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actional j.. :
lie Apostolic Origin of Infant Baptism,
TRIED BY AN IMPARTIAL JURY. ; rt
. v '."''' V
-onr the following article from the Oriental
jppubtisUed in Calcutta. .- ;
ffbea tb0 Jate Daniel U'Cqnnell was found
bj means of a packed and hostile jury, no
DCS tngllSBuian rugurusu iuc veruicj. as en-
Lee of his criminality. Why riot ? The ju-
1 pVC it in accordance wilh strong prcposses-
When an Irish conspirator recently got
f because th 8 jury could not agree, thiB was,
L tbe contrary, held to be no evidence in his
voir,- when it was known that the juror who
stood out," was strongly biased previously, on
. -i Tii.i :i - . , : e
p.e prisoner s siae. dui wueu a jury, uiaujf oi
jom. would have preferred to nnxbinita U'liri-
5 oot guilty, unanimously pronounced him ittf
, not even bis friends doubted the legal justice
f the verdict. In the case of Infant Baptisi
tan s jury of learned Baptists assert it to be
IniUvmal origin, or a jury oflearned Pasdo-
ipiists affirm it to be apostolic origin, and to
taught thereiore in trie writings oi mspircu
lpostles,a sensible christian, I who thinks per-
ips muca too indolently ) that he has neither
If, is utterly perplexed. Both parties gave
She verdicttn accordance irilk their prepesessions;
A a verdict bis English common sense tells
1 . t 1 11 1
;m is utterly wortniess ; ana ne goes on inere-
Ibre. 44 for. the vrestnt" as he is, and that
jWffftwE" lasts generally till bis temporal fu
rare is cone irrecoverably. V-ouia ne out nnu
jary af mensufficiently learned, and free from
the same, countrw soon aftpr the T?ftforrriatirm
and, tbose of England to this day, are so unanu
mous in making the Bible bear witness for Infant
Baptism. AU the Reformers, having been ' for
merly Papists, bad to judge as they bestcould,
what was human, and "what was divine in the
system they shook off. Marvellous was the
advance .they made : all honor : to those no-
blo men for it ! Let us ever estimate imen, notl
by the knowledge they were born: to, but the
knowledge they have acquired, and tho i fake
opinions they have renounced. It is littlo
therefore to their ' discredit (supposing Baptists
to be right,) that they retained Infant Baptism,
with-many o t her iLIrigst iL icl thry found ftrTo
pery. True, a few Baptists did soon appear ;
but their distinguishing tenet Ibeing incompati
ble with any authority of Princes in the church
of Christ, and Luther haying unhappily placed
his church in the hands of tho German . Princes,
the great Reformer, though at first moderately
inclined, soon becaraa the most bitter persecu
tor of the Baptists, we may say , their suppres
sor. In England, where even ;hiost pissmUrs
thought that the magistrate .ought to be sul
prenie in matters ecclesiastical Baptists were
long hated and persecuted more . than any sect,
the Quakers excepted, who arose a little later.
Thus matters long remained ; Baptists scarce
known but to be bated as anarchists (for oppo
sing State-churchism) in Germany, in Eng
land, even when persecution ceased, despised
by the sects whose leaders had received a Uni
versity education. Since the time of Bony an,
and perhaps especially since Fuller, Hall, Fos ter,
and Carey, proved-that Believers Baptism
was a tenet which the greatest theologian, pul
pit orator, original thinker, and missionary 1 of
the day, could firmly hold, Baptists have not
been quite so much looked down upon in Eng
land. Ty had men whom it was, happily
discreditably to despise. Still learned Pjedobap-
tists, though mauy of the most candid of them
owned that New Testament baptism was immer
sion, 'all held firmly by the New Testament ori
gin of Infant Baptism, and do yet. No wonder!
They must flccejpl the article of the Church of
England, against which they have so long pro-
t ested, or find Infant Baptism in the bible. , In
word, they must , find it there, oi renouncs
their churches, their denomination, their suppo-
ending, , nja Bmhkh iAeut
. - - j i hvwh i uvt v vi' ui aj auv cuiin
jf ' jrtpsscssion, iibw thankful would he be !
