THE CHAFF AND THE WHEAT.-Such are the chaff, who have only the husk or shell of Christianity. Chaff is the husks of wheat; many professors please themselves with the external part of religion, having a form of godliness, but are strangers to the life and power thereof: like the foolish virgins, they have lamps, but no oil; a name, but want the nature of true believers; can talk and discourse of religion, of the covenant of grace, and the exceliency of Christ; they may have, I grant, clear notions in their heads of the mysteries of the gospel, and defend it, too, against opposers; yet their hearts are unsanctified, and never felt nor experienced the work of faith with power; they have the outside of a true christian, the shell of the wheat; but if tried and searched, there is nothing but chaff, no kernel in them, they want the root of the matter. All true believers have passed through the pangs of the new birth; they found they were dead, but are now alive; once blind, but they now see; once lost in their own eyes, but now found; once carnal, but now spiritual; once had their affection set on things below, but now on things above; sin was once sweet and pleasant to them, but now it is bitter and loathsome in their eyes, because they see it so in the sight of God; their judgments are informed, their understandings savingly enlightened; Christ and heavenly things are esteemed above all things here below, yea, above ten thousand worlds by them; and their understandings are not only brought to assent to the truth of Christ, to the glory and beauty of Christ, but their wills also are subjected to him, and they are brought to consent, and yield themselves to the Lord; they believe and love, believe and obey, believe and suffer reproach, taking up the cross, putting on the yoke of Christ: their affections are so changed, and under divine influences, that what they once loved, they hate; and what they once hated, or liked not, they dearly love and approve of now. But thus it is not with chaify professors; they may be changed from open profaneness to an outward reformation of life; but their hearts are not changed, sin is not crucified in them, self is not subdued; that enmity that was naturally in their hearts, or dislike to the life and power of strict godliness, is not removed; they act from common illuminations of the Spirit, and so they put a force upon themselves, when found in religious duties; and find not a natural inclination and sweet propensity in their hearts to heavenly things; and this shows they are no more than chaff.-Benjamin Keach.

THE SIMPLICITY AND DIFFICULTY OF BELIEVING. The act by which the soul casts itself upon Christ for life and salvation is most simple, and yet most difficult. It may be thus illustrated: Suppose a per

son standing upon a high precipice, from which there was no method of descent but one. He must step from the edge of the precipice upon a board, and seat himself on a chair placed thereon; and then he is assured that he will, by the means of hidden machinery, descend in safety. He is told hundreds have done so before him, that the method is pefectly safe, and that nothing can be more simple and easy. He has only to venture on the board, seat himself, and descend. We can imagine that such a person would say, "Yes, but the gulf beneath; how dreadful is the thought of being suspended over it!" In reply, it is argued, there is no other way; the wind is howling round you; in a moment you may be swept down; the means have never failed yet; it is only to go forward a step or two and sit down." At last, after long hesitation, and with much trembling, the step is taken; all is found to be true, and surely nothing could be more easy and simple. This illustration has another side. Imagine some one persuading the person on the precipice to try to slide down it, trusting to his hands and feet. His true friend warns him of the attempt; tells him all have failed who have tried; shews him the bones of those who have perished in the attempt; and yet he ventures and perishes also. The first case exhibits faith, the second unbelief; the former shows us the safety of those who believe on Jesus, and the other the certain and eternal ruin of all who reject him, and try to save themselves. Sinner, "Venture on him, venture wholly, Let no other trest intrude;

I

MAN'S FOLLY.-I was a spectator, a short time since, of a gay assembly at N-, some ranging themselves for the dance, others at the card-tables, and numbers attracting notice by their personal decorations. looked on the motley throng with a tear of thankfulness that I knew something better. At times, I felt such compassion for the poor deluded beings, that I was ready to cry aloud among them," Seek what ye seek; but it is not where ye seek." For what were they all seeking? Lasting enjoyment. What did they find? Fleeting enjoyment, with lasting pain. The dancing, especially, seemed to me a sad and affecting emblem of human life. I watch, in imagination, those engaged in it. They approach, di- ! vide, pass and re-pass each other, and, under the constant excitement of the music, prolong the diversion, overwhelmed with heat and dust, till it ends in complete exhaustion. And when, after all the coming and going, joining in the dance, or resting, the day dawns, and the hall is gradually emptied of the jaded crowd, how forcibly are we reminded of the termination of a life squandered in vanity! The dim and

sinking lights show here and there, through the dusty atmosphere, a torn riband, or the lost badge of an order, lying on the floor, the only traces of the recent occupants.-Tholuck.

