Merthyr Tydvil Maidstone The facts and figures of which the ing that he was not then at liberty to above report is comprised afford ample enter into engagements, his return to material for contemplation, and several America during the year being probapoints invite comment, but want of ble, and on account of his having alspace renders it necessary to delay till ready agreed to return to London for next issue. The report, it will be per- six months. It was, however, subseceived, makes no mention of probable quently understood that some six weeks labors of Bro. Earl during the ensuing would elapse before recommencing in year. This may have arisen from the the metropolis, and the Committee were fact that the resolutions of the meet-enabled to arrange for his services for ing did not include his future opera- Liverpool and neighbourhood during tions, owing to his having, in answer that interval. to earnest enquiries, informed the meet ED. 326 BATH. ITEMS OF NEWS. ITEMS OF NEWS.* I visited the Bristol church last Lord's day, and I was much cheered in seeing not only an increased number of members, but also improved spiritual condition. Five persons, three by baptism, and two from a Baptist church, have been added in the past month. Bro. Evans has visited Bath and Nettleton of late, and his labor has not been in vain in the Lord. Hence he has had many seals to his ministry, which must redound to the glory of Him who was, and is, and is to come. July, 1863. BOX, WILTS. R. DILLON. We are happy to inform you that the Almighty is spreading the work in this place. In His mysterious movings He has placed Bro. Tucker and wife with myself in this village. For six Lord's days we broke bread alone, and now we have a large room in which to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Our audience is generally about eighty in number. Several intelligent immersed believers have attended the meetings. May they soon be added to us in carrying on the work of the Lord. The prayers of the saints are earnestly desired on our behalf. H. THOMAS. MOREE, IRELAND. More than my most sanguine expectations were realized during my brief visit at Chester last month. I remained with the brethren for three Lord's days, during which time ten persons were added to the church-nine by faith and obedience, and one from the Baptists. I am fully convinced that the cause will never make rapid progress until the brethren have more eligible places to meet and preach in. Some, I am happy to say, have the same conviction, and are nobly exerting them selves to remedy this obstacle. Bro. W. Ludbrook, of London, is now building a neat and commodious hall for the church in Camden Town district; Brother John Davies, of Mollington, has determined to secure an eligible building site in Chester, and build a suitable chapel as soon as pos. sible for the church in that city; and Bro. R. Black purposes to do the same thing in the Chelsea district, London. The example of these brethren is noble and praiseworthy. Are there not other brethren of The communications under this head are nearly all considerably abridged, owing to the report of Annual Meeting requiring more space than was anticipated, but all the facts are given. ED. Harbinger, Sept. 1, '63. means, who, moved by the same zeal and love for the cause of Christ, will go and do likewise? I hope so, for in so doing the brotherhood would have a practical exhibition of Paul's exhortation," Let us con sider one another to excite to love and good works." Such service would greatly advance the interests of Christ's kingdom in many towns and cities in this country, and would be highly acceptable to God." I arrived here (Moree) on July 4th, and found the church in a happy and harmonious condition, and advancing in knowledge and wisdom, under the untiring and faithful labors of Bro. Hurt; but without I had soon to contend with bigoted and bitter opposition. The clergy have determined to check the progress of the cause here, and to crush it if possible. Hitherto "for more are they have not succeeded, they that are for us than they that be against us." They succeed admirably in misrepresentation and abuse. Our meetings are well attended, and one person has been baptized. We expect others will obey the Saviour shortly. July 1863. HENRY S. EARL. A welcome epistle from our venerable Brother Ainslie gives us to know that in our journeyings we have failed to insert a recent notice of the immersion and addition of several to the church in Dundee. It also intimates that ere long the church there will take possession of its new meeting-place and kindly urges an half-promise of visit in the Autumn or following Spring, We shall have much pleasure in meeting