Entelligence.

have a meeting on the Friday evening, and | favourable, I told them I could not stay; on the Saturday we intended to leave for they pressed me to stay, but I was obliged Kjerteminde, about ten English miles from to refuse. A woman who was present Stige, on the way to Nyborg, where I in- asked me to come to her house on the tended to be on the Monday. On the Monday, for she wished to speak to me, and Thursday we went to Odense, where we she also wished that her husband should conversed with several pious people. I feel speak to me; he was not at the meeting; persuaded that some good might be done in but as I could not go to her on the Monday, Odensë; but I had no time to stay there she desired me to come the same evening. then, and Mr. H. having received no educa- I went. We had a most interesting convertion, has not confidence enough to preach sation; they asked me about the Baptists there in public. If it be the will of God, I and our baptism, and after having given think of going there at some future time. them pretty full information, and shown On the Friday night we had a very large them that the teaching of the Lord and his meeting; the room was so crowded, that apostles, as contained in the Holy Scriptures, some were obliged to stand in the passage. was the only ground for our belief, they We calculated that there were between sixty replied that that was the Word of God, and and seventy persons present. Some of we ought to follow it. However they feared them, no doubt, came on purpose to make a to do anything that was wrong, and seeing disturbance, but all became very serious, that there were many good and holy men and they listened very attentively while I who maintained infant baptism, they knew preached the gospel of salvation to them. not what to do. I told them that they Mr. H. was quite delighted to see such a should neither follow men, nor listen too meeting in his little room. May God's much to what they say; but that they should blessing, without which all our preaching, follow the Lord, and listen to his word. and all our other efforts to convert souls to him are but in vain, accompany the words spoken, that they may be a sweet savour of life unto life to many, and may dear brother H.'s heart be encouraged, by seeing his meetings in the future hetter attended, and particularly by seeing that his labours are not in vain in the Lord.

"On Monday morning we had a great storm; it was pouring with rain, and consequently I could not leave, because I had about fourteen miles to walk before dinner. The friends at Kjertemindë were glad of it, and appointed a meeting for the evening. This meeting was held at the house of the woman where I was the night before, because "Saturday, Oct. 25, Mr. H. and myself there was more room. A good many more went to Kjertemindë. In K. are no Bap- came than the night before. When I was tists; but both in and about the town are a about the middle of my discourse, two men great number of believing people. With came in, the one a church believer, but an the exception of a few in Kjertemindë, they enemy, (I had seen him before) the other I are all so afraid of the Baptists, that they did not know. After I had concluded, the will not come near them, for fear they last mentioned gentleman arose, and asked should be infected or polluted by them. whether he might be permitted to say a few Our dear brother, J. Köbner, went to K. a words. Yes, was the reply. He then began few years ago, and I believe was the means to speak of justification and salvation, &c. of awakening a few; he is still had in kind being entirely of the grace of God, and not remembrance there. We went first to the of works, all of which was very good. But house of one of those who are more liberal all this, he said at last, we came into posthan the rest; he is a butcher by the name session of through our infant baptism, when of Johansen, and brother to a Baptist who we were brought to Christ; for there we resides at Nyborg. He received us very could not bring any works with us. As soon kindly, and invited us to stay at his house. as he began to speak, I thought that it was In the evening we went to see two other one of the clergymen who had been so severe Christian friends, who also are very liberal, upon poor Mr. Henricksen. But it signified and we had a lively discussion about bap-but little who he was. He should either tism. Lord's-day forenoon, having nothing prove what he said, or his error should be to do, we went to church, and heard a exposed before all. I therefore arose and pretty good sermon. In the evening we said, that I quite agreed with what he had had a meeting, but not many were present. said about justification, &c. being of the However, those who were present were grace of God alone, and that this was the much impressed with what I said, although doctrine we contended for; but that when at first they seemed somewhat indifferent. he further said that we came into possession They then asked us to stay there a few days; of it through infant baptism, I had to conbut having engaged to be in Nyborg on the fess that I was not aware of it; but, supMonday, if the weather were not too un- posing him to be able to give further

that too. Thus, in the presence of all, he retracted his very first assertions, and confessed that he was wrong. That was a good beginning; no little triumph for such a poor fellow as I am.