IT IS FINISHED.- Methinks these words should sound as the unbarring of heaven's gate to us; as the rending of the veil, to open a passage into the holy of holies; as a grant to a seat on the throne of glory. How magnificently free is our Sovereign in his donations to men! but can we forget how dearly he paid for them? Can we forget what depths he passed through, before he ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and received gifts for men, yea, even for the rebellious? Can we, did I say? Alas! we do, daily and hourly. Were we but looking unto Jesus, how could our eyes be so continually gazing on those mountains, which would, in that case, be cast into the depths

of the sea? An eye fixed on him would make the crooked places straight, and the rough places plain. When you can really for one moment believe sincerely that he actually suffered these things, these astonishing things, for you individually; yea, that you were engraven on the palms of his hands, before ever the highest part of the earth was laid; when you can believe that he had an eye to you in particular, in his agony and bloody sweat, in his cross and passion-how worse than absurd it is to suppose, that any of his dispensations are any thing but the fruits of love; how worse than ungrateful to think, that he who spared not his own Son, but freely gave him up for us all, will not with him freely give us ALL things. Yes, my friend, fear not: all things are yours; God cannot be a covenant-keeping God, if he makes not every thing work together for your good.-H. Plumtre.

BAPTIST FOREIGN MISSIONS.

AFRICA.

The following letter has just been received from our brother, Mr. Merrick. It was addressed to Mr. John Neal, of Liverpool, from whom we have obtained it:

Jubilee, Bimbia, June 23rd, 1848. Dear Brother Neal,

Your kind letter of the 11th November, 1847, came to hand on Saturday afternoon last, and I have had the pleasure of perusing your joint communication to brother Prince, Saker, and myself. I admire the interest, dear brother, which you manifest for our temporal and spiritual good, and hope that while you water us, you yourself will be abundantly watered. I wrote you only a few weeks ago, and so have little to communicate at present. The goods which I was fearing had gone to the bottom of the sea, are at Bonny, and are likely to lie there some time, for want of conveyance to transport them to us. We

have no "Dove" now; and our little cutterboat has been under repairs at Clarence since July last, and will not perhaps be afloat for two months to come. But our hope is in God "Jehovajireh." I rejoice that our packages have reached Bonny safely, particularly on account of the printing paper, for we have now just a few reams left, which, perhaps, we shall work out before we can manage to get a new supply from Bonny. The Book of Genesis in Isubi will have reached you, I hope, long before this letter. I sent it some weeks ago. I am now printing a Book of Selections from the Scriptures, which I find most useful, both in public and private instruction. Our good God has, I hope, commenced his work among us. "Moindu," of whom I

wrote you in my last, is, I hope, a true christian, and her husband a sincere inquirer after truth. A woman, called Dinningge, is, I hope, inquiring the way to Zion, though her mind is very dark. A few natives, who have sat under the truth for nearly four years, but have all along been gospelhardened, seem waked out of sleep, and come not only to chapel, but attend for private instruction. One of them, a female, came last Tuesday morning and brought with her five bushmen, who listened to the truth more attentively than the bushpeople are in the habit of doing. One man was deeply interested, as I explained the scheme of redemption by the blood of a Divine person. Last Sabbath I preached in Isubi, from the first three verses of the 1st chap. Isaiah; a great deal of rain fell, yet we had a fine little company, who seemed ready to eat up the preacher's words. Pray for us, dear brother, pray that the windows of heaven may be opened, and a copious blessing poured forth. Those who formerly manifested much levity, drowsiness, and heart-rending indifference under the word, now listen with the big tear-drop in the eye, while the black skins of others become pale under the denunciations of the divine judgments on the sinner. I feel an entire dependance on the Holy Spirit, and hope our risen Lord will vouchsafe to pour out that Spirit on us, then will sinners be converted.

