stantly made unhappy by, but still more, was it "hard," because she was shut out from the light and peace, the confidence of faith, the satisfaction of hope, that always results from a sincere and abiding communion with "our Father who is in heaven."

And who that has any experience in the transgressor's way," but will acknowledge it "is hard"? I shall never forget my first lie (if you will excuse the reference to myself), although it happened when I was a very little girl. My younger sister had a cent, with which she wished to buy a fig,and being too sick to go down to the store herself, she engaged me to go. Accordingly I went. As I was returning with the fig nicely done up in a small paper, suddenly the thought occurred to me that I should like to look at the fig. So I very carefully opened the paper, when the fig looked so very tempting, I thought I could not help tasting it a little at one end, and then I could explain the affair at home. I had scarcely despatched that bit before I wanted it all, and without much more thought I eat up the whole fig! Then when the fig was all gone, and I had nothing to do but to think, I began to feel very uncomfortable, -my own faithlessness,--my sister's disappointment, I stood disgraced before myself. I had done very wrong. I thought of running away off somewhere, I did not know exactly where, but where I should never come back again. It was long before I reached home, and I went as quickly as I could, and told my sister that I had "lost the cent." I remember she cried sadly, but I went directly out into the garden, and tried to think of something else, but in vain, my own guilt stared me steadily in the face, and I was wretched enough.

Although it wanted only a few minutes to our dinner hour, yet it seemed very long to me. I was anxious some event should intervene between me and the lie I had told. I imagined it would relieve me. I wandered about the garden with a very heavy spirit. I thought I would give worlds if it had not happened. When the dinner hour came, I was seated in my high chair at my father's side, when my sister made her appearance, crying and looking very much grieved. My father immediately enquired, what the matter was? Then, my mother stated the story, the conclusion of which was, that I had "lost the cent." I can never forget the look of kind, perfectly

unsuspecting confidence with which my father turned to me, and, with his large blue eyes full in my face, said, where about did you lose the cent? perhaps we can find it again." Not for one single instant could I brave that tone and that look, but, bursting into tears, I screamed out, "Oh, I did not lose the cent, I ate up the fig." A silence, as of the grave, ensued. No one spoke. In an instant I seemed to be separated at an immense distance from all the rest of the family. A great gulf yawned between us. A sense of loneliness, and desolation, and dreariness came over me, the impression of which, I presume, will go with me for ever. I left the table; and all that afternoon, the next day, and during the week, my feelings were melancholy in the extreme. But as time wore away, and my father and mother, brothers and sisters, received me back to their love and favour, my spirits recovered their wonted tone. The whole event left an indelible impression on my mind and heart. It convinced me that "the way of the transgressor is hard."

I know the brow of sin sometimes wears the stolen mask of pleasure. But it is only the seeming, not the substance. Can any one commit a greater mistake than to imagine happiness attendant on vice? When avarice blunts every generous sentiment of the soul, envy creeps like a serpent over the heart, withering and deadening all true affection. Ambition tramples beneath its feet the holiest and highest principles. There is no balm for the disquieted heart, but to tear out the viper in the bosom. "The triumph of the wicked is short. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment." The good man's burden at first seems too heavy, but a few years enduring integrity, and the yoke is easy, the burden light. The habit of any vice cannot long be concealed. Human nature was not made for hypocrisy. Every vice has its own peculiar foot-prints. Society knows evil to be the great enemy of its peace. How hard it is for the bad man to turn back! Yet he can do it. Only his will enchains him. God cannot ask what man cannot do. Let us not take sanction under the saying, "The Ethiopian cannot change his skin, nor the leopard its spots." Our gospel is built on the return of the prodigal. What we heartily desire we obtain. The feeling seems to prevail, that it is not safe to break off from sin at once. The path of such half-soul endeavours is

always short.

The partial reformer has only lulled watchfulness to sleep. We are wept over by the angels. Let the searching eye of God keep the chambers of our souls clean. The only pleasure that dies not in the using, is when temptation has been overcome, when passion has been subdued; these colour our earth with the holy light of heaven. Let us live the life of the righteous, so that we may die the death of the righteous, and so, in the beautiful language of David, we shall be satisfied when we awake in His likeness.

