The Primitive Church Magazine

P.S. The Times having refused insertion for in doing this thou shalt save thyself and up to the present time, August 25th, 1856, them that hear thee." Another passageto letters substantially the same as the "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the above, correcting the very injurious misre- grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things presentations of Dr. Cumming, the publi- that thou hast heard of ine among many witcation of them is rendered necessary, to prevent persons from receiving those false statements as true. The public cannot fail to estimate correctly the injustice done to the American Bible Union, both by Dr. Cumming and the Editor of The Times. Their obedient servant,

WM. NORTON
For A. B. Union.

Provincial.

RECOGNITION SERVICES, BURY.

nesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." These are the instructions contained in the best of all books. There are a few things that the pastor of a Christian church ought particu larly to attend to, in order that he may acquit himself well. He ought with a cheerful zeal, with study and perseverance, so to labour, that he may have the approbation of his own conscience, and secure the good of the people.

The first thing that he would recommend related to his own personal religion. If a man must teach others, he must know the He must not be like the

Ox Monday, the 25th Aug., a series of religious services took place in the Baptist chapel, Knowsley-street, in connection with the settlement of the Rev. A. Ashworth, as pastor of the church assembling in the above place of worship. In the afternoon, path himself. sermons were preached by Rev. W. Bur- guide-post, which shows the traveller the chell, of Rochdale, and Rev. Franklin Ho- right way while remaining stationary itself. worth, of Bury. In the evening, the Rev. Vital godliness will have great effect on a T. Dawson, of Liverpool, delivered the pastor's labours. Unless he live near to charge to the minister, which was listened God, he will not be able with earnestness to throughout with the deepest interest. to recommend religion to others. Prayer He said he had prepared an address, and in- to God would be necessary, that his love to tended to have read it over, but finding Christ might be pre-eminent, and that his that the order of the services was not such zeal in the work might never flag. Emias he had anticipated, he would lay it aside nent piety was absolutely necessary to preand conform to what appeared to be a more pare a minister for eminent usefulness; for social way. He thought, however, that it unless he lived near to God, it was not likely would have been more interesting, and more that he would be successful in winning in accordance with an ordination service, if others to the Redeemer. the young minister had related his Christian In the second place, he would call attenexperience, and given a statement of the tion to the necessity for study, as a prepadoctrines which he held, and which he pur- ration for pulpit exercises. He (Mr. Dawposed to maintain. He had looked over son) had heard a minister say that he never several passages of Scripture which, on the could study a sermon, and another minisoccasion, claimed his notice. In the first ter said that he never did study a sermon epistle to Timothy it is said, "This is a true but once, and he spoiled it. This did not saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, agree with his (Mr. Dawson's) experience, he desireth a good work." A bishop signi- nor was it in accordance with the instrucfies an overseer, and the young minister tions of the apostle Paul, when he said to who was then present was a scriptural Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved bishop. There is another passage in the unto God, a workman that needeth not to same epistle:"Let no man despise thy be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of youth; but be thou an example of the be- truth.” He would recommend patient, lievers in word, in conversation, in charity, persevering study, not merely for one serin spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, mon, but for all occasions, that he might give attendance to reading, to exhortation, be well informed and properly qualified for to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in the important duties he would be called thee, which was given thee by prophecy, upon to discharge.

with the laying on of the hands of the pres- In the third place, it was important that bytery. Meditate upon these things; give a minister should give attention to reading. thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting He was not wishful to curtail a minister may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, with respect to the choice of books, but he and unto the doctrine; continue in them: regarded it as a matter of some importance

