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Several intimations have been given to the Secretary that the Chronicle is not sent, where formerly it was. The Committee are glad to learn that there is a growing desire to have it. If our friends will inform the Secretary how it may be sent, every month, free of expense, their wishes shall be carefully attended to.

The correspondence of the past two months, from Ireland, of which a few specimens are given above, is of the most encouraging kind. All our agents speak of an intense spirit of inquiry among the people, which is rapidly extending. Several readers have offered themselves for employment, highly recommended, and duly qualified. It is to be hoped that the Committee will be spared the pain of declining these offers, when every thing invites to increased effort, and openings are presenting themselves on every hand. All our agents call loudly for increased aid. What can the Committee do, unless more funds are placed at their disposal? Brethren, shall this appeal be made in vain!

SUBSCRIPTIONS, &c., RECEIVED SINCE OUR LAST.

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Subscriptions and Donations thankfully received by ROBERT STOCK, Esq., Treasurer, 1, Maddox-street; by the Secretary at the Mission House, Moorgate-street; and by the Rev. S. DAVIS, 92, St. John-street-road, Islington; by the following ministers and gentlemen:-Revs. J. ANGUS, Mission House, London: C. ANDERSON and W. INNES, Edinburgh; C. HARDCASTLE, Waterford; G. N. WATSON, Cork; G. GOULD, 1, Seville Place, Dublin; W. S. ECCLES, Coleraine; R. WILSON, Belfast; by Messrs. J. HOPKINS, Cambridge Crescent, Birmingham; J. SANDERS, 104, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury; at the Union Bank, Argyle Place, London; and by any Baptist Minister, in any of our principal towns.

J. Haddon, Printer, Castle Street, Finsbury.

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A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. JOHN BISSILL, OF SUTTERTON.

"THE memory of the just is blessed." Many of the friends of the Saviour, to whom the subject of this memoir was known, have felt, and will frequently realize, the delightful truth declared in this Scripture, while bringing into review the excellency and usefulness by which his character and labors were distinguished. It was his happiness to be the child of parents who loved and served God, by whom he was accustomed in early years to be brought to attend the means of grace. In this respect, they were careful to train him up in the way in which he should go; and all their exertions were recompensed by the pleasure of witnessing that, when he was come to years, he did not depart from it. The writer is not acquainted with the precise period, or the exact circumstances, of his being brought in a saving manner to Christ; it is, however, apparent, from other records belonging to his history, that it was while he was in the youth of life. At the distance of forty-six years from the present time, in 1798, we learn, that he was a member of the ancient General Baptist society at Knipton, by which Church he had VOL. 6.-N.S.

been called to the ministry. Of this Church, it is presumed, his parents, who then resided in that neighbourhood, were members. Our esteemed brother, now no more, then in the full possession of youthful ardor, moved by the constraining influences of the love of Christ, in his excursions in preaching the Gospel, penetrated as far as Hose, and took his part in the labors and persecutions which attended the introduction of the Gospel ministry into that village. No inconsiderable share of moral intrepidity belonged to him through life; and at this period it doubtless dwelt in him in its full vigor. His labors, in endeavouring to extend the knowledge of Christ, introduced him to an acquaintance with the friends at Broughton, and the Church at Leake, which issued in their requesting him to settle amongst them. He complied with their request, and, after spending some time at the academy, then under the care of the Rev. Dan Taylor, in Mile-end Road, London, he fixed his residence at Wimeswould, in the spring of 1800.

