of chapels for those services, &c. &c. | Unicorn-yard-Dean-street-Mazenaturally devolve upon it, and will pond-East-lane, Walworth-Lionnow be managed by it. It has been street, Do.-Church-street- Batterthought, therefore, that a new copy sea- Battersea - fields-Chelseaof the rules should be written with Clapham-Hammersmith-Devonthose omissions and alterations, for shire-square—Prescot-street—Little the purpose of reviving the recollec- Ayliffe-street-Bow Hackney— tion of the fundamental principles Mitchell-street-Elim Chapel-Eaavowed by the members of this So-gle-street - Little Wild-streetciety, and the important objects Grafton - street - Keppel-streetwhich it was formed to encourage Burton-street and Highgate. and promote.* Besides these, there are thirteen other Particular Baptist Churches in London or its vicinity, making in all thirty-eight; a number by far too small for the immense city in which we reside, the congregations not having kept pace either in number or in magnitude with the vast increase of the population, especially when the favourable circumstances are considered which the spirit of the times affords for enlarging the place of Zion's tent, and stretching forth the curtains of her habitation. "The state of the churches in the metropolis does not much differ from what it was in former years. During the past year our brother Edward Lewis, who was a member of the church at Manchester, has been ordained over the church at Highgate, instead of brother Mileham who had resigned the office; and brother Richard Davis, late of Plymouth Dock, has been settled over the church in East-lane, Wal- | worth, succeeding Dr. Jenkins who had been removed by death.-An enlargement has been made of the Meeting-house in Eagle-street, by which accommodations have been procured for three hundred more hearers, for 400l. That sum, and about 2001. more expended upon the old Meeting-house, have been already defrayed by the church and congregation in that place. It has been thought by some of our brethren that an association of the churches in London and its vicinity, whose pastors belong to the Society at the Jamaica Coffee-house, Cornhill, is both desirable and practicable; and it is hoped that such an association will speedily be carried into effect. These churches amount to twenty-five, and are situated at the following places; viz. Carter-lane * Mr. Ivimey then read the rules, as they were printed in our Magazine for 1813. The second was thus altered: "That ministers or churches belonging to any of our Associations, or recommended by any three ministers belonging to this body, who shall hereafter be desirous of uniting with this Society; &c." The fourth altered the time of meeting to the Tuesday evening in every year preceding the Annual Missionary Meetings. The tenth and eleventh are retained. "Whilst we feel truly thankful that God has been pleased to continue his favour to us as a body, we yet feel sufficient reason to humble ourselves before him that we have done no more to extend the boundaries of Immanuel's empire; and we most affectionately entreat our brethren to unite with us in praying, in the language of the ancient church, 'Return, we beseech thee, O God of Hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine.' "It has been thought that a desirable object would be accomplished by this Society, if it were to encourage the printing and cheap circulation of popular approved tracts written upon the subject of baptism, and the more general subject of nonconformity. In order to set forward and encourage such a design, one of our ministers has engaged to get 10,000 Tracts printed. Dr. Ryland's excellent Tract entitled 'Six Views of Believers' Baptism will be first published. It is These tracts will be furnished to any of our ministers at the cost price, to pro mote a wide circulation. It is requested that all letters on this subject may be addressed to the Rev. Wm. Shenston, at the Missionary Rooms, No. 15, Wood street, who will attend to the order, on recommended that this should be extensively circulated among the churches, as it is most admirably adapted to promote those pious feelings on the subject of baptism, which ought to be cherished by those who in their baptism were "buried with Christ, and rose to newness of life." At Dr. Rippon's on Tuesday evening ministers from different parts of the kingdom gave statements of the progress of religion in their respec as one of our most interesting Anniversaries. We are glad that the time of meeting has been altered, as the care of our own churches seems naturally to take precedence even of home or foreign missions. SKETCH OF DR. RYLAND'S SERMON AT 1 Chron. xxix. 5. