ples and never-to-be-divided ordinances of the New Testament.

Most of the men whose names we have mentioned, have had a hard and a long day's work in Zion; and, although John Foreman seems as strong to labor as ever, and James Wells is more valiant and more successful than ever, yet, these, and the much older men must go to heaven. The numerous churches which now fondly unite beneath their ministry must loose them. The fathers must "finish their course;" and it is, therefore, cheering to see, in this our day, that the Lord is not unmindful of Zion's future wants. He is preparing a school of young prophets, and is training them, we hope, for great usefulness in the church when her present pastors shall have entered into their rest: then, the Cozens's, the Chivers's, and the Caunts; the Bloomfields, the Bowles's, and the Butterfields; the Davises, and the Flacks; the Hanks's and the Hazeltons; the Meeres's, the Parkers, and the Palmers; the Wilkins's, the Williamsons, and the Whitteridges, with a host beside, will stand up to verify that beautiful prophecy-"Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all

the earth."

But we must return to the recognition day.

Our reporter has furnished lengthened notes of the striking and suitable sermons preached on the occasion; but we have not room for them. We can only give the following outline of the services. "The public recognition of Mr. Samuel Cozens, as pastor of the church meeting for Divine worship at Beulah, Somer's Town, took place on Tuesday, May the 12th, 1857. Amongst the ministers present we noticed Mr. J. Wilkins, of Greenwich; Mr. W. Flack, of the New Road; Mr. Hazelton, of Mount Zion, Chadwell Street; Mr. Benjamin Davis, of Leighton Buzzard; Mr. Dickson, late of

Dover.

The morning service commenced by MR. DICKEON reading a portion of Scripture and prayer. After which,

MR. JAMES WELLS preached from-"But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Mr. Wells divided his subject into four distinct depart

ments

First-Diversity. Second-Unity. Third-Sympathy. Fourth-Design.

For full one hour and a-half this rapid speaker illustrated and opened the different sections of his subject. About 150 sat down to dinner; and nearly 300 to tea. In the afternoon, Mr. J. E. Bloomfield delivered an able address from the words "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you frec." But the most powerful and delightful part of this day's privileges was the perfectly original and profoundly interesting sermon in the evening, when Mr. James Wells took for his text "Behold! the days come, saith the Lord, that the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt." Noticing,

I.-The reaper.

II. The ploughman.
III.-The treader of grapes.
IV. The mountains.

This discourse was full of experimental and ministerial truth. We only give a morsel:-Election is often made a scythe. One evening while preaching, a woman ran into the Surrey Tabernacle out of the way of a dog-fight, and her husband (as all good husbands should do) ran in after her. I was speaking about those whose names were written in the Lamb's Book of Life. They went away; the woman said to the man, "I don't like that man; yet there is something in him I do like." They came again: both were brought to know the truth.

Under the head of The Ploughman, Mr. Wells

.་

said :-Having made you wheat, I shall now turn you into ground. • Some say, "If my minister knew my heart he would expose me before the whole congregation." Ah, the minister will surely find you out. I had some time back a regular good-tempered man, a member of the Surrey Tabernacle. His wife one day remarked to me, "John is so good-tempered, he has not been out of temper with any one for the last twenty years." "Ah, madam, he has something to go through before he goes to heaven," I replied. John-for that was his name-was accustomed to say "Amen" after I had finished; but on one occasion I noticed he did not do so. I said to him, "You did not say Amen to-night." "No, sir, you went rather too far in experience for me." The last thing I heard of John was that he had had something to put him out, so as to cause him to be downright angry. The next time I met him he held down his head. I called out, "Do not hold down your head; I know all about it, and am glad of it." "Glad of it, sir?" "Yes, glad of it; I knew you must have something of the sort before you went home. You will hear me all the better to-night." So he did; for when I had finished he cried out, "Amen; Amen ;" and was the best clerk I ever had.

We should like to have given some portions of the church's history where Mr. Cozens now is the pastor; but this must come another day.

MR. MOYLES' NEW PARSONAGE.

