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The Tenure of Kings, &c.

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heaven, and that he was entrusted banishment would only have made with the government of the king- him the centre and the nursery dome, saying that it was as great a for every evil element in the sin to lay downe that power where- kingdom. with he was entrusted as to commit a crime. However, if he were satisfied that the authority of the court to be lawful he would give his answer. Then the soldiers and people cryed out Justice! Justice! Justice! The king turned about thereat, and looked towards them, but said nothing.'

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The issue is a matter of common history and need not concern us here. Giles was in London during the execution, but did not see it, but he sent home particulars, and in a few weeks also a short pamphlet for the old man to read bearing upon it. The title ran, The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates; proving that it is lawful, and hath been held so through all ages, for any who have the power to call to account a tyrant or wicked king, and, after due conviction, to dispose and put him to death, if the ordinary magistrate have neglected or denied to do it; and that they who of late so much blame deposing (meaning the Presbyterians) are the men that did it themselves.' 'It is written,' said Giles, by one John Milton, who lives in Holborn, and hath written divers other tracts, and also poems. He is a noted scholar, a quick discerner, and very subtle in argument. Some one pointed him out to me the other day, as we met him in the street, as being a likely man in our future councils, and I shall not be surprised thereat, for he is of pleasant benign visage, and seemeth shaped for no common things. God grant it may

be so.'

The old man read it carefully, as Giles had done before him. He was sorry for the king to die, but he did not see how any other course was possible; for life-long imprisonment would have been as cruel, and

The Kingdomes Weekly Intelligencer, sent abroad to prevent mis-information. From Tuesday, January 16, to Tuesday, the 23, 1648. (A reprint, by J. H. Fennel.)

It was a stern action. Few can love it, few even admire it, but it was not the less a right and a duty, grand even in its terror. If Lucius Brutus spared not his own sons when they conspired against the state, but stood by, heard them condemned, and saw them executed, surely England might see a weak, cowardly, canting, and tyrannous king lose his head without tirades of vehemence and raptures of sentimentality. For after all he was but a man, and as much a man D. G., as a king D. G.; and it surely cannot be that God judges kings by a lower law than that by which he judges the veriest hedger of a farm and pavier of a road.

Nathaniel was excited by these events. For several months he felt renewed strength. And yet he thought he could die now in peace. I see new light,' he said to Giles, in one of his brief visits at the Grange. "They must make Cromwell head over all-not as a king, but as one who having shown how he can fight for our weal must needs have the heart and the will to keep what he has gained. I see that it must come so, and I can die now, my boy, in peace. I have fought and you shall enjoy, and England, my dear old land, will reap the sweets of peace. Be brave, my boy, in all things. Struggles may come upon you, but meet them like a man, with firm faith in God, and brave trust in honesty and right. I say these things to you because I may not see you again, and I would you should enter into your labours as I enter into my rest.'

Giles remained rather long during his next visit, and the old man seemed about as usual. The warm breath of spring was wooing and coaxing the leaves and the flowers into beauty and fragrance, and the wounded warrior saw the flying skirts of winter as her forces drew off. 'It will not be long,' he thought. Let it be gently, O Lord!' The

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household went about their various duties as usual, and bestirred themselves with careful thrift from morn to eve.

There was much to be done, and old Midge the armourer had fallen sick of a fever, and had to be visited and have little delicacies provided for him, so that without knowing it, they almost forgot Nathaniel. But he was still there, with his pale pensive face and spiritual eyes.

One day he said, 'Let me sit out in the warm sunshine,' and they placed him just without the door, amidst

the hum of bees, the whir of wings, and the carols of birds. It seemed like a foretaste of heaven. 'Let it be gently! and now,' he whispered once more. There was no one near, but God heard him. He bowed his face in his hands, and the warm sun kissed his brow, and the soft breeze played in his hair as he lapsed into the sweet slumber of the blest to wake in his Father's house. See, a lark has shot heavenwards and rains down its wild bursts of melody, its touching theodicee upon the earth!

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Correspondence.

THE ASSOCIATION AND RAIL- THE CREED OF THE

WAY ARRANGEMENTS.

To the Editor of the General Baptist
Magazine.