THE IDLE ARE ALWAYS
UNHAPPY.

"Oh, dear me!" sighed little Robert Blake, as he leaned his head against the open window, and looked out, "I don't think vacation is very good fun, after all; I am tired of playing, and tired of reading, and I can't think of anything else to do."

"What if you should try working a little!" said his sister Mary, who sat at the other window, busily sewing. "I dare say the men would like to have you help them rake up the hay, and-"

"Oh, I ain't going to work in vacation, I'm sure. Father told me that if I didn't want to, I needn't do a single thing except amuse myself; and I don't mean to."

"Yes; but at the same time he told you that you would find yourself very much mistaken, if you thought you could be happy to be entirely idle; and he said he should be very much surprised if you did not come and ask for something to do, before the vacation was over."

"Well, I don't care; I know that it is pleasanter to play than to work, whatever you may say to the contrary."

"So it is for a little while; but you see yourself, how soon you are tired of it."

Well, I shall get rested pretty soon." "Yes, a little hay-making would rest you nicely."

"I tell you I won't work in vacation, so you needn't say any more about it," and seizing his straw hat, Robert ran out of the house. First he took his ball and threw it against the wall a few times, but pretty soon the ball went over the shed, and Robert was too tired," as he said to himself, to go and get it. So he sat down in the swing, but he had no one to swing him, and it was too much work to swing himself, so he took his kite, and, as there was a fine wind, it

soon rose to the full length of the string. But Robert found it made his arms ache to hold on to the stick, so he wound it up and sat down on the step to consider what he should do next.

It was a beautiful summer day, and as Robert looked around he saw the little brook before his father's house glittering in the sun, and looking so merry and pleasant, that he jumped up and ran down towards it, to see if he could not find something there with which to amuse himself. He sat down for a little while under the great willow on the bank of the stream, and watched the little waves so busily dancing along; and he wondered where they all went to, and why they were always in such a hurry. But the wavelets could not speak to tell him, and so, after looking at the swift current a little longer, Robert picked up some little twigs, and, standing on the little bridge, amused himself by throwing them into the brook, and seeing how quickly they would come through on the other side. But he was soon tired of this sport, and resting with both arms upon the rail and crossing his feet, he leaned listlessly over, and gazed at the shining brook.

He was aroused from his dream by the sound of merry voices coming toward him, and, looking up, he saw Susan Brown, the daughter of a neighbour, coming towards the brook, with a great pitcher upon her head, while her little sister Lizzy ran after, chattering and laughing as if she felt very happy.

"Why, what a great pitcher, Susy!" said Robert: "is it not very heavy ?"

"Oh, no, I don't mind it when the weather is pleasant." So saying, she dipped the pitcher into the brook, and when it was filled she again raised it towards her head; but Robert said:

"You had much better let me carry it."

"Well, if you like," said Susy, laugh

ing.

"And I will bring another one up for you afterward, if you wish," said Robert.

"Thank you; I should like it very much, for I have got to fill the barrel for mother, and I will give you a pail, and you can help me, if you like."

"Yes, I should admire it," said Robert, with sudden animation; and for half an hour he worked steadily, carrying the pails and emptying them into the barrel. At the end of that time he felt quite warm and

tired, but the barrel was full, and both Susy and her mother thanked him very much, and Mrs. Brown gave him an apple turnover, which she had just baked, and which tasted nicer to Robert than anything he had eaten since vacation commenced. After

eating this, he went home, and the same afternoon he told his father that he meant to help him part of every day until school commenced again; for, said he,

"I find there is no work so hard as trying to amuse myself."