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Brother Bissill's stay at the academy was very short, only about a year;

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and yet, in this limited space, by a diligent application to his studies, he was enabled to lay a foundation for those attainments in the knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages, and in theological literature, which he in subsequent years acquired. His labors at Wimes would, and in its neighbourhood, were greatly owned and blessed of God. In the letter from the Church at Leake, of which Wimeswould was a branch, to the Association, held at Spalding, in this year, (1800,) they say, We have long prayed for a revival, and now, in some branches of the Church, we behold it with joy. We have public worship in five villages. Hearers, in most of our places, are numerous and attentive; many, we hope, feed on the bread of life; and, upon the whole, vital religion appears to be on the advance. We hope to see better days than these." It is not intended to say, that all this resulted solely from the labors of brother Bissill; without doubt, by the blessing of God, it was partly the effect of the co-operation of his fellow-laborers in the ministry, and of the activity of the friends in general; but we would be understood to state, that his ministry contributed to it in a measure that led many to glorify God on his account. His continuance in this sphere of labor was not long, for in 1803 we find him settled at Sutterton, in Lincolnshire, and discharging the duties of his ministry in the Church at Gosberton, in that neighbourhood. Here he labored with diligence, zeal, and success; and the cause extended into neighbouring places. When he first settled at Sutterton, the neighbourhood was almost totally ignorant of dissenters, and paid very little attention to religion. The Methodists had indeed, a few weeks previously, registered a small house in the village, which was occupied by a person whose wife had been connected with the General Baptists; but Mr. Bissill being in

vited to preach in it, the Methodists discontinued their visits. He continued, therefore, to preach there regularly on the evenings of Lord'sdays; and the house was soon crowded with hearers. This place being found too small, and in other respects inconvenient, several of the friends exerted themselves, and a new and commodious meeting-house was erected, at an expence of £300, which was opened by Mr. Dan Taylor, of London, Sep. 29th, 1803.

After some time, Mr. Bissill, finding himself incapable, through weakness of body, of preaching twice every Lord's-day at Gosberton, and once at Sutterton, relinquished the morning service at the former place, and when his strength was in some measure recovered, commenced service in the morning and evening at Sutterton, visiting Gosberton in the afternoon. At first the congregations in the morning were small, but they gradually increased, till they became too large for the meeting-house, It was at these places, and chiefly at Sutterton, and in the neighbourhood, that Mr. B. developed, amidst many distressing variations in his own health, and in the state of the Church and congregation, the characters which distinguish an able minister of the New Testament. Intent on usefulness, he preached for several years at Fosdike, a place within two or three miles of Sutterton, every Friday evening. This was commenced in compliance with the invitation of a gentleman there, whose family had attended with profit on Mr. B.'s ministry, and who, in 1805, licensed one of his own houses, that his neighbours might hear the way of salvation proclaimed amongst them. His labors here were useful; the hearers were numerous, and several were brought to profess their faith in Christ. On the 24th of October, in this year, 1805, he was ordained to the pastoral office over the Church at Gosberton, to which the friends at

THE REV. JOHN BISSILL, OF SUTTERTON.

Sutterton were then united. On this occasion, Mr. Dan Taylor addressed a very faithful and impressive, but also a truly affectionate charge, to the minister, from Prov. xxiii. 15, 16; and Mr. John Deacon addressed the Church, from 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. Several neighbouring ministers were present, and took part in the services of the day, which was indeed a day of great solemnity. After this, for After this, for about two years, the cause of religion here prospered abundantly; but then a cloud came over it; indisposition obliged Mr. B. to suspend his exertions, and this suspension was soon followed by a division in the Church: the friends at Sutterton and its vicinity withdrew from Gosberton early in 1808, and formed themselves into a distinct society, consisting of thirty-one members, and invited Mr. Bissill to take the oversight of them. His indisposition, which was very severe, induced very much, it was thought, by his vigorous exertions to spread the Gospel, was of long continuance; and, during this afflictive period, the cause declined. In 1809, Mr. James Smith, who was then at Kirton-in-Lindsey, was invited as an assistant to the pastor. He accepted the invitation, and removed to Sutterton in August in this year. At first the hope was cherished that his labors here would be acceptable and useful; but the hearers, who had begun to decline before his arrival, were afterwards still more diminished. Discontent arose, altercation ensued, parties were formed, the peace of the Church was destroyed, and the progress of religion retarded. This was a season of severe trial to both the minister and the Church. At Sutterton the congregations were still more diminished by these intestine contentions; and the places at Fosdike and Kirton, in which preaching had been maintained with much success, were shut against the ministers. In 1811 the health of the pastor was so far recovered as to enable him in

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some measure to resume his pastoral duties; and in addition to this, Mr. W. Bampton, who had been called to the ministry by the Church at Boston, was invited to settle there; and now the cause at Sutterton gained ground; the congregations improved; but the other places, Fosdike and Kirton, were lost.

