with their little ones go forth to worship him in the wilderness. Parent! see to it that you leave not your little ones in the hands of sin and Satan as hostages. Bible education is as bread cast upon the waters, to be found after many days. In some parts of the East, the copious former rains, and the inundating rivers, forbid the sowing of the seed in the earth, as is done here. Therefore at seed time they scatter, the bread seed on the face of the waters, so that when the rain cease, and the waters return to their channels, the seed is left in the earth, and a harvest follows. So with our teachers, they may sometimes seem to have to sow in the waters-deep waters of iniquity-but God encourages thee to proceed: "sow thy seed beside all waters," says the word; and God in sovereign mercy will prosper ei-affected in my life, ther this or that. Let us all, friends, labor scripturally, labor prayerfully, looking by faith to the Holy Ghost to bless his own truth, and we shall not fail in obtaining the blessing. ONE WHO WAS THERE. in your youthful days; and God was pleased to make use of me as the instrument, in the following way. Coming home one Lord's-day evening from Road, after preaching, you came to meet me. I have thought that the church of God withing the Lord for the salvation of your soul. This I called you by name, and said I have beeen entreather Sabbath schools may be likened to some led you, for the first time, to feel uncomfortable; stately oak of the forest, standing in its mag- and to be deeply concerned; till at length you was nificence and pride, which shaking down her brought to the Cross, and then desired to follow acorns with the wind upon the surrounding Christ in baptism. I, therefore, my dear boy, soil, thus sows the seed from which shall baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Many, many, were affected to tears; spring an offspring like unto itself. and the Lord's presence was solemnly realized. We hope the day will come when it shall be seen that some were stopped in their mad career of sin. Our pastor's son preached the morning sermon, tism;" and many found it to be a precious time. from St. Paul's words, "buried with him in bapIn the afternoon we were overcrowded, and the six candidates, with two others, who were dismissed from other Baptist Churches, were taken into full communion with us; our Pastor relating each one's call by grace; which was deeply interhidden ones into the marvellous light of the gosesting, shewing how differently God brings his pel. We then (sitting around the board,) partook of the broken memorials of our once suffering Lord, but now glorified Jesus, with a hope another day of seeing him face to face. This was a time of love; and I never saw a congregation more service in the evening, by preaching from our Mr. Huntley concluded the Lord's words, "he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Thus ended a day at Limpley Stoke, that will not soon be forgotton. Through mercy we are in peace, and very much united; to God be all the praise. We had a tea meeting the day following, when about 150 persons sat down; the meeting after was held in the open air. when we had about twelve ministers present. We can say, "the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." I am, dear brother, your's in the best of bonds, JOHN HUNTLEY. THE HAPPY PASTOR AND HIS SON. LIMPLY STOKE, NEAR BATH, Aug. 6, 1858. ESTEEMED BROTHER BANKS-Having had a blessed refreshing season from the presence of our gracious Lord, on Sunday, 19th July, I feel constrained to erect an Ebenezer to the faithfulness and loving-kindness of our ever glorious Head, and inscribe theron "hitherto the Lord hath helped us!" It was our baptizing day, and a very happy day it was. Ah, dear Brother, if you Londoners could come, and visit these country baptizings, it would cheer your hearts. What with open house-keeping among the friends, and the large gathering of Christians from the neighbouring churches,-the great gathering of all classes who meet around the banks of the water,-the delightful scenery, and the great solemnity of the ordinance, it seems to arouse the villages, and such was the case with us on this occasion. We met at halfpast 6 o'clock in the morning in our chapel, to implore the Master's blessing: then we went to the River Avon, at 8 o'clock, and commenced by singing: "How great, how solemn is the work," &c. Our pastor's second son supplicated the throne of grace for all present. Our pastor's eldest son then delivered a very solemn address; our pastor (who has been here 37 years,) went down into the water, accompanied by a deacon, and immersed six believers upon a profession of their faith in the name of the sacred Trinity; five of whom were Teachers in our Sabbath school, and one our pastor's youngest son, making the fifth of his children he has had the pleasure of baptizing. This was a very solemn and affecting time both for pastor and people too; having two children on the bank taking a part in the service, and another in the water: he felt it very much, and addressed him as follows: "My dear brother-shall I say this? No! But, my dear boy! hundreds of prayers have been offered up to God for you, and now they are answered. I thought I should have had to bave followed you to the grave; (instead of having this pleasure) from your long affliction: thanks be to the God of all grace, he has wrought upon you by his Holy Spirit Limply Stoke, near Bath. FREEDOM FROM THE LAW, AND REDEMP- LONG time I lay beneath the yoke I tried and strove with might and main Condemn'd before the Lord I stood, Of purple gore of crimson blood, To cleanse from guilt's tremendous thrall, W. CHAPPELL. APOSTACY OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS IN THE UNITED STATES. ORDINATION OF MR. JOHN BENNETT.