:ut could he find a competent jury, whose pre-
oisesious were all on -iwic sidet but who gave
ir verdict on the other sidey such a-jury he
joIJ ta3 as all he could desire ; and in real or
pposed default of t competency to decida for
pself, lie would accept their verdict as his saf-
f guide
What, then, will such a pious brother say, if
snmon a jury of PadobaptislsmaBj of them
piety, all of undoubted learning, some
Ag higher far,1 as Church Historians, or
Theologians, .or Ecclesiastical schalars, than
' ost learned English Poedobaptists ; and if
? verdict of this jury isr that Infant Baptism
iot lobe found in the New Testament,"
not certainly instituted by Christ or his
isiles," " was not in use in New; Testament
V--a was introduced later, because the
1 state to which the church had sunk re-
fed it," " is only half baptism, and requires
emony of confirmation to complete It,"
tonseauently, has" come down to us only
1 tradition of the church ?"', Yet these are
f sentiments of the most eminent foreign
pohaptist scholars of the present day. These
wars have Zen "' agreed that bap tize means
and tha.t immersion. was the only mode
iu ipostolic times, and (save in cases. of
) for 1300 years after They arc note all
: unanimous, that Believers' Ba-piism was
'"only one known to the New Testament wri-
Surely the verdict of so many first-rate
a our favor, who have every inducement
6"? n against us, ouiht to satisfy, all. A
YscdobaDt'rsts assertin-r that tho Great
t'Wiiw
j -uo iueir views, ia, aias, iuo eaa'
accounted for, without supposing" them
by tjiat authority, but a whole communi-
."eholars aQrmuJfhat the Book, in which
lw)b they wouldiike. to find their prac
V snowg nothing . of Itjthis . admits of
emanation, but that theSwactiee ia not
Ft. . - . - X.
,. JT BAPTISM IS NOT IN THE BlBts
We Jfeel certain, is the conclnsinn in whfck
- -
"uchd and intelligent will soon be .rfrWn
. uea remain for them to' give up the great
c, The Bill cnlv" or to eive un
' " Baptismwas prtctdedly instruction Jasthz,
andvrayer, - The, baptism of children was not
wt tersaiy and was occasionally disapproved. "
(Page 174; Claris Library.) , t . '
aoeach, a theological, Profeffior of
high reputation, in his 'Mlistory of Doctrines "
v V Iifant Baptism had not come into general
use prior lo the time of Tertutfiun" (i; t. the
close of the 2nd century.) The passages of
otiripture which are thought to intimate that In
fant Baptism had comeUnto use in the primitive
church,, are doubtful ' and prove nothing."
(Pp. 90, 103. Clark's Library.) ,
;-4.i Professor Hahn says -wtit.fiaptuj
h4 necbvdirrg to " Its original desicn;
can be given only to adults, who are capable!
knowledgo, repentance, ( and faith. Neither in
the Scriptures, nor during the first hundred and
fifty years, is a Sure example of Infant Baptism
to be found ; and we must concede, that the
numerous opposers of it cannot be contradicted
on gospel ground." . (Theology, p. 556.) .
5. Professor Lanoe says
" AH attempts to make out Infant Baptism
from the New Testament fail. It is totally op
posed to the spirit of the apostolic age, and to
the fundamental principles of the New Testa
ment." (Infant Baptism, pago lOl.;
6. Olshausen, one of the most dovout and
learned of German Commentators, and one whos
Lutheran .lie ws of sacramental filcaey would
strongly incline him to find Infant Baptism in
the New : Testament, shows , repeatedly in his
very valuable Commentaries, that the language
of the New Testament is irreconcilable with its
existence, and that passages adduced by English
Pscdobaptists are wholly irrelevant. Thus,
On Matt. xix. 13, ; 14. " No trace of the
often sought for reference to Infant Baptism in
this passage, can be found in it." On Rom.
vi. 3, 4, This working of baptism cau be as
cribed to the baptism of adults only, in whom
baptism ami the new birth meet together."