Lane Chapel, Peckham, on Monday, May 11th, to A TEA and public meeting was holden in Rye aid the erection of a parsonage for their esteemed pastor, Mr. George Moyle. About 200 sat down to tea; and at a quarter to seven the meeting commenced by singing

"Dear Lord, we now together meet,

And flock around thy mercy seat," &c. After which, Mr. Moyle read a Psalm. Mr. G. Wyard, of Tring, implored the Divine blessing. Mr. Moyle then said: Dear friends, I thank you for your company on the present occasion. We are brought together to-night for something rather particular-it is to erect an house for the minister, for me; whether it be a long time, or a short time, I shall want it. If death or Providence removes me, there will be an house for the minister who shall stand in this pulpit. The church has unanimously agreed to it. Mr. Congreve said: Two months since we had a meeting for the building of an house for our pastor: at that time we had not entered into a contract with a builder, but since that time we have done so it will cost £315. The collecting books and donations were called for. The money collected by books was £61 68. ld. Donations received the same evening, £12 148. 6d. Subscriptions received before, £25. The Chairman then said £100 has been gathered all but 9s. and 5d. A gentleman then said: We must make it up an

The Daily

100 this evening. This was done. Addresses were then delivered by Mr. Bloomfield, on The Pillar of Cloud and Fire; Mr. Milner, on The Passage of the Red Sea; Mr. Meeres, on The Smitten Rock; Mr. Austin, on Manna; Mr. Attwood, on The Brazen Serpent; and in the absence of Mr. Bland, the Chairman called upon Mr. George Wyard to speak upon "The Promised Land." Mr. Wyard said: Though he liked the promised land, he found it was too late to travel there at that hour of the night. He made a few practical remarks, and the happy meeting closed with prayer by the pastor.

IPSWICH.

THE sixteenth anniversary of Bethesda Chapel, Ipswich, was held on Lord's-day, April 26, when "three sermons were preached by Mr. J. E. Bloomfield, of London. More than a thousand persons were present to hear a full and free salvation, published, in no mean manner, by one who they had

long known, and now loved such preaching, and such a preacher. Our good brother felt, on seeing so many who had known him from his childhood, unusually excited, and appeared as though he could not say enough in praise of his gracious God and Master; but he was enabled to speak blessedly, and to crown him Lord of All. May his Master stand by him, and make, and keep him, faithful unto death. Collections amounted to £21. "And, again, praise the Lord all ye Gentiles, and laud him all ye people." Rom. xv. 11. Ј. Рооск,

May 9th, 1857.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT BEDMOND. BROTHER BANKS.-I desire to express my gratitude to you, and our almost unknown friend, Kealy, for your kind interposition on our behalf. It is true I live a distance from the place of about four miles and in wet weather I find the journeys very trying; but I have been hitherto enabled to go and speak in the Lord's name; and I trust, in many instances, he has blest my feeble testimony. In justice to the church, I desire to say that my labors are not altogether free from expense. I proposed, about ten months since, to establish a fund for the sick and poor, which is supported solely (at present) by the money collected at the Lord's table; and brother Rickett immediately proposed to make an effort to remunerate me for my services. I did not ask for it, or require it: but I have since found what has been done useful; and it was then agreed to have Quarterly church meetings; and balance accounts, and what was remaining after all expenses were paid, was to go to the pastor: Last Quarterly collection our brother Rickett (the deacon) handed me over £1. This may seem a small sum in the eyes of some of our brethren; still, it was more than I expected. Then there is the balance of the anniversaries appropriated to the same person's use.

I mention the above because some might think that I have nothing. Beside this, I have received several presents; and also Mrs. Hutchinson has received presents, but these are all voluntary.

Tuesday, May 5th, we had our anniversary. Brother Milner preached in the morning, from Ezekiel xx. 37: noticing, first, the covenant; second, the bond of the covenant; and, third, the act of bringing them into the bond of the covenant. Brother Parsons, of Chesham, preached in the afternoon, from Psalm lxxiii. 1: "Truly God is good to Israel: noticing, first, God's preserving goodness; second, his ministerial goodness; third, his sympathizing goodness; fourth, his pardoning goodness; fifth, his supporting goodness; and, sixth, his conquering goodness. About fifty sat down to tea in the chapel: that being ended, brother Milner (on the behalf of the church) presented the pastor with "Keach on the Parables;" and gave some very wholesome advice both to pastor and people. Brother Milner again preached in the evening, from Isaiab xliii. 1. Many said they

never heard brother Milner preach better than he did that day. There was a sweet savour attending

the word.

