QUARTERLY REGISTER OF THE Baptist Home Missionary Society. No. VI. NEW SERIES. FEBRUARY, 1838. THE following communications from the much-esteemed Secretaries of the South Devon Auxiliary, and our valuable missionary, Mr. Hewitt, of Swaffham, Norfolk, will, we have no doubt, be read with much interest by the friends of the Home Mission. The plan adopted by the Exeter ministers and deputation, in conducting the various public meetings, we highly approve, as we have experienced its advantages in various districts. The brethren in the north of Devon acted on the same plan this autumn, with considerable advantages, spiritual and pecuniary. The Secretary of the Parent Society will not soon forget the pleasing and profitable, though laborious and exhausting, fortnight he passed last October, in attending those lively and truly spiritual meetings. Nor will the savour of those exercises forsake those churches for many days. The advantages resulting from these annual visits of the Home Missionary deputations, particularly when not too much cramped for want of time, impress on our minds again and again the conviction, that extensive benefits would arise to our stations, and the country churches around them, from the appointment of two or more evangelists (an order of ministers in our religious polity too much overlooked), "whose office should be to visit our stations, and when invited to do so, the neighbouring churches; to hold public revival meetings; to stir up a spirit of holy consecration; to stimulate parents, Sunday-school teachers, and churches generally to greater activity, and spirituality, and devotedness in the work to which Christ has called them; to aid pastors in exciting, and mustering, and marshalling, and leading out their hosts to the great assault which must soon be made on the citadel of the prince of this world; to aid, by their experience, in directing to the best plan for bringing to bear on the neglected districts, the full and combined force and energies of the churches in the vicinity; and, as a subordinate duty, to organize societies auxiliary to the Home Mission, and arrange such plans as will enable the annual deputations to make the collections through a given district at one visit, and with the least possible expense of time and money." Oh, that we could only procure half-a-dozen evangelists, rightly qualified for this great work by piety, prudence, tact, and talents; and, as in the days of Whitfield, the country, now ripe for such a holy agitation, could be moved from one end to the other ! REPORT OF THE ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE EXETER AND SOUTH DEVON AUXILIARY SOCIETY. To the Committee of the Baptist Home Missionary Society. DEAR BRETHREN, Grace, mercy, and peace, be multiplied unto you from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. We were sorry to be deprived of the valuable assistance of our dear brother Roe, in our late annual meetings, though, by the help of the Lord, we found great pleasure in our assembling together. Our dear brethren, Spasshatt, of Redruth, and Shepherd, of Tavistock, kindly helped us and their visit was much blessed to the refreshing of the saints in our several churches. Towards the close of August, we held meetings for humiliation and prayer, at Bartholomew Chapel; at which we availed our selves of the presence of our dear brother Spasshatt, and other ministers from the vicinity. Our services commenced at six o'clock in the morning of August the 23rd; on which day, as on the following, we had four meetings. On Friday, we met at six A.M., and again at half-past six P.M., and concluded these services by a meeting at half-past six A.M. on Saturday. During the whole of these occasions the Lord was pleased to bless us with his gracious presence and all present could bear testimony to the holy soul-thrilling pleasure derived therefrom. They were seasons of refresh. ing from the presence of the Lord. Many a desponding spirit was relieved from its burden; and during our evening meetings, designed for addresses to, and prayers for, the unconverted, some souls (as since made evident) were born of God. The prayermeetings were characterized by a deep solemnity, real humiliation of heart, sincere confession, and holy enjoyment. Truly, it was good to be there! On Lord's day, the 27th of August, brethren Spasshatt and Shepherd preached, at Bartholomew and South-street Chapels, the Annual Sermons: and under the latter the Lord was pleased to call a poor sinner to the foot of the cross. The Annual Meeting of the Society was held in South-street Chapel; and here we may remark, that the mode of proceeding adopted for its regulation, differed in some respects from the usual routine observed on former occasions. In calling the attention of the audience to the important objects of your Society, we resolved, in humble and prayerful reliance on the influence of the Holy Spirit, to lay aside the usual forms observed in the election of a chairman, with the moving and seconding of prepared resolutions. Our beloved brother Spasshatt having first stated in a brief address the objects of the Institution, and its imperative claim on all who love the gospel, to extend its pecuniary resources; our dear brethren, Hockin and Pyne, two of the agents connected with this auxiliary, gave an encouraging narra tion of the success which had attended their labours during the past year, notwithstanding many cases of trying opposition to their zealous endeavours. The nature of the meeting having been thus explained, the ministers present, according to a previous agreement, rose and engaged the attention of the assembly, either by a hymn, a brief address, or by fervent prayer, as impelled by the spontaneous feelings of their own minds. In these exercises (in which we enjoyed the kind assistance of our dear brethren Bristow and