OPEN COMMUNION AND BAPTISM. He'll ne'er thee forsake, but surely perform Those words, then, "His own right hand, and his holy arm hath gotten him the victory," returned to my spirit this morning, while on a long journey into a different district, where, God helping me, I will tell the people a little of the holy triumphs realised by our glorious Leader-the Captain of our salvation, whose real name is, "JESUS, IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US." Being all alone in a carriage by myself, and taking out my little book, I opened on the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, and as I read on from the middle to the end, something said, "Here is a panoramic view of the victories achieved by our Lord: first, here is his victory over the sea; secondly, his victory over Satan; thirdly, his victory over a Satan-possessed sinner; and lastly, his victory over the fears and faintings and anxious cares of his waiting and his worshipping people; for so it is written, "When Jesus returned, they gladly received him, for they were all waiting for him." [I must defer until next month the issue of all this; for, although my journey was long, the weather severely cold, my mind exercised to a fearful extent, still, in brother Edwards's chapel, that evening, I feel persuaded, out of weakness God himself did raise me up in strength. How, in my own soul, he opened up a little of his glory, I hope to tell you in next VESSEL.-C. W. B.] OPEN COMMUNION AND BAPTISM. BROTHER BANKS.. I have read with real pleasure, and I trust some profit, much of Mr. Blackstock's book. I never knew him in the flesh-but whom, having not seen, I love. If I may give my testimony concerning his writings, they breathe a real gospel spirit. He appeared fully to understand that vengeance belonged to the Lord. Would to God the real churches of Christ, and its true ministers, like him had their quarrels more at the foot of the throne, and less in the many works published in our day! then would the real edification of Zion's enquiring family be more aimed at, and the lambs would feed and thrive, instead of staggering and growing thin. I could heartily have wished that our brother had remained a Strict Baptist unto the end; his reasonings in favour of open communion, as a man, are exactly my own; and if it was my table instead of the Lord's, there are many that I sincerely love for Christ's sake, that should have my hearty welcome thereto. In every other respect I hold them as my brethren, and taught by the same Spirit; I hope never to persecute them, because they see not with me; but here lies the question: Is the word of the Lord to bow to man, or ought the real child of God to bow to the word? Dear Blackstock's arguments, like my own, when reasoning with the 39 flesh in favour of open communion, will not bear a plain, honest appeal to the written word; still, I know it is only by one Spirit that we are baptised into one body; yet the obediential path of the real believing soul is clearly marked out; nor have we any Bible proof that I am aware of, that any unbaptised person ever became a communicant at the Lord's table. Baptism for believers is clearly delineated in God's unerring word; and I think by immersion, as fairly implied as though written with a sunbeam. John baptised in Enon, because there was much water there. Why should the Holy Ghost say much, if a little would do? For, with care, a few pails full would either sprinkle or pour a thousand. Did not the Holy Spirit direct Philip into the desert to preach Christ to the Eunuch? (Acts viii). Did they not come to a certain water into which both went down, and he baptised him, and they both came up out of the water? &c. Look at John iii. 22, 23. There, in verse 22, Jesus and his grace-taught disciples came into the land of Judea; while he encourages them to baptise in verse 23. John in another place is about the same business. Also we find in Acts x. 48, Peter commands them that had received the Holy Ghost to be baptised; and surely, if the baptism of the Spirit, or, rather, the belief of the truth and sealing of the Spirit did away with this preceptive ordinance, they had no need to be found in it. But the command was not grievous; for real love to Christ seeks to make itself manifest by keeping his commandments. When Saul of Tarsus had his eyes opened, and was filled with the Holy Ghost, he arose and was baptised; so that the baptism of the Spirit, for so we may call it-for " he was filled with the Holy Ghost"-Acts ix. 17-instead of relieving him from the command of Christ, and the obligation to be found in the same, it rather fitted him, as a real believer, to follow his divine Master. Many tell us they are Baptists to the backbone; but they mean the baptism of the Spirit. So am I; for, without his sweet sealings and holy anointings, there is no heavenly dew to be found on our branch, whatever be our profession. But I will maintain that his teaching will lead us, as it did Zecha riah and Elizabeth, to walk in all the known commandments of the Lord's house, blameless. But, say others, it is not a saving ordinance. No more is the Lord's Supper; or hearing the gospel of itself; but where is the real child of God that can lightly give them up? Our God says, "I will honour them that honour me; while those that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." Are not the ordinances like windows, through which Christ to the believing soul manifests himself, and discovers his salvation acts as one mighty to save, to the seeking soul. May we not, if left to ourselves, cavil first about one ordinance, and then another, until every ordinance be disputed and questioned ? Some tell us it is not essential to salvation: I know it