On Acts xvi. 13, 14, " Her baptism followed
immediately on her confession of faith in the
Messiah j hence it is highly improbable that
infants can be included under the terra " house
hold." '- Relations, servants, of grown up chil
dren, must be understood. Indeed, we are ut
terly destitute of any sure passage in favour of
Infant baptism in the apostolic age; nor, can
its necessity be deduced from the idea of bap
tism. The condition of the church since the
3rd century, imperatively demanded the introduc
tion of infant baptism ; only, christian baptism
duce infant baptism. It's later introduction into
the church, was an effect of the' erroneous no
tions which were entertained of tbfc connexion
of baptism with salvation.", fvoL ii. p. 145.J
11. Ue Wette, a first-rate translator of the
Bible, in his Kurzgefasstes: exegetisches ? Hand-
buck zura Nevun ' Testament," -on ; Acts xvi.
15, says - ' -
"In this passage, as well as in verse 33:
xviii. '8 :l Cor., i. 16, nroof has been found of
the apostolical authority of Infant Baptism, but
ere is uu: eviuence nerertnat any, except aauits,
cro baptized. ( Against Infant ; Baptism! see
Thcol Stud, and Kiit.M830,p. 671. Neander,
204, fcc Aleyer on the passage, Remarks
12. To the abovo 1 may add Gesenius, the
well-known lexicographer, who, when a friend
of mine, then a? student, described to him the
views and practice of English Baptists, exclaim
ed, ; ; ' : y
. " Why, bow exactly like the primitive chris
tians !' , ;, . ' 1
The sum is, that all these first-rate Pcedo-
uuMiptS nuum wb quote, oi course, not as au
thorities, but as necessarily impartial jurors,
pronounce that ; tradition, not Scripture is our
authority for Infant Baptism ; and no set of
men in the .world, have studied both tradition
and Scripture more fully and accurately-than
they. 1 need hardly add, that assertions of its
being an apostolical tradition, not only shew
that the caily fathers who made them, could not
Cany more than candid moderns justify it from
Scripture; but that as it was so common in the
3rd century, and onwards, to attribute men's
inventions to the apostles, no Protestant histo
nans can rely on such assertions. They only
shew a wish to find the highest authority for
some existing practice. At any Tate, all insti
tutions which claim to be apostolical on the
ground of tradition, must be treated by consist
ent Protestants, as some who, on traditional
grounds, claimed the priesthood, were by Ne-
hemiah: ' 4 These sought their register among
those that wero reckoned by genealogy, but it
was not found ; therefore were they, as polluted,
put fiom tho priesthood." We hope the dis
tinction of Protestants will ever be that of put
ting away arguments from tradition as polluted.
All who do not, must first be met liko Papists,
by asserting against them the sufficiency of "the
Bible alone." The Church. ,
- T he Bch olars : in. question ,
1 tthe Church U' Ua
IM e-re?Jom V hence ough they great-
-?U . the blWe m-4Seir side,' they
" S.Qut ifc-"-. English Protestants, and
ro k:n .v.. -
Tivb . laun.ann practice on the
e exclusively .hence we expect; at
no
reason far
irani t uuu me reason
7:of modern German scholars
' JiCt while the PvAnUr.;
"--'uii Bwuuiiirs oi
on
had been accustomed to look down upon, and
that, too, knowing that all their associates would
still continue to look""down upon it. I really do
not wonder at their ingenuity (perverse as it
may seem to us) being exercised in every way,
to eliminate their practice from the sacred au
thority. In Germany, scholars are released
from the worst of these biassing causes. Strong
as thir motive are to find Infant Baptism in the
bible, they have still stronger motives to be ac
curate in thicr scholarship. '
And, let it be remembered, this is not a ques
tion, in . which German Neology or philosophy
spoils the valure of the opinion given. It is a
question of exact knowledge of ant-quity, wheth
er the documents be the Sacred Scriptures, or
the early Christian writers. In this knowledge
the scholars of no country yet equal them.