Brother Prince will be the bearer of this letter. He is now on a visit here, which will in all probability be his last. Recent afflictive intelligence from England renders imperative his speedy departure. His absence will be a heavy, heavy loss to Clarence and our whole mission; but our gracious God has tempered the wind to the shorn lamb, and has provided us medical help in a most unexpected manner in a German Lutheran Medical Missionary. Brother

Prince will himself tell you all about this; I have not time. Brother Saker will feed the Clarence flock till the arrival of a pastor, and an African friend, Horton Johnson, will, in the meantime, do his best at Cameroons. Miss Vitou is daily sinking under the influence of the climate, and unless she speedily repair to England, will, I fear, soon fall into the tomb. Truly, as a Mission, we have to sing of judgment; but let it not be thought we are insensible of our mercies, which have been exceedingly great to us as a Mission. The sweetest and purest harmony exists among us, a harbinger, I hope, of approaching blessings from above. May we not hope that brothers Clarke, Prince, and Newbegin will be able, God helping them, to do something towards the procuring of a new vessel? we are sadly in want of one. Adieu for the present, beloved brother; continue to pray for us and our afflicted Mission.

Affectionately yours in Jesus,
Jos. MERRICK.

BROMSGROVE.

On Monday evening, Oct. 23rd, 1848, about two hundred persons took tea together in the school rooms connected with the Baptist chapel, Bromsgrove, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Baptist Sabbath school. After tea, the meeting was adjourned into the chapel, and appropriate and touching addresses were delivered by the venerable founder of the school, Mr. Scroxton, sen. (formerly the pastor of the church; now in the 84th year of his age), Mr. Crowe of Worcester, Mr. Swan of Birmingham, and Mr. Sneath, the pastor of the church.

At the close of the meeting, an effort was made by the friends of the cause, to relieve themselves of some portion of an incubus, in the shape of a £300 debt, under which the chapel had long struggled. A subscription was entered into, and £140 were promised. Among the subscribers, one deserves especial notice; he is a man who, by industry, and perseverance, and carefulness, has raised himself from very humble life and impoverished circumstances, to comparative comfort. He has saved a little out of a little, and what he has he seems desirous not to allow to rust. He liberally subscribes toward the carrying on of God's worship in the place; and whenever it is necessary to make increased efforts for any purpose connected with the chapel, his subscriptions have never been behind those who possessed far greater means than himself. This good man astonished the meeting, by requesting to have his name put down for £30; and he, at present, heads the contribution list.

SION CHAPEL, Bradford.

On Monday evening, Nov. 6, after a very pleasant and crowded tea party, a still more numerously attended meeting was held, to welcome publicly the Rev. J. P. Chown to the pastorship of the church. A solemn

prayer-meeting had been previously held to implore the divine blessing on his settlement in the place. The meeting was addressed by the Tutors of the college, the Baptist ministers resident in the town, and several of the members. The chair was taken by the senior deacon. The service was felt by all to be a happy union of the devotional and the affectionate, the solemn and the cheerful. The previous choice of the church, and its solemn commendatiou of its new pastor to God's blessing by prayer, were deemed the most suitable introduction to the pastorate over a church of the congregational order, while their act was notified to friends without in the pleasing way above mentioned. Mr. C. has already very gratifying encouragement in his work in every point of view. The unanimity is perfect.

FORMATION OF A BAPTIST CHURCH AT

ARMLEY, NEAR LEEDS.

In October, 1847, the Committee of the Baptist Village Mission appointed Mr. R. Hogg to labour amongst the people in Armley and neighbourhood, to preach the Gospel amongst them publicly, and from house to house. The interesting event of the Fruit of the Mission (consisting of eighteen persons) being united as a church of Christ, took place on the 7th Nov. 1848, when services were held in the Mission Preaching-Room. Mr. S. Jones, missionary, of Kirkstall, gave out the hymns, read the scriptures, and prayed; Mr. Macpherson, Baptist minister, of Bramley, discoursed on the nature and constitution of a Christian church; Mr. Foster, of Farsley, superintended the formation of the church; and Mr. A. M. Stalker, of Leeds, gave to the church an interesting and effective address. The congregation was excellent,many from neighbouring churches being there.

At present the Mission at Armley is very encouraging, there being a good school, and excellent congregations.

TIPTON, STAFFORDSHIRE.

The Rev. James Voller, late of BishopBurton, near Beverley, has received and accepted a unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist church, Tipton, Staffordshire. He commenced his labours there on Lord's-day, Nov. 20th.

CAMBRIDGE.

The Rev. C. T. Keen, Jun. late of Holt and Thornage, Norfolk, has accepted a cordial and unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the Baptist church meeting in Zion Chapel, Cambridge, and entered upon his labours on Lord's-day, Oct. 15th.

BIRKENHEAD.

We understand the Rev. Samuel Harris Booth, late of St. Albans, a young and eloquent minister, of high attainments, has accepted the oversight of the interest lately started in the Craven-Rooms, Birkenhead, with encouraging prospects of success.