is not; but it is to obedience; and it does appear clear to me, that baptism, as it stands in the New Testament, is a useless thing altogether to those who say it is not essential, it is not a saving ordinance. Surely, there is not so much said about it, and such a host of evidence given in its favour, if it is not to answer some purpose. Then, seeing it really is not essential to salvation, and that, as it regards the guilt of sin and fear of hell, it cannot save us from the same, let us aim to make use of it as an ordinance of obedience, enjoined by Christ himself to his ministering servants, by them to be continued to the end of the world, and administered to real believing souls, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teach them, said the dear Redeemer, to observe it, and not neglect it; "and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (See Matt. xxviii. 19, 20). And truly honoured is that obedient child of his, that in faith is baptised in his dear name, and so baptised into the death of Christ as to see his only cleansing is through his sorrows, sufferings, sweat and blood, and that his justification is through his obedience, resurrection, ascension and glorification, much of which I humbly conceive to be set forth in Believer's Baptism by immersion. I might say more; but I will only add, that when I first took my pen in hand this afternoon, I had not the remotest idea of writing to you so much-only to say a word or two, and enclose the following hymn. I am thankful to say, however, that the Lord is still giving us evidence that he is with us in some measure; for the Spirit of the Lord is moving some in the camp of Dan. We have now two candidates for baptism; one has often walked, during two years past, thirteen miles to hear my feeble testimony. The Lord blessed the word to him, to encourage him in first seeking after Christ when I was miles away from Tunbridge Wells; after which, at Rehoboth, the Lord liberated his soul by the application of his own word through the same unworthy instrument. The other has also attended for two years, coming a distance also from the country; and the Lord has loosed his bonds also. These things were done, while I had not even once spoken to either of them; nor should I have known them as my hearers if I had met them in the street. Surely, His own arm still brings salvation. Others, I believe, are at the water's edge, and the ground is so tender under them, that, another thawing time or two, and in they must come. The following lines have this day occurred to my mind: we shall most probably sing it at the next baptism, which I hope will take place on January 8th, God willing. Suffer it to be so Now. The Man that bled for thee. A Triune God approv'd the deed, With solemn awe therein. How light our way, with his compar'd Not for himself, but church's sake, And follow through the flood. THE KINGDOMS OF NATURE & GRACE. "Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ?" JOB XXXviii. 31. THE object of Jehovah in addressing Job was to humble him; the peculiarity of the manner in the number of interrogations was calculated to make him feel his littleness. Pleiades is the name of a cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus; the helicical rising of which made known the return of spring. The word implies all that is desirable, delightful, or lovely; and this corresponds with that season of which it formed the chief constellation in the time of Job. Orion is the name of a constellation, the appearance of which denoted the return of winter; hence the meaning of the word in Arabic is "cold, inactivity, torpor." It may serve as an illustration of the vastness of the starry heavens to observe, that in one part of this constellation, "the sword," there is a nebula which is computed to be two trillions, two hundred thousand billion times larger than the sun! Well might the Psalmist say, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work." The import of the question is given in a lucid way by the editor of the Pictorial Bible, "Job is asked if he could hinder those sweet influences to which nature yields when Pleiades announces the approach of spring; or whether he could loosen or retard that rigidity which contracts and binds up her fertile bosom when the approach of winter is made known by Orion.' From the words we may make the following observations : The difference in the seasons in the world of nature, may afford us an illustration of the changes in the kingdom of grace. There is a spring time and a winter season in the experience of the Lord's people. The church is addressed as follows, "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past," &c. In the spring the vital principle displays its vigour, and appears in various forms, causing the earth to wear a pleasing aspect. So in the spring time of grace. The Christian feels the power of the life of God in his soul in the lively actings of his faith, so that he can say, NATURE AND GRACE. "My Beloved is mine and I am his," in the firmness of his hope whereby he holds fast his confidence in the Lord-in the strength of his affection, which many waters cannot quench, nor floods drown, so that he 41 from the Lord as they that watch for the morning. The winter season is stormy, and are we not exposed to the fierce blasts of temptation, which threaten us with destruction at certain times; in addition to which there are storms raised within by sin, and trouble from God falls heavily upon us. Nor have we cause to think it strange that such things should happen to us, although it was uncommon. Our reli "Loves the Lord with mind and heart," in the ardency of his desires after the Lord, his presence and communion with him-in the enlargement of