-BAPTISING IN THE HUDSON RIVER. [BESIDE, an unusually long epistle from another friend in New York, (and which we have not yet been able to publish-) the following has just come to hand from Mr. William Mott, containing much that is calculated to make us love and esteem a sound Gospel Ministry, and a God-wrought experience of Divine Truth, more than ever.-ED.] MY DEAR BROTHER BANKS.-Feeling that I have gained some information since I last wrote you, on the condition of Churches in the United States; and wishing to write, also to inform you of a realized source of pleasure with somewhat of grief associated therewith, I once more take up my pen. I will first give you a little information on the state of the Churches; but in doing so it cannot be individually as that would occupy not only too much of my time, but also of your valuable paper. First, to be brief, I will just inform you that the Baptist Churches throughout the United States, which formerly stood well, and were viewed as rooted and grounded in the truth of God, and of the prophets and apostles; are now, and have for some years past, been fearfully torn to pieces and divided, through certain heresies of the Old School Bap, tist Association, as propagated by some of their leaders, such as elder G. Beebe, of Middletown, N.Y. Editor of the "Signs of the Times;" an O.S. Baptist semi-monthly work; or Elder Trott, of Virginia, a prominent correspondent thereof, either of whom starting an error, requires only the sanction of the other to make it a doctrine of the Association, which must be swallowed down at all hazards by its members or subject themselves to the penalty of the anathamas thereof. One leading error of these O. S. Baptists is, that Jesus Christ was a" created existence, the first production of Divine power, the Mediator between God and man," promise, that is, of course, as understood by Paul, when he says, "forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same," &c., and "it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren." Heb. ii. 14-17. then his mediatorial work, however good or great, could not reach unto me, such indeed makes a schism in the mystical body of Christ, severing the head from the body. From this source has arisen the grief I alluded to at the commencement of my letter: for I had thought well of Elder Gobel: he had hitherto preached well, and set forth the doctrines of Christ as experienced by the children of God. What, therefore, shall we say to these things? did he learn them by the Spirit's teaching, or by reading other men's experience? these are queries belonging to himself and God; 66 never. theless the foundation standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his." And may I not add, "Lord, hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." Third. At about this time there were apprehensions of a split in the church at 36th Street, where Mr. John Bennett preached, of whom I spoke in that letter. At this time, I was hearing very favourable accounts of him, and soon the crisis came; some of the leading members could not endure sound doctrine, they therefore made trouble, causing a division in the church, so that with him left some of the most choice of the church. The Worcester Street Church then united with the 36th Street, while those who left 36th Street took a room for Mr. Bennett in 18th Street. ably own and bless; for with him there is a good degree of originality and utterance; he speaks the truth in boldness, yet with humility of mind unfeignedly, sometimes with tears, and often with temptations, keeping back nothing (I believe) that he esteems likely to be of profit to the church of Christ. Second, 1 would just inform you, that in consequence of the letter of mine inserted in I now concluded, I would go and try if I your VESSEL for Dec., 1857, we had a few new could hear him; and found, to my surprise, faces at the Hall, in Worcester Street, some that I could, and very satisfactorily. I be of whom enquired after me. For their infor- lieve the Lord sent Mr. B. forth as an ammation as well, I beg to say that in conse-bassador, one whom, I trust, he will considerquence of Elder Gobel, (the one to whom I more particularly alluded in that letter,) proclaiming a few Sundays subsequent to its publication, (the first time I ever heard him do so) his particular views on the Person of Christ, asserting that he was the "first creation of God, an existence which became the Mediator, and who came through Mary as a medium, or channel, but was no part of her nature, &c., &c.; and also that there were not three distinct Persons in the Godhead," I have ever since absented myself, as well as brother Neeve, and others from his preaching, and believe I ever shall, as I conceive if he is true in that, that such a Jesus Christ is no Saviour to me; for if he did not really and truly partake of my nature as one of the seed of Abraham by faith, the seed of the The friends meeting there have since formed themselves into a church, by relating their experiences to each other-in all about thirty; (a goodly number to begin with,) and having invited him to take the pastorate, he was on Friday, the 18th of June, by a relation