Their pride is to be at the head in that depart
ments They would Kithcrjsacrifice their ecclesi
astical preferences, than pronounce a wrong ver
dict on a question of Ancient History ; hence
the candour of their verdict. On their princi
ples, they can retain their places, in the State
church, and gain the additional credit ofa sound
scholar's verdict, that , is, an unbiassed one, on
this baptismal question.
1. As Foreman of our Jury, we call upon Ne
ander, the well-known Church Historian, with
whom no Englishman will presume to compare !
himself in knowledge of Christian antiquity.-!
In his " History of the Planting of the Chris-
tian Church by the Apostles," he says
" Since baptism marked the entrance into com
munion with Christ, it resulted from the nature,
of the rite, that a confession of faith in Jesus as
the Redeemer would, be made by the parson to
be baptized ; and in th e latter, part of the apos
tolic age, we may find indications of the "existence
of such a practice. ' As baptism was united with
a conscious entrance on Christian communion,
faith and baptism were always eonncetci with one
another jl and thus it is in the highest degree
probable, that baptism was performed only in
instances, where Doth could meet together, and
that THE PRACTICE OF iNFNT BAPTISM Was
UNKNOWN, AT THIS PERIOD." ' - 4
He goes on to refute the " Household argu-
ment," to show that Paul must hive alleged
the baptism of the children of Gentiles, had it
existed, 'against those: who demanded thcif cir-
cuweision, had baptism really come in its placer
to show also, that there was no class , of chris
tians among whom it could have arisen, in apos
tolic times, and that the apostle's not ; reason
ing from the baptism of the children in 1 Cor.
vuw 14 necessitates the conclusion thai the thing
did not exist. (See Byland's Translation vol.
1,:187193.; - :,
further in jbis " History of'ths times subse
quent to the Aposdes, he says : j . ' , r
" Baptbm ; was at , first administered only to
adults, as men wera accustomed to . coneeiv&'of
faith andv baptism aa strictly- i connected. , Vt
have all reason for not -deriving Infant Bap.
tism from apostolical institution ; and the recog
nition' which followed somewhat -later ' (in the
3rd century,) as an apostolical tradition, seems
to confirm this hypothesis.7 (Vvl.t 1, page. 424,
Clark s Foreign Theological Library.)
; 2. Gieseler, a Church .Historian, second to
Neander only, in writings of the second century,
says
down to the legal stale r" A sain, on 1 Cor
vii. 14, " I t is clear that Paul would not have
ehosdn this kind of proof, had Infant Baptism
been in use at that time."
7f Sciileiermacher, a devout man, and of
world-wide reputation as a . philosopher and
scholar, both classical and . sacred says very
decidedly
" All traces of Infant baptism which one will
find in the New Testament, must first be put in
to it."
8. Augusti (" Handbuck der Christ-lichen
Archaologie," vol. 2) considers Infant Baptism
to rest on apostolical tradition ; but states also,
that the practice was gradually introduced into
the church. Having quoted passages from Oi i
gen (3rd cent.) and Augustine fend of 4th and
beginning of 5th cent.,; he adds -
" The certainty with which this is assumed
(namely," that it was a church practice in their
times, and rested upon apostolic authority) is a
pledge of the universality of 'the tradition, that
Infant baptism has its foundation in the arrange
ments of the apostolic church.". (Pages 323,
329.) . -
. He afterwards speaks of alterations in tho
form of baptism, owing to the prevalence of In
fant Baptism, r (The passage is given almost
literally in: Riddle's Christian Antiquities, pp.
444, 445, first paragraph under sec. 2.)
9. Lindner (Dr. F. W.) in a treaties enti
tled, " Die Lehre vom Abendmahle nach der
Schrift," &c. (Leipz. 1831,) says
"For whom is baptism - appointed ? For
adults, not for children ; for adults of all times,
not only of those times. " Schleiermacher right
ly says (Dogmatik, vol. ii. p. 540,) 'Baptism
is only then complete and right, when it is per
formed tinder the same conditions whh the same
spiritual pre-requisites, and the same influences
as were found m those who were baptized in
primitive times (bei 7 den ersteri Tauflingen,)
from religious communities not: chistians.,
According to this it follows that there can be no
question about any Infant Baptism, if the chris
tian church ; will remain true to the gospel.