what books he read, and how much time my glory, which thou hast given me : for he spent upon them. He thought that thou lovest me before the foundation of many ministers would be much better if the world." Our brother spoke as folthey did not spend time in reading frothy, lows:-Nearly three years have elapsed frivolous works, which were very unprofit- since, in the providence of God, it was my able. He would not recommend a minister painful duty to leave Bury and my muchto confine himself to the reading of theo- loved fellow-labourers, rendered at that time logical works, but to give his attention to much more painful to me because I knew literature in general. Mr. Dawson recom- not that I should meet you on earth again, mended the works of President Edwards, and because I left you without a shepherd. and of other writers, and especially recom- It now gives me pleasure to meet you under mended the Bible, as a book with which more favourable circumstances;-you be all ministers should become very familiarly hold your pastor in your midst, you give acquainted. him a public welcome, and I join you In the fourth place, he would call atten- hearly in bidding him God speed. I only tion to the preaching of the word. Preach- ask from you, my beloved Christian friends, ing was regarded by many as if it were the and some of you my children in the Lord, sum total of a minister's work, and it cer- that you give to him what you so freely tainly formed a pre-eminent part of his granted me. I desire that you would upduty. He did not think that the rightly hold his hands and encourage his heartdividing of the word of truth meant the that you would offer up prayer as fervent cutting up of a sermon into so many divi- for him as you did for me; and I know that sions and particulars, after the plan of the his labours will be made a blessing in the old divines; and he instanced the case of a town and neighbourhood. If any faults did young man who showed a sermon he had transpire, we seem to have forgotten them, composed to an aged minister. After exa- and we only remember the pleasing seasons mining the sermon, the young man was we had together, when pleading before our informed that there were a great many God and Father. Oh! be still a praying particulars, but there were no heads. The people; it would be folly to be otherwise. young man then altered the sermon by The house in which we are assembled tomaking the particulars into general heads; night has been given in answer to prayer. and on showing it to the aged minister, he You will remember, (for it is fresh in the was told that there were heads sufficient, memory of some of us) when we appointed but there were no brains in them. He (Mr. a special meeting to pray that we might Dawson) was of opinion, that the rightly have a suituable plot of land for building dividing the truth meant cutting it as the upon, for we could not at that time get any priest under the law cut the sacrifice, not land. We held a meeting in the Commermangling it; or as the carpenter would cut cial-buildings at six o'clock in the morning, up his wood by rule and square, so that and our special prayer was, that those who none might be wasted.-After other re- had land might be disposed to let us have marks, Mr. Dawson strongly urged Mr. Ash- it. That day twelve months, we met in worth to make the Lord Jesus the staple of this house to thank God for having anhis preaching.

In the fifth place, he would call attention to a minister's duty to visit his flock. He did not mean that he should visit for the purpose of gossipping. It had been said that the tale-bearer and the tale-hearer ought both to be hung, the one by the ear and the other by the tongue. He recommended special attention to the sick.

In the sixth place, he urged the propriety of a minister being especially careful in all that related to his moral character and deportment before the world. He should not only be a good man, but his conduct should be such as to place him beyond all suspicion.

swered our prayer, and I hope that the time is not far distant when the school and chapel will have to be thrown together so as to form one.-Mr. Harvey, at considerable length, urged that Christians ought to pray in imitation of Christ, and urged, as an encouragement, that God the Father, God the Spirit, and God the Son, were agreed in purpose to save all the elect.

Subsequently the congregation was addressed by Rev. J. Howe, of Waterbarn, and Rev. P. Prout, of Haslingden.

WESTBURY, WILTS.

The Rev. Joseph Harvey, of Little Leigh, DEAR SIR,-Allow me, through the Cheshire, (formerly pastor of Bury) ad- medium of your valuable magazine, to dressed the church, founding his observa- record the goodness of the great Head of tions on John xvii. 24" Father, I will the Church towards us in this part of the that they also whom thou hast given me be vineyard during the last twelve months, in with me where I am, that they may behold answer to prayer. The Spirit has been

