eye, inexpressive before, is lit up, and sheds lustre over his face. You feel an interest in him. But he is a romanist. He knows not of protestantism, but as a system which needs acts of parliament, tithe processes, and distraints, for its support. He can tell you how his forefathers were persecuted by protestants; how his cabin has been witness to his own wrongs from the same source. He can do more than this, for he can say that protestants do not believe him on his oath. And do you wonder that his words are strong when he refers to injuries and insults which human nature was never designed to bear? Do not fear him now, although you say, "I am a protestant;" for he bears you no ill-will. Though his words are fierce, his spirit is gentle. He is wronged, and do you blame him for complaining? By whom has he been wronged? By those who professedly sought his good, but whose charity towards him has mainly consisted in relieving him of his money, lest it perchance should hinder him on his march to heaven! Oh, wondrous charity! Amiable successors of the apostles!

Dissenters in former days did not protest against such villainies perpetrated in the name of religion; and they have been regarded by Irishmen as equally hostile to them with episcopalians. Can you wonder that they are suspicious of them even now? What have they done to conciliate their regard? Nothing. But better days have come, and there are a few in the country who are not afraid to denounce "robbery for a burnt-offering." They are acquiring the confidence of the people. They are honest men, and are therefore respected. And it is, we believe, upon such men, under God, that the salvation of the country depends. They sympathize with the people; and therefore they need not take pistols with them into their pulpits. They do not strip cabins of their furniture; and therefore they can dispense with the policeman's truncheon and the sword of the soldier. Their triumph is by divinely appointed means, and their ultimate success is sure.

"Be neighbourly." There are nearly two millions of the Irish people who use the Irish language chiefly, if not exclusively. But there are not, we believe, twenty men belonging to all the denominations of Christians who use this language in preaching to the people. And of those not a few are stationed where they have no use for Irish. Ought not British Christians to resolve that they will not allow two millions of people to live and die at their doors without hearing in their own language the words of life? Let the Committee be enabled to provide an education in Irish for labourers in districts in which it is the prevailing speech. Let them require a knowledge of Irish in every agent employed in such localities; and then only will our denomination, which has done so nobly in the east, fulfil her duty to Ireland.

The baptists are solemnly called upon to do their duty to Ireland by considerations which do not arise, we think, with reference to other bodies, and to which, in a subsequent paper, we intend to direct attention. But, taking those which are not so peculiarly their own, we now say, that we must be condemned for inconsistency, if, whilst zealous to provide for the supply of spiritual destitution at a distance, we remain careless about the perishing in this land. Let us prove our love to the Irish, by earnest endeavours to remove from them every wrong; to confer upon them every right; and, above all, to disseminate amongst them "the glorious gospel of the blessed God." The languishing will then revive; the dying will live; and the beauty and fertility of this land will only be surpassed by the moral loveliness and commanding influence of her people.

A reader writes under date Jan. 10:During the month, I have had ten meetings for publishing the salvation that is in Jesus. From 40 to 150 persons have been in attendance; and I never had more reason to bless God for his goodness to me in the work, nor more cause for believing that he was abundantly present on every occasion. Oh, that this were still the case! Then would

sinners be converted to God, and saints stirred up to devotedness in his service. It is the Lord alone that does the work. The sword of the Spirit, sharpened by the prayer of the soldier, is the only instrument for subduing the enemies of the king. May I always be enabled to use it with skill; and may the divine Spirit always accompany, in public and in private, my feeble efforts to promote his glory on the earth!

IRISH CHRONICLE,

Of one

107

with those persons, I thought it better to delay. All have not continued steady; some however have, of whose piety I can have no doubt; and I hope (D.V.) soon to administer the ordinance to two individuals.

My visits to the cottages of the poor, which | tism; but not being sufficiently acquainted were 85, were much to my comfort. old man, with whom I have had repeated conversations these last two or three years, I have good hope. He is now 84 years old. He was all his life a most awfully wicked man; and, up to the time of my first visit, totally ignorant of the gospel plan of saving sinners. My visits seemed to call his attention to the word of God. He is now a regular student of that blessed book; and I have no doubt that the Holy Spirit has taught him that lesson that flesh and blood cannot impart. He is now, in my view and in his own, on the verge of the grave. He is expecting an entrance into glory, resting on the finished work of Jesus; and he blesses God for what, he says, I have been the means of doing for him.