Neither the baptism of John nor Christian bap
tism can be fulfillcdin respect to new-born chil
dren. The children of christians are, by nature,
formed just as those of Jews or. heathens. The
formula 'coneordiaa rays truly, 'Christiaui non
nascuntur scd fiunt Men are not born, but
become christians. They need the new birth
just as Jews or heathens do ; yet whilst they are
infants thej are not capably of it." ! s " v-
' He goes on to say that some consider Infant
Baptism an act of initiation, and then concludes
thUS . . ' . . . : . ,
All such . views, would ccrtainly-not be
brought forward j if we held fast by the Scrip
ture:" (pp 275, 276.V . : : - .
' 19. Vos Colln (Dr. D. G. C.,) in his "Bib-
ifche Theologie, " fee. r Von ' DrD. Schulz,"
( Leipz. lS3b,;aiter saying mat Daptismjs "an
outward ' sign "of the inward living conviction
which tfie , baptised person .has of the truth of
the , doctrines . of the new religion. to which he
goes over," adds -. . . i .;...:
' M Theso convictions ure-snDnbse,' if thev" are
genuine?,"! previous ! instruction. ; " That Jesus re
quired, this, is shown in IVIark xvi.j lo, where be
makes the announcing of doctrine to precede
baptism. It is involved in this, that baptism can
be-fulfilled on those only who are. capable of
instruction, or only on the adults ; and that it
was certainly not the design ot Jesus to mtro
From the Home and Foreign Journal.
Letter from T. J. BoiFen. ,
Abeokuta, July ;1, 18-51 i
T 1 f 1- ' ' .t n t i.
wear uro. layior, un tne na uit., J was
told by the authorities to leave lketu, and come
again at another time. This is very mortifying ;
yet 1 trust my ettorts tor that place have not
been in vain. Every step we take, helps to make
the next one easier, by diminishing the prejudices
against the white people. Besides this, severa
who had never heard the name of Jesus, have
learned the leading facts and requirements of the
gospel, and will not forget them. Some of these
were much afflicted at my departure. There is
no hope for lketu, however, till souta of the o!
chiefs die or change their views.
Mr. Hindercr,. who, like myself, came out for
Central Africa, and cannot go, has visited Ibad
don, 40 miles e. n. c. of Abeokuta, and was well
received. ; During my absence to lketu, the road
was also discovered to be passable for natives,
from this place to Isei, a larg3 town 50 miles to
the north, and in tha direct route to" the great
interior. One "of Mr. Townscnd's interpreters,
who has been shut up there for nearly two years,
returned unexpectedly, and brought a good deal
of information about the country. . 1 am thus
enabled to complete my rude map of the country,
which I now lay before you. In the native names,
Ighoho, Isbakki and llorrin, you will recognize
Bohoo, Chackki and Alorie. 1 am pretty well
convinced that Lander's Chakka is Ijhagga, a
few miles w. of Abeokuta, and that Egga is Igon.
But nearly all the towns then in existence, haye
been destroyed by tha kidnapping civil wars.
The honor is .due to the slave trade.
If I had funds, I think I might now go to Isei,
which, as the map shows, would place me near
several large cities, containing from 20 to 100
thousand people; 7But nearly the last of my
cash, goods,' and even my outfit have been ex
pended. I should lament that the road was not
opened while I had money, only. 1 know that all
events are ordered by the providence of God..- :
All the missionaries here are ' now convinced
that wo must reach the interior by; going - from
one city to the next, according as the good re
port of our name removes the prejudices of the
people,? and opens their hearts to' receive us.
