church at Chapel Als, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire. The Rev. J. Lloyd, of St. Asaph, commenced by reading and prayer; the Rev. D. Davis, of Panues, with great ability and clearness described the nature of a Christian church, and received the young minister's confession of faith; the Rev. S. Pryce, of Llanedu, presented the ordination prayer; and the Rev. M. Jones, of Trelech, (Mr. R.'s former pastor,) addressed the charge to the minister, founded on 1 Tim. iv. 16. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Rev. J. Roberts, of Llanbrynmair, delivered an impressive charge to the church, from Psalm cxviii. 25; and the Rev. J. Evans, of Three-crosses, preached to the congregation. In the evening, the Rev. Messrs, J. Jones, of Porthyrhyd, preached (in English); E. Jones, of Trelech, and W. Davis, of Swansea, (Wesleyan, and formerly Missionary to Sierra Leone,) in Welch. Three sermons were delivered the preceding afternoon, by the Rev. Messrs. Jones, of Swansea, in English; Davis, of Glandwr; and Griffiths, of Llanrwst. The devotional parts were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Hammerton, of Newton; Evans, of Laugharne; and Griffiths, of Swansea. The attendance was numerous and respectable, and the deepest solemnity pervaded the congregation. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the Rev. W. Wheeler, formerly a student of Highbury College, was ordained pastor over the Independent church at Wells, Somerset. All the services were clothed with the most solemn and lively interest. The Rev. Mr. Baker, of Shepton Mallet, read the Scriptures and prayed; the Rev. S. Curwen, of Frome, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. Mr. Luke, of Taunton, asked the questions; Rev. Mr. Corp, of Bridgewater, offered up the ordination prayer; the Rev. J. Leifchild gave the charge; and the Rev. T. Groser concluded the morning service by prayer. In the evening the Rev. W. H. Lewis, of Glastonbury, commenced the service by reading and prayer; the Rev. R. Hall, M. A. preached to the people; and the Rev. T. Gibson, of Chelwood, concluded the service. The dissenting interest in this city has been for a long time on the decline, but by the successful labours of Mr. W. for upwards of two years, it has pleasingly revived, and it is hoped that the deep solemnity of each part of the ordination service, which produced a powerful impression upon the auditories, will greatly conduce, through the divine blessing, to its future prosperity and happiness. On Wednesday, August 5, 1829, the Rev. Isaac Phillips (late of Tonbridge,) was ordained pastor of the church of Christ at Staplehurst, Kent. The solemn services of the day were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. West, Prankard, Chapman, Williams, Collison, Rooke, and Jenkings. The religious interest in this place has existed (notwithstanding various fluctuations) nearly 200 years. Here several of the ejected ministers preached with great success, who were followed by some of the excellent of the earth, whose praise is in all the churches. This cause, however, was very low, when it pleased God to direct hither the Rev. R. Kemp, (now pastor of the Independent church at Tonbridge, in this county,) under whose ministry the congregation greatly increased, that a church was formed, two enlargements made to the Old Meeting-house, and ultimately a new Chapel erected, which was opened in the month of August, 1825. Mr. K. having received a pressing and unanimous invitation from the church at Tonbridge to the pastoral office, felt it his duty to resign his charge at Staplehurst, which took place in November, 1827. Now the Great Head of the Church has given them another pastor, and they are once more favoured with a settled minister, who it is hoped will prove a lasting blessing to them. On Tuesday, the 8th of September last, the Rev. S. Binks, late of Highbury College, was ordained pastor of the Independent church, Livery Street Chapel, Birmingham. The Rev. James Matheson, of Durham, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, asked the usnal questions, and offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. R. W. Hamilton, of Leeds, gave the charge; and the Rev, J. Sibree, of Coventry, addressed the people. The services of the day were peculiarly interesting. Rusholme Road, Manchester, erected In the spacious and elegant chapel in and rapidly increasing neighbourhood, about three years ago in that populous by the united efforts of a number of pious individuals solicitous for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom in their own vicinity, a Christian church, after the Independent model, was established in July, 1827, sanctioned by the pastors of the other churches of that denomination in the town, who presided day, Sept. 16, 1829, the Rev. James on the interesting occasion. On WednesGriffin, late of Highbury College, was ordained as Pastor, in the presence of a most numerous assembly. The Rev. John Birt, (Baptist,) commenced by reading appropriate Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liver pool, illustrated and defended the principles on which Independent churches are established. The Rev. W. M. Walker, who is united in fellowship with the church in Rusholme Road, detailed the circumstances which had induced that Christian society to invite Mr. Griffin to become their pastor, and concluded by reading the call which had been presented to him. The Rev. J. A. Coombs, of Salford, asked the usual questions, and received "a good confession before many witnesses." The ordination prayer was offered up by Rev. W. Roby, of Manchester, with imposition of hands; and the Rev. John Griffin, of Portsea, addressed to his beloved son a solemn and affectionate charge from Rev. ii. 10. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown_of_life." In the evening the Rev. R. S. M'All, M.A. of Manchester, delivered to an overflowing congregation a most luminous and energetic discourse on the peculiar adaptation of churches constituted on the avowed principles of the Independents, to exert the most powerful agency in the extension and establishment of Christ's kingdom in the world, and on the solemn obligations by which they are bound to employ, to the utmost, their capabilities for this all-important More than forty ministers were present at these solemnities. The Rev. John Griffin preached on the following Sabbath; and the happy influence of these delightful services is still sensibly felt in the neighbourhood. end. