A difference of opinions having arisen among some friends of the Baptist missions, with regard to the translation of the Scriptures, upon Scripture terms relating to baptism, in 1840, the Bible Translation Society was formed; its intention being to aid in printing and circulating those translations of the Holy Scriptures, from which the British and Foreign Bible Society has withdrawn its assistance, on the ground that the words relating to the ordinance of baptism have been translated by terms signifying "immersion ;" and further to aid in producing and circulating other versions of the Word of God, similarly faithful and complete. Treasurer Mr. G. T. Kemp, of London. The last Report (1851) thus remarks-"They (the Committee) would not express themselves with too sanguine an expectation, yet they cannot refrain from observing many significant indications that the idolatrous and mythological systems, which, for thousands of ages, have held that vast population in spiritual bondage, are relaxing the tenacity of their grasp under the influence of Christian truth. The strongholds are falling before the force of weapons which are not carnal, and the foundations are giving way. When these crumble, the superstructure must fall; and Christians should hold themselves in habitual readiness for that predicted day, when ‘a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks and into the tops of the rugged rock, for fear of the Lord and of the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.””

The Scriptures in BENGALI, HINDUSTANTI, PERSIAN, SANSCRIT, ARMENIAN, and ENGLISH, have issued from the depository of the Society. The receipts from 1849 to 1850 were £1777 9s. 9d.

The Baptist Tract Society was formed in 1841, for the dissemination of the truths of the Gospel by means of small treatises or tracts, in accordance with the views of Calvinistic and strict communion Baptists. Editor, Mr. W. Norton; treasurer, Mr. J. Oliver.

An interesting association has been formed of late years, which ought to receive ample support from the Baptist denomination, it is, "THE HANSARD KNOLLYS SOCIETY;" the object of which is the publication of the works of early English and other Baptist writers. Its council comprises leading ministers and members of the Baptist body. Treasurer, Mr. Charles Jones; honorary secretary, Mr. E. B. Underhill, who has written able introductions to some of the works published by the society."

There have issued from this society the following publications:-TRACTS ON LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE, 1615-1661. BROADMEAD RECORDS, 1640-1688.

The foregoing constitute the principal societies connected with the Baptist denomination, or in which they have taken a prominent part, from which it will appear that they have not been indifferent to the claims of the world around them, in regard to the multiplied spiritual wants of the great community.

The name of WILLIAM BRODIE GURNEY, it will be seen, is one of frequent mention as associated with the various institutions which have been noticed. For more than the last half century Mr. Gurney has been connected with the Baptist denomination, and has been distinguished for his untiring zeal and great liberality in advancing its interests. May he be long spared to diffuse the influence of his benevolent and Christian spirit!

JOSEPH IVIMEY, when referring to the preparation of his History of the Baptists, remarks, "It has afforded the writer great pleasure in compiling the present (4th volume), to record so many facts proving that some of the most excellent religious societies of the benevolent age in which we live have originated with persons of the Baptist denomination; of those distinguished individuals it is sufficient to say, 'their works praise them in the gates.'"*

It will have been observed, in the course of this historical sketch, that, under the Tudors and the Stuarts, the Baptists were a proscribed sect, and consequently shut out of the ordinary and more superior means of education open to Conformists, under the alternate religious systems which prevailed, whether Papal or Protestant; and although it has been charged upon Baptist ministers their being ignorant and illiterate men, that charge has been uttered and reiterated by those who would prevent their admission to those sources of learning; for a liberal education must always be considered an important auxiliary for the ministerial office.

While it is maintained by Baptists that piety and preaching talents are essential elements to qualify for the work of the ministry, it will be seen that due importance was by them attached to their having an educated ministry.

It is interesting to note, that very soon after the Baptists emerged

BENYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, from the original text of the first edition, 1678 -1698. ROGER WILLIAMI'S Bloudy Tenet of Persecution Discussed, &c. JOHN CANNE on necessity of Separation from the Church of England, &c, 1664. THE DUTCH MARTYROLOGY; or, Bloudy Mirror of Martyrs of the Baptized Churches, translated from the Dutch, &c. DU VEIL'S Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles, &c. DANVERS's Treatise on Baptism. These are supplied upon exceedingly moderate terms. The Hansard Knollys Society are preparing other important works for publication. Baptist Mission House, Moorgate, London.

* Vol. iv., p. vil.

from a state of persecution and thraldom, by THE GLORIOUS REVO* LUTION OF 1688, amongst the earliest questions that engaged their attention as a body, was, the importance of an educated ministry, and the best means to be employed for its attainment.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY of ministers and messengers from different parts of the country, numbering 157, which met in London in 1689, after adopting THE CONFESSION OF FAITH inserted in these pages, next in order, passed resolutions :

"I. In relation to CANDIDATES for the ministry.

"II.-Having respect to those ALREADY ENGAGED in the ministerial work.

"1. To assist those members (of churches) who should be found in any way disposed to study, that have an inviting gift, and are sound in fundamentals in attaining to the knowledge and understanding of the languages, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. The object would be attained by the candidates being placed under the care of learned and experienced ministers.

"2. Whether it be not advantageous for our brethren, now in the ministry, to attain to a competent knowledge of the Greek, Hebrew, and Latin, that they may be better capable of defending the truth against opposers."