Yet the prospect is full- of hope. ' Satau s dar-
ing, tho slave trade, which is the sin and pun
ishment of Africa, is in a fair way to retire from
this paft'of the coast. It can' no longer "sustain
itself against the English r.eruisers ; and there
are many natives who are. willing; to see it expire.
This is particularly true of Abadkuta, and ofi a
party ; in Badagry called - the Aketol party,' of
Whom I lulus. i uavo eaia Bomeiuiug iu lormcr
... : - f . ? : . "
lettcrsl But the kings of Dahomeyand of Eiko,
or I Azof, are resolved to sustain the traffic, and
to iniS enu tucy uu a piaa to uesiruv ucuKUba,
4 j : it, iiy' v.;; tC.i.i ? frit .!
and to expei.iue jvKeioi party irom isaaagry.
But the Kianappere.uaye oeen louca ; at .every
point, as if the day of retribution bad ,come. .a-
It seems to me that .1 can plainly' trace: the
hand of God in! the recent history of Yariba,
which'!is the key to Centralfrica. The " visit
of the Landers directed the minds of the mis
sionaries to this field. The prejudices against
white visitors, which arose out ; of the "disasters
bllowing their visit, compels us-to-accumulate
our efforts and influence for a while on the fron
tier of the country, thus increasing our power in
a way we did not expect. The same disastrous
wars, uy aiuiust annmuaimg ine .Ji.gDa. trioe or
Yariba, drove the remainder together, and built
Abeokuta, which now contains perhaps 60,000
peopler. These wars also gave great ; influence
to the Egha chief, Shodekka, who'persuaded his
people to send for missionaries, though he had
never heard the gospel. t;When they .came to
visit his town, ho beard them- with approbation,'
but died, before they returned; abont ; two years
after, and it is saidthat he forbid anysinehW
be killed in consequence i' of bis' death.''5 'The
coming of the missionaries was attended with the
emmigratipn of some 3,000 recaptured ,'Eghas
trom icrra JUoone, who brought a good report
of the whites, and also introduced some seeds of
civilization into their native - country; An un
expected present of some; ' 12,000 musket - balls
from Sierra Leone finished arriving here the
very day before the town was attacked by the
strong army of the terrible Dahomeys, who have
been the scourge of the ' surrounding countries
I heir furious assault was firmly met, and the
enemy retired, leaving from 1 ,200 to 1,300 dead
The Lagos, or I may say, the slave trade party
at Badagry, who,at that time, were restrained
and evaded in their designs against Aketoi, made
an outbreak abeut two weeks ago, but wero - si
nally defeated, with the loss of their leader, and
expelled from the town. A good part of the
town was burned in the fight, yet the Lord pre
served all three of the mission houses. Many
in Abeokuta rightly attributed the repulse of the
Dahomeys to God, and the event enhanced the
reputation of missionaries no little. It brought
a message to them, six days journey from Ife
the metropolis, and sacred city of all Yariba,
and I do not doubt was the cause why the 1 road
was opened to lhaddon, and perhaps to Isei also
Thus everything has worked together to give the
missionaries a position , 1 to restrain them from
imprudent baste in going forward, and yet to
open a door for them fo go as fast as the true in
terest of the cause demand. It seems to me that
the way of duty is plainly: indicated by ths state of
affairs. In a word, wedught to be ready ; we
ought to hive men and means placed in Abeoku
ta, lhaddon, or lsei, as the case may beso that
we can immediately occupy any more interior
town which the Lord may open for our recep
tion. I have said that this providential delay "on the
frontier is a blessing to the cause, and I will now
state more at large, that it is our true policy and
our duty, to accumulate our influence in some
two or three largo cities, unless we had means to
occupy efficiently a griater number at the same
time. My reason for thinking so is, because in
every town, the executive of the ciril govern
ment is either Eshu, (the devil,) or else it is
Oro, an imaginary god, who is said to slay, all
