I is to be regretted that a similar movement is not made by the ministers of the two denominations in the other counties of our land. Upwards of fifty ministers are connected with the society. The treasurer, the Rev. J. Burder of Stroud, or the secretary, the Rev. W. J. Crisp of Thornbury, will be happy to afford any information that may lead to like efforts in other parts of the kingdom. RESIGNATIONS. the erection of an additional commodious | 43,009 tracts also have been distributed. gallery behind the pulpit. On the same day, a new organ, of an elegant design and adınirable tone, was opened in the same place. The services of the day were conducted by the Rev. F. W. Dyer of Pontefract, late of Lockwood, who preached two sermons on the occasion, and by the Rev. M. Saunders, pastor of the church. Notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, the congregations were overflowing, and the sum of £42 12s. 10 d. was collected, in addition to £140 the friends had previously contributed towards the expense of the alteration. The new gallery being coved, and forming an elliptical arch, has not only greatly improved the appearance of the chapel, but contributes to the ease of the speaker in a surprising degree. It may be added, that while the preacher has far less labour, the people can hear him much more distinctly. This observatlon is made as a hint in the building of places of worship. A methodist minister of this township, in expressing some days ago his approbation of the alteration, stated that in those Wesleyan chapels "where the pulpit was somewhat advanced from the wall, and a cove behind, the preacher could be heard by a thousand more people." PROVIDENCE CHAPEL, SHOREDITCH. The second anniversary of the settlement of the Rev. W. Miall over the church assembling in the above place, was celebrated by a social meeting of the members in the vestry of the chapel, Nov. 26; on which occasion he was presented with "Horne's Introduction to the Critical Study and Knowledge of the Holy Scriptures," in 4 vols., as a testimony of their attachment and esteem. A short time previously, the members of the Female Bible Class presented him with the new and elegant edition of Fuller's Works; and the Juvenile Bible Class with the "Antiquities of Egypt." BAPTISM OF AN INDEPENDENT MINISTER. The Rev. J. Mountford, minister of the independent church, Whitewell, Herts, was recently immersed at the meeting-house, Luton, by the Rev. H. Burgess. Mr. Mountford is about to leave Whitewell, and is open to the invitation of churches in our denomination who require a minister. GLOUCESTERSHIRE CHRISTIAN UNION. The members of the "Gloucestershire Christian Union," a society whose leading object is the diffusion of the gospel by means of open-air preaching, have in the last. three years preached to 57,000 persons in the open air, 18,000 of whom it is computed never, or very occasionally, attend divine worship; The Rev. B. C. Young is under the painful necessity of resigning his oversight of the baptist church at Newport, Isle of Wight, owing to the continued bad health of his beloved partner, arising from the humidity of the climate. The Rev. S. Packer has resigned his pastoral charge at Providence Chapel, Chatham. MARRIAGES. At Tyler Street Meeting, Hitchin, by the Rev. John Broad, Nov. 1, 1841, Mr. PHILIP LANE of Offley to REBECCA HULL of Hitchin. At York Chapel, Swansea, by the Rev. Chas. Thompson, Nov. 5, Mr. WILLIAM PINN of Wiveliscomb, Somerset, to Miss RACHEL MICHAEL of Swansea, a converted Jewess, who was baptized on a public profession of her faith in Christ some time since, and added to the church under Mr. Thompson's care. Rev. William Upton, Nov. 10, Mr. JOSEPH EMERY of Chelsea to Miss ANNE GREGORY of At the baptist chapel, Eythorne, by the Rev. W. Copley, Nov. 18, Mr. JOHN MARKS of Dover to Miss CHARLOTTE BEST of Burfreestone, Kent. At Tile house Street Meeting, Hitchin, Nov. 29, 1841, by the Rev. John Broad, the Rev. ABRAHAM WYKE of Westmancote, Worcestershire, to Miss Sugans of Hitchin. At the baptist chapel, Ashford, Kent, Dec. 8, 1841, by the Rev. Thomas Davis, Mr. JOHN BEAN to SARAH, youngest daughter of Mr. JOHN CLOVER, upwards of half a century a member, and for many years a deacon, of the baptist church in that town. At the baptist chapel, Loughton, Dec. 9, by the Rev. S. Brawn, Mr. WILLIAM SEARL to MARY ANN, eldest daughter of Mr. FULLER, both of Loughton. by the Rev. David Jones, Mr. JOHN JONES of At the Tabernacle chapel, Cardiff, Dec. 21, Kisca, Monmouthshire, to JANE, daughter of the late Mr. JOHN EVANS of Roath, and granddaughter of the late Rev. John Hier, baptist minister, Castletown. DATE. SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOLS, RECOMMENDED BY THE SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. There is but one only, the living and true God God is revealed in the holy Scriptures as the Father, the Son, and God made all things. [the Holy Ghost God rules over and preserves all that he has made God is a Spirit, every where present, seeing and knowing all things God is