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? THIS passage has an immediate reference, as the context informs us, to the preparation made by David for the tive neighbourhoods. From Dr. Queen-street Chapel, June 21, 1820. Steadman it appeared that the gospel is extending widely among the Baptists in Yorkshire. Mr. Tilly of Portsea gave some pleasing accounts of the success of Sundayschool teaching in that neighbourhood, especially as it appeared in one hundred persons, scholars, and teachers, having joined the Bap-building of the temple. Though put off tist churches there. Many other ministers, whom our limits will not permit us to particularize, encouraged the meeting by their statements. Mr. Garrington of Burnham, Essex, gave a very affecting relation of the danger to which himself, and the Essex Itinerant his companion, had been exposed by the upsetting of the boat in which they were proceeding to the Association, and of the remarkable providential deliverance which they had rienced by a king's boat coming to their assistance, just as they were so fatigued by holding the boat, that they must in a few minutes have perished. The whole meeting was very encouraging, and will probably in future years be considered expe having the money remitted; which is necessary, in order that the Committee may be enabled to proceed with the design. The paper for the first 10,000 copies has been presented, for the purpose of making the commencement. At this meeting, a small work of Mr. Chamberlain's, (Missionary in India,) on the "Constitution and Order of a Christian Church, &c." printed last year in India, and reprinted in London by Mr. Holdsworth, St. Paul's Church-yard, was warmly recommended by Mr. Ivimey, as excellently adapted for the use of the younger members of our Churches. VOL. XII. by divine prohibition from executing the plan which he had formed, yet he was not disposed to do nothing because he thankfully committed the design of the was not permitted to do all; but he whole to writing, as assisted by inspiration from God, xxviii. 12, 19. exhorted Solomon to execute it, ver. 9, 10. contributed largely towards the expense himself, xxix. 4. and encouraged his nobles and all his people to do the same, inquiring, Who is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? or, Who maketh himself generous to fill his hand this day unto Jehovah? i. e. to dedicate any thing to the service of the temple? and joiced, ver. 9. and that David rejoiced we find accordingly that the people rewith great joy, and owned himself indebted to God for inclining and enabling them to offer so willingly, ver. 13, 14, 16, 17. praying God to keep them in the same mind, ver. 18. I. The import of the question proposed. It implies, 1. That it is not every one who is willing to consecrate his service to the Lord. No, verily, multitudes prefer the service of his great enemy. Some serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own lowest appetites, Rom. xvi. 18. and are enslaved to divers lusts and pleasures, Tit. iii. 3. Rom. vi. 12. which is miserable bondage. Whereas the text implies, 2. That the service of God is by no means degrading or ignominious. It does not tend to impoverish and ruin us, but to exalt and ennoble us. If some 2 s have lost for him, none ever lost by him. and in vain do we profess to be any betHe has amply repaid them, in kind or inter, if we give not God our all. kindness. Fleshly lusts have reduced many to beggary. Covetousness and dishonesty have often defeated their own end. But he lives a princely life, who lives upon God, and lays himself out for him. The liberal soul deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things he shall stand, Isa. lviii. 7, 8, 10, 11. He that watereth shall be watered also himself, Prov. xi, 25. 3. That no service is acceptable to God, but what is voluntary and cordial. His people are a willing people, Ps. cx. 3. They offer themselves as voluntary oblations. The apostles were charmed with the Macedonians when they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then unto them by the will of God, 2 Cor. viii. 5. praying them to accept of their benefactions, ver. 4. so that in the midst of great affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 4. That God will accept the services of those who are willing to devote themselves to him without reserve. He never refused to accept of a sinner, who came unto him in the name of Jesus, willing to return to subjection, as well as to enjoy salvation. And he condescends to employ those in his service, whom he has reconciled to himself. All are not qualified for the same kind of work; but all may, in one way or other, show their love to him, and lay themselves out for his glory. Whatever their stations or taTents, he will not despise their humble endeavours to promote his kingdom. And as to pecuniary assistance, as well as every other kind of service, If there be first a willing mind, it is ac cepted according to what a man bath, and not according to what he hath not." 2 Cor. viii. 12. ix. 5, 7, &c. So of ferings of goat's hair were as acceptable as gold, from every one whose heart stirred him up, and whose spirit made him willing, Exod. xxxv. 21-29. Here the preacher introduced the widow's two mites, and showed that pecuniary contributions were in the power even of servants. " 5. That God claims the best services of all his intelligent creatures, and esAcially of those who have had peculiar avantages to know him. 6. That though God puts it to our choice as Joshua did to Israel, (Josh. xxiv. 15.) or as David did here, or Elijah (1 Kings xviii. 21.) yet it is not so left to our option, as that we can refuse with out great guilt. He accepts none but volunteers, but woe be to his enemies; II. The justice of the claim implied. 1. The infinite worthiness of the Divine character. Were it possible that any intelligent being should exist who had not derived his origin from Jehovah, he would be worthy of his love and service, on account of his glorious excellencies. 