DEAR SIR,—The distance to Halifax,
and consequently the expence, may
deter many zealous General Baptists
from the east, south, and centre of
our churches going to the annual
gathering. In order to simplify the
journey for occasional travellers, I
have presumed to send to you for
their use, a few general hints about
quick trains and cheap fares.

First, London passengers, King's Cross, book 3rd class to Halifax by the 7-20 a.m., Midland, change into the Express at Trent, and arrive 4-5 p.m. By Great Northern 7-40 a.m., and arrive 4-30 p.m.

Second, Passengers from stations south of Derby, book to Wakefield only, 3rd class, by train leaving Leicester 11-33 a.m., change into the Express at Trent or Derby, and arrive at Wakefield 3-10; rebook at Wakefield 2nd class, and arrive at Halifax 4-5 p.m.

Third, Lincolnshire passengers wanting 3rd class must leave Peterborough 6-0 a.m., or 2-10 p.m., and Retford 8-26 a.m., or 4-30 p.m.

Fourth, For return to Lincolnshire the 6-10 a.m., will be found the best. Fifth, London return by Midland 9-35 a.m., or 12-10. Great Northern 11-30 a.m. All are 3rd class.

Sixth, To south of Derby where trains usually stop, passengers must book 2nd class to Wakefield by the 9-35 a.m., or 12-10 noon; rebook 3rd class by either train to their destination.

Seventh, Birmingham district. Passengers must adopt the same trains and observe same rules as those quoted for south of Derby. Any further information by sending stamp for reply to, dear sir,

Yours truly,
J. ROPER.

13, West Street, Leicester.

CHIL

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MY DEAR SIR,-I regret to hear that the draft trust-deed approved by the committee of the College, and now, I believe, engrossed, contains a statement of doctrine drawn out in the form of a creed, which creed it is made necessary that every tutor and every student in the College should personally sign. I say I regret this, and I do so for several reasons.

First: I am not aware that the Association delegated to the committee any authority to compose a formula of doctrine for the body. If this had been desirable, no doubt it would have been done, but I feel sure that the Association had no idea of vesting such a responsibility in those who were appointed to secure the property. The committee seems to me, therefore, to have exceeded its functions.

Secondly I object to the compulsory signature of any form of creed extraneous to the Scriptures. I can see no necessity for including a creed in the trust-deed, but I will admit for the sake of argument that in that place it might have its uses. Still, this is widely different from demanding signature to the creed itself, a proceeding which pledges the subscriber to words which he has not chosen, and which, as I think, no man has a right to force upon him. In this year especially, when we are celebrating the heroism of illustrious non-subscribers, it is wondrously out of taste to fabricate a little 'Thirty-nine Articles' of our

own.

Thirdly: If the tutors and students are bound by a creed at all, I ask, in the name of common fairness, that it be one deliberately adopted by the Association for the purpose, and not one carried in a

small committee meeting, and then (as in this case) only by the casting vote of the chairman.

I have the greatest respect for the friends who have been concerned in drawing up this document. The officers of the College and the chairman of the committee I value as among my personal friends; and I hope in calling attention to this subject, I shall be understood as acting on public grounds alone. I could I have no doubt adopt the creed as it stands, but this does not reconcile me to the propriety of forcing it on any man.

Yours truly,

J. F. S.

CALL-LANE CHAPEL, LEEDS,
AND THE BICENTENARY.

To the Editor of the General Baptist
Magazine.

DEAR SIR,-I should be glad to see some suitable object selected by the General Baptist body, by which we could unitedly and harmoniously celebrate the Bicentenary, and which would leave a memorial alike useful to the future, and honourable to the past. It is not my intention, however, to propose any new scheme, nor yet to discuss those already suggested. It will no doubt be difficult to devise a plan that will suit all parties. Perhaps it may not be out of place to mention that a course of lectures is being delivered in the Music Hall in this town, to large audiences, by various ministers, which elicit much interest, and diffuse valuable information respecting the epoch of 1662. The first lecture was on The Exodus of 1662,' by the Rev. George William Condor, (Independent). The second was by Rev. Dr. Brewer, (Baptist) on 'The men of Exodus of 1662.' And the third is to be (in a few days) by the Rev. Samuel G. Green, of Rawden College, on 'Clerical subscription and national morality.' And others will shortly follow.