We had a good day: may the Lord prosper the little one. As to our chapel, we want more room; but we know not what step to take, as we are all H. HUTCHINSON.

poor.

members of the Old Church thought well to remain in the Old Chapel, where, for many years, the Lord had fed his flock like a shepherd. We have since been organized into a little church; and the Lord has increased our number to twenty-one.

For a period we were supplied with gospel bread by three of the Lord's servants; but after united persevering prayer, the church was led to make choice of Mr. Bartholomew, who has been with us the last fourteen months. His labours have been greatly blest: the presence of our God is richly enjoyed in our midst, and he hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.

On Lord's-day, April 5th, we held our anniversary services, when three sermons were preached by our good brother, Mr. Cornelius Slim, of Hailsham, Sussex. The truths spoken came not to us in word only, but in power in the Holy Ghost, and

in much assurance.

On the Monday following, we had a social tea At the public meeting: about 135 sat down. meeting, brother Curtis opened the service by prayer; after which, our minister addressed the meeting at considerable length, shewing how, in providence and in grace, the Lord had brought him among us. It was stated, during the evening, that the friend (who owns the chapel as his own property) resigned it into the hands of the church for three years; to be renewed at the expiration of that term, at the nominal rental of £4!

Brother French, minister at Mark Tey, gave us a short address; expressed his satisfaction of our procedure. He believed the Lord was on our side, and felt constrained to wish us God speed. Our brother Slim addressed some powerful, weighty, and striking remarks to the friends on the subject

"The walls of Jerusalem built in troublous

times." His visit will be remembered for many days; and trust it may be seen in some future time. There was a needs be for it.

Brother Wheeler, of Braintree, concluded the interesting service in prayer: and although it was near ten o'clock before the meeting broke up, they said it was too soon, and sang that soul-inspiring, concluding hymn,

"Come, Christian brethren, e'er we part,

Join every voice and every heart." And now being satisfied that the Lord is with us, and has made room for us, we have named our chapel "Rehoboth," (Genesis xxvi. 22); which words our minister, Mr. Bartholomew, spoke from on the evening of the 26th April, which was a Believing it was the set time to favour Zion, we season (to many present) never to be forgotten. shall be glad to make it known to the church of Christ through your VESSEL.

[Intimately connected, as we have been, with the friends, both at the Old and at the New Baptist Chapels in Coggeshall, we are pained at the separation. Brethren Collins, (the pastor of the new place,) and Rowlands, with their friends there, have laboured untiringly to build up a prosperous gospel cause in that old English town where John Owen once sowed the good seeds of truth and righteousness; and although tribulation has attended their path, God has conferred upon them the honor of building a house for his name; and we hope it is a happy Bethel to many. If the Lord is pleased, also, to bless brother Bartholomew's ministry in the old place, as the above report declares he has done, we can but be thankful; and wish both churches a solid peace and steady prosperity.-ED.]

DEATH OF MR. HILL,

MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL, LODDISWELL. MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER IN THE LORD.--It is my painful but pleasing duty to inform you of the death of our dear minister, Mr. Hill, which took place on Thursday, April 30th, after one month's illness, during

"Sweet to look back and see his name

In life's fair book set down;
Sweet to look forward, and behold
Eternal joys his own."

The love of Christ was his darling theme, as manifested to his never-dying soul. He would say it was a sea without bottom or shore. He spoke sweetly of that river John spoke of in the Revelation; on either side was the Tree of Life proceeding out from the throne of God and the Lamb. He seemed to anticipate by faith the glorious inheritance in that land, where every hour shall

66

find sweet employ,

In that eternal world of joy." Though he had many dark seasons, and privations of communion with the Lord, yet he said, "The foundation of God standeth sure," and heaven was his home.