Three years ago I called to see an old female, about 70. At that time she gave little, if any, evidence of being under any religious impressions. From the time I first called upon her in her affliction, the word seemed to be blessed to her soul. She has been living on the truth ever since. I called with her on

the 15th ult. and found her in a heavenly

state of mind. Her views of the truth are

full of simplicity. She is still confined, but feels quite happy in her situation; "enjoys much comfort," she says, "in holding conversation with Christ when alone;' and blesses God that he has kept her so long in affliction here, affording her such an opportunity of thinking of the love of the Saviour. She is a specimen of gospel simplicity.

Mr. SHARMAN writes from Clonmel:

Our attendance improves latterly; and on lat Lord's-day evening we had what might be caled in any place of worship in Clonmel, a good congregation. More hearers came out in the evening than the morning.

On 1st ordinance day two were admitted to full communion: one a dear brother, who has been baptized in India East, and a member of a smal Baptist church in the regiment to which he elongs; he is here a serjeant of a recruiting rty, and is a most devoted Christian. I fquently ask him to take a part in our devotanal services, which he does with great acceptance. The other is a pious female, who has atteded our chapel for some time. She has beco e convinced that our faith and practice is mat in accordance with the word of God. Such,however, is the exceedingly delicate state other health at present, that she cannot be tized for some time; but we believe her be a child of God-is convinced on the subt of baptism of believers-and, therefore, we ceived her in the name of the Lord.

Several have offered themselve for bap

I have been to T- twice within the last month, at which place I had very encouraging congregations. Ah! that you could let me have a man of the right stamp to aid me in my future labours at T and the hills. They are interesting stations; but I find it difficult to manage them properly, by giving them all the labour they require in connexion with this town, in which alone there is work enough already. Ah! that God may incline the hearts of his people to come forward to the help of the Lord against the mighty. The fields are, indeed, white unto harvest, but the labourers are few and far between.

BAPTIST CHURCH, DUBLIN.

A FEW years since, as the Baptist Chapel in Swift's Alley, Dublin, required extensive repairs, it was resolved to build a new chapel in a more central part of the city. This was At Christmas last done at a cost of £1760. the debt remaining was about £225; which, by the proceeds of the annual collection then made, a bazaar, and a special subscription, has been reduced in the sum of £103 10s., leaving a debt of £121 10s., towards which it is expected the congregation will raise £21 10s. by September next. But we are anxious to buy the ground on which the chapel stands, and for which we now pay a rent of upwards of £35. This will cost us about £700. We wish to pay off the whole £800 this year; but unless our brethren in England aid us we shall not. Those who could give largely belonging to our own congregation have done so, and nothing, therefore, is left us but to ask the assistance of our We are brethren. Dear friends, help us. well nigh crushed by such a burden upon our If we shoulders. Do not pass by our case. were able to relieve ourselves, we should not thus use the language of entreaty.

Contributions will be thankfully received and acknowledged by the Secretary of the Irish Baptist Society; or the Rev. GEORGE GOULD, 1, Seville Place, Dublin.

A Reader writes under date, Tubbermore, Feb. 2nd, 1844 :-

The following will show you how I have been engaged last month, and will present some inducements to go on with the work.

On the 2nd I visited seven families; and on the 3rd visited four families, and attended