information about it, I asked him to do so, standing. I compelled him to retract his and to show me where it was written assertion, and to confess that he was wrong. Some of the friends present thought it As to his picture, I showed that it was not would not be well to begin discussing this to the point, and compelled him to retract question in the presence of all, since they would derive no benefit from it, and the edification they had had would only be disturbed; they therefore proposed that we should discuss it in the presence of a few. I had no objection to discuss it before all, "He then asserted that the Scriptures however, and the proposition was agreed to. were not given us to regulate or form our This being done, I rose before any of the Christian life, or Christian communities by. people left, and said, that since the gentle- This he wanted to prove, from the fact that man has asserted that we come into pos- there had been Christian life and Christian session of salvation, &c., through infant communities before the Scriptures (at least baptism, I felt it my duty most positively to the New Testament) was written. I asked state, that neither through infant baptism, him for what purpose, then, the Scriptures nor through any other rite or ceremony were given us. He said they were given to whatever, do we come into possession of the church as a guide to refer to, and as a salvation, &c.; but that we are saved alone kind of monitor to exhort her to hold fast by grace, through faith, in the Lord Jesus what she had already received. This he Christ. Most of the people then left, but a illustrated by another picture, namely, a good many remained. My opponent then traveller walking along a road, having a introduced himself to the people of the guide to refer to, and see whether he was in house, and some others. It was a Mr. Kold, the right path. But, said I, suppose the now a school-master; but a few years ago, traveller should miss his way, would he not he went with a clergyman, by the name of look to the guide to regulate his course by? Hass, to Smyrna, as a missionary. This Of course,' said he. Well, then, said I, very man's sister was baptized last winter suppose the church should get into disorder, by Mr. Kyding; but Mr. K., together or become corrupted, would she not, then, with one of the clergymen (a Mr. Berkedal) also look to her guide, the Scriptures, to get who preached at Stige against the Baptists, into order again, and thus regulate herself induced her to return to the established by them? Being pushed rather hard, and church. Thus providentially I met with ashamed, I suppose, to retract again, he this gentleman. Well, the discussion commenced. It was about eight o'clock, P.M., when we commenced, and it lasted till nearly twelve o'clock.

tried to get out of it, by asserting that the church had never been in disorder or become corrupted; for else the chain, he said, would have been broken, and then the gates of "I had asked him where that which he hell would have prevailed against her, and had asserted about infant baptism was that, our Lord had said, they should not. written, and, to get over this question, he What church he meant is evident, because asserted that there was no precise meaning the Lutheran church has not existed from in the Holy Scriptures. This he endea- the time of the apostles. It is the pure and voured to prove, by showing how different holy Roman Catholic church, from which persons took different meanings out of the the Lutheran sprung, that has never been Scriptures. He next tried to prove by a corrupted!! Being pushed harder still, he picture, that by baptisin the child comes actually asserted that the Holy Scriptures into possession of salvation. He understood were of no use whatever, where there were it, he said, as with a child in the cradle, to not Christian life and baptism (namely, which was bequeathed a sum of money or infant baptism) beforehand. Here almost an estate; the inheritance is the child's, yet all who were present, though Lutherans, a the child does not come into actual pos- himself, rose up with one accord against session of it before it is of age; just so with him, and exclaimed, awful! awful! the child that is baptized; salvation is the "The others being quiet, I pushed him child's; but it does not come into actual again, and asked him what he thought o possession of it before it grows up. His first the Scriptures. He said they were but assertion I disproved, by proving that there dead letter. I knew that this would come is a precise meaning in the Holy Scriptures; for it is the general belief of what is calle and that the reason why different persons the believing clergy in the established churc take different meanings out of them, is not in Denmark. But they have a living wor because there is no precise meaning in them; also, and that is the oral word which come but because man is in possession of a sinful through the holy Catholic (universal nature, a wicked heart, and a corrupt under-church, in which they teach belief accordin

to the "apostolic confession of faith," as it where would his assurance be then? But, is called, and which confession, they say, is on the contrary, to persuade a man that he ooth older and superior to the written word, had not done what he was conscious he had and which, together with the baptismal done, when in full possession of all his senses, covenant, are the true rock upon which would be no easy task. Christ has built his church, and if these were lost, there could be no more a church of Christ!!