Hillings), it was the earnest and devout aim of the servant of Christ to awaken the attention of all present to a deep solicitude for their own salvation, assured that in proportion to the intensity of this feeling would be the efforts employed for the salvation of others. In listening to the concluding address of our dear brother Shepherd, in which he affectionately directed sinners to the cross, we felt as on the very confines of heaven, and anticipated the period when we should join in the everlasting song, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." The blessed results flowing from these services led us to determine, that in all our neighbouring stations, we would adopt the same course as in Exeter, accompanied by similar seasons devoted to humiliation and prayer. Our dear brethren, Barnes, of Prescott Amery, of Collompton-Sharp, of Bradninch-Hockin, of Thorverton-Busby, of Crediton-and Pyne, of Kenton, acquiesced in the measures. At Prescott, though the weather was very unpropitious, we had a crowded sanctuaryand the Lord enabled us, with much deep feeling for the immortal souls assembled, to urge them to seek in Jesus redemption through his blood. A deep interest was excited, and the people felt the concern evidently awakened in the minds of the brethren for their souls, was a specimen of the feelings of the agents of the Society for the destitute districts of our country, which demanded their sympathy, their prayers, and their help. The tears of real Christian feeling burst from many an eye, and displayed the power that wrought within. At St. Hill the prayer-meetings at halfpast ten and at two were well attended, and most fervent were the breathings of the people for the presence and powerful workings of the Holy Spirit, to revive the churches, and to convert poor perishing souls. The public meeting in the evening was a most solemn and blessed season, and many felt that God was there. We have learned with pleasure that some have reason to bless God for these services. May the fruit thereof appear in the day of the Lord! At Bradninch a prayer-meeting was held in the afternoon, a public meeting in the evening, and another meeting for prayer at six on the following morning, when we trust the Lord was pleased to hear the cry of his saints, and to bless their efforts. Our dear brethren of the Independent and Wesleyan denominations in the neighbourhood, kindly afforded their assistance. The method of monthly collections adopted by the young people in this part of our Auxiliary, we would commend to the notice of our other friends in the district. At Thorverton we had blessed seasons for prayer and public addresses. The Lord was with us of a truth; and we have reason to believe it was an opportunity not soon to be forgotten by the saints there. At Collumpton the Lord granted us a crowning service. At the close of the prayer-meeting in the afternoon, dear brother Spasshatt addressed the children of the Sabbath-school, when many of the young and the adults present were deeply affected. The throng in the evening was most encou raging; the attention to our appeals in the name of Jesus, most rivetted; and the effect produced such as to prove that the Spirit of the Lord had been given in answer to prayer. After the close of the service, more than one hundred young persons remained to pray; and we have heard from our dear brother at C. that blessed and permanent results are likely to follow. At Bridestow and Kenton we were graciously helped; and at the latter place, we trust, from evidence hitherto gathered, that the Lord did not leave us without witness. Our dear brethren from the neighbourhood with whom we had so delightfully associated in the foregoing services, assembled with us again on the 12th, 14th, and 15th of September, at South-street chapel, where six meetings of an interesting and similar character were held; the 13th being devoted to the opening of the new chapel in Grosvenor Place. On a review of all these happy opportunities, we feel called upon to bless God for inclining us to adopt a plan of procedure which we can confidently recommend to our dear brethren annually engaged in this good work. We are, brethren, your companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, THE SECRETARIES of the Exeter Auxiliary. Letter from John Hewett. GENTLEMEN, I beg to address a few lines to you, in order to put you in possession of the state of the station which I occupy. In my last, dated September, 1837, I informed you, that it had pleased God to bless my labours, so that I was enabled to baptize ten persons, and add them to the church under my care at Swaffham; and since the above date I have had the pleasure of baptizing ten more. But of these twenty persons, sixteen are teachers in our Sabbath-schools: and I have yet greater pleasure in stating, that I hope soon to be called upon to receive the experience of four or half-a-dozen more. Thus God has been pleased mercifully to bless my humble labours during the last year. I have reason to look upon this as in answer to prayer. About eighteen months ago, I proposed that we, as a church, should meet together for the express design to hold a special prayermeeting for the young people, of whom we have many. The meeting was very solemn, and the prayers were fervent. We then held another for the undecided in the congregation. And after this, held two others; one for the parents of the Sunday-school children, and another for backsliders. And now I rejoice to inform you that a spirit of prayer is in operation, to a degree I never before witnessed in the place: for we have now a meeting for prayer on the Lord's day morning at seven o'clock (in the summer months at six); another at noon time, when the villagers meet in the vestry; another after the afternoon service by a few young females; and another after the evening service, when