long time, giving unqualified satisfaction. Her hand having been sught by Mr. John Handford, she left the service of Mr. Sharp, and was married to him. Both had decided for God a long time prior to this event, he having been baptized by the late Mr. Williams of Grafton Street, Soho, at the age of fifteen; she also early avowed herself on the Lord's side. To her husband she proved an invaluable boon, managing her household, planning and contriving, rising early and sitting up late, that she might promote the general interests of the whole family, and render him all possible aid in the management of his busiless. About the year 1834, a fall down the area in front of the house dislocated his shoulder and brought on a lingering sickness, which, after two years, deprived the wife of her husband and left five children fatherless; the eldest, a daughter, being then only twelve years of age. Never, never, will the writer forget the scenes of that day, when the spirit took its flight; there were those who had only to mourn the loss of an earthly relative, giving way to excessive grief, while the widow with the dark unknown before her was calm and comparatively happy; not insenble of her peculiar position, but strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. The precious promises of the divine word were more than precious to her then; she felt that a father of the fatherless and a judge of the widow was God in his holy habitation, and thus, having her mind staid upon God, she was kept in perfect peace. According to her faith, so the result proved. With redoubled energy she betook herself to the task of obtaining a livelihood for herself and children, and by the great kindness of some friends, she was enabled to carry on the business, which, under her management, increased very considerably, and by a straightforward and honourable course, which she invariably pursued, she had no small share of success; but days of excessive labour and nights of sleepless solicitude doubtless undermined her constitution, always weak, and gave rise to distressing complaints, which subsequently removed her hence. In 1842, after a widowhood of six years, she was united in marriage to Mr. M. Bunce, to whom she proved an excellent partner; he survives to lament her loss. Of the way in which the Lord met with her, the writer is ignorant; but she was a trophy of sovereign mercy and distinguishing grace; she would often repeat, and with devout and grateful feeling sing :— "Why was I made to hear his voice, Being a vessel of mercy afore prepared unto glory, she was in due time singled out from amidst a family of nine, and made to understand the loving-kindness of the Lord; entertaining the views which baptists hold, she was baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and for a period exceeding thirty years maintained a walk and conversation becoming the gospel of Christ. The first church the writer knows her to have been a member of was that of Shouldham Street, London, of which her first husband was an honoured member and an active deacon during the earlier part of the ministry of Mr. George; differences arising which could not be amicably adjusted, both, with others, withdrew from the scene of conflict; to use her own words, wandering up and down as sheep having no shepherd; after a long period of discomfort she was received into the church at Blandford Street, under the pastoral care of the Rev. W. B. Bowes. Here she found a home and could sing again : "Lord, 'tis a pleasant thing to stand Her connexion with this church lasted about seventeen years; death only severing the tie. In life Christ was all her salvation and all her desire, in death he was her only confidence and hope. She trusted in his gloriously finished work, and, after a season of protracted and complicated suffering, in sure and certain hope that though the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolving she had a 66 building of God, a house not made mended her spirit into the Saviour's hands with hands, eternal in the heavens," she comand shortly expired, without a struggle or a groan, July the 1st, 1852, in the 53rd year of her age. Her death was subsequently improved by her pastor to a very attentive congregation. MRS. SALE. The history of one who has lived well nigh a century in the world, who for more than threescore years and ten has been a decided and faithful follower of Christ, and for nearly that term of years connected with the same Christian church, cannot be altogether without interest to the friends of truth in general. Mrs. Sale, whose death was briefly noticed in the Baptist Magazine for August, was born at Barkham, Berks, Jan. 16th, 1758. Her early years were passed in comparative indifference to the great subject of personal religion. Accustomed to attend the parish church, she seldom if ever heard much that was calculated to enlighten the naturally dark mind. To her late husband, prior to their union, she was indebted, under God, for her first decidedly religious impressions. He was a good man full of faith and zeal, and ever through his long life (80 years) anxiously sought to do good to all around | of individuals. She was the last link that him. Lodging in the house of her mother, connected the present with the past; all he soon discovered that they were destitute have passed away with whom she was first, of