two

a meeting in the evening, at M-
miles from my lodging. More than forty
very attentive hearers were present. Visited
sick and aged persons between the 3rd and
7th. On the evening of the 7th, held a meet-
ing in B- for prayer and mutual conver-
sation on the scriptures. Between the 7th
and the 12th was visiting at some distance,
which I found useful. One case during this
time came before me, which shows the neces-
sity of such agency as you afford in this
place. A man of seventy, who is evidently
near the verge of the grave, said, when I first
saw him, with respect to his hope, "I am
doing what I can for myself." This, I found
on inquiry, was praying earnestly for mercy;
and he was expecting that his prayer would
have some effect in removing part of his
guilt. Since that I have called on him fre-
quently; and I have every reason to believe
that he is now resting entirely on the finished
work of Jesus. On the 13th I visited seven
families. Some of these visits were very in-
teresting, especially in the case of an old
man. His life was one of irreligion, but he
is now rejoicing in the distinguishing grace of
God; through which, he says, he looks to his
approaching dissolution with joy. With many
others I had very comforting conversation,
about the love of Jesus, and the glorious hope
beyond the grave to all who love his appear-
ing. On the 14th visited five families, and
held a meeting for prayer and reading the
scriptures. Visited from this to the 20th,
and on the 21st attended a meeting for
prayer and mutual conversation on the scrip-
tures. 22nd. Visited five families, and held
a meeting in C, where there were more
than seventy persons in attendance, a few of
them Roman catholics. Visited five families
on the 23rd, and on the 24th went to Bello-
ghy, where the meeting in the evening was
unusually large and interesting. The word
of the Lord is producing much fruit here.
Was visiting in the neighbourhood of Tubber-
more on the 25th, amongst aged and infirm
persons, fast drawing near the close of life.
Of the greater part of these I have good hope.
Some of these are calmly and confidently
resting on sovereign grace, who were totally
ignorant of that great salvation when first
visited them. One of them said, "My min-
ister calls occasionally to see me; but he gives
me no comfort. He prays with me, indeed,
which is very good; but he does not talk
with me about the love of Jesus, and show
me, as you do, how a vile creature, like me,
can find mercy of the Lord. May the Lord
give you a blessing for what you have done
for me!" On the evening of the 27th he
was removed from a world of sin; and, I
doubt not, he is now before the throne, sing-
ing the praises of sovereign grace.

I visited Crew station on the 26th; when I had a very large and interesting congregation.

On sabbath, the 28th, went to A, eleven miles distant, to visit the little church there. I found the brethren well, and the good cause now prospering much among them. I had an opportunity of speaking in the church in the morning, and, in the evening, of holding forth the glorious gospel of the blessed Jesus, to more than two hundred persons, in a school-house. You may judge of the opening that is here for the faithful preaching of the truth, from the above number being brought together, when I tell you that they had only a few hours' notice. I arrived there at eleven o'clock in the morning. It was published in the sabbath-school at twelve that I was to speak at six in the evening, and the number was present. I returned on Monday, and have been visiting sick persons in my own neighbourhood since. May the Lord enable us to go on with the work, and bless it in our hands!

APPOINTMENT OF NEW SECRETARY.

It

It may be expedient to state, that inasmuch as Mr. Green's increasing pastoral and other engagements have rendered it necessary for him to intimate to the Committee that at the approaching annual meeting of the Society he will relinquish the office of Secretary, the Committee have directed their attention anxiously to the choice of a successor. has appeared to them desirable to secure the entire services of some one in that office, experience having shown that its augmenting duties cannot be efficiently discharged by one who has the onerous duties of a London pastorate. They have unanimously concurred in electing Mr. Trestrail, as well acquainted both with Ireland and with the Society; and they have reason to believe their choice will meet with general approbation. They ar glad to be able to say that Mr. Trestrail colsents to the nomination, and it is hoped that he will be able immediately to enter Ma God upon the duties of the office. abundantly succeed the work of his hands!

Mr. Trestrail writes to Mr. freen :-
Bristol, Fel 16, 1844.

Ο

In all

MY DEAR BROTHER,-I canot allow the next Chronicle to appear winout some short account of the tour which Jave just finished through parts of Somerset and Wilts. the places mentioned low, lectures have been delivered on the story, scenery, social and religious state of Ireland; and, judging from the attendance and contributions, with an encouraging msure of success. dear brethren in de ministry, in these places, I owe a lastis debt of gratitude for the hearty assista e they afforded me. kindness of eir different flocks, it is impossible to sk too strongly. Nothing could

To my

Of the

IRISH CHRONICLE.

Subscriptions, &c. received up to the end of January, 1844.

Mr. Thomas requests that we will insert the following list of contributions kindly afforded to him towards meeting the expense incurred in the altering a large building, in an eligible site in Limerick, and preparing it as a neat and commodious chapel.