"We then talked a great deal about baptism, and about his sister, and his conduct towards her, for which I earnestly reproved him. The man who came in with him got into a passion, and hollowed out from the corner of the room in which he was sitting, 'But did not our Lord say, Suffer little children to come unto me, &c.' But by asking him a few plain questions as to what our Lord did with the little children, he was quite silenced.

"But, asking him further questions about the Scriptures, he said that he believed it was the word which God himself had put into the hearts and pen of the apostles and his servants who wrote it. And yet, said I, you dare to call that word which, as you say, the living God put into the hearts and pen of his servants, that they should write it, a dead letter! When I endeavoured to show "Mr. Kold then wanted me to say that that this Word of God is his 'power unto those who were baptized in infancy could salvation to every one who believes,' he not be saved; but this, of course, I neither said that that was not the written word, but could nor would say, although I declared the word Christ, agreeing with what is said that infant baptism was not of God, but of about him in John i.; The Word was with man. He then charged us with inconsisGod;' and 'The Word was made flesh.' Itency; but I proved that a man can be saved asked him what he meant. Whether he without being baptized at all. He, however, meant that Christ was but a word which to be consistent, did not shun to declare, proceeded out of the mouth of God, and that no one who was baptized with our which was made flesh? To this he said, baptism, except he was baptized in his Yes. I could scarcely believe it, and asked infancy also, or with the baptism of their him, therefore, several times the same ques- holy universal church, could be saved! tion, but received each time the same Here again the friends present expressed answer, and, moreover, he endeavoured to their astonishment that he should dare to prove it. At this the others also expressed make such an assertion. When the others their astonishment, and well they might. were quiet, I showed that if it was impos"I then showed that Christ was not a sible that we could be saved on account of mere word, but God manifested in flesh;' our baptism, then neither could the apostles, God, not a mere word, was in Christ nor any who were baptized by them; for reconciling the world unto himself;' and their baptism and ours were the same. 'the Word was God,' &c.

"At last, being completely defeated, he said it was of no use to dispute any longer about it, and soon after he left, I dare say, regretting that he had come.

"After this he said that he had one more observation to make, and this he considered the most important of all, and on account of which he rejected our baptism. This obser- "When he was gone, some of the friends vation was, that if he had been baptized as said to me, Well, do you now see why it an adult, it would almost be impossible for rained so fast this morning? This proves him to believe that he had entered into that they did not regret the discussion. May covenant with God, and that he should be the Lord bless it to their souls. Mr. Hensaved, because he should then have brought ricksen was filled with joy; it was no little his evil heart along with him; but being satisfaction to him after what had happened baptized in infancy, a state in which he in Stige. could neither resist God, nor bring any of "I have given you a pretty full account of his own works with him, he could have no this discussion, in order to show you and doubt but that God had taken him into British Christians what awful opinions are covenant with himself, nor could he doubt entertained and taught in this country by of his salvation. A very weighty considera- those who are called believers and godly tion indeed. From this stronghold, however, men, both among the laity and clergy; and I drove him, by showing that it was much also to show what need there is here of the easier to believe that of which we are con- preaching of a pure gospel. Infidelity and scious, which we have both felt and seen, errors abound. Who will care about the and of which our senses testify, than that of Holy Scriptures, if they are but a dead letter, which we know nothing, but what is told us and of no use whatever, where there is not by others. It was no great difficulty to per- Christian life and infant baptism beforehand? suade a man; yea, himself, that he had Let British Christians know that this is the never been baptized in his infancy, and principal part of Christianity in Denmark.