a saving knowledge of Christ, and earnestly and for many subsequent years associated in endeavoured to impart to them the gospel of the church. Until within the last few years, the power of God. His conversation and her faculties remained unimpaired, so that example were eventually blessed to her con- she could even read without the use of specversion. For some time after their union tacles; but though her eyesight became dim they continued unconnected with any Chris- and her strength failed, her mind and metian church, though attending the ministry of mory retained their vigour to the last. Her the word at Wokingham. It appears, from religious experience was not of the brightest her own statement, that though both felt character, she was not often enable to rethe importance of taking such a step, and joice, and when she did, it was with tremwere convinced of the scriptural characters of bling. Unbelief struggled hard at times to believers' baptism they could not make known overthrow her confidence and to fill her with to each other their thoughts and wishes. fear for her safety. Her views of herself and During her husband's absence from home, her own unprofitableness were most humble. she resolved to give herself to the people of While exercising a firm faith in Christ and God, intending that he should not know of the promises of God's word, there were times the circumstance until after his return. On when she could hardly think they were inthe Lord's day morning, October 6th, 1782, tended for one so worthless. At the comshe was publicly baptized in the chapel at mencement of her last illness, she said, "If I Wokingham, to the surprise of her husband am saved it must be owing to the mercy of who that morning had returned only in the Lord Jesus to me a poor unworthy sintime to be present at the service. The next ful creature." She added, "I have derived Lord's day he, in the same place, was bap- much comfort from that passage, 'I will tized and united with the church, Her pro- give unto him that is athirst of the fountain fession of religion was made at a time, when of the water of life freely. I once looked it was considered a disgrace to belong to a to see if the word freely was supplied by the sect everywhere spoken against-a feeling translators, and found to my joy it was in which, alas too frequently betrays itself the original text." Very great was her anxin many Christians in the present day. The iety for the welfare of the younger members cause with which she identified herself was of her family. Next to her own soul's salsmall and the people poor, and a spirit of vation there was nothing of so much importbigoted hostility to the truth display ed it- ance in her esteem, as being satisfied of the self in petty annoyances towards those who real conversion to Christ of those dear youths dared to think and act for themselves on the whom she so much loved, and for whom she great matter of personal religion. The firm- so often pleaded at the throne of grace. ness and decision of character which dis- Her faithful, affectionate, and touching, adtinguished her through life was thus early vice to her own son will not soon be forgotten. manifested; she boldly told the scoffing Her knowledge of scripture, the strength of age that she had made choice of the good her memory, and the propriety of the many part which can never be taken away. passages she quoted, were extraordinary at her great age. Together with her husband she laboured hard and zealously for many years to promote the increase of Zion and the good of souls. They were of one mind, and may truly be said to have followed the advice of the Psalmist," Pray for theeace of Jerusalem, they shall prosper that love her." When literally only two or three were gathered on the forenoon of the sabbath, and no one to preach to them the word of life, they resolved to maintain the worship of God, and wait for brighter days. Nor did they pray in vain. They lived to see the chapel twice enlarged, the congregations greatly increased, and many added to the church. She was permitted to see her children and her children's children become the faithful and devoted followers of Christ, and one grandson, in the spirit of holy self-consecration, go forth to the work of the Lord in the distant East. She fully sustained the character of a mother in Israel, taking a deep and active interest in all that tended to advance the cause and promote the welfare VOL. XV.- FOURTH SERIES. Al Her love to the cause of God and her interest in its prosperity was manifested to the last. The writer will not soon forget on one of his last visits to her, while she was able to articulate, the fervour with which she audibly prayed for him and his family and the church, mentioning the deacons and the members, entreating for them a large measure of the spirit of holiness and great success. though for years she had been in bondage through fear of death, and frequently the subject of doubts, it was peculiarly gratifying to see in her case the promise so evidently fulfilled, "At eventide it shall be light." She longed for her change to come, while fervently praying for patience to endure and wait the Lord's time. That change for which she had long been looking at length came; the worn-out tabernacle could no longer detain the spirit from her heavenly home. Calmly and peacefully