this request if the condition and wants of the field generally admit of it. The proper question is, where for the time being the servant of the Lord can do the most good, and there he should seek to be, whether it be England, Scotland, America, or Austra lia. ED. DUMFRIES. I am still weakly, and shall need frequent resting at home. Last night I preach- | Harbinger, Sept. 1, '63. ITEMS OF NEWS. ed in a farmhouse a little distance from here. The kitchen was filled with lairds and farm servants. At the close a woman confessed the faith, and I baptized her in a mill dam about a hundred yards from the house. We walked in our wet clothes, but did not take any harm. There are several enquirers among the farmers, and we hope for more fruit shortly. I am thankful to learn that several who were among the hearers at my former visit to Dumfries have yielded to the Lord. G. GREENWELL. 327 thority of Christ as their King, then the church is figuratively regarded as a kingdom-the kingdom of God, of Christ, and of heaven." On page 13, one of the requirements for church membership mentioned by you is, "They must be born again." The kingdom of God and the new birth are both mentioned in one verse. Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John iii. 5. I believe the birth of water to be, coming out of the water, in which the believing penitent has been immersed. You seem to understand it differently. You plainly aver that yours Our little church is slowly progressing: I ask your authority for eating the Lord's is an open communion congregation. May We are to use the Baptist chapel to-night to immerse one into the everlasting name. Supper with the unbaptized, since, accordWe are much in want of an evangelist.not in the kingdom? I have not found, in ing to my belief Jesus says that they, are A large field is waiting for the good seed. Do you think we could obtain one from home? We do not appear to have a suitable brother here. I think an effort would be made to support him could a man of talent be procured. I remain, yours in the Gospel, G. R. DIVERS. BALLARAT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. May 22, 1863. OPEN COMMUNION BAPTISTS IN AUSTRALIA. Dr. Cairns, a Presbyterian clergyman, has lately published a pamphlet in defence of infant baptism. Mr. Isaac New, late of your town, Birmingham, an Open Communion Baptist, replied in another pamphlet entitled "The Boaster Rebuked He gave Cairns a terrible castigation. In page 3rd Mr. New says, "As to anything like argument, evidence, proof, there is little or none; it is one continued course of turgid declamation, of haughty assumption, and of contemptuous scorn from the beginning to the end." In self-defence Mr. New takes notice of us - he writes with decision on Open Communion. I enclose my reply which, if you please you may give in a corner of the B. M. H. TO MR. ISAAC NEW. "There is a body of Christians in the city who practise the immersion of believers, but who do not call themselves Baptists, and are not identified with us, do not believe, and would not propagate."-The and who circulate tracts containing sentiments we Boaster Rebuked, p. 6. "There is not a Baptist in the whole of our denomination, who is not a monomaniac, who would say, that individuals are not members of the Church, because they have not been immersed." -The Boaster Rebuked, p. 53. Dear Sir,-I believe the foregoing quotations to be agreeable to your convictions. You have judged the congregation assembling in the Temperance Hall, and expressed your dissent. You have a right to judge, and so have I. On page 12, you state that sometimes church members 'are regarded as in subjection to the au the Scriptures any more authority for Open Communion than for Infant Baptism. Have you? And, if so, where ? But, my dear sir, you appear to me to be as inconsistent as the "Doctor" whom you rebuke. You are decided that infant sprinkling is not Christian Baptism, and therefore you eat the Lord's Supper with the unbaptized. Would the Papists, Epis copalians, and Presbyterians eat the Lord's Supper with those whom they deem unbaptized? But still higher, did Christ or his Apostles ever teach it by precept or example? But why speak so lightly of baptism? What is the language of the commission? "He that believeth and is baptized shall be SAVED." Mark xvi. 16. Did not Peter on the day of Pentecost say to the believers," 'Repent, and be baptized, every one of you upon the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS?" ii. 38. Does not Ananias say to Saul, after he had been three days a believing penitent,-" Arise, and be baptized, and WASH AWAY THY SINS?" Acts xxii. 16. Does not Paul say to Titus, According to his mercy HE SAVED