The

THE TESTIMONY OF BAPTISTS AS A DENOMINATION.-Great is the responsibility now resting on those who have been baptized upon the personal profession of faith and repentance. Separated by widely divided classes, by mutual ignorance, and repelling prejudices, humanly speaking, it is little that we can do for our countrymen and for the world. But we have a clear testimony to deliver to all with whom we may speak; the first, and most expressive, is that of a holy life: we must be living epistles, and so be read-that is the only testimony which many will receive. person who has been the chief instrument of reviving and promulgating the doctrine of baptiɛmal regeneration, and who has passed from the Established Church into that of Rome, professed that he could not be against a communion so fruitful in saints. Others, who have accepted the idea of Church authority, but who have doubts as to the claims of the English Church on their obedience, justify themselves in yet remaining in the Established Church, because there have been, and are, holy men in that communion. Both Anglican and Romanist declare that the sacraments administered by priests, who are "in the place of God," are the only means of spiritual life and holiness. Be it ours, then, to shew, that while utterly rejecting priests as in the place of God, and sacraments as efficacious to regenerate and sanctify, we yet shew forth the life of faith and of holy obedience, bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit; thus demonstrating that the truth believed is efficacious, while sacraments fail of efficacy. Be it ours to cultivate greater love and reverence to the Word of God, to acquire a more intimate knowledge of it, and, by its rich indwelling, find light, power, wisdom. Five hundred years before the Reformation, believers, baptized upon a profession of their faith, were witnesses for God, when darkness covered the so-called Church, and gross darkness the people; their blood was the first shed in this land for the truth. The fifty thousand slaughtered saints of the valley of Piedmont, who kept the faith, "when all our fathers worshiped stocks and stones," and who yet cry against "the Church" from beneath the altar, were baptized believers, upon whose general slaughter night rested upon Europe. At the Reformation, and after the Reformation, baptized believers had to lay down their lives, and to seal their testimony

to the sole authority of Scripture, and the individual responsibility of man to God. And now, when death has passed upon the national Churches of the Reformation, our brethren have to testify and to suffer. The pastors of Lutheran Denmark are little else than police functionaries, and the Church an organisation without spiritual life. There, at this time, the baptized believer has to endure wrong and persecution. In Prussia -land of boasted toleration and enlightenment, where Jew and Catholic, Old Lutherans and New Lutherans, are paid and patronised as State Churches-even there, bonds and imprisonment, and civil death, is at this time the portion of the believer who in faith is baptized; while baptism of infants has been enforced by the civil power, and is declared to be essential, even to civil life. We are not thus called upon to suffer while asserting the sole authority of our Lord and of his Word, and while affirming that no act can, in the nature of things, be a religious act, unless it be voluntary-the act of a conscious and intelligent moral agent. Prelates, as did lately Dr. Wilberforce, may say that Dissenters, and amongst them Baptists, are to be preached against; and to this we may not object: and if, while preaching against our alleged "errors," prelates and clergy will teach the people "out of the Scriptures," according to the Vows they have taken-remembering, too, the rubric which enjoins dipping as the mode of baptism-prelates and clergy doing this, far be it from us to complain. Be it ours, in meekness and forbearance, and in the fear of God, to exercise that which is the right and the duty of those who are not only citizens of a free state, but who are also the subjects of a spiritual kingdom. The happiness here and hereafter of our fellow-men, and the glory of our Lord, alike call us to labour for them and to advance his honour; and while working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure) appearing to be the sons of God, without rebuke, shining as lights in the world, and "holding forth the Word of Life" (Phil. ii. 16).--From the Circular Letter of the Oxfordshire Association, by Mr. Warne.

THE CLAIMS OF THE YOUNG.-Speaking after the manner of men, the church as well as the world needs the conversion of the young. Shortly those who constitute the visible churches of Christ now on earth

Memen

will be removed to nobler scenes. toes of the mortality of the disciples of Jesus are by no means wanting. We are perpetually made conversant with the fact, that religion in the soul is no safeguard against the attack of death upon the body, and that the church of God is not a sanctuary into which the destroyer cannot enter. The wise, the venerable, and the holy, are laid prostrate beneath his stroke. One generation after another has seen the visit of the last enemy, made from pew to pew, from pulpit to pulpit, and from dwelling to dwelling, carrying away the disciples of the Lord Jesus, and thus producing the indelible impression that they as well as others must die. Of all this the history of your own association affords affecting illustration. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? The names of honoured men will at once occur to you. Men who were long the glory of our denomination, and who were once intimately connected with this association, and afterwards with others that branched from it, who are now not seen in your annual gatherings. They are gone to breathe the pure air and to enjoy the perfect light and glory of the better land. The Saviour they loved, and whose cross they preached with "an unction from the holy one," has added them to the heavenly assembly. And year after year the column for deaths in our circular announces the removal of not a few of the members of our churches. These are facts which should make us concerned to see the young "baptized for the dead." Where the glorified spirits of the departed fathers and brethren are, you will shortly arrive. Thither the captain of salvation is conducting you. You may well rejoice in the prospect of a re-union with those gone before you. But while you rejoice, you should earnestly seek to lure the young into sympathy with the Gospel, that when you are gone they may contribute to the advancement of that cause, which, notwithstanding the ravages of death, must prevail in the world, till it secures to itself a scene of triumph as wide as the habitable globe.Circular Letter of the Western Baptist Association, by the Rev. E. Edwards.