his heart by the freedom which the Lord Jesus has given him—in the soliditygion must be tried by the winter of adversity. of his peace, the peace of God keeping his As there is a succession of these changes in heart and mind-in the substantial nature of nature, so we may expect the same in our exhis joy enabling him to say, "I will greatly perience. rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." Isaiah li. 10. And the savouriness of the conversation indicates the spirituality of the mind. The softening showers of grace descend upon the soul, causing it to resemble a field which the Lord hath blessed. Thou makest it soft with showers, thou blessest the springing thereof," Psalm lxv. 10. Further. The spring is a cheerful time; the sun sheds its glories all around; and it is the time of the singing of birds. So the Sun of Righteousness rising, and imparting his exhilirating beams, fills the soul with comfort; the inward feelings cause an outward expression, for "a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance;" and then we can sing the high praises of God, sing of his mercy, power, truth, and faithfulness, with happy feeling and with sacred pleasure. Again. The serenity of spring may set forth that delightful tranquillity of mind we are favoured with at certain times; corruptions are subdued, cares are removed, Satan cannot get near, neither can the world annoy. Thus the Lord's promise is fulfilled, "Great shall be the peace of thy children." But we must notice the contrast-Winter. Then death appears to reign in the vegetable kingdom: and so it is with the soul at times. What a want of feeling! how cold our hearts! how inactive our graces! how barren our minds of everything that is good! how carnal! and it becomes a question, Have we the vital principle within? for what is all profession without it? Hence there are searchings of heart; and we are taught, perhaps, by the death in our feelings a truth more precious than thousands of gold and silver" Christ is our life." Look at yonder vine, there is no fruit to be seen upon it, and it is stripped of all its foliage -surely it must be dead. No, this is not the case; there is life in the vine, and by-and-bye it shall be visible. Dear child of God, do you resemble the branches of this vine? Remember the life of grace within shall be maintained in all your wintry seasons by your union to the Lord Jesus, "Because I live ye shall live also," is his own promise. Winter is a gloomy season; we have had much dark and uncomfortable weather of late. Solomon said, "The days of darkness shall be many;" but, blessed be God, we have the prospect of one bright eternal day. And the darkness brings a gloom with it very far from pleasing to the children of light; then we feel cast down and disquieted, and begin to look as earnestly for a fresh visit Is it a wintry season now with some whose eye this may meet? A change will take place ere long; the mighty power of God shall prove effectual in causing a renewing and a reviving within; and to the sweet influence of the Father's love, the Saviour's manifestations, and the Spirit's grace, thy heart shall yield, and thou shalt again feel what thou hast felt in bygone days. "The Lord will not forsake the work of his hands." Is it spring with us? we may expect winter. I write not this to discourage, any more than Jesus intended to daunt his disciples when he gave them to understand what they might expect in following him. The fact that in the world we are to have tribulation is not concealed, but plainly revealed, that when we ascertain the truth of it by experience we may not be taken by surprise. It is common among the children of God under their first manifestations to think those happy hours will continue. But ah! this they find a mistake. Israel of old when singing of delivering mercy little thought what awaited them, and how soon a change would take place; but our changes will endear to us an unchanging God, and the divine immutability will then prove a scene of comfort and support to our minds. As by the question, "Canst thou bind the soft influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?" we are given to understand we cannot alter God's own order of things in nature, so we may learn the impossibility of changing his dispensations. To the sovereign will of God, as the First Cause, all things are to be traced, our joys and our sorrows, our mercies and our miseries, our liberty and our bondage, are all determined by him. When he says "peace," a calm ensues; when he smiles we are happy; when he quickens we are lively; when he strengthens we feel courageous; and when he reveals himself we are confident. On the other hand, when he gives trouble we are restless; when he frowns we are distressed; when he withholds his grace we droop; when he leaves us to feel our weakness we are timid; and when he hides himself we are fearful. Thus "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." As the changes in nature are ordered in wisdom, and prove beneficial, so the various dealings of God are no less wisely appointed by him for good to his people. The frost and snow, as well as the warmth and the rain, have a salutary effect; so the painful as well as the pleasant is included among the all things that work together for good to Zion. If we are the Lord's, we shall have to be wintered to prove us, and the issue will be favourable. Grace is both incorruptible and indestructible-"The trial of your faith being much more precious than gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire shall be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ;" and though no chastening seemeth to be joyous while we are under it, how oft have we had to