His love towards his church and congregation was great; so much so, that even in dy. ing circumstances he expressed a desire if he

Clapham appears to have been a providential and ministerial mercy both for the church at Garner, and Mr. Rowland himself. In consequence of the severe and protracted illness of their late much beloved pastor, Geo. Elven, the former were greatly in need of a sound and comprehensive ministry: while the latter (Mr. Rowlands) was anxious to find a people among whom he could comfortably settle. They have been brought together for a time. The chapel is crowded with hearers, and some hope is entertained that great good will flow out of those singular and mysterious events which are connected with the history of this somewhat recently formed church at Clapham.

The works to which we have referred may be had in the vestry of Garner Chapel; of that dear and long afflicted man of God, R. Eve, of Balham-hill; or of Robert Banks and Co., Dover-road, Southwark.

THE

AND

MR. J. G. ONCKEN,

THE HAMBURGH MISSIONARY.

A few hours before he died. he prayed that his heavenly Father would cut short his work, and take him home to himself, that he might live and reign with him for ever. As he lived, so he died, believing, trusting, and resting on the oaths and promises of his Lord and Master. His end was peace. After having faithfully preached and served as pastor of the Loddiswell Independent Chapel, Devon, forty-eight years, was taken from the church militant to the church triumphant above, in the 79th year of his age; was interred in the tomb with his beloved wife on the 6th of May, 1857, in the presence of a great concourse of people. He was highly respected, and his name much revered. Loddiswell, May 8.

JOHN GAY.

THOMAS ROWLAND is now the useful minister of Garner Chapel, Wirtemberg-place, Clapham; and the author of the above two pamphlets; the first, a metaphorical dialogue, illustrating the love of Christ to his church; the second, an exposition of the twenty-third Psalm. Our brother Rowland being deprived of his natural sight, and consequently debarred from the advantages of those most excellent privileges, reading and writing, certainly could not find authorship to be a very easy matter. Both these works, however, are calculated to be very useful to believers, and especially to doubting and distressed souls; and it has been our happiness to move among some good Christians who have not only derived much comfort from these works, but also from Mr. Rowland's ministry. In

DURING the last two months, professing Christianity has been exceedingly busy, and a large variety of meetings have been holden nearly every day in the public buildings and spacious chapels of the metropolis. We could only attend two of them-the Society for carrying the Gospel to the Jews, and "The Continental Evangelisation" Society. Our object in noticing the latter is, for the purpose of calling special attention to the good and the great work which, we believe, Mr. Oncken, under God, has been the means of effecting. And as we had a fair opportunity of hearing that devoted man's account of his labours, trials, and persecutions; as we personally witnessed his noble and his unflinching determination to stand by the principles and the practice of the New Testament, although Dr. Steane, and Baptist Noel, had endeavoured, publicly, to censure the German Baptist Churches for their strict communion allegiance; and, furthermore, because we have every reason to believe that Mr. Oncken has been sent into the work by the Lord; and, consequently, has been called to suffer many things, while, by heavenly help, he has been instrumental in planting many churches, gathering in many precious souls, and spreading, far and wide, in Germany, the name and fame of that glorious Shiloh, of whom the inspired patriarch said-" And UNTO HIM SHALL the gathering of THE PEOPLE be;" therefore, we feel it to be our privilege, this month, to publish it as our most decided conviction that Mr. Oncken, and the German mission, deserve the sympathies, the prayers, and the practical co-operation of all the churches in Great Britain who stand fast by those revelations and laws which our Lord and Saviour, and his apostles after him, left for our instruction and obedience until the end of time.

We have not room, this month, to enter so

fully into the history and present prospects of the German Baptist Mission as we could wish. Mr. Oncken, in the course of a lengthened address at the meeting we have referred to, said