BEST AS IT IS.-Were the time of our death foreseen, what a melancholy character would it impart to the pursuits and occupations of the human race! If every man saw the moment of his death continually before him, how would his thoughts be fixed

to the fatal spot; and, upon its near approach, the consideration of it would probably absorb every other. With respect to our fellow-creatures, how would it poison the springs of enjoyment, were parents and children, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, able to calculate with certainty the period of each other's lives! We should seem to be walking among the victims of death-the scenes of human existence would lose all cheerfulness, animation, and beauty. The interests of society would also sustain more serious injury. Many great and noble enterprises would never have been begun, could the persons who, in the hope of life, engaged in them, have foreseen that, before they could be concluded, they themselves would be snatched away by the hand of death. Many discoveries, by which great benefit has been conferred on the world, would not have been elicited. No efforts, probably, would be made to attain any object, the consequences of which terminate with the life of the party, if he foresaw that they would be intercepted by death. would venture to engage in any lucrative employment, if he certainly knew the benefit would not be even partially realized during the term of his mortal existence? -But happily for mankind, events are concealed-duties only are made known.--Hall.

Who

FAITH IN DARKNESS.-Believing, in darkness, on God's bare word, where nothing like fulfilment of the promise is to be seen, is certainly a great and glorious thing, by which God is honoured; and oh, that such a faith were more frequently found amongst us ! Alas, even where true faith really exists, it is but too generally in a state of conflict, and seldom triumphant and perfected. You find yourself, for instance, in a critical situation; the cares of this life and domestic embarrassments press you down; you can see no outlet-every human prospect of help is vanished. You now

get an insight into the promises of God: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Fear thou not, I am with thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands!" You know that He who thus speaks addresses you, and that his word is truth. You take the word as a staff in your hand; you hope the best where, to all outward appearance, there is nothing to hope; you believe in the dark. This is believing the word of God. But have we, generally, such a faith as this?-F. W. Krummacher.

YOUNG MEN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION IN AID OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

On Tuesday evening, Oct. 14th, the third annual meeting of this Association was held in the Baptist Mission Library: W. H. Watson, Esq., presided; and, after the Rev.

John Clark of Brown's Town, Jamaica, had supplicated the divine blessing, briefly introduced the business of the meeting. The secretary (Mr. Thomas J. Cole) having read the report, resolutions approving of the course pursued by the committee during the past year, and urging the continuance of

similar efforts, were proposed by the Rev. C. M. Birrell of Liverpool, S. Davies of Wallingford, G. W. Fishbourne of Bow, Isaac New of Birmingham, R. W. Overbury of Eagle-street, and Wm. Walters of New-Park-street, London. The objects of this Association, as stated in the report, are the diffusing of missionary information, and endeavouring to increase a missionary spirit among young men: the encouraging and aiding Sunday School children, and the young generally, in making systematic efforts on behalf of missions; and the cheering the hearts, and strengthening the hands of the missionaries, in their educational efforts. The committee have carried out these objects during the past year, by the delivery of lectures to young men, the holding of missionary prayer-meetings, and the contributing articles upon missionary subjects to various periodicals. They have also delivered fifty illustrated lectures on India, in the metropolis and the provinces, by means of which, upwards of 23,000 persons were made acquainted with the state and claims of the Baptist Mission in the East. In addition to which, their deputations have attended many juvenile meetings, and visited many country schools, endeavouring to establish juvenile missionary auxiliaries in every direction, and place them upon a secure basis. We are glad to find that the Association is making its efforts tell on the important work of education; much time and thought has been spent in obtaining an exact knowledge of the educational wants of each station; and, by appeals to the juvenile auxiliaries, this Association has obtained permanent support for thirteen of these mission schools, and gives promise of still greater results during the coming year.