holy, just, and true. God is merciful and gracious Man was created holy and happy Adam sinned against God, and brought death into the world.. The Bible is the Word of God 20 Rev. xv. 3, 4 1 John iv. 9-11. The Tempest stilled. Raising the Dead.. The Parables of Christ. The Sower The Prodigal Son Luke vii. 1-23 The Compassion of Christ. The Sufferings of Christ.. Isaiah xl. 1-11 liii. Philippians ii. 5-11 John vii. 40-46. ii. 49-52 iv. 16-19 Matthew viii. 23-27 Luke vii. 21-23. viii. 11-15 xv. 17-20. xix. 41, 42. ... God has shown his love to mankind by sending a Saviour Jesus Christ the Christian's High Priest Jesus Christ reigns over all The Birth of Christ The Childhood of Christ The Preaching of Christ.. The Miracles of Christ. Isaiah xlv. 11-25 lxi... Psalm cx. The Lessons recommended for the latter half of the year will be given in our number for July. 2 Peter i. Acts xvii. 16 to end. 1 John iv. Hebrews ii. Acts iv. 1-30. ii. 39 to end. Matt. xiv. 22 to end. xv. 11 to end. CORRESPONDENCE. ON I. TIMOTHY iii. 16. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR.-In the course of my reading I came to that magnificent passage of inspired writ," And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory," 1 Tim. iii. 16. Yes, thought I, incomprehensibly great and glorious indeed! Amongst all the speculations of the human mind none can compare in point of moral beauty and sublimity to the mystery of the gospel. That the eternal Son of God should condescend to assume our nature, and in that nature obey and suffer for us sinners and for our salvation, and with an ultimate design to exhibit the boundless riches of wisdom, power, love, and mercy which would otherwise have remained hid in God, is a theme for eternal admiration and joy. "Justified in (or by) the Spirit." This also I understood, and it was a delightful consideration. He was justified by the Spirit in his baptism when the Spirit of God descended like a dove and lighted upon him; and when at the same time a voice was heard from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," Matt. iii. 16, 17. He was justified by the Spirit in the immaculate purity of his life and manners from the beginning to the end of his mortal days: answering to the description of the angel, Luke i. 35, and to the declaration of the apostle, John i. 14. He was also justified by the Spirit in those amazing miracles of love and mercy which he wrought by the power of the Holy Ghost, who was "given of the Father to him with out measure." He was justified by the Spirit when" through the eternal Spirit he of fered himself without spot to God," Heb. ix. 14. He was justified by the Spirit when he was "declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead," Rom i. 4. In all these things, which may be regarded as the operations of the eternal Spirit in and through our Saviour's humanity, he was justified in the sight of men and angels, as it regards his claims as the Son of God and the Saviour of men. It was manifest to all that were not violently and wickedly prejudiced against the truth that he was neither a designing impostor, nor a wild fanatic; but what he professed himself to be, the true Messias. Hence the soldiers that were " sent to take him on one occasion returning to "Seen of angels." Up to this point I had understood the passage; but here I confess I was at a loss. According to the com. mon acceptation of the term angels, I could not see how it harmonized with the other parts of the verse. That Jesus was seen of angels at his birth, temptation, agony, re. surrection, and ascension, is an interesting fact. But is it the fact which is intended to be conveyed in this passage? Is it an essential part of the great and incontrovertible mystery of godliness, that Jesus was seen of angels? Is it of similar importance to the other great facts which are here insisted on? Would the gospel mystery have been essentially incomplete without it? I think not. Surely, then, the allusion must be to the first disciples, and the apostles of our Lord, who were chosen by him to be witnesses of all that he said and did; in order that they might go forth and testify the same in preaching the kingdom of hea ven. If this were the meaning, then the whole passage would appear harmonious. It was an essential part of the gospel mystery that the apostles should be eye-witnesses of Christ, in order that they might say with John, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; that which we have seen and beard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ," 1 John i. 1-3. Take away the link and the chain of evidence by which the truth of Christianity is supported would fall to the ground. See Acts i. 8. 21, 22. But will the original word admit such an inter. pretation? According to Schleusner the word ayyo signifies, 1. Any one who car. ries the commands of one person to another. 2. An inquisitor. 