A NEW WORK BY DR. CARSON.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. DEAR SIR,-No one can have observed the course which the controversy on baptism has lately taken, without seeing that it has strongly tended in the direction towards tradition and the writings of "the Fathers," as they are generally, but I think improperly, called. Advocates of the truth against the errors of Romanism reject this testimony as of any authority, most especially if it be opposed to the plain meaning of the word of God; yet how often do we see these same persons, on the question of baptism, bringing forward that very testimony to determine the meaning of scripture respecting this long disputed ques

without which a scholar is a mere man of Cork, April 30, 1842.

PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY IN LONDON.

MEETING OF JUVENILE ASSOCIATIONS.

On Monday morning, April 25th, in Finsbury Chapel, a meeting of the young people connected with the Juvenile Missionary Associations in the metropolis and the children of Sunday- schools, was held, in order to awaken and cherish in their minds an interest in Christian missions. Between two and three thousand young persons were present, the children from the respective schools being under the charge of their teachers.

THOMAS THOMPSON, Esq., of Poundsford Park, took the chair at eleven o'clock.

After a suitable hymn had been sung, and the Rev. Dr. CAMPBELL of the Tabernacle had implored the divine blessing,

The Rev. EUSTACE CAREY exhibited some of the idols worshipped by the population of India, and gave interesting but painful details illustrative of the evils connected with idol worship.

After the Rev. JOSEPH BURTON, late missionary in the Bahamas, had given out a hymn,

The CHAIRMAN opened the meeting by expressing the delight he felt in seeing so many present who were interested in the work of Christian missions. He referred briefly to the much emotion, said he was once a Sunday The Rev. W. KNIBB, from Jamaica, with commencement of missions to the heathen, by scholar, and he could never forget or too the great and good Dr. Carey, in 1792, and to highly appreciate the valuable instructions he his coadjutors and successors of the baptist had received in a Sunday school, nor the feeland other denominations; and declared, with ings with which he received his first bible great emphasis, his belief that the agency of from the hands of his highly valued teacher. children and young people ought to be more It was his decided conviction that so imfully enlisted in the work. The excellent chairman concluded by expressing with great instructions upon the character of missionaries, portant was the influence of Sunday school feeling his hope that a missionary spirit might that those were by far the best qualified for so imbue the minds of the rising race that their the missionary work who had been Sunday instrumentality might prove to be of the high-scholars; and indeed he would go so far as to est value in the advancement of the Re

deemer's cause on the earth.

say that none were thoroughly fitted for missionary work until they had been Sunday The Rev. Dr. CAMPBELL, in a few brief school teachers. The condition of negro observations, commended the cause of missions children in Jamaica while in slavery was to the attention of those present, and referred a topic to which he next adverted, and deto the memoir of Samuel Pearce of Birming-clared his belief that before those whom he ham, written by the late Andrew Fuller, which he characterized as an exquisite piece of biography; and expressed his fervent desire that from his young auditory might rise up many a pious and devoted servant of God, who should take Pearce as his model, and exhibit an equally amiable and lovely spirit, become equally devoted to the cause of Christian missions, and equally exemplify the power and value of real religion.

The Rev. Dr. Cox considered the chairman a happy man in being so employed, and so surrounded; and paid a well-merited tribute to the interest he had taken in enlisting the sympathies and exertions of children in the work. The Dr. concluded his address by a solemn appeal on the subject of personal religion and early consecration to God,

addressed attained years of maturity, slavery would be abolished throughout the world. A brief account of his visit to the great slave mart, the city of Havannah, on his passage home, and of the idolatrous worship of images on a festival that occurred during his stay at that place, closed his address.

The Rev. Mr. FRASER, of Bolton, feelingly alluded to the interest that might be taken in a better world, and by higher and purer intelligences, in the engagements of the day; and, by one or two striking anecdotes and simple but impressive remarks, commended to his hearers the interests of religion and the cause of Christ.

A collection was made, which, with a donation from the chairman, amounted to the sum of 181. 9s.

ANNUAL SERMONS.

The use of the chapel in the Poultry belonging to the church under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Clayton having been kindly granted for the purpose, public worship commenced there at eleven o'clock of the morning of Wednesday, April 27th. A hymn having been sung, the Rev. S. Nicholson of Plymouth read 1 Cor. i., and prayed; after which the Rev. W. Robinson of Kettering delivered a lucid and impressive discourse from Matthew xvi. 3; "Can ye not discern the signs of the times?"

After throwing out various cautions against the improper use of tokens, Mr. Robinson proceeded to say that we were not only permitted, but bound to be observant of them, and then proposed to exhibit some of the signs of the present times in their immediate bearing on Christian missions. With this design he I. Glanced at what had been accomplished since the origin of the mission, and placed the success of modern missions on a parallel with the success of apostolic times, and then II. Inquired whether the missionary movement of the last half century was likely to be perpetuated or even increased. Under this second and main division of the subject three particulars were introduced.

1. The state of the church in the present day was scrutinized. It was observed that this was a momentous inquiry, because if the church were true to her duty, all must be well. The failure of the Jews who came out of Egypt, and who instead of realizing the signs of their day perished in the desert, was alluded to; as also was the failure of the primitive church. And it was asked what right we have to suppose that the effects of modern missions will be more enduring than the effects of apostolic missions. The preacher then proceeded to show that the warnings supplied by history might (as in the case of the Jews after the captivity) help to preserve the church in future; that the possession of the whole bible by almost every member of the church now, gave us a security never before enjoyed, and that the activity of the church, which is her life, is likely to continue and grow.

his people, and to the existence of a similar expectation among believers now. Declining to determine the exact value of the numerals of prophecy, he seized (as sufficient for his purpose) the opinion embraced by many excellent commentators, that the time was at hand.