criminals ; hence, every attack on idolatry, is an
attack on the political constitution of the coun
try, and to reveal the Tact to the women, that
the executive god is a,' fiction, is high treason It
would bring down inevitable destruction on him
that told it, and upon every women that heard
it. Under this devilish slavery, the Christians
in Abeokuta are now. living, and you can easily
see that it is, and ever must be, a great hinder
ane to Christianity. Abstract idolatry is. com
paratively a small evil. The people believe that
their gods are mediators between them and the
great God, whom they call Olorran, literally, he
who has heaven, and they regard these images
as representatives of their gods ; yet they will
hear you argue against these opinions, and they
will listen when you tell of Jesu3, the sacrifice
and mediator for all nations ; but to preach
against their executive gods is more than you
dare to do. It would be the voice of sacrilege,
of rebellion, and of anarchy, and the whole fury
of the heathen soul would explode like gunpow
der. Here is the great difficulty. ...The gospel
must not only convert the soul here, as elsewhere,
but it must revolutionizs thccivil government;
in doing' which it must first remove the most in
veterate prejudices which Satan can plant in the
benighted heart."' Yet these prejudices can be
removed, and the devil-executive dan, be dethron
ed, when the mass of the population become
Christians. My preschC hope is in Abeokuta,
which is evidently arousing and looking up from
its deep, contemptible state of beathen ignorance
and slavery.- The .reflected rajs, of , religious
truth and of civilization are felt, and ; the: effect
is daily manifested. Here then there . ought . to
be an accumulation of the good influences. As
christianty advances common sense will advance,
and a better form of civil government will natur
ally and gradually .result,5 "without" any political
interference i on the part 'of the missionaries."---
What theenighf ed African tribes ' nsbd j'. is an
example which they can e"fl,derstand,
and imitate, not a Bpeimeh of European excel-
lories' TbntVnnft of African improvement. But
where shall such a specimen be found f The peo
ple have no invention, because they feel no want;
An accumulation of gospei inuuence must open
their eyes to see what they need, and then they
will begin to invent and to act, and others J will
beein to follow, that town whicbl takes the. lead.
U.ur prayer, auu lauur.vBereivre kuuuiu uo iot , a
Christian town as an ; example foj the j rest an
examplej the. only logic which they' can fully ap
preciate.; Their faculty of imitation is excellent,
and their attachment to, him they once acknowl-
obstinately to the traditions of their fathers ; bat -Y
if once! the work'of imnrbvemeht' becrirjs. thesi
very faculties "which now .'hinder, the beginning
will then accelerate and deepen the progress.' If
Abeokuta, fori instance, should at last - abolish '
her devil-executive,'; every Egbai Tillage" would
soon do the earner I At the same time if dur
ishing missions i were I existing; in : two or threo ,
other large towns, lhaddon , Isei,-&c., they could ' ;
scarcely fail to follow the example. - .Oro, EshuJ
and Egugu would, be-dethroned, and the report
of their, fall would shake distant'eities and tribesi
Now if these views he correct, I shall not te cen- l
sured if I earnestly bejr that this Yomba misslnTr
ba naadft fitrnnfr. an alert tYin T.(ir! nilMmn ...
; 0 " v .avaaw uugoiVUf TVU
u you nave oniy inesc two on tne - continent.--- ;
Nigernay, to Lake Tchad and to Abyssinia, a
highway for the gospel to the millions of Central
Africaa thoroughfare for knowledge and com-'
merce; the King's highway, Which hall send its
branches to the north and the south, till chnrchear
shall flourish in all this Vast land of1 llam. :?it
not the work, of a day, nor "of : a generation ; yet
iui? very generauon, may-prepare tne 'way, so
that oursuccessors may do more in a year, than
we could accomplish 'bya nrhqle lifetime of toil.