2. But certainly, the relations he sustains to us, as being our Former, and we the work of his hands, who derive our existence, and all our powers from him, who live and move in him, owe our all to him, &c. add force to our obligations. 3. The express demand he conde scends to make of our services, is an additional motive. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and serve him with all thy strength. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Give me thine heart," &c. 4. The numberless benefits which he has bestowed upon us. Whatever we have is his gift. If you possess wealth, be put it into the power of your hand to get it, Deut. viii. 18. He has given others that health, which some of the sick would gladly give all they have to enjoy. Remember that all that a sinner has better than hell is of mercy. 5. If ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how unspeakable a gift has been bestowed on you! surely you are not your own, but being bought with a price, are bound to glorify God with your body and your spirit which are God's. 1 Cor. vi. 20. 6. If he has given you his Holy Spirit, how are you indebted to him! Rich in Faith! Every exercise of grace which you are enabled to exert, increases your obligation to the God of all grace. Oh! it is a great favour to be inclined to serve God! See 2 Cor. viii. 1. We inform you of the grace of God, &c. 7. The pleasures and advantages flow. ing from a thorough consecration to God's service should strengthen his claim. Ps. cxii. 1." Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, who delighteth greatly in his commandinents." 8. The tendency of our services to glorify God, and to promote his blessed cause in the world. He that offereth praise glorifieth him. But that alone would be a cheap way, and therefore would suit a hypocrite: A true Christian will be concerned to honour the Lord with his substance also, and to do good to his fellow-men at the same time. 9. The prospect of enjoying God for ever should enforce his claim. Do we expect heaven at last? and is it essen-cording to the blessing of thee Lord thy tial to our heaven, that there his ser- God, which he hath given thee." Deut. vants shall serve him? Oh let us serve xvi. 17. him on earth first, and be desirous of abounding more and more in the work of the Lord! III. The evidence of the disposition required. If you would willingly consecrate your services to the Lord, 1. It is necessary that you should first bewail your vile departure from him, and return to him in the way that he has appointed. Make a covenant with him by sacrifice, (ver. 21.) for with out shedding of blood there is no remission. Plead the atonement: see that you are accepted in the beloved. 2. Surrender your whole selves unto the Lord; body and soul. Esteem it an exalted privilege to be his. Frequently repeat this surrender, and stand to it. Give him your soul and all its powers; your understanding, will, affection, conscience, memory, imagination, &c.-Give him your body; your lips, eyes, hands, &c.-Devote to him your labour, time, talents, property, occupation, relations, life, and in a word your all. 3. You must learn from his holy word, in what manner he would have you serve him. Attend to his directions there. Inquire what he would have you to do? 7. You are bound to engage in God's service immediately, without delay; today, not to-morrow; to continue in it constantly, this day, and through life. Consecrate yourselves to it irrevocably. Well may you say, as it was supposed that a Jewish servant in some cases would, "I love my master, I will not go out free." Exod. xxi. 5. IMPROVEMENT. And now, my dear brethren, if we are partakers of the same disposition which David and his people so eminently displayed when they prepared thus liberally for the erection of the temple at Jerusalem, ver. 1-9, shall we not willingly consecrate our service this day unto the Lord? Will no one be disposed to act up to the literal rendering "Who maketh himself of the passage, generous to fill his hand this day unto JEHOVAH?" If God has filled your pocket, your chest, your house, will you scruple filling your hand this day? If you have not a handful to give, give your two mites, and they will be accepted. But if you can fill your hand without injur ing your creditors or your family, do so. Show how much zeal you have for God, how much you pity the poor heathen in the east, and the uninstructed slaves in the west. Do not stand considering with how little you can put him off. Freely you have received, freely give. Did not God give you all you possess ? and must you not own with David, “ All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee?" I trust, very many of you have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. God gave his only begotten Son for you, compared with which gift all other good things are 5. Be willing to consecrate yourselves only what might be expected to come to his service unreservedly: not wish-in consequence. The gift of heaven is ing to spare one sin, nor to shun one duty; but desiring to know and do the, whole of God's will. Like Caleb, follow the Lord fully, 4. Walk humbly with God. Renounce all merit. Think not to make him debtor; but own how much you are indebted to him, ver. 14. You are at best but unprofitable servants; who could not be accepted, but as you do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Depend on him, therefore, for forgiveness and acceptance, and on