So far as the church at Call-lane, Leeds, is concerned, we are fairly committed to a local effort, which is for the time being quite absorbing. There are certain features about our chapel which may pro bably interest your readers, which leads me to intrude myself and our chapel upon your notice.

The General Baptist chapel in Call-lane, Leeds, is intimately con nected with the Bicentenary, having been erected in the troublous times of the latter part of the seventeenth century. Among the ejected clergy of 1662, was Rev. Christopher Nesse, M.A., lecturer at the parish church, Leeds, whose friends clung round him and persisted in meeting at his house in spite of the diff. culties, and fines, and penalties, which they incurred by so doing. He was led to form them into a church, but was subsequently comi pelled to leave the town and his flock, on the passing of The Five Mile Act.' He was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Whitaker, M.A., who in the early part of his ministry was committed to York Castle for i eighteen months for preaching the gospel contrary to law, and who wrote sermons in gaol for his people who met weekly to hear them read About the time of the revolution they purchased some land in Calllane, and built the chapel we now occupy, and Mr. Whitaker laboured here successfully for many years. In course of time the congregation became Arian in sentiment, and s remained until the year 1850, when the occupancy of the premises offered to and accepted by our present pastor, Rev. J. Tunniclif

were

Consequent upon the troublous times in which the chapel was built, and the risk and difficulty of Nonconformists meeting together for religious worship, a secret chamber was made in the roof of the chapel, where a number of the congre gation might meet unobserved and unapproachable. On making a baptistry in the chapel a few years since a subterranean passage was discovered, with steps under the

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How to Celebrate the Bicentenary.—Building Fund.

221

pulpit, leading, it is supposed, to some outlet in the yard behind the chapel for the escape of the minister if detected preaching. The chapel is now from its age and other causes in a dilapidated condition, and requires extensive repairs. And the church and congregation have determined to attempt a thorough repair and suitable alterations of the premises, and to place this ancient sanctuary in such a condition as shall be appropriate to the sacred charge committed to our care, and Coningsby, Boston, May 10, 1862. worthy of its self-denying, conscientious, and heroic founders. It will be evident that no more suitable time could be selected for this purpose than this Bicentenary; and as the congregation is not large, nor possessed of much wealth, we shall be obliged to seek the assistance both of our fellow-townsmen and

required. It would also embrace the present needs of the College Committee, and to a large extent the plans of the General Home Mission Committee, in connection with the establishment of new interests in our large towns.

Hoping that this suggestion may
lead to a decision in its favour at
our next Association.
I am, dear Sir,
Yours truly,

those at a distance, who sympathize
with our object and cause, and
who may be the more willing to do
so at this time. It is proposed to
make the alterations this summer,
and to re-open the chapel on the
memorable 24th of August.
Apologizing for occupying so
much of your space,
I remain,
Yours truly,
C. A. THORP.

W. SHARMAN.

BAPTIST CHAPEL ARCHITEC-
TURE.-BUILDING FUND.

To the Editor of the General Baptist
Magazine.

DEAR SIR,-In reading over the Magazine for May, I find that T. H. recommends some friend who has time at command to be at the trouble to collect information respecting General Baptist chapels and schoolrooms that have been built during the last twenty or thirty years including a description of the building, with full particulars in each case of the expenditure, the amount of accommodation, and the cost per sitting for chapels and school-rooms. Now, Mr. Editor, I do not see what use this would be. If, as he recommends, the Connexion would offer a prize to architects for the best set of plans BICENTENARY.-BUILDING and specifications for a neat com

Leeds, 15th May, 1862.

HOW TO

FUND.

CELEBRATE THE

To the Editor of the General Baptist

Magazine.

DEAR SIR,-It appears to me that the best manner of celebrating the Bicentenary would be by raising a Building Fund of £2,000 to be lent without interest to churches engaged in chapel building, and to be repaid by yearly instalments. A project of this kind would gather around it the sympathies of the churches, and especially so if they were made to understand that they could reap the benefits it sought to confer whenever

modious and economical Baptist chapel, suitable for towns, and another smaller one suitable for villages, with full particulars of the probable cost, accommodation, &c., much trouble and loss would be saved. It would render our chapels more sightly and commodious. Could not some plan be hit upon by which we as a body could render assistance to our poor churches in erecting new chapels and enlarging old ones? It would be very useful to our home missions and the Connexion, if such a plan could be adopted. The Association, which is

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