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. COMMUNICATIONS have been received during the past month from the Reverend Doctors Winter and Henderson--the Rev. Samuel Rooker--G. Croft--W. Davis -Thomas James--John Wilson--John Bodington-Thomas Golding--Thomas Aston --W.M.Walker--R. Elliot --J. Elborough-James Churchill-and W.Wright. Also from Messrs. James Edmeston-J. B. Williams--J. Blyth--W. EllerbyJ. Fidgie - James Mather--R. Joyce--A Pastor -T. M.- A Constant Reader --R. F. We have a few words to offer in explanation of some remarks, which we are surprised to see from the pen of our esteemed brother, the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine, on the fact, that the Correspondence between the Congregational Board and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, appeared a mouth earlier in our Journal than in his own. The case was simply this-the Letter was presented to the Board by one of the Editors of this work, to whom it had been consigned by Dr. Ely. The Secretary of the Board not being in attendance on the evening when it was read, it remained in the custody of the individual who had presented it. He leaving town on the following day, it was locked up in his study with other papers. This prevented the Secretary of the Board making those copies, which had been ordered for the Congregational and Evangelical Magazines. Our brother Editor will then ask, How did the letters first appear in your work? We will inform him, that by the arrival of a proof of the Report of the Presbyterian Assembly, which was kindly sent us from Philadelphia, we were in possession of a printed copy of the Correspondence even before the Congregational Board knew of its arrival. So that, when that Board met on the 11th of August, one of our number was able to inform that body, that the Correspondence would certainly appear in our September number. The Board ordered the publication of the letters, and they so appeared in our number, with such statistical information as, we believe, none but ourselves could at that time have supplied. We sent our printed copy to the press, and the accidental possession of the original letters, in no way facilitated the early appearance of that Correspondence in this Magazine. These particulars will no doubt satisfy our readers, and, we trust, reconcile the worthy Editor to the circumstances, though it is sufficiently evident that he is "not in general fond of publishing late intelligence." We entreat our friends, who have not sent their Corrections of the List of Congregational Churches and Pastors, to forward them before the 15th Instant. Mr. Mather's communication will appear in our next. Its great length has occasioned the delay of which he complains. The account of St. Saviour's Gate Chapel, York, will be acceptable. The notice of" A Memento for the Afflicted," which appears in the present number, was in type before the Review of our esteemed Correspondent Delta, came to hand. If the funeral sermon of Mr. Ball be in manuscript, we shall be happy to give some interesting extracts to the public; but if it has been published, we must request Mr. W. to embody the facts to which he refers, in a letter to us, with his own remarks thereon. CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1829. MEMOIRS OF THE LATE REV. THOMAS SPILSBURY, OF TEWKESBURY. (Concluded from page 577.) ABOUT this time, Mr. Spilsbury occasionally preached to the poor in the forest near the town of Bewdley; and often assembled the men in his employment to address to them some exhortations of a religious nature, and to engage with them in the solemnities of devotion. His public labours at this time were chiefly among the Wesleyan Methodists, by whom he was highly esteemed, and whose preaching he occasionally attended, having fitted up part of his warehouse for the use of their ministers, and assisted very liberally in their accommodation. He also prosecuted, at this time, at his own expense, some disturbers of their worship, who were convicted at the Worcester Assizes, and the disturbance was never afterwards renewed. His attachment to this class of Christians, and his esteem for many individuals among them, sustained no abatement by a difference in his theological views, and a closer association of himself, at a following period, with the members of another denomination. After much deliberation, he disposed of his business, with a view of devoting himself entirely to the ministry; a step highly con NO. 60, VOL. XIII. demned at the time by the worldly wise; but he was influenced by wisdom of a different kind, and never afterwards repented of his decision. He now entered on a course of study, receiving from some kind and able friends considerable assistance in literary pursuits. It became a question to what religious body he should attach himself: many circumstances contributed to recommend the Established Church, with several of whose clergy he was on terms of intimate acquaintance, and from which quarter inducements were presented. The principles of nonconformity, however, which he had imbibed, and in which all his succeeding examinations tended only to confirm him, prevented such a choice; and the religious opinions and mode of church-government among the Independents appearing most scriptural, he resolved on that, and no other ground, to cast in his lot among them; in which connexion he remained through life. For a while he supplied various destitute congregations, still pursuing a course of study under the superintendence of an excellent clergyman and the Rev. R. Gentleman. Bromsgrove, his na 4 L tive place, Ross, in Herefordshire, Bewdley, and Kidderminster, were the scenes of these his occasional labours; in all of which, and most where he was best known, he met with considerable acceptance. At the solicitation and advice of many of his friends at Kidderminster, Mr. S. took the charge of a newly raised congregation at Stourport, where he remained two years, and