the Holy Spirit for continual assistance in every good work. 6. Be content to serve him submissively, i. e. in what station, way, or measure, he sees best to employ you; if not in one way, yet in another. Be like David, glad to do the smallest work for God. Many would like to perform some kind of service, which would be very creditable in the eyes of the world, but do not like the work which God has allotted them. The widow did not envy the rich the honour of casting in of their abundance, but gave what she had Every man shall give as he is able, ac How not so much a cause for admiration temple cannot be erected without mo- | servient to their enjoying the glorious ney. The heathen cannot be instructed liberty of the children of God. and converted without Missionaries and Bibles; and Missionaries cannot be sent out and supported, nor Translators be employed, and Bibles printed and dispersed, without money. Though our expenses in Jamaica have been great, especially in consequence of the sickness and death of several valu able Missionaries, yet if those that survive could be supported for a while, and have larger places of worship to accom hear the word of life, the people of colour would soon support their teachers, and take this heavy burden off our hands. -Could we have found a prudent zealous man to send to that island above twenty years ago, there is no part of the world where we should have been likely to reap so large an harvest. And now our prospects would be very encouraging, both at Kingston and Spanish Town, were not our faithful Missionaries exposed to suffocation, disease, and death, by the crowds which seek admission into the place of worship, while at the firstnamed station the meeting-house will only hold half the communicants at once. If you will not learn generosity of King David, learn it of the most de-modate greater numbers who long to graded idolaters. It may, indeed, require an apology if I barely allude to some instances of their folly and extravagance. Brother Ward has assured us that about twenty-five years ago Eeshwara chundru, the Raja of Nudeeya, spent 100,000 rupees on the marriage of two monkeys, in honour of Hunooman (I. 251.) and the neighbourhood has been infested with that mischievous species of animals ever since. In the same vol. (165), he estimates that 72,000 rupees, or 9000l. are annually spent at one place in Bengal, on the worship of the infernal Kalee. In the City of Calcutta alone it is supposed that half a million of money is expended annually, on a moderate calculation, at the festival of Doorga (109). Shall the Hindoos be thus zealous and liberal in the service of idols, whose appearance is horrible to the sight, and whose moral character, as described by their own worshippers, is diabolical; and shall not we be zealous and liberal in our efforts to spread the knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, and to turn these infatuated idolaters from their base objects of worship, that they may serve the only living and true God, and wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who saveth us from the wrath to come? Many of the natives of the east you perceive are rich, and if they are at length brought to embrace the Gospel, they may not only in time support their own ministers, and spread the Gospel in the regions beyond them, but in one way or other repay the kindness of British Christians: not to say, that were they generally converted to Christianity, they would be much more likely in some measure to adopt our customs, and so far more readily purchase our manufactures, as well as be much more strongly attached to our government. We have been solicited to send a Missionary to another part of the Island to aid and succeed our aged brother Moses Baker, to whose labours and fidelity the Moravian brethren lately bore testimony in their Periodical Accounts; and an offer has been made of considerable aid for his support but we are obliged to hesitate respecting our ability to incur this additional expense; and should Moses Baker, whose wool has long turned grey on his head, be removed, his numerous converts will be left like sheep without a shepherd. We have several very promising missionary students; but without increasing exertions and assistance, we shall not be able to send them forth, as we have now bills already accepted far exceeding all we have in hand, and expect other demands soon to be made. I therefore once more ask, Can you think of the liberality of David and his people on the occasion to which our text primarily refers, and not feel a holy emulation excited to show your gratitude for the superior advantages of the Gospel dispensation, and your earnest desire for that spiritual temple to be completed, the top-stone of which shall be brought forth with shoutings of Grace, Grace, unto it? David prepared for the temple, though he did not expect to see the foundation laid; and if you do not expect to see the top-stone laid, this is no reason why you should not do all in your power to further the progress of a building so mag. In the West Indies, nothing would have such a tendency to make the poor slaves contented with their lot, and faithful to their masters, as their being made acquainted with the Gospel, and finding that God had rendered their removal from their native land in Africa, and their loss of personal liberty, sub-nificent and glorious. |