say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted," realising the peaceable fruits of righteousness yielded to us thereby. Our God is great in counsel and wonderful in working; and as he lets us perceive the wisdom of his arrangements, and the love that runs through all, we are not only submissive to his will, but can rejoice, saying "All is settled, all is settled, And my soul approves it well." In conclusion. We are, as the redeemed of the Lord, bound for a world where we shall have a perpetual spring, a state of uninterrupted happiness, and a land of perfect freedom from all those things that now exercise our minds and trouble our hearts. May this hope inspire with courage all the followers of the Lamb, is the desire of their's affectionately, Northampton. W. LEACH. Ministerial Biography. No. 2. "SCARCELY," (says one of our Christian witnesses), scarcely had the grave closed over the mortal remains of WARDLAW, of Glasgow, and JAY, of Bath, when Dr. Collyer, of Peckham, is also summoned to his rest. He died on Monday, January 9, 1854, having filled the pastoral office for a period of fifty years." Many of the "great men," in the professing churches, are passing homeward; and if, by these strokes, we are stirred up to more diligence in our Master's cause while we are employed in the vineyard, it will be well. We return again to The Life of William Arbon, LATE OF HULL. Written by Himself. (Continued from page 14). In thus reviewing my life so far, I find many mercies to be thankful for and very much cause for deep humiliation before God for so many mercies misimproved, duties that have been neglected, and sins committed; yet I have cause to hope my ministry in the connection was not in vain. Several professed to be called by grace and old believers to be comforted and built up. I was at all times treated with respect by the trustees, as well as the congregation, and nothing but a sense of duty and the dictates of conscience could have separated me from them. The means by which my attention was turned to the subject of baptism were as follows:-A friend put into my hand a book, written by a person of the name of Allen, entitled, "The Loyal Address of Junius Junior to his Countrymen From the title page I conceived it to be a political work. I read it, and to my great surprise it was principally upon the subject of baptism, and from the manner he described the practises of the primitive church, and shewing how the corruptions of the sprinkling of infants was brought in, and by Mr. Allen supporting his statements both from history and the Word of God, I was led to say that if I were sure that those things were really true I would never practise sprinkling any more. I now determined to read the book again, and, in the exercise of prayer, to compare it with the New Testament in all the different passages that have any reference to the subject. I did so, and the conviction left upon my mind was, that the Apostles and even John did uniformly require a profession of faith previous to the administration of baptism, and that the account given in of the places were it was administered, &c., were such as evidently implied immersion in water; and that if the connection to those passages be duly considered in which households are mentioned, the language is such as excludes infants. This being the case, I could no longer take infants in my arms and say, "I baptise," when I only sprinkled them; neither durst I any longer say that I did it in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, because I now found that I had no authority, no warrant for what I was doing in the Word of God. I therefore immediately made known my mind to the congregation in Dagger Lane Chapel, at the same time giving in my resignation. I was now brought into a great straight, for I proposed stopping with the people until another minister was sent to them, and the Lord might open a way for myself. I accordingly wrote to some friends in London, requesting that if they knew of a vacant church they would inform me of it. Some of the people, however, in Dagger Lane were so much exasperated at my conduct that they said I ought not to be permitted to enter the pulpit any more, and I found that many of my old friends were now turned to be my enemies. I was satisfied that I could have peace no longer among them, and my conscience being fully decided upon the matter, I made it a matter of prayer to my God that he would direct and provide for me, and having a wife and three children dependant upon me, and another daily expected, I determined to cast the care of all upon the Lord, who had hitherto provided for me and mine. I therefore left this people at Dagger Lane immediately; and experienced the kindness of the Lord in so doing; for it so happened that about this time, a few people had separated from the Baptist church in George Street, in this town, and had taken the chapel in Prince Street, and which had, some time previous to this, been unoccupied; and as they had no settled minister, they requested me to become their pastor. To this I for some time made objections, thinking that I would not remain in Hull; but in consequence of their repeated solicitations, and after much prayer to God, and having the advice of a few friends, I at length consented to stay; and accordingly was baptised by immersion in Prince Street Chapel, by Mr. John Pilling, of ス PERSECUTION IN SWEDEN. Goodshow, in Lancashire, on the 10th of April, 1811; and that day I was added to the church, and was ordained as pastor over the people the next day; when Mr. Pilling, Mr. Hargraves, of Ogden, and Mr. Moss, of Bishop Burton, were engaged for the services of the day. In this church I spent five or six years, in comfort; and if I was ever useful in