3. Any interpreter of the divine will, minister of divine word, or teacher, or president of the church. Under this last meaning of the term, I found the very statement now under consideration, an dyyehas, thus paraphrased: "He allowed himself to be seen by the apostles, after his resurrection." Gal. iv. 14, Rev. i. 20 were also referred to. Turning to "Macknight on the Apostolical Epistles," I found him still clearer on the point. On the expression, "Was seen of angels" he notes that is of the apostles and of the other witnesses who were appointed to publish and testify his resurrection to the world; and who are here called (dyyths, angels) messengers for the same reason that John the Baptist is so called, Luke vii. 27, This is he of whom it is written, Behold I send (áyyidov pou my angel) my messenger before thy face; see also Luke ix. 52, where the messengers whom Jesus sent before him into a village of the Samaritans are called ayyλous, angels, without the article, as in this passage. Yet I have not ventured to alter the common translation, because I cannot tell whether the apostle may not have had in his eye those angels who, during his ministry, saw the Son of God manifested in the flesh; those also who, after his resurrection, saw him manifested in the same manner." Is there any thing improbable or improper, Mr. Editor, in the supposition that under the term messenger, the literal rendering of the Greek dyythos, both are included? We are told, Eph. iii. 10, that the gospel dispen. sation is so ordered "to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." Is it not probable. then, that the angels, as they were to a certain extent messengers to men, so especially were they such to the upper world, of the incarnation, &c. of our Lord ? But the other and the principal allusion I submit is, as we have seen, to the apostles and others, who were messengers and witnesses of these things to the world. There were heavenly messengers and earthly messengers in the transaction, and the part that each took attests at once the grandeur and the incontrovertibleness of the mystery of godliness. It will be observed that this interpretation suits what follows. By these messengers, i. e. the apostles, who wereeye-witnesses of Christ, he was preached unto the gentiles. The result was that he "was believed on in the world," and the gospel mystery was consummated when "he was received up into glory;" from whence also he shall come again to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe. I am, dear Sir, yours truly, R. W. OVERbury. Nov. 10, 1841. OULTON CHAPEL, CUMBERLAND. (To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.) MY DEAR BROTHER,-As a paragraph appeared a few weeks ago in "The Patriot," stating that a Mr. Redmayne had renounced antipædobaptism, and had transmitted to me the title-deeds of the baptist chapel at Oulton where he had preached, lest mistakes should arise from the manner in which the announcement is made, I have thought it needful to write you a few particulars. The baptist chapel in the village of Oulton, two miles from Wigton, was built in 1722, and, with the burying-ground around, was given for the 'use of our denomination for ever. There was also left an endowment, which at present amounts to about £25 yearly. The terms of the endowment were, that it should be paid to the minister at Oulton so long as there was a church there; and should it become extinct, the endowment was to go to the nearest church. A good many years ago it became extinct, and the endowment went to Broughton, sixteen miles distant; so that one man supplied both places, till within a few years back; when Mr. Redmayne came to Wigton, and got the chapel repaired, and supplied it once a fortnight, till lately. Mr. Redmayne was formerly an independent minister at Bishop's Auckland, and only a few years ago joined the baptists. Having no immediate prospect of a charge, he came to Wigton, and began to preach there and at Oulton. But he never obtained the endowment; it still remained with the minister at Broughton, the late Mr. Samuel Raston; and, from various causes, he has never been recognized as a minister of our body. The result was, he was obliged to resort to secular employ for the support of his family; and now, this year, he has renounced connexion with us. As to the endowment, I may add, that for four years back, since Mr. Raston's death, it has lain dormant, in consequence of unpleasantness between the trustees and the present minister at Broughton; so that it is lying dead to the denomination. How it is to be recovered is at present difficult to say. I believe by the words of the deed it is necessary there should be a church, and if there were it could be claimed. I wish very much the Home Mission would send a wise man, who might labour both at Wigton and Oulton, and raise a church. Wigton is a town of five or six thousand. Oulton is a most interesting station, a venerable chapel, which will hold more than a hundred; no other place of worship of any description in all the village; no one to attend to the souls of the people but he who ministers in our chapel. There is also an interesting Sunday-school in it carried on by the independents in the chapel. The supply of preaching at present