His object in coming to England at this time was twofold-to awaken in the hearts of all who love Christ greater and greater interest in the spiritual condition and necessities of the continent of Europe, and to secure active co-operation in the work in which he and his brethren are engaged. Every missionary effort of the right stamp would be sure to meet with opposition; persecution ought not to be thought surprising, for the Master himself had distinctly told his disciples-and the declaration applied to those who live now as well as to his immediate followers-that in the world they should have persecution. It was his lot more than twenty-five ago to begin to labour as a home missionary in his native country. His work was to go into the heart of Christendom, and to proclaim to the people with a loud voice, "You are no Christians ;" and this solemn charge he adduced evidence to prove. At the close of the last and the commencement of the present century, there was little else left of the glorious German Reformation besides the errors which Luther unhappily embodied in his catechisms. Twenty-five years ago. out of the large number of ministers in the city of Hamburg, there were only five who maintained the doctrine of the divinity of our adorable Lord, all the rest were Rationalists And it seemed that this state of things would continue, for out of thirty-four students for the ministry who applied for examination at the hands of Dr. Rambach, only one professed his faith in the proper Divinity of Christ. Consequent upon such teaching in the pulpit the churches were deserted; for out of a population of 150,000, in the city of Hamburg, not more than 4,000 attended the places of worship.

He had heard a home missionary in Huntingdonshire say, in a tone of deep lamentation, that in that country, numbering 60,000 people, only 33,000 attended places of worship on the Lord's-day. For himself, making the comparison between that county and his own city, he felt the proportion of attendance was most delightful and encouraging. Only think of the difference,-150,000 people, and only 4,000 worshippers, and 500 of these attended the poor humble Baptist chapel. And let it not be supposed that Hamburg was the worst city or district in Germany. In the Grand Duchey of Mecklenberg, for example, things were still worse. In one district it appeared that a minister went to his church twenty-nine times with a sermon in his pocket, but had to return as often without preaching it, because not a living soul went near the place.

In Hamburg, when he began his labours twenty-five years ago, the ministers of the National Church were utterly and irreconcilably opposed to the circulation of the Scriptures except by means of themselves; and he, not being a Lutheran clergyman, was looked upon as a heretic. He could not therefore, obtain Bibles in his own name from the depot. But the pastor of the Independent church, who had

obtained the indulgence while on a visit to England, authorised Mr. Oncken to procure as many Bibles for ready money as he wanted, in his name. But when the secretary of the Bible Society found this out, he refused to allow Mr. Oncken to have any more copies. Therefore (said Mr. Oncken) I called on that gentleman, and, with a fearful curse and an awful imprecation upon me for preaching the Word of Life, he declared that I should have no more Bibles. "What do you know about preaching ?" said he; and then smiting his breast, he exclaimed, "We are the men-we are the men!" And the poor man got into such a rage, that I thought of what Paul said about fighting with wild beasts at Ephesus. It was, therefore, under the most unfavourable circumstances that the work of revival was commenced in Germany. The ecclesiastical and civil power united to prevent any efforts being made for the spread of the gospel out of the pale of the National Church; and, ever since the Reformation, till the Baptist movement, twenty-five years ago, none did ever take place. As pioneers, the Baptists had been obliged to bear the heaviest persecution. let this ever be borne in mind, that all persecution for conscience' sake, in Germany, had been originated and carried on by the National Protestant Church.

And

He believed that there had been given to the nonconforming Christians generally in Germany a spirit of great wisdom, so that they had never provoked persecution, which would be a wicked thing. On the contrary, every means that could be employed had been used to conciliate and prevent persecution. Before he was incarcerated, he went to the head of the police, then a distinguished member of the senate, and asked him, at a private interview, not to employ his measures against the Christians to the uttermost. But that gentleman replied, "Whilst I can move this little finger it shall be moved to your destruction." Mr. Oncken replied, "You will find it is all labour lost. You are a scholar, and know history, and must be aware that persecution has never succeeded in its design." He replied, "If it does not succeed in Hamburg, it shall not be our fault." And that gentleman had kept his word. The police were constantly on the alert for the suppression of the Baptists; and many of them were imprisoned, as he was also himself, and his goods confiscated and sold. But the Word of God and the power of God was not; and when the place where the one church used to meet was closed then it multiplied into twelve churches; so that Christian life was not only not destroyed, but fostered and strengthened. Their success had been wondrous, and all the glory must be given to God, for it was clearly his work. Twenty thousand precious souls and more had been converted to the faith, seventy four churches formed, and 586 preaching stations opened. The church members numbered some 7,000, and about 1,500 good and devoted Christians had emigrated to the far west of America.

We hope to furnish our readers with facts and comments connected with Mr. Oncken, his work, his opposers, and his friends, in future numbers.