up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh." Our "long parliament' has just concluded its sitting. One of the last acts of the Governor was to place £50,000 on the estimates for public works, in addition to £110,000 previously voted, so that there is a probability of a little briskness in business here shortly; and as the tide of emigration is stayed from setting in for a time, I think there will be a better prospect for any intending to emigrate, who may have the means, than there has been for some time past. A gold-searching committee has also been appointed, who are about to send out a small expedition to ascertain whether we have a remunerative gold-field: if we have one, things will indeed "go-ahead," as the Americans say; but if we have not a goldfield, we have good agricultural and mineral resources. In fact, I consider we are a highly favored people. Your's, &c. H. HUSSEY. GLASGOW. ITEMS OF NEW S. On the morning of Lord's day the 2nd of November, three persons were baptized in the name of Jesus, and the same day were added to the church meeting in the hall, 61 North Hanover-street. Let us hope and pray that they may live to glorify the name which they have thus confessed before many witnesses, and that they may persevere in the race upon which they have now begun to run. One of them is the son of our respected sister, Mrs. Gay. The others have been hearers of the word of truth, and we rejoice they have now given proof that they have not been idle hearers. I may mention, that the brethren here have been trying to spread abroad a knowledge of salvation, and with a view to this have organized a series of lectures for Lord's-day evenings, several of the brethren standing boldly forward to proclaim the truth in its native purity. We have also commenced tract distribution, for which purpose we have obtained some 12,000 of Brother Milner's (of Edinburgh) short but pointed tracts, and these the young men of the congregation distribute from house to house. These tracts, beside teaching the truths of Holy Writ, bear the address of the church issuing them-thus serving as a medium of communicating to the world the fact of our existence in this large and populous city. Our meetings have of late been very encouraging, and call for greater efforts. Hitherto they may have been feeble, yet we trust they are blessed of God for the good of souls. Through the liberality of three of our brethren, the church is likely soon to have a more convenient and commodious place of meeting, they having purchased a comfort. able little chapel, in a locality well fitted to serve as ground for evangelization. Let us hope that this good opportunity may be taken hold of through the zeal of the brethren, and that good alike to the church and the world may be the result. Mr. Grant, bent upon evading discussion, has printed an abusive, false, and worse than childish letter. Persons with an ordinary amount of self-respect. unless under some extraordinary circumstances, would treat him with contempt, and certainly the brethren in Manchester and neighborhood would do so, were it not that the little church in Earltown is surrounded by a population not prepared to see through his artful shuffling. Under these circumstances they will forego much that is due to them, and follow Mr. Grant until he is fully seen through. It is due, however, to him to say, that the words "course vituperation," which, in a former number of the Harbinger, were quoted from the Nonconformist and applied to him, were in that paper intended for another person of the same name. (Strange, there should be two so much alike.) As soon as this was discovered, Mr. King wrote Mr. Grant the requisite explanation, and an expression of regret on account of the mistake, stating at the same time that no wrong had been done in making the charge, but that the wrong consisted in making it on the authority of the Nonconformist. In place then of the P.S. Should any of our brethren be desirous mistaken quotation, Mr. Grant is entitled to November 8th, 1856. E. PILLANS. the full benefit of having substituted the following from the Whitehaven Advertiser of October 16, 1856:-" He appears more than ever to have forgotten that by profession he is an ambassador of the meek and lowly Jesus, and, as a consequence, he has considerably blustered in his own peculiar way at Newton, a thriving village a short distance from the scene of his former betrayal of the existence of a bad principle in a supposed good man. By true Christians, Mr. Grant's conduct cannot be viewed otherwise than as deserving reprehension. The cause of CHRIST ought to be advocated by men worthy of the cross of CHRIST. No wonder pop-gun preachers are respected by individuals, when members of Christian Unions feed them." BELFAST. * * * The following are extracts from a letter recently received from Belfast: - "Since Brother King left, we have met as usual on the first day to break the loaf, and in the evening for mutual prayer and exhortation." We have added two more by immersion, and expect another next Lord's day. Mr.is very hopeful, and we think it will not be very long before he joins the church. There are a great many anxious inquirers. After Mr. King left we noticed the following placard upon the walls : * * * NOTICE. Whether the doctrine propounded by Mr. King, in his late addresses, is worthy of reception? The above will be discussed in the hall, Kent-street.' We are sorry to say, that three of our small company are removing to Londonderry. We could do much if assisted by an efficient evangelist." PECULIARITIES OF A STATE CHURCH. A recent number of the Times newspaper contained no fewer than six advowsons advertised for sale to the highest bidder, varying from £200 to £600 a year. The particular advantages which each presents to any one anxious for the "cure of souls," are put forward prominently with the same kind of tact that a modern puffer would display in advertising his goods. In one "the incumbent is nearly PRAYER. ninety"-in another, the " duty is light"and in a third the attraction is "an old-fashioned roomy house." Well may the Freeman comment on these announcements in terms of irony that ought to make every one who supports such a system feel thoroughly ashamed of the law-made church. "What a singular addition," says that paper, "this list would make to the Acts of the Apostles! How oddly it would read if introduced as a foot-note, or in the margin, to the narrative of Peter's interview with Simon Magus! How curious a commentary would it furnish upon Paul's delineation of the character and work of a pastor! The chance of speedy death is speculated upon, just as sporting men bet upon the next event' at Tattersall's, regulating the amount of their bids according to the hope there appears of soon stepping into the dead man's shoes! This merchandise of the souls of men' is, so far as we know, peculiar to the Church of England. It belongs to no other church or nation under heaven. It is absolutely unique." OBITUARY. · JOHN WILLIAMS, BAPTIST MINISTER. We have to record the death of Mr. John Williams, Baptist minister, of Rhos, near Wrexham, late of Newtown. The deceased was one of the first biblical scholars in North Wales of which the Baptist body could boast, being well acquainted with the Hebrew and Greek languages. He translated the New Testament edited by A. Campbell into the mission of Sins. Indeed, it would seem that Welsh language, and also his Essay on the ReA. Campbell was one of his favorite anthors. The deceased minister had lately been occupied with a work on the figurative language of the Bible, which is justly regarded as a valuable contribution to biblical literature. Mr. Williams had long labored under disease of the heart, from which he suffered severely, and had not been able to discharge his ministerial duties for some months past. It was made a matter of taunt against the deceased, by some few illiberal persous among the Baptist denomination, that in some things he leaned too much in favor of the views held by A. Campbell. D. ROBERTS. November 20, 1856. POETRY. AWAKE, my soul! not only passive praise Thou owest not alone these swelling tears, Mute thanks and secret ecstacy! Awake, Voice of sweet song! Awake, my heart, awake! Wake, O wake, and utter praise! He that hath light within his own clear breast, In every storm that either frowns or falls, |