US, by the washing (bath) of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost?" Tit. iii. 5. Does not Peter say, - Acts "The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now SAVE US?" 1 Pet. iii. 21. These is easily seen. quotations are so plain, that their meaning Please study them with the disposition of Jesus. "There is not a Baptist in the whole of our denomination, who is not a monomaniac, who would say, that individuals are not members of the Church because they have not been immersed," p. 35. Who authorised you to say so? Was there an unimmersed person in any New Testament church? NOT ONE ON RECORD. posite is the rule. See Rom. vi. 3-5; 1 Cor. i. 13; Gal. iii. 26-27; Ep. v. 25; Col. ii. 12; Heb. x. 22. "A monomaniac!" Do The op But you really mean it? Whether are those "monomaniacs" who say as God says, or those who say the opposite of what he says? Eating the Lord's Supper is a DIS. TINGUISHED FEATURE of church membership. But not in all the Divine record can I find a precept or example for eating the Lord's Supper with the unbaptized. Please quote your authority for so doing. you may say, that they who have been sprinkled in infancy think they have been baptized. But, my dear sir, it is not what they think that I am dealing with; it is what you think. Do you think that they have received Christian baptism? You do not. They are consistent, but you are INCONSISTENT! But you are not only inconsistent it appears to me that you thus pervert the plain teaching of the Spirit of God. "They that gladly received his word were baptized. And they continued steadfastly in the breaking of bread." Acts ii. 41, 42. This is a sample of the practice of primitive Christians which we are bound to imitate. I am sorry to think that, in your delineations of church membership, on pages 12, 13, and 14, you never allude to baptism. Please think of the commission of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, by Peter, on the day of Pentecost, &c. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding.' 2 Tim. ii. 7. I have never seen your face, so far as I know, but I have heard well of you as a man of talent and of Christian heart. I read, with much pleasure, your "Sabbath" pamphlet, and your "Boaster Rebuked" appears to me to be talented and Christian. In this tract I have studied to give you no offence, and I take you to be a man of kindly feeling, a lover of truth and righteousness. I hope you will receive it in a friendly spirit, as it is so given. "I subscribe myself, whether you believe it or not, your true friend," R. SERVICE. SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES. We are happy to inform you that since my last we have had three confessed their faith in a risen Saviour, and been immersed into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We hope they will continue faithful, and be good soldiers of the cross of Christ. May the good work go on amongst us! We know that if we are faithful to our God He will not withhold his blessing. June 19, 1863. W. JAMES. P.S. Our brethren from Newtown are in this afternoon, and Bro. Kingsbury immersed two. We had a fine gathering on the occasion. Harbinger, Sept. 1, '63. BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. As brethren may be leaving England for Queensland, will you make known that a small church meets in my house in the brick-yard, York's Hollow, a little way out of Brisbane. We shall have great pleasure in receiving any brethren who may come out. Yours in the gospel, W. SHORTUS. OBITUARY. EVAN JENKINS. On behalf of the church here, I have to communicate the painful tidings of the decease of our dear Bro. Evan Jenkins, who died on the 22nd of last month, at the age of 57. His intercourse with us had been by the space of twenty years, during which time, almost absolutely without a breath or interruption, he had gone in and out before us-a truly eminent example of meekness, probity, and Christian sincerity; in a word, as an "Israelite indeed" in whom was "no guile." We cannot but feel this event as a heavy blow and great discouragement, but sorrow not as those without hope for not only is it impossible to doubt that "to die" has been (to him emphatically) "gain" but he being dead, yet speaketh, and with the eloquence and potency which come of worthiest example, unswerving fidelity to the call of duty, and singular blamelessness of life. May we all, in the hour of our last extremity, be, in respect to these all-important principles of our high vocation and the power which, by the grace of God, they have exercised on our own lives, equally well prepared to render up our account with joy! Yours faithfully, W. H. MCKITRICK. Huddersfield, July 1863. |