The conclusion of the whole matter was, that after every deduction (and many reasons for regret and apprehension were pointed out) our prospects are very bright: and the use made of this conclusion was as follows:

Daniel, more than 2000 years ago, ascertained that the signs of his time were bright. And what did he do? "He set his face to seek the Lord by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes."

"If," to adopt the preacher's own words," on the ground that we have reached the year of jubilee, and that brighter times are before us, we give way to elation of mind, and stupidly forget our past indolence and present impotence, we are undone. Something, indeed, has been accomplished. We have not been quite inert, and God has graciously crowned our endeavours with a most unmerited and glorious reward. But what a minimum of effort has ours been after all! How deplorably sullied by selfishness and unbelief! How little has the love of Christ moved these rocky hearts! We look back on what we have done in obedience to him who for our sakes became poor, and for us was crucified, and who of us Christians does not feel that deeper self-abasement than that of Daniel belongs to us? This year of jubilee will bring with it a curse to the baptist mission, and not a blessing, if it do not lead us to profounder humility, as well as augment our thankfulness and joy. But if, fathers and brethren, we should be led, and the churches generally throughout our denomination should be led, to imitate the example of the penitent and importunate Daniel, then, great as have been the blessings conferred, God will show us 3. Allusion was made to prophecy. Here yet greater things than these." the preacher referred to the common expectation entertained, about the time of our Sa- The service was concluded with prayer by viour's advent, that God was about to visit the Rev. James Smith, of New Park Street.

2. It was inquired whether there are not causes operating without the pale of the church and concurrently with her exertions, which brighten the prospect afforded by the internal state of the church; and it was shown that such causes are found in the improving character of the influence exerted by government in respect to missions, and in the ecclesiastical signs of the times.

In the evening of the same day, at Surrey Chapel, worship commenced at halfpast six. The Rev. John Broad of Hitchin read Isaiah xlix., and prayed, and the Rev. H. Dowson of Bradford addressed a large and attentive audience from Colossians i. 18. "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

The

After an explanation of the interesting terms | empires of the world; and finally the influence employed by the apostle, the preacher pro- he exerts over all those resources and instruceeded to illustrate the view given of the ments necessary to the increase of his govern. pre-eminence of Christ as an object of interest ment, and the triumphs of his cause. and faith to the church. Here his dignity was last part of the discourse was occupied in enpre-eminent, and his authority was pre-emi- forcing those practical lessons which the nent. The first view was illustrated from the subject seemed to teach, including, amongst divinity of his person; from his character as other considerations, a sense of the importance the messenger sent from God to communicate of a revival of religion at home, and in our his will and counsels, both in the matter of his own hearts; a stronger faith in the preinstructions, and the miracles by which they dictions of the divine word, especially in the were confirmed; from the peculiarity of his position in the work of salvation, not only living but dying to accomplish it, and from the splendour of his triumphs as "the firstborn from the dead." Under the second head, the Redeemer's pre-eminence in authority was noticed; his dominion over the unseen world, and especially over the powers of evil; his ecclesiastical authority as head of the church; the control he exercises over the powers and

Saviour's second advent; a persuasion of the danger of resisting his authority, and despising his word. And, lastly, an increase of holy activity in the general interests of his cause, and especially in that department of Christian labour our beloved missionary brethren occupy.

The Rev. W. Knibb then concluded the service with prayer.

ANNUAL MEETING.

On Thursday, April 28th, the Annual Meeting of the Society was held in Exeter Hall. At 10 o'clock, HENRY KELSALL, Esq., of Rochdale, took the chair, the spacious room having been for some time previously thoroughly filled. A hymn was given out by the Rev. B. Evans, of Scarborough, after the singing of which, prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. Carson, of Tubbermore, Ireland.

The CHAIRMAN then rose and said :-This is the yearly meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society. Most of the benevolent societies, with which our nation abounds, have their anniversaries; and we are gratified by witnessing them. But, if these many of which are of minor importance-find it both necessary and useful to hold their annual assemblies, surely this institution, the object of which is to promote Christian missions, is not only justified, but imperatively called upon to convene, once a year, in order that it may survey its operations, and that the officers may give an account both of the funds confided to their trust, and the labours in which they have been engaged. The object of Christian missions is nothing less than the advancement of the happiness of the whole human race, by the evangelization of the world. The author and founder of Christian missions is Jesus Christ. He came down from heaven to earth to extend his kingdom, and to

spread abroad the knowledge of his name. He has left us a command, that we should “ go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." He has instructed us to pray, "Thy kingdom come," and has told us that our "field is the world." We wish success to every denomination embarked in Christian missions; to the Church Missionary, the London Missionary, the Methodist, and the Moravian Missionary Societies; and to all their missionaries. The success which has attended them is sufficient to encourage us all to go on. The promise that has been given to us, that "the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea," is, in itself, an abundant encouragement; and it has already been partially realized by the success which has attended your missionaries, both in the East and West Indies, and in other parts of the globe. Having found the promise verified hitherto, we may rest assured of its entire accomplishment.