In my anxie ty 1 would run forward; but it is noi
practicable now r and if it was, it misht notnas-
ten the establishment of a permanent mission, f
see the necessity of a good foundation'! and ! feel
urc mai pruuencc requires ine nrst stone to be
laid near the coast. 1 am almost ready :to hopV
that brethren are on the way -to;jouimeor as I
receive nothing from home, it may ' be that th'
delay arises from the fact, that some one is com
ing to bring what ought to' bo sent But it will
be a great pityj if they come' with' out eallingat;
Sierra Leone for native agents; 1 tried in vain!
to get a passage to 'that 'plaM-fromlMonroWail
auu a uuw regret my laiiure more than ever, be-l
cause it is beyond all dispute, that native agents .
are of the highest imnortance to our onpratinna
in a word, we cannot do without them,' Ifejolor
in the success of the Episcopal mission herej- yet.'
it grieves me when, I look at their flourishing'
schools, and their young men in training 'for fa.'"
ture teachers, because it more forcibly; reminds!
me that I am doing nothing: an'cohyersal
some in the Yariba tongue; to those who' are ae
quainted with my awkard modulations, bnt I ean
not venture to preach. In fact, the wide range
I have taken, and my attention . to a grammar '
and vocabulary,'' have impeded xny ; immedLita S
progress. Besides, l am sometimes so nervous, ,
that confinement to. study is almost 'intolerable
But I have made some - progress in learning to 5
write the language if I cannot' speak' jO ! P
I trust that my former letters: have been re
ceived, and the clothing ordered will soon come.
I need eoats, pantaloons, flannels or worsted un
der clothing, shoes, and every thing except shirts.
Vessels come from I nnilnn rv turn mnntl..
- -w . j v..vnv,.4uuuuu,
and when we once get arrangements ' made, our
communication may be regular.' My Christian -
regard to all the brethren. - ' '
-Your in Christ, ;j; 1: v' -''
' ; . , T.J.BOWEN.
Froni the Religious Herald.
Feb. 16, 18i2.
Brother Sands: T ;
You will confer 'a favor on the members of the
church at. High Hills, by publishing in Jiui pa
per the letter of resignation of Elder George Y; -Johnston
to that church, and also the. preamble "
and resolutions "of the church' in relation ) to it
The reasons for wishing the letter of resignation if
published are, try-k-.iu iZi
1st. That it. may be known that there is q
disaffection either of the members toward tbV,;'
pastor, or of the pastor toward the members I . r
2nd. Bccansft the members. Y min'nf ' b.Lm .
' m
are subscribers to the Herald,) desire to have a
copy vi it. - .; , ...
And lastly, -because if contains advice by
which the members of other churches maj profit
The words of the letter are : ".. ' ' .f ' 1 . ,
To the Church of, God a4 irigh HUlt. Sussex
m Tf ... r. ,
couniy,t vafi Un uym-. : -i"-
i Dear Brethren in Christ i . . . ( t , : ?r .i 4
- r ortwo vears we nave bnen connecter! as chnrek
and pastor. Upon this 5 important relationship It
trust 1 nave long since been taught to set a pro--
per estimate. Si or am 1 insensible ot tne Judi- ,
eifuis r-rt; unrt f rtnnrhtfnl hesitanev with vkih .
it should be dissolved ; hence my action i ; de
liberate and free from the influencs of any no-
tive of which I could feel ashamed. .The step I .
'After: mature 7 and prayerful consideration, I
Mtrmm
extended prospect of usefulness is pre: '' . .
wuu"u ii ci ca iuk uam iu pccr ' ,- . - . :
have so lonir bound ns together. T . .
ed to yield to what seems, j
Ler unuu a new juhiu oi lau irrz
- - V .. . i , wui, there-i
rore T nretnren. -. -niease x :- !. k
: . .-. . , , "J, jour united raf..
irages. vina -uiy uope; that tho eood
one whose semciiU proye eminently success- x
ful amonir 'voa. On. t.vii. if . . .
, . -- v,. -, "o-" -ciT oi-'you,-
uiu .tacnieni to you, as dear brethren io '.;
Christ -lejsusi. our Saviour, -and common Lord:
Ani I
ef&cient in the accomplishment of good in i :
other part of the Lord's vinyardi wher
..j.r----:i.-L!, "r .5. n.
am happy to have it in my power to state.
edge as a leader is inflexible. Hence they adherai tb nothing of an nnpleasant character has ever