Hull, this was the most useful part of my life. Very many professed to be converted to God by the preaching of the gospel, some of whom are still living in a creditable profession of religion; and several old backsliders have been reclaimed, and others united with us, by letters of dismissal from other churches. This church, at the time of my going amongst them, consisted of about twenty-two, or three members; but the Lord gave us a large increase, so that in a little time we exceeded one hundred. This I thought was the work of God; and to him I hope I gave the praise. In the year 1818, the Baptist church in Salthouse Lane, in this town, was destitute of a minister; Mr. Wade, their former pastor, having resigned his office amongst them. The church in that place was in a low estate; we in Princes Street were paying £40 per annum rent for our own place; and it was proposed, for the benefit of each, that the two churches should unite. Several of my friends were inclined to this measure. It was, however, I fear, too precipitately carried into effect; and the union was publicly recognised August 1, 1816. Dr. Steadman, of Bradford, and Mr. Harness, of Bridlington, preached on the occasion. I cannot say that in this position I ever felt to be happy, as I had formerly been; nor did the preaching of the Word appear to be made a blessing, as it was in Princes Street. Several, however, from time to time, were added to our number, and things went on tolerably well, until the year 1821, at which time some very unpleasant circumstances arose amongst us, and party spirits ran so high, together with evil tempers, and passions were so much indulged on either side, and by myself with and amongst the rest, until at length I determined upon leaving the people, which I accordingly announced to them; and with much grief of mind I preached my last sermon to them on the 2nd of December, 1821. I now removed, with a family consisting of a wife and seven children, to High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, at which place I had preached four Lord's-days previous to this; and the people had given me an invitation to settle amongst them. There, however, I never felt myself at home; and soon found I could not continue long; and I saw that I had done wrong in leaving Salthouse Lane. I do regret that step to the present time; and believe I shall as long as I live. Those, however, by whom I thought myself to be injured and aggrieved, I do most cordially and sincerely forgive; and I earnestly request the same forgiveness on their part towards me. Conscious I am, that there were many and very great faults on both sides. Oh, that Almighty God in mercy may forgive us all, and that we may ultimately meet where sin, and 43 all its attendants, will be everlastingly banished. Amen. I had not been long in Wycombe, when some of my friends in Hull wrote to inform me that they had left Salthouse Lane, in consequence of the treatment which I had received from the people there. I wrote back to them, and desired them to return to Salthouse Lane; and as I was separated from them, to let all former circumstances be buried in oblivion. They in reply persisted that they would not return; and at the same time proposed that if I would come back to Hull, they would build me a new chapel to preach in. I really laughed at this idea, as I thought it was utterly impossible that anything of the kind could be done by them. But they still continued to importune, and told me more fully their plan, and, as they thought, their flattering prospects of success. Therefore, as I did not feel comfortably settled at Wycombe, and was strongly attached to many friends at Hull, I at length was prevailed upon to return to Hull. Accordingly, the chapel was built in Mason Street, and I arrived with my family in the month of August, 1822, and opened the chapel for public worship on the 1st of September following. In this I never felt myself altogether satisfied or comfortable; the congregation was small, and very little, if any, good effects attended the word preached. (To be continued). A SWEDISH SCHOOLMASTER PERSECUTED FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL. We wish our readers (who for the most part enjoy the uninterrupted privilege of hearing the Gospel, and of worshipping God under their own vine and fig-tree,) to read some accounts which have recently reached us of RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS IN SWEDEN. In The Evangelical Friend of the Church, (a Swedish periodical,) is an account of the case of persons who, for the crime of having administered baptism and the Lord's supper, or for that of only reading together the Word of God, singing some hymns, &c., are sentenced to pay heavy fines; and in case of incapability to do so, to endure the punishment of bread and water. imprisonment on the only nourishment of The number of these persons in one province alone, that of Delecarlia, is so great, that the prison for solitary confinement in the town of Tahlun, in which there are 100 cells cannot contain more than half their number! This shews that there is no cessation in these grievances. The church, and higher classes in this land, begin to be more and more frightened by the religious movements going on; and even our best papers, the Aftonblad for instance, which formerly gave an account of these persecutions, is now quite silent; perhaps from the fear of losing its subscribers. Thus, little is comparatively known in our country, of the sufferings of our poor brethren in the north. Schoolmaster Carlsson, writing to Dr. Bergman of his trials connected with witnessing for Christ, says: "In Jesus, dearly beloved Dr. Bergman,-your kind letter has very much sustained, rejoiced, and |