STEPNEY COLLEGE.

The opening of the session of this institution took place on the 17th of September. A public meeting was held in the afternoon, in the College chapel, G. T. Kemp, Esq., treasurer, in the chair. Dr. Hoby read the report, which opened with an expression of gratitude to God that the condition of the college was, in all respects, satisfactory. Its usefulness had been increasing, and it was trusted would still increase. The examiners' reports shewed that the students had made great proficiency, which was a matter for rejoicing, while it reflected great honour upon the tutors. The students who had concluded their studies and left the college, had been settled over vacant churches. The number of students now in the college was twenty. The meeting was addressed by the Revs. Dr. Cox, Dr. Peck (of Boston, U.S.), D. J. East, J. G. Pike, S. Cowdy, B. W. Noel, and W. B. Gurney, W. H. Bond, and J. Purkess, Esqrs.; and a deep feeling pervaded the speeches, of the great importance-in these days of restless enquiry, bold speculation, and vain conceit-of a sound scriptural education for our rising ministry. A large company afterwards partook of an excellent tea, which had been provided in the College; and in the evening the Hon. and Rev. Baptist W. Noel de

livered an address to a large audience in Stepney Meeting (Rev. J. Kennedy's), kindly lent for the occasion. A change having occurred in some of the offices of the institution, all communications for the secretary should be addressed to the Rev. Geo. Wm. Fishburne, 33, Moorgate-street, London, to whom it is requested that all subscriptions may be paid, and post-office orders made payable.

RECOGNITION SERVICES, NEW-PARK-STREET

CHAPEL, SOUTHWARK.

On Thursday, the 16th of October, the Rev. W. Walters was publicly recognised as pastor of the church assembling in the above place of worship. The Rev. J. H. Hinton, M.A. commenced the afternoon service by reading appropriate portions of Scripture and engaging in prayer; after which the Rev. C. M. Birrell of Liverpool delivered a deeply interesting and impressive charge to the minister from Acts vi. 4. The Rev. J. Angus, M.A., President of Stepney College, and formerly pastor of the church, offered up the recognition prayer, and the Rev. J. Aldis affectionately addressed the people. The Rev. R. W. Overbury closed by prayer. At the close of the service a large number of the friends present withdrew to the school-room, where tea had been provided. At half-past six worship was again commenced in the chapel. The Hon. and Rev. Baptist W. Noel, M.A., had kindly engaged to preach, but in consequence of the death of a near relative was unable to be present. introductory services were conducted by the Rev. F. A. Cox, D.D., LL.D.; after which the Rev. C. Stovel preached a searching and powerful sermon to the congregation from 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. The Rev. G. B. Thomas concluded the services of the day by imploring the Divine blessing. Mr. Walters has entered on his labours in this large field with encouraging prospects of usefulness and happiness. May God continue his blessing.

TAMWORTH, Staffordshire.

The

On Monday, September 22nd, a public tea meeting was held in the Town-Hall, Tamworth, by the friends of the Baptist church in this place, when they invited their esteemed pastor, Mr. Massey, to meet them there, to present him with a testimonial of their respect and esteem. About two hundred sat down to tea. After tea, Mr. Bissett, of Birmingham (an intimate friend of Mr. Massey), was called to fill the chair; and the Rev. J. Davis, Baptist minister, of Willenhall, in the name of the members and friends of the church, and in an appropriate speech, presented to Mr. Massey a handsome skeleton spring clock, bearing a suitable inscription. Mr. Massey, in an eloquent speech, acknowledged the testimonial; after which, very interesting and animating speeches were delivered by the Rev. T. Johnson, Independent minister; the Rev. G. Staples, of Measham; and Messrs. T. Watton and T. Argyle, Wesleyans.