of his experience and call to the ministry, publicly Ordained by brethren John Clark, of Virginia; and P. C. Browne, of the State of New York. After he had related his experience, the ministers present cordially signified their ap probation, esteeming it of the Lord's doing. Then he was requested to give his evidences of our dear Lord having called and commissioned him to the work of the ministry, to which he cheerfully responded, and that to the entire satisfaction of the officiating brethren Clark and Browne, who forthwith ordained him by uniting hands and giving a short but appropriate address. In the evening, brother Brown preached from Jer. xv. 19; "if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth." From which he shewed, how the gospel ministry took forth the precious from the vile; making, at the same time, some remarks on the Lord's ambassadors studying to shew themselves approved unto God, "workmen who need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Thus the services of the day closed, much to the satisfaction of all concerned; and I trust with singleness of eye to the praise and glory of God's grace, "wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." On the succeeding Lord's day, June 20th, at about 8 o'clock in the morning, brother Bennett baptized three candidates, (two males and one female) in the North, or Hudson River, in the presence of a large audience. Having met at the Hall, the usual order of singing and prayer was observed; after which, our brother Clark took as his text the following words, "they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved:" (Acts ii. 42, and last clause of 47 verse) from which he made sweet and suitable remarks, emphatically declaring that he could trace a near correspondence in brother Bennet's to his own experience and call to the ministry; at the close of which, he and brother Brown publicly recognised the pastor and the church, by uniting hands; when the audience were dismissed. Having again assembled in the afternoon, brother Bennett took the leading features in the service, and preached from the following, "arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength." (Psa. cxxxii. 8.) After which he publicly gave the right hand of fellowship to the two brethren and sister, and administered the ordinance of the Lord's supper, of which our two ministering brethren partook with us. We have called our little church by the name of the Beulah Independant, Particular Baptist Church, (after the order of the Particular Baptist churches of England,) perhaps the only one in the United Statds. As the term Independant may appear somewhat ambiguous as associated with particular, I will just inform you that it was Independent of any association. I am your's in Christian bonds, New York, 37, Jane-street, WM. MOTT. near 8th Avenew. P. S. Will brother James Wells, of the Surrey Tabernacle, oblige a few friends of this City, by giving either his disavowal, or avowal, of the fact of a report spread abroad in this city, by one who professes to have known him for many years which is, that Mr. Wells held and published "that if a child of God commits sin, it is the fault of the Holy Ghost." His friends require not his disavowal, for their own satisfaction, otherwise than to verify the truth of their assertions, in denying it; which I for one, have done to the face of the said person, in the most unequivocal terms as being repulsive not only to brother Wells's mind, but to the general tenor of his preaching; but this however, is not enough. Our Churches, their Pastors, and their People. ORDINATION OF MR. J. E. CRACKNELL. THE interesting services connected with the ordination of Mr. J. E. Cracknell, as pastor of the church at Plaistow, in Essex, was holden in Zion Chapel, on Tuesday, August 16. The order of the services was not in the usual, stereotyped manner; but, neither their transposition, nor their condensation, lessened their value, or their sufficiency. By most present, the day was declared to be an unusually happy and holy season. In the afternoon, Mr. J. E. Bloomfield read portions from the Old and New Testaments, and offered earnest prayer to God. C. W. Banks, then preached to the church from Paul's words-"Striving together for the faith of the gospel." At the close of this service, a very large tent was filled with friends who sat down, and enjoyed a good cup of tea. In the evening, Mr. B. Davies, of Greenwich, commenced the service by reading and prayer; the usual questions were then asked, after a few remarks on ordination services by C. W. Banks. The questions were answered by Mr. Cracknell, in a honest, grateful, and intelligent manner: we never heard the questions answered more freely and fully in so few words. We hope Mr. Cracknell will some day, give the readers of the EARTHEN VESSEL an epitome of his conversion and call to the ministry; as it is of that measure, and was of that mild, yet momentous character, as to render it useful to many young ministers; and helpful to not a few who are often tried as to whether their sorrows were deep enough in coming into the kingdom of grace. The recognition of the union between the pastor and the church, was concluded by Mr. Flack, who, in his cordial and faithful manner, wished them God-speed. Mr. Thomas Field, of Rehoboth Chapel, Shadwell, then addressed the new pastor, from the words-" Make full proof of thy ministry." We cannot attempt even an outline of this most able charge; it was the feeling of