was made the instrument of much good. Two ladies in particular, members of the Established Church, were indebted to his instrumentality for a sound conversion to God, with whom, for many years, he maintained an affectionate correspondence, and who honoured him with many marks of their esteem. Previously to the settlement of the Rev. Cornelius Winter at Painswick, he preached there with so much acceptance as to receive an invitation from the people to settle among them, which, however, he declined. The servant-maid of the house where he resided while there, was one of the fruits of his labours at that period. In the year 1789, he preached at Stratford upon Avon, where, from the pressing solicitations of the people, he was induced to take up his abode. For upwards of a twelvemonth, peace, harmony, and prosperity reigned. At the expiration of that period, one of his most attached hearers, imbibing the sentiments of the late W. Huntington, whose preaching he had attended during a visit to the metropolis, began to sow tares among the wheat. The poison of his heresy spread like a canker, and several of the sounder part became quickly corrupted. Sly insinuations against the sentiments of his pastor were followed by personal insult. At a meeting for prayer he openly told him he did not know how to pray, and that he ought to listen to him, God having opened his mouth. Mr. S. retired, observing, that if he prayed, he wished it might be with the spirit of his Master. Most of the assembly followed; but a party was formed, and rancour, the more groundless it was, the more confirmed it became. He consulted his friend, the late Mr. Moody, of Warwick, as to the best steps to be taken, who advised a meeting of the neighbouring ministers. Here the awful spirit of the opposer and his adherents was fully apparent, and Mr. S. received the sanc tion and promised support and co-operation of his brethren. He meditated, however, an instant retreat from the scene of noise and contention, from which determination, though receiving the kindest notice from several members of the establishment, and very liberal offers from others, to assist in the erection of a new place of worship, he could not be prevailed upon to swerve. It was during this period that the riots at Birmingham commenced, and the mob were daily and hourly looked for at Stratford. In the midst of the panic, Mr. Spilsbury proceeded as usual to preach at a village, in the road to Birmingham, where, for some time, he had established public worship, and where it was reported the insurrection had begun to manifest itself. No entreaties of his family could induce him to spare himself, or be guilty of what he conceived, in this case, a dereliction of duty. On his arrival, he found that all the forms and moveables of the place of worship had been carried away by the people, that they might be saved from the fury of the rioters, and the whole place presenting an aspect of confusion and alarm. His presence, how ever, raised their courage, and restored tranquillity. The benches were brought back, a congregation assembled, and an evident blessing seemed to rest on the assembly. We next find Mr. Spilsbury officiating for a few weeks at West Bromwich. While there, he visited the grand-daughters of Philip Henry, who treated him with great kindness, and both parties being the descendants of individuals eminent in the church, the greatest cordiality and delight were felt in their occasional interviews. From West Bromwich, he proceeded to labour for some time among the congregation assembling in Angel Street, Worcester; at which place he received an invitation from the congregation at Tewkesbury, (to whom he had preached before, and who were no strangers to his abilities and character,) to go and settle among them. This invitation, after much thought and consultation with his friends, he saw fit to accept; and on December 25, 1792, he commenced his stated labours amongst them, by preaching from 2 Cor. ix. 15. The low state of sentiment in the congregation, under the previous minister, rendered his situation delicate, and for a time brought his own orthodoxy somewhat under suspicion among the neighbouring ministers. His conduct at this time was rather moderate and prudent than zealous and rash, which might serve to countenance the suspicion, that circumstances only had engendered; but it soon became clear that all such surmises were unfounded, and at his ordination, which had been deferred for three or four years, (for he would not suffer it to take place till affairs were brought into a somewhat settled state,) a far greater number of ministers attended than was usual, including the excellent Cornelius Winter, who gave him the charge. His explicit confession of faith appears to have irritated the minds of some of his flock, who forsook him for a time, but afterwards returned and became among the number of his firmest adherents. His labours here were abundant. He preached thrice a week, attended a Sabbath morning prayer meeting, and licensed a room in a destitute part of the neighbourhood, for prayer and preaching, where he regularly officiated, besides keeping up a prayer meeting alternately at the houses of the church members. In addition to these, a Sunday School in the place was entirely supported by his family, and placed under his own superintendence. Such a continual round of exercises attested him to be no loiterer in the Christian vineyard. During his residence here, here, he numbered amongst the attendants on his ministry, and the members of his church, the three surviving daughters of the celebrated Dr. Doddridge, whose names appeared among those who signed his invitation, and with whom he was upon terms of sacred intimacy and friendship. Two of these he consigned, while here, to the silent tomb, as also a grandson and a grand-daughter of the same devoted servant of Christ. His health now began to exhibit serious marks of decline. A spasmodic affection of the chest, supposed to arise from suppressed gout, which, for a time, rendered breathing difficult, occasioned him more than once suddenly to leave the pulpit, and superinduced a highly nervous and agitated state, from which he never entirely recovered. He was advised to try |