JOSEPH IVIMEY, who was jealous for the honour and reputation of the denomination of which he was for so many years a useful and laborious minister, in his History of the Baptists, observes:-"It has been usual for ecclesiastical writers to represent English Baptists as persons without learning or distinction, as 'inconsiderable in their numbers' and 'erroneous in their principles."" He thus comments upon such views; "the spirit of detraction is obvious in Neal's, and Calamy's, and Baxter's Histories, and more recêntly in a History of Dissenters, by Messrs. Bogue and Bennett.' It is due to Mr. Wilson and Mr. Brookes to say that their respective works are free from such meanness,when they have mentioned the Baptists it has been with integrity and affection."

As to the literary character of their (the Baptists') ministers, and the usefulness of their labours in promoting the cause of Christ, Ivimey continues, adverting to his work on the Baptists, "the reader will find that many of them had been educated at our Universities, and had obtained valuable preferments; but from a conviction, the result of extensive research and patient investigation, that INFANT BAPTISM was neither supported by the scriptures, nor the writers of the three first centuries, they voluntarily relinquished profitable livings, and took their lot with the poor and the despised. In proof of the assertion

we mention, without fear of contradiction, the names of CANNE, Coxe, HARRISON, DENNE, KNOLLIS, CORNWELL, BLACKWOOD, JESSEY, GASNOLD, BARNPFIELD, DU VEIL, HARDCASTLE, FOWNES, &c., &c. Other names respectable for learning may be added who had never been ministers of the established church, such as KIFFIN, DELAune, W. COLLINS, N. COXE, J. STENNETT, PIGGOTT, &c.

"It is true that many who have been pastors of the Baptist churches have been mechanics and tradesmen, and some of these conducted business in connection with their ministry; but none will consider these circumstances as dishonourable, who remember that the Apostles were fishermen and tent-makers, whose hands ministered to their necessities; that many who have been but little acquainted with languages or sciences have yet been conversant with divine truth, and not a little successful in the turning of sinners to God by Jesus Christ; that some of the greatest proficients in learning have acquired it by their own industry after being in the ministry; that those who have laboured with their hands with poor congregations in obscure villages, have by this means carried the gospel where it might otherwise have been unknown; nor should it be forgotten that in many cases the necessity for our forefathers labouring, and attending to secular pursuits, arose from themselves and their people being stripped of their property by unjust fines and cruel imprisonments."

Ivimey further observes,-"When it is considered how constantly and extensively the Baptist ministers preached the gospel, the number of persons converted to Christ by their ministry, and the churches formed by their labours (most of which have continued to the present time,) it cannot be doubted but their lives were usefully employed in promoting the cause of 'pure and undefiled religion.'

"That the pastors and elders in the Baptist churches have been 'faithful ministers of Christ' we may safely appeal to their indefatigable labours and their patient sufferings. It will satisfy any unprejudiced person that this statement can be substantiated, who hears the names of BUNYAN, Keach, GifforD CHEARE, GRANTHAM, GRIFFITH, BARNPFIELD, and DELAUNE, But even these, though more public characters than some others of their brethren, were yet equalled in labour and sufferings by many, both ministers and private Christians, who endured, for more than twenty years, cruel mockings and scourgings; yea, moreover bonds and imprisonments."

The printed works of some of those excellent ministers still remain, as standing memorials of their orthodox principles, their extensive knowledge of experimental religion, and their ardent regard to practical godliness. In these it will be found that though there may have

been minor points of difference in the sentiments of the original Baptists, both PARTICULAR and GENERAL, yet among the former there were none of those who are now designated High Calvinists, nor among the latter any of those now found in the ranks of Arians and Socinians. They all maintained the doctrine of a Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Godhead; the proper Divinity of Christ; free justification through the imputed righteousness of Christ; the necessity of personal sanctification, &c. There is abundant proof also, that they addressed the invitations of the gospel to unconverted sinners, and by the most awakening appeals to their hearts, called upon them to “repent and believe the gospel!"

The sentiments of Dr. Godwin upon this branch of the subject will be read with interest :-"The records of this denomination are enriched with the names of many illustrious men, distinguished for the eminence of their piety, and the superiority of their gifts, and with the recollections of Christian heroes whom to the latest posterity the church will delight to honour; many of whom suffered the loss of all things for conscience's sake. Among those who nobly braved the storm of persecution were Canne and Jessey, and Knollys and Delaune, and Bunyan and Kiffin. Subsequently to the Act of Toleration we have had our Galls, our Stennetts, and our Gills; and within the recollection of some now present, the patriarchal and highprincipled Booth,* the theological and mission-loving Fuller, the profound and original Foster, Robert Hall, the greatest of modern preachers, together with Carey, his coadjutors and successors in the East, and Knibb and his associates in the West. Nor has this denomination been left without tokens of the divine blessing.

Mr. THOMAS MORGAN of Birmingham, in his address at the Annual Meeting of the Baptist Union, in 1849, in a feeling and appropriate manner also refers to several deceased ministers of the Baptist denomination who have ceased from their labours, and whose "works do follow them." "You wil! excuse me," remarks Mr. Morgan, "if the feeling of the moment should prompt me to linger for just a minute or two upon the excellent men who are gone. Our fathers! where

* In this work is given the Baptist Confession of Faith, of 1689, an exposition of the sentiments of Baptists at that period. In APPENDIX H. will be found what may be termed a modern Baptistical Confession of Faith, by ABRAHAM Booth, delivered by him on the occasion of his ordination to the ministry, a document which cannot fail being perused by the serious reader but with deep interest and profit. ABRAHAM BOOTя's "Reign of Grace" presents, in a clear and forcible style, the distinguishing and fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, a work that, from its intrinsic excellence, should be more extensively known. A neat edition is published by Collins, Glasgow; preface by Dr. Wardlaw.