minister and people that such an exposition of the gospel ministry-of the blessed under his ministry; added to which, nature and results of a faithful fulfilment of the debt was reduced at the end of last year the pastor's office, should be given to the to £140. Some shareholders having kindly churches in a cheap form for universal dis-offered to give up eight ten pound shares for tribution. Our acquaintance, or influence fifty pounds, the meeting above alluded to with Mr. Field, is not sufficient to prevail was convened, when about fifty friends met with him; but, seeing we have now, an im- for tea, at five o'clock, which was mutually mense number of young men coming up into the enjoyed; after which, other friends having ministry; and, seeing that by all the minis- assembled, about half-past six, our pastor ters present, it was evidenced to be of great gave out a hymn; read the last chapter 1st value, we trust the preacher will give it to book of Chronicles, making some suitable rethe public. marks upon the same; one of the deacons supplicated the throne of grace for a blessing upon the meeting; a statement was then made of our financial position, and the friends were invited to give in what the Lord had enabled them to do; when, to the surprise of all present, the sum of £38. 11s. 6d. was handed in, in addition to which a brother of the church gave up the £10 share he had, and monies in hand from penny a week subscription, &c., amounting altogether to £81. 10s. Our pastor reducing our debt to about £28. then proposed, that we have another tea meetthe remaining debt, himself promising £5, and ing the last week in this year, and clear off another brother £5, for that purpose. Among the ministers present, beside those who took part in the services, we noticed the brethren, Dawson of Barking, Vaughan of Mile End, Walters, now supplying at Cave Adullam, Cowdery, and a very large party of Christian friends. RISE AND PRESENT POSITION OF THE BAPTIST CAUSE, WANDSWORTH. DEAR SIR-I know that the well being of the church of Christ lies near your heart, and that anything of a cheering nature produces a pleasurable feeling in your mind; I therefore send you the following account of a meeting which was held on Monday, August 9th, at Wandsworth, in Surrey. About the year 1821, there were a few Christian friends in this place, whose hearts had been opened by the Lord the Spirit (one of whom was Mr. Joseph Marks, well known among the London Churches,) to know, love, and enjoy the truth in all its departments; and feeling desirous of raising a house for the worship of their God, they united together for that object, and in course of time the buiding was completed; the result of which was, that the cost exceeded their expectations, and involved them in heavy responsibilities, exceeding the sum of £1,300. These friends strug gled hard many years with their burden, and the difficulties connected with it; and the Lord has done for us, we would desire to We feel humbled, upon a reflection of what take courage, and go forward; and with grateful hearts acknowledge that both "riches and honour come from him; to him be all the praise." August 12th, 1858. OPENING OF THE VERMIS. NEW BAPTIST CHAPEL, REDHILL. courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh my soul longeth, yea even faínteth for the crieth out for the living God." Psa. lxxxiv. 2. At such times, professing Christians can perhaps sympathize with the large number of their brethren scattered about the country, who have only occasionally, (and that perhaps by going a long distance, (an opportunity of hearing a gospel se mon; to them the word does seem to be, as it should be the food of the soul, on the strength of which perhaps they may have to go for many, many days. They have often to lament as Newton writes: tasted its sweetness, and felt its power, know THOSE that love the truth of God, having how to esteem the privilege of hearing the joyful sound; and though when continually thus favoured, the mercy is apt to be too little after many vicissitudes, and during the pasto- valued, yet when deprived of it for any short season by illness, or removals in providence, rate of the late Mr. John Bailey, in order to they are made to feel somewhat of the Psalmpay off a mortgage upon the building, a sum ists desire, expressed in those emphatic words, of money was raised in shares of £10 each, st professing to bear intrest at £5 per cent per annum, but which resulted in an inability to pay either principal or interest. Such was the state of the finances when our present much valued, and respected pastor, Mr. Ball, came among us in 1842. With a small congregation to hear him, and a debt of about £700, he commenced his labors at Wandsworth, receiving for his services an insufficiency to pay his expenses; yet his heart was in his Master's service, and he most cheerfully and willingly devoted himself to the work of his Lord, After labouring many years in feeding the souls of God's children, and making efforts in reducing the debt upon the chapel, the Lord has made him abundantly successful. church and congregation were never more encouraging than at the present time; his ministrations are much blessed, and the prayermeetings well attended. About three months ago, he baptised six believers; and next month, three more will follow their Lord in the same way; all of them having been The "How tedious does the week appear; How dull our Sabbaths prove! When e'er we cannot meet to hear The precious