poured upon us as a Church, and we have earnest prayer; secondly, the progress of resorted to the baptismal waters three Christianity in the earth, with the certainty of times, where twenty-three persons avowed the harvest, which is the end of the world; their attachment to the Saviour, by putting and thirdly, the work of grace in the heart on a profession of his name. Last Lord's--first the seed sown and watered springs day, our minister led ten of these into the up by the power of God without human water, under a clear sky and smiling sun, assistance. After the afternoon service, and before a numerous and deeply attentive the friends took tea together in the chapel, assembly. One of these candidates was after which a meeting was held, when the very young, and being the first called out Rev. C. H. Hoskin, of Crayford, took the of a worldly family, we rather hesitated. chair. In opening the meeting he made a But her language was, "Hinder me not," few appropriate remarks, and called upon "now is the accepted time." We therefore Mr. Hewitt, of Bexley Heath, to speak. consented. Another of the candidates was He was followed by Mr. T. W. Medhurst, a young man brought up in a sabbath- after which the chairman presented the school, but on leaving home for the metro-pastor of the church, the Rev. J. Walliss, polis, he was led into the company of with four splendidly bound volumes of infidels, who taught him to believe the Kitto's Pictorial Bible and a purse of moBible was a fable. Imbibing their views, ney, as a mark of affection from the memhe neglected God's house, desecrated his bers of his church. In acknowledging the day, and followed the course and pleasures testimonial, he gave a very interesting acof this world; but coming to reside again count of his life. After the presentation in the country, he was induced to come the Rev. J. Nunn, of Zion Chapel, Old St. and hear our minister on the first Sabbath Pancras-road, addressed the meeting, which he was settled with us. The word spoken terminated by prayer.-Christian Cabinet. was blessed by the Spirit to his soul. He has regularly attended with us since, burned all his books on infidelity, entered the Sabbath school as a teacher, has sought and found mercy through the blood of the Lamb, and ERSET.-On September 7th, an aged fernale, is now rejoicing in God his Saviour. "Is seventy-five years old, who had for years not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" past been connected with the Wesleyans, We desire to bless God, and take courage. was baptized by immersion. She passed Our prayer is, that this may only prove through the ordinance cheerfully, and afthe first-fruits. We long to see the harvest. terwards sat down with us at the Lord's Bless the Lord, we hear "the sound of a table. going upon the top of the mulberry trees," in answer to faith and prayer. We expect greater things than these. We have the promises to plead, the Spirit to help us, the Saviour to intercede for us, and if there be simple saving faith mixed with our prayers, our Father in Heaven will bless us with continued peace and future prosperity. Hoping the Church of Christ will be thus visited with times of refreshing, I remain, dear sir, in the bonds of truth, yours sincerely,

Sept. 12th, 1856.

A CONSTANT READER.

BEXLEY HEATH, KENT,

BAPTISM.

BLINDMORE, BUCKLAND ST. MARY, SOM

MARRIAGES.

MARRIED by licence, on Aug. 30, at the Baptist Chapel, Sandhurst, Kent, by Rev. J. H. Blake; Samuel Kine, Esq., of Hawkhurst, Kent, to Mary Jefferson, of Hill Cottage, Newenden, Sussex.

This

Sept. 9th, at Kingsgate Chapel, Holborn, by the Rev. Francis Wills; Mr. Joseph Buckler, to Mrs. Sarah Allason. being the first marriage solemnized in the above new chapel, the pastor presented the newly-married couple with a handsomely bound quarto family Bible, with marginal references.

OBITUARY OF THE REV. W. P. SCOTT, Late Pastor of the Baptist Church, Albertstreet, Melbourne.

A HARVEST Meeting and Presentation Service were held in the Baptist Chapel, Bexley Heath, on Tuesday, Sept. 16th; when Mr. T. W. Medhurst, of Bexley Heath, preached in the afternoon, at three o'clock, BY THE REV. A. M. RAMSAY. from Mark iv. 28, 29. The preacher noticed, first the similarity between the work THIS amiable and faithful servant of the in nature and the work of grace, the Lord departed this life on the evening of necessity of the fallow ground of the Tuesday, April 8th, 1856, in the fortyhuman heart being ploughed up, good seed eighth year of his age, having been born on of the go pel being sown and watered with the Sept. 20th, 1808. His native place was