About this time, an attempt was made to introduce the Gospel into Swineshead. It was not without considerable difficulty that brother B. gained a standing in this place. Several discouragements were surmounted, and preaching maintained in it, with various interruptions and some success, for several years; but at length the distance and the want of ministers induced them, in 1817, to discontinue their visits. In 1812 some unsuccessful efforts were made to establish a station for preaching at Algarkirk. In 1814 death deprived the society at Sutterton of several valuable members, which, in connection with the discouraging aspect of the times, and the precarious state of the pastor's health, cast a still deeper gloom over the prospect. In 1817 the number of members was twentysix, and they complained that the word was attended with little success. But, amidst all these discouragements, brother B. filled up his place as a good and faithful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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These incidents connected with the history of our esteemed departed brother, derived principally from Adam Taylor's History of the General Baptists, evince him to have been a character of no ordinary excellence. is unnecessary, and it would be tedious, in the same manner to go through the whole period of his continuance at Sutterton up to the time when, induced by the debilitating effects of often repeated attacks of severe indisposition, and the infirmities incident to advanced years, he resigned his pastoral office, and removed his residence to Boston.

Through all the years of his long continued relation to the Church at Sutterton he maintained a high degree of consistency of character, and enjoyed the unfeigned esteem of his friends. It is highly agreeable to affection and friendship, now death has removed him to a better world, to review some of the leading excellencies of character by which, as a Christian and a minister, he has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. His piety towards God, and his benevolent regard to mankind, could not, to such as were favored with intimate acquaintance with him, be matters of doubt. There was a happy union of these attributes in his character, and every part of his conduct bore testimony to the fact, that he was a holy man of God. Our remarks in this brief memoir are intended to bear more immediately on what pertained to his ministerial career; but this must not induce us to omit saying, that he knew and felt in himself the importance of the great truths which he preached to others, and enjoyed in his own soul that great salvation which it was the pleasure, the happiness of his life, to announce in the name of Christ to his perishing fellow-sinners. It is not necessary to conceal the fact, that, on some points he entertained views different from those of the denomination in general to which he belonged; particularly in regard to the personal reign of Christ on earth, and some other topics, in his view connected with this; but in his ministry he was accustomed to dwell much on the guilty and depraved state of man by nature, and on the rich provision of redemption in Christ, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. That Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, and that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again, were truths which he constantly proclaimed;

and of them, when called to it by circumstances of any pressing description, he was the ready and powerful defender. These doctrines of the New Testament, together with such as relate to the operations of the Gospel through the Spirit, by which the world is convinced, the believer renewed and sanctified, and made meet for everlasting glory, made a prominent appearance in his daily ministrations. Nor did he speak of them as if they were matters of inferior or transient concern to himself or his hearers; but, with the earnestness which conviction of their transcendent importance might be expected to inspire, he entreated and urged mankind to believe the record which God gave of his Son, and to be reconciled to God. His hearers will bear testimony to the faithfulness and affectionate solicitude with which he announced to all a free and full salvation, provided for them by the mediatorial work of Christ, who died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, and was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. He testified to all, repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ. His useful labors were not confined to Sutterton and its neighbourhood, but were frequently extended to distant parts of the connexion. The reputation in which he was held by his brethren in the ministry may be seen in the frequency with which he was called to take a leading part in services in which experience and ability are thought to be peculiarly required. In ordination services, and in preaching at quarterly meetings and associations, he was often engaged; and on occasions of this kind many have heard him with great delight. That he possessed considerable abilities for the Christian ministry, and that his earthen vessel contained much heavenly treasure, all who knew him were prepared to acknowledge. His knowledge was various and extensive, and, before wasting disease

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