many of the congregation stay. One on Monday evening as usual; on Tuesday evening by the younger male teachers, and another on Thursday evening after preaching, by the older females. On Saturday evening, a prayer-meeting is held at the vestry of our chapel by a few friends, and others go in company to the houses of the members and hearers, and hold one also. I have lately divided the town into districts; and we are going from house to house distributing tracts, talking with the people, and trying to get them to attend public worship. I think I told you in my last, that we had erected a gallery in our chapel; and I now add, that it is very well filled; the congregation is gradually increasing. As to my labours in the villages, I beg to state I occupy Sporle, Castle Acre, Hilborough, Oxborough, and Beachamwell; except that during the very short days I have not been regularly to the latter place. Sporle affords good congregations, and the word is blessed. I have lately baptized four persons from this village: a charming spirit of prayer is being manifested, and a good Sabbathschool-the only one in the village that has stood long. Castle Acre affords us a good Sabbath-school, of more than one hundred children; but I am very sorry to say, that a few persons in the place, of exceedingly high sentiments, have given me a great deal of trouble by dividing the people; they have now obtained a man to preach to them after their own mind : however, I go on, and a piece of land is purchased, and vested in hands of trustees for the benefit of the denomination on this land it is intended to build a room for the school, and a room to preach in. Hilborough affords pretty good congregations; I have baptized a very promising young man from the village since I last wrote you. Oxborough is a village seven miles distant from us, and is almost completely Roman Catholic; yet we have two members there, men of good character, and mighty in prayer. Two of our members are removed from the village-indeed we had six there. The congregations here are but small, owing to the influence of Roman Catholicism. "Brethren, pray for us.' I beg to offer my thanks to the Committee of the Baptist Home Missionary Society for the assistance they have kindly afforded me, and without which I cannot go on, and supply my stations; therefore I trust that it will be deemed needful to continue to afford me aid as usual, as I think the money has not been lost. I remain, Gentlemen, Yours truly, JOHN HEWETt. Jan. 9, 1838. Berkshire, Reading: Received of Mrs. Rusher, Messrs. Joseph 55 13 45 0 0 *Donations and Subscriptions will be gratefully received on behalf of this Society, at No. 6, Fen-Court, Fenchurch Street; by the Treasurers, Moses POOLE, Esq., 4 Lincoln's Inn Square; or Rev. J. EDWARDS, Clapham; by the Rev. C. H. ROE (Secretary); or any Minister of the Denomination. J. HADDON, PRINTER, CASTLE STREET, FINSBURY. THE BAPTIST MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1838. PREMEDITATION AND PRAYER. BY THE REV. EDMUND CLARKE. PRAYER is a part of religion so im- variations be adequately represented in portant, that every thing which can a prayer founded only on general convicmaintain its purity, or promote its tions and emotions? Or, are our prayers usefulness, deserves the most serious likely to possess much warmth of feelattention. That Christians often praying, and importunity of manner, unless without profit to themselves, or edification to others, is a fact which cannot be too deeply lamented. For this, many causes might be specified; but may not one of them be, the neglect of premeditation? The following observations are designed to exhibit the happy influence of this exercise on our addresses to the throne of grace. 1. In prayer the mind should be influenced by appropriate truths, and the heart affected by suitable emotions. The psalmist speaks of prayer indeed, as a meditation, Psalm v. 1, 2, because the matter of our prayer should be thought of beforehand. There are some general convictions and feelings, which are at all times familiar to a real Christian; and which, if his piety be vigorous, may be available for the purpose of addressing the Heavenly Majesty, without immediate preconsideration. With these, however, he will not be satisfied. The truth as it is in Jesus, will be continually unfolding to the inquirer; providence is constantly presenting new scenes, rich with instruction, and stored with benedictions to the grateful observer; our follies daily assume new forms and aggravations; our wants are ever varying; our frames and feelings are incessantly shifting. Can all these VOL. I.-NEW SERIES. they turn upon the particulars of our constantly changing experience? but how can this be attained without premeditation? 2. It is very common to hear confessions of vain and wandering thoughts in prayer. But do they not abound in proportion to the neglect of previous reflection? The best remedy for vagrant thoughts, is to be found in deeply interested affections. If the heart be properly affected by the realities of religion, the thoughts, " true as the needle to the pole," will faithfully fix upon them. Their constancy may be disturbed by the cares of life, or the shocks of temptation; but they cannot rest till they revert to their favourite object. How greatly premeditation will assist in attaining this desirable condition, and consequently prevent the wandering of our thoughts in prayer, must be obvious on very slight reflection. 3. This exercise will also be found a valuable remedy for that hesitation which is frequently experienced in private, as well as in public prayer. To hesitate in the selection of a word, is an evil of trifling importance, resulting sometimes from the ardour of devotion itself; but on all accounts it is deplorable, when the conductor of public prayer is at a loss for ideas proper to Р |