A. P. FÖRSter.

I should like to give you some extracts of gone to the Mormonites. There seems now the sermon preached by Mr. Birkedal at to be nothing for me to do here in CopenStige, to show you what it is; but I have no hagen, but to form a new church, and gather time for it now; perhaps another time. those who are really sincere. Last Lord'sTuesday, Oct. 28, I left Kjerteminde, day I met with a good many of the brethren and went to Nyborg. From Nyborg I went at Mr. Ryding's house. They wish me to to Zealand, visited some of the brethren open a place for preaching, and to form there, and returned to Copenhagen on them into a church; but it seems almost Saturday last, Nov. 1. impossible to obtain a suitable room; and "Since my return to Copenhagen, I have even if a room could be obtained, then we received a most affectionate and effective want many other things, and money we letter from the friends in Kjerteminde, have but very little of, and, as I have told thanking me for my visit, and informing me you before, the rent is enormous. My dear that Johansen, the butcher, whom I have brother, believe me, I am in great distress, mentioned before, the man at whose house I on account of the poor people of God here in stayed, is no more. The Lord has, without Copenhagen, and have always been so ever a moment's warning, been pleased to call since I came here. I could almost wish I him away. I believe he is now with Him. had never come, but rather stayed in happy He was quite a strong and healthy man, in England where I was; but the Lord has the prime of life. The day after I left he been pleased to place me here, and therefore came into his house quite well, and said to I must not murmur, neither must I despair, his wife that he had become wet, the weather for he is my helper. He will give grace to being severe. He sat down on a chair, and help in time of need. Yours, &c., asked her to help him to pull off his boots, and putting forward his foot, he smiled at her. She stooped down to help him; but, In a letter dated Nov. 17, Mr. Förster in the same moment, he fell down by her states that he has formed, as he proposed, a side dead. All the assistance of medical new church at Copenhagen. Having remen could not restore him to life; his hour quested several of the brethren to meet him had come. 'This,' the writer says, has on Nov. 16, "we conversed," he says, deeply moved us, and the words you spoke about the necessity of forming a church; to us about the value of time, we feel to be since, before that was done, but very little true.' God grant that this solemn event, good could be attempted here in Copenhagen. which is a warning both to them and to us Inquirers have nowhere to go, except either to watch and pray, and to prepare to meet to those from whom we have separated or our God, induce us so to number our days, to P. Mönster. or to the Mormonites, who that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom, are very active." After consultation, “about and stir us up to more devoted, earnest, and a dozen wished to unite as a church. A diligent labour in the service of our Lord. church was accordingly formed, consisting "Before I left Funen, I had a letter from of twelve members. We then broke bread Langeland, informing me that the three together, praising the Lord for his mercy persons of whom I told you in my last, have and goodness to us. We all agree, as far as been baptized and added to the church," I know, in doctrine and practice. There "COPENHAGEN.-Some of the members are others who wish to join, and I hope that (twenty-five in number) of the church here we, through the grace of God, shall get on in Copenhagen, have formed themselves into well. All depends upon God. If he will be a church, and chosen one of the leading with this little church and bless it, then it men, in the last trouble, for their pastor. will be a happy and prosperous one. If he This, it seems, has been his desire; for if turns away from it, then it must perish. not, then he would have done what he pro- But we trust in the grace of the Lord. mised me, and thus the offence might have "When I broke the bread with these few been removed, and a reconciliation effected; disciples, I thought of the first time I sat but this he has not done. All that I re-down to the ordinance with the brethren quested was, that those who had sinned, here in Copenhagen. We were not so many should be called to account, and if they did at that time surrounding the table of the not repent, they should be excluded. But Lord, yet there were more belonging to the without complying with this request, and church than now; but they were like a sea without waiting to give me an answer, they in a storm, all in uproar, the one contending have, during my absence, formed themselves with the other, and thus they have contiinto a church. Mr. Schvaneveldt, who was nued almost ever since. Now, praised be the chief cause of the last troubles, has at God, although we are not so many, yet we last left these his friends, who supported have peace. God grant that it may conhim in his evil conduct, and, with his wife, tinue."