she slept in Jesus about one o'clock on the 7th of July, being the day on 4 D which her eldest son completed his seventieth year. Her death was improved by her pastor from a passage selected by herself some years since, in John vi. 37, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." As she lived she died, "looking for the mercy of God in Christ Jesus." "Gently she passed away, Supported by that arm, Which through her long, long pilgrim way, "Sweetly she fell asleep Upon her Saviour's breast; "Long time she feared the Lord, And walked in wisdom's way; "Dark clouds would ofttimes hide, "She longed to follow those, Her loved ones gone before; To join them in their sweet repose, "She knew that others dear Were in her Saviour found; The Annual Meeting was held at Rochdale, June 2nd and 3rd. Dr. Acworth was chosen moderator. Henry Kelsall, Esq., read the draught of a letter which he had prepared, according to appointment, and which constitutes the Circular Letter for the year, on the question, "What means in addition to those in operation can be employed to secure more efficiently the objects of the County Home Mission?" Messrs. Brown and Tucker preached. The Rev. W. F. Burchell was re-elected to the office of Secretary, with thanks for his past services. The following were among the resolutions adopted : That we regard, with feelings of painful solicitude, the repressive measures which have been recently adopted by the continental potentates and governments, leading to an abridgment of the religious liberties of the people in general, and to wide-spread suffering on the part of the baptist churches in France, Germany, Prussia, &c., in particular. United to our persecuted brethren by the ties of a common humanity and a common faith, we avail ourselves of the opportunity of thus publicly and unitedly assuring them of our fraternal sympathy and affection; and earnestly commend to the churches that prayer be made unceasingly, on their behalf, to Him who is Head over all things to his people. That it is the conviction of this Association, that nothing has yet occurred to prove the voluntary principle insufficient to the education of the people. It would further express its opinion, that the adop tion of any other principle, under either of the forms recently supported, would compromise our deeply cherished and long maintained views, and prove injurious to the cause of education itself. That this Association, deeply convinced of the need under which many ministers lie of assistance in the education of their families, earnestly recommend their friends to contribute to that object through any channel which they may deem appropriate. And further, on the ground of information now laid before them, in reference to the constitution and management of the school for ministers' sons at Shireland Hall, near Birmingham, under the charge of Rev. T. H. Morgan, they would express for evangelical labour constantly presenting themselves among the teeming population around. And that the Rev. W. Landels be the Convener of the Committee." "That this Association has heard with deep regret of the state of the churches in Jamaica, resulting from the visitation of the cholera, small pox, and the operation of other causes, and recommends to the respective churches to manifest their Christian sympathy with their suffering brethren in Jamaica, and to aid them in any way that might be deemed most effective. 1st. "That this Association having repeatedly testified its opinion that slave holding is a sin against God, desires to express its sympathy with those Christian brethren in the United States of America, who decline to hold Christian fellowship with slave holders. 2nd. "That this Association having heard with regret that certain epistles addressed by the 'London Baptist Union,' to their trans-Atlantic brethren, mony against slave holding, were suppressed by the exhorting them to bear an uncompromising testibody to whom they were written,' directs that these resolutions be forwarded to the Rev. Nathan Colver, to be used by him as may most advantageously serve the anti-slavery cause." Bethell ...W. Jones. Holy Cross.. Tipton, Zion Chapel ..... J. Voller. Wednesbury Toll End..... Cats-bill Stour-bridge Bewdley. ..M. Nokes. ....J. Hossack. G. Cousins. At the Annual Meeting which was held at the Circus Chapel, Bradford Street, Birmingham, June 1 and 2, 1852, Mr. Landels presided. Messrs. New and Mills preached. Mr. O'Neill read the Circular Letter, which at the request of the Association he had prepared on the Errors of Popery, which was adopted. The Rev. T. H. Morgan was reappointed Secretary. The following resolutions were passed : "That the best thanks of this Association are due, and are hereby given, to the brethren who composed the Mining District Committee, for the efficient manner in which they have discharged the duty committed to their care. And that the same brethren, with Messrs. Middlemore, Hopkins, and Thomas, and the pastors of the Birmingham churches, be a new Committee, with power to add to their number, for making the Home Missions of this Association more efficient, and more equal to the pressing claims Excluded Clear increase Total number of members Sunday schools COLLECTANEA. SCARCITY OF MATERIALS FOR FASTING. The want of materials for feasting is an idea with which Englishmen as well as Irishmen are