truths we love." Such was the position of many living in the neighbourhood of the chapel, the opening of which took place on Wednesday, 21st July, we this month record. Now and then some minister would preach to them on a week evening, in some cottage or room engaged for "And Hezekiah rejoiced and all the people, that God had prepared the people, for the thing was done suddenly." He showed that God alone was the source of every good thing, in inclining the heart and constraining to serve him, and enabling any to follow the right ways, to which by nature all were averse, and his divine power was needful to turn the affections and will, There was a good congregation, and many from a distance rejoiced with the friends in this neighbourhood at the glad event of the day. Nearly 100 sat down to dinner. In the afernoon, Mr. F. Covell, of Provi denc Chapel, Croydon, preached an earnest and discriminating sermon from Psalm cxlvii. 2nd verse, "The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel." Every seat was occupied, and great attention paid to the close and energetic appeals to the consciences of his hearers, as to the real and solemn importance of vital personal religion. About 200 partook of tea, and the efforts and kindness of the ladies, who superintended this department, was rewarded by the pleasure and unanimity among their guests, who were comfortably and abundantly supplied. that occasion. The Editor of THE EARTHEN VESSEL at times led such services there; but on Lord's-day, there were five or six miles to walk to some of the surrounding churches, where they stood members; but, as may be supposed, weather often prevented their wives and children from accompanying them as they would desire. They united in an attempt to raise a fund to build a chapel; formed a Society to receive weekly subscriptions, and invested the money; knowing that if ever such a long-desired blessing was to be obtained, it needed effort according to their means, as well as wishes for it; something like David when he said, "one thing have I desired of the Lord;" but he did not rest idle and satisfied with an empty desire; for the desire of the slothful killeth him, as his hands refuse to labour. No! but "THAT WILL I SEEK AFTER; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple," Psa. xxvii. 4. This was more than six years since; and, as an encouragement to others in like circumstances, and as a proof of God's faithfulness to his promise, not to despise the day of small things, (for the first half-year witnessed but £2 16s. 6d. raised as the foundation of the Fund,) this record is In the evening, Mr. T. Field, of London, was made, and also to shew that the prayers of the preacher, and took for his text 2nd Cor. the poor that trust in him shall be heard and ii. 10th, "To preach Christ's Gospel." The answered. During the six years of its pro- nature, value and effects of the gospel were gress, it witnessed the decay of early zeal, and forcibly stated,-its power under God's blessfaint heartedness of many of its first friends; ing to the sinner's salvation, and the claims it but other friends were raised up to join the had upon them that loved and felt it, to aid in few who still adhered to the object, though the support of the ministers that proclaimed it, nearly in despair; for it seemed as if their and to join in assisting in the erection of hopes and prayers for near twenty years, that places for making it known, and statedly the gospel might be preached in their parish, carrying on the worship of God, were fully were to be blasted and fail. But their extre- and clearly discoursed upon. The opening mity was God's opportunity to shew his power; services were gratifying, and we hope, proand lead them on to success, and the accomp-fitable to very many who found it a welllishment, in a way unexpected, and in a time far nearer than any could ever imagine. They had many striking proofs of Divine interposition, in various ways, and can now rejoice and be thankful that the place is built; and that there have been many evidences of God's blessing attending the word for more than three years preached regularly on Lord's-days in a room hired for that purpose. "Now, Lord send prosperity." Give hearts to pray; and hearts to worship thee in sincerity and truth; for our desire is : "Within these walls let holy peace, "And may the Gospel's joyful sound, THE OPENING DAY. The chapel in the Station-road was opened for public worship, on July 21st. A meeting for prayer was held at nine o'clock. At 11, the service commenced by singing, "Arise, 0 King of Grace arise!" Mr. Chandler, of Edenbridge, preached an excellent discourse, from 2 Chron. xxix. 36, spent and happy day. The collection, with a We were glad to see a large airy school room behind the chapel, forming part of the structure, and for sound, ventilation, light, and comfort, it appeared just what such a place should be,. On Sunday July the 25th, the opening Sears, of Shefford, Beds., preached two powerservices were continued, when Mr. Septimus ful sermons, which were attentively listened to by a numerous congregation each time. ROTHERFIELD, SUSSEX. PREACHING and public meeting services were holden in Bethlehem Chapel, in Rotherfield, on Wednesday, Aug. 18th. In the afternoon, we had a long and spirited discourse preached by the Editor of the EARTHEN VESSEL, Mr. Banks, on the experience of God's people, the character of the gospel dispensation, and the ultimate perfection and bliss of the ransomed |