is mere accident. A young man of some gifts, and whom I baptized some months ago, and who has a desire for the work of the ministry, preaches there. He resides at Wigton, but should he leave, the place is left destitute. Can nothing be done? Have we not preachers in villages where there is no chapel and little prospect? ON THE BATH SOCIETY FOR AGED AND INFIRM MINISTERS. To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-Will you permit me, through the medium of your valuable miscellany, to address our pastors and churches once more on the subject of the Bath Society, as I have deemed some additional observations necessary on the nature of its rules, &c. when such income is £1,000, then the whole shall be so disposable. Rule XV. That the disposable funds of this society shall be divided among the several claimants entitled to benefits according to the rules thereof, in equal proportions. Such are the rules which properly refer to the regulations of the funds of the society; while I would state, that every subscriber of one guinea per annum is a member; and that every pastor of a baptist church may join this society by the payment of his annual guinea, with interest, from the time of his ordination, before the next annual meeting on the first Wednesday in June. I was prepared to expect that, in your introducing my former letter, I should see the expression of different opinions, and on this topic no one would wish to prevent discussion. Our brethren may entertain various views, as it regards large societies or small societies; whether we shall have one denominational society, or one in each of our associations; still, let not our different opinions divert us from the object. I should dread any controversy, if it tended to harden our hearts to suffering humanity, or interfered with our combining to raise funds to relieve the anxieties of our brethren, or to postpone any immediate, decided measures to accom One object of my previous communication, with that of our esteemed brother, Delta, is answered. Considerable attention is awakened, and the numerous letters I have received from brethren on the subject, show that some interest is felt in the society, and that a move-plish this purpose, when it is in the power of ment is about to be made in aid of its funds. The inquiries which have been made show me, however, the necessity of giving publicity to the following rules, which I quote from the last annual report. Rule I. That any beneficiary member, appearing to be permanently incapable of statedly exercising the pastoral or ministerial office, by reason of age or infirmity, shall be entitled to benefits according to the rules of this society. Rule II. That application shall be made annually, one month before the annual meeting, on behalf of any member entitled to benefits from this society, by letter addressed to the secretary, who shall communicate such claim to the committee at their next meeting; and any member, retaining the pastoral office, and claiming benefit from this society, shall, at the time of making application to the secretary, forward a certificate, signed by a majority of the members present at a church meeting, to be held according to public notice given for that special purpose, signifying their approbation and consent to his holding the pastoral office while claiming such benefit. Rule XIV. That when the annual income of this society, after payment of all current expenses, shall amount to £150, one half thereof shall be disposable to claimants according to the rules; when such income is £300, two-thirds; when such income is £500, four-fifths; and our pastors and churches. Dear brethren, let us not have this sin laid to our charge, that aged piety, and aged ministerial piety, is treated with indifference, and that those who have been sustaining so many years the efforts of our churches, are neglected by them, and left to penury and distress. Surely Christ must feel most tenderly for his suffering servants, and tremendous will be that woe which he will address to some professors in the last day; when he will say, "Verily, I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." Mr. Bayley, one of your correspondents, acknowledges that the existence of the Bath Society was unknown to him until the past month, and he intimates that the churches in that part of the kingdom with which he is acquainted, have made the needful provision for the wants of aged and infirm ministers. Sir, I rejoice in that statement, yet I am sorry to say, that I am acquainted with a very different order of things in many counties. I do not question Mr. Bayley's statement, yet I do not wish it to produce a false impression on the minds of your readers, and lead them to think that the efforts for which we plead are unnecessary. Mr. Bayley has not told us whether he refers to London or the country, whether to the east or to the west. Besides, I would observe, that I apprehend from his letter, that the societies to which he may refer, are rather different in their constitution from the Bath Society. This is an |