conversant; but it appears from the Tablet that under the regimen of the church of Rome the want of materials for fasting copal interposition. The bishop of Nevers may be sufficiently urgent to require epishas published the following dispensation : "Whereas it has been represented to us | tisement in another part of our columns, that the passage of the Prince President of the Republic, at Nevers, fixed for the 15th of September, coincided with the Wednesday of Quatre Temps, and that this passage will draw an immense concourse of people to Nevers; considering the impossibility of procuring on that day fasting fare in sufficient quantity, we have relieved, and hereby relieve, the faithful from the obligation of abstaining from flesh meat in our episcopal city, on Wednesday, the 15th inst. We nevertheless think proper to allow the obligation of fasting to subsist for those who wish to bind themselves thereto.", PRAYERS FOR OUR CONVERSION. The Tablet of September 18th informs its readers that the very Rev. Father Ignatius (Hon. George Spencer) preached four times in Paris on Sunday last. First at eight o'clock in the morning, at the church of the Batignolles; next at St. Roch, at eleven o'clock; again, at seven o'clock, at the church of Notre Dame des Victoires; and, finally, at St. Sulpice, at eight o'clock in the evening. We need not add that the object of his sermons was to obtain the prayers of the congregations for the conversion of the British nation to the Catholic faith." This deserves notice, for the spirit which gives rise to this will cause other means to be employed as well as prayers, which it will become us by our prayers to endeavour to counteract. SUBSCRIPTION FOR DR. ACHILLI'S LIBEller. In the Tablet of September 11th it is said, "The Univers has an elaborate article on the subject of the subscriptions for Dr. Newman, in which it says, with too much truth, that the zeal shown in the cause, in England especially, hardly answers to what one might have hoped. The whole expenses are believed to amount to £10,000, and a recent circular of Cardinal Wiseman's announced that the total amount of subscriptions (including promises), so far, amounted to no more than £2,000. The Univers, on August 31st, believed that not more than £1,000 had been added to this comparatively trifling sum since Cardinal Wiseman's circular. Surely the Catholics of these countries are not, after all, going to allow the noble Oratorian to be ruined for his high-minded zeal for the honour of the Church! The French, who have shown the greatest enthusiasm, evidently think us very backward." "The 28th list of the French subscriptions for Dr. Newman, given in the Univers of Sunday last," says the Tablet, "brings up the amount to 16,732fr. 53c., that is, to nearly £670. As will be gathered from an adver the complete result of the collections so far made in England and Ireland is not yet known, but we must confess that we have not been able to observe anything like that spirit and sympathy that surely ought to have been shown, and without which it is in vain to expect that our illustrious confessor will be released from the terrible pecuniary responsibility in which his zeal for the honour of the catholic church has involved him. The Irish subscriptions amounted last week to not very much over three hundred pounds, and a glance at the scanty list of subscribers is most disappointing and painful to a catholic heart. We must say that the French have set us an example of warm-hearted, thoroughgoing zeal, which we should do well to imitate, but which we seem in no hurry to take up." THE CHURCH CATECHISM. The bishop of Bath and Wells has caused the following questions to be addressed to the clergy of his diocese:-1. Do you make it a rule to teach all the children in your school the whole of the catechism? 2. In so doing, do you ever vary the method and order of teaching? 3. Explain the cause and amount of such variation, if it exist in any instance; e. g., in the case of unbaptized children, if any; or of those who were baptized out of the church of England; or of those who, however baptized, were never formally presented in the church by sponsors; or of those concerning whom there is a doubt regarding any of the above circumstances. Mention any other case, if there be any other, and state how you deal with it.-Record. DR. ROBINSON OF NEW YORK. The Rev. Professor Robinson, D.D., of New York, who, it was stated in the American Literary World, had left that city for another tour in the Holy Land, from which valuable topographical and critical results might be expected, arrived early this year in London, whence he proceeded to Berlin, preparatory to his proceeding to Palestine, which he expected to reach at the beginning of April. His stay in London was short, but the Editor of the Journal of Sacred Literature was enabled in repeated interviews to renew an acquaintance commenced twelve years ago, on the learned Professor's return from his first journey, and to confer with him on the objects of his present undertaking. These have been alluded to in the article on Recent Travels in Palestine. It appears to be Dr. Robinson's view rather to direct his researches to ground not previously traversed, or only imperfectly explored, such as the region beyond the Jordan, and of the southern and northern districts, than merely to test |