Gosport, in Hampshire, England. He was which we need not here detail, led to the born of pious parents, and early led to the dissolution of his connection with that conhouse of God. We have not learnt at what gregation. At this time, Mr. Scott was precise time he experienced the renewing visited with an appalling affliction. For grace of God, or what were the special several weeks he laboured under mental means employed in bringing him to the aberration, during which the anguish and knowledge and love of the Saviour, but we agony of his spirit was intense and dreadunderstand that his mind was deeply im- ful. Much prayer, however, was offered up pressed with religion at a very early period by the Lord's people on his behalf; and of his life, and that, while quite young, some who could more particularly apprecihe gave himself up to God in public Chris- ate his work, were assiduous in their attentian profession. tion to him, waiting upon him night and He was baptized and admitted into day; and, by the blessing of God on the church fellowship by the Rev. Isaac Mann, means that were used, Mr. Scott was at pastor of the Baptist church, Maze Pond, length restored to perfect soundness of London. While a member of that church, mind, and enabled to resume his ministerial he was engaged as a Sabbath-school teacher, labours. Subsequent on this affliction, and and, having an ardent desire for the work for a period of three years, Mr. S. officiated of the Christian ministry, was sent by the in the Mechanics' Institution, ministering church to Horton College, near Bradford, to the minority, who were affectionately in Yorkshire. After prosecuting his studies attached to him, and who wished to retain at that place for a period of three years, his services. While worshipping in this he received an invitation, and was settled place, the congregation greatly increased, over the Baptist church in Colne, Lanca- and on Oct. 16th, 1853, they were enabled shire. There he laboured for five years. to enter into their neat and commodious From Colne, he was removed to Loughbo- place of worship in Albert-street. This rough, in Leicestershire, where he laboured edifice, which was erected when labour for a period of seven years. In both of these was at its highest in this colony, and the spheres he prosecuted the work of the mi- very site of which, though not more than nistry with much diligence and not without one rood, cost £1000, must ever stand as a success. He was honoured of the Lord in monument of Christian liberality, and also the conversion of sinners, and in the edifi- of devoted attachment on the part of a cation of such as had truly believed through small Christian congregation to an humble, grace. godly, and faithful pastor. Here Mr. Scott

On such a subject, however, the deceased laboured, and ofttimes in much weakness was modestly silent. He seldom or never both of body and spirit, till his Divine alluded to himself or his labours, and the Master summoned him away to his bright results of his ministry must be left with reward in the realms of rest and glory. the awful revelations of the judgment day. His last service was on Sabbath, March When, at any time, to the partner of his 23rd. On that day he officiated morning life or any intimate Christian friend, he and evening. Other two Sabbaths had would refer to his labours in the gospel, it scarcely passed over him, when he entered was in terms of self-depreciation, and re- on his Sabbath of eternal rest. The last gret that he had not been more useful in text from which he preached was, Psa. lxxiv. the service of his blessed Redeemer. 22:-"Arise, O Lord, and plead thine own

Mr. Scott arrived in these colonies in cause!" April, 1849. After a brief stay in South In his last illness, as on a former occaAustralia, he came over to this colony.sion, his mind was much affected. He was This was in June of the same year. His conscious and sensible, however, at interfirst labours amongst us were in connection vals, and at such times was heard to utter with the Baptist church, Collins-street, expressions which satisfied his friends that Melbourne, which, at the time, was desti- he was peaceful and happy. On one occatute of the services of a fixed pastor. After sion, to a female friend, he said, "I believe, the lapse of two or three months, Mr. Scott I do believe. Lamb of God! Salvation by was invited to the pastorate of that church; Christ-free, full salvation!" The last but the invitation resting on the barest pos- words he was heard to utter were thesesible majority, his tender and sensitive "Come, Lord Jesus! come quickly!" mind shrunk from accepting it, choosing Mr. Scott has left to the sympathy of the rather to accommodate himself to the views Christian church, and the care of that God of the minority, who were desirous that he whom he served in the gospel of his Son, a should labour amongst them in a proba- widow and seven of a young family. To tionary capacity for a period of twelve the Judge of the widow and the Father of months longer. This he did, and, at the the fatherless, let them be often and deexpiration of that term, circumstances, voutly commended; surely the Lord will

be their stay and their shield. "Precious RECEIVED FOR BAPTIST EVANGELICAL in the sight of the Lord is the death of his

saints."

