provision in his life-time: he was therefore just, as well as generous. May his noble example find many imitators! American Baptist Magazine. ANECDOTE. AN eminent medical practitioner, who is also a man of true piety, was called, not long since, to attend a patient on the Lord's-day, at such a distance from his own place of worship, as to render his attendance there impos sible. Not willing, however, to lose the benefit of public worship altogether, he repaired to a neighbouring chapel; but as the service was far advanced, and the place much crowded, he could get no farther than the door. The preacher was a man long and deservedly esteemed in the Christian world, but of that class who are unhappily prone to mingle oddities and witticisms with their discourses. His text was found to be "Almost thon persuadest me to be a Christian," and as be proceeded, many ludicrous expressions escaped him, not at all to the taste of his professional hearer. This gentleman was, however, particularly struck with the effect of this mode of preaching on a person who stood near him, and who appeared to be a very respectable and intelligent young man. After listening some time with great attention, but with evident and growing indications of uneasiness and disgust, he hastily retired from the scene, muttering, in an audible tone, "If this be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, I know nothing of the meaning of the New Testament. Almost thou persuadest me to be an infidel.” This incident was related in my hearing, by the gentleman who was shall heartily rejoice if it produce a sapresent. I forbear any comment: but lutary effect on any who may be tempted to such a wretched prostitution of the sacred office of the Christian ministry as is referred to. DELTA. Obituary and Recent Deaths. JAMES GREENWOOD, ESQ. Of Haworth, Yorkshire. JAMES GREENWOOD, of Bridge House, Haworth, Yorkshire, ended his mortal career on the 25th of March, 1824. He has left a widow and eight children to lament their loss. May it be their happiness to partake of the same precious faith, and to exhibit the same Christian graces, that shone so conspicuously in the life and conversation of him whose death they deplore!-Our departed friend was born at Bridge House in August, 1763. His father, Mr. John Greenwood, in the former part of his life, attended the established church, but being convinced of believers' baptism he was baptized, and, with his wife, joined the church then under the care of the venerable James Hartley, of which church they continued members until removed by death. The precise time when the subject of this Memoir commenced his religious course, the writer of these lines cannot correctly ascertain. During the greater part of his life he attended the ministry of the Rev. Miles Oddy, the present worthy pastor of the first Baptist Church at Haworth; but afterwards he united with the people of whom some notice will be taken presently. In relating his religious experience to the church before his baptism, he stated that his first permanent impressions were produced by a sermon he heard preached from 2 Sam. xxiii. 5, though my house be not so with God," "Al |