In the family, the deceased was grave, judicious, affectionate, and tender. In the

SOCIETY.

PER REV. W. H. BONNER.

pulpit, he was instructive, earnest, and spi-N. B. In this list, E. stands for Education;

D. for Denmark; and M. for the Missions in Germany, and Denmark, in equal proportions. When no initial is affixed the general objects of the Society are intended. YORKSHIRE.-Bradford.

Rev. H. Dowson
Messrs. W. & S. Watson
Mr. Joseph Illingworth.........
Mr. W. T. Drake

Mr. John Foster.........
Miss Holgate

ritual; and on the platform he pleaded
with sound argumentation and unaffected
zeal. With Mr. Scott there was no vapour-
ing or display. His zeal in any good cause
showed itself at the board as well as on the
platform. And in all his labours in connec-
tion with the cause of Christ, or of the
common weal, there was a marked sense of
propriety. He was quiet and unobtrusive,
yet earnest and attentive to the business in
hand.
The various evangelical and charitable
institutions of the city have lost in Mr.
Smith a valuable counsellor and supporter. Mr. Alfred Hillingworth
Whether the Christian enterprize of the Mr. Henry Hillingworth
day took the direction of the evangelization Mr. W. Whitehead
of the city by special agents, or the removal Miss Croft
of the foul stain of intemperance, or the Misses E. & S. Watson
sanctification of the Sabbath, or the ad- Mr. W. Woodhead..
vancement of the cause of civil and reli- Mr. S. Whitley
gious freedom, or the conversion of the vast Mr. Allan
immigration that has set in to our shores Mrs. White..
from the land of Shinar, and islands afar Mr. Wm. Cole
off, or the alleviation of the wants and sor- Mr. John Smith
rows of the immigrant population from the Mr. R Watson
land of our fathers-the enterprize had ever Mr. P. Watson
his warmest sympathy, and, in most in- Wm. Murgatroyd, Esq.
stances, his active co-operation. Yes, he A Friend
was ever ready to plead and to labour with Mr. Walmsley
simplicity of purpose and assiduous atten- Mr. T. Liversedge
Mr. S. Marshall
Mr. John Lister......
Mrs. Eccles.........
Mr. James Thompson
Mr. Everdell

tion.

Farsley.

Mr. Scott was no bigot. While conscientious in his views, as a member of the Baptist connexion, and prepared, on all fitting occasions, to maintain the position he had taken, charity was a permanent feature Mr. Josiah Robinson.. in his character. No one could gather from Mrs. Law...... his ordinary conversation in the social cir- Mr. Joseph Thompson cle, or from his pleadings on the platform, Mrs. Woodhead to what particular section of the church of A Friend Christ he belonged. That denominational- Mr. Binns ism which afflicts these colonies, and is rendering them a bye-word throughout the world, and to which the best interests of the Mr. J. Marshall country are often heartlessly sacrificed, was Mr. T. Hollings far from the spirit of the deceased. He de- Mr. W. Hainsworth lighted to dwell on the substantialities of Mrs. Reuben Gaunt religion-faith and holiness, and so fan the Mr. D. Marshall..... heavenly gleam of charity which must glow Mr. J. Busfield in the breasts of all true disciples. He was Mr. J. Hainsworth..... truly a lover of concord and peace. And Two Friends now, while his spirit has instinctively fled Mr. J. Smith to the realms of love, his bones have been Mr. D. Smith. devoutly laid in that peaceful valley," where Mr. R. Parkinson the wicked cease from troubling, and the Two Friends weary are at rest."