course in December last, be over-ruled to the removal of every evil stigma attached to the Christian ministry and profession.

respect to this church it may be remarked | late pastor, Joseph Price, who finished his that the death of old and influential members and the removal of their families, secessions for the purpose of forming new churches in neighbouring places, and particularly dissensions, to each of which causes it has been peculiarly exposed, will fully account for its much-to-be-regretted decline.

"The church at Oxford, containing one hundred and twenty-five members, had in the year 1802, been favoured for fifteen years with the invaluable ministry of the late eminent James Hinton, M.A., who had then attained the zenith of his usefulness and influence. Two years before it had entered upon the occupation of its newly erected place of worship, which has since been considerably enlarged. It now numbers two hundred and seventy-eight members.

"Shipston, which entered the association with thirty-one members, has now but the same number.

"The eight churches of this class, therefore, contained at the commencement of their associational connexion four hundred and fifteen members,-they now contain seven hundred and sixty-eight.

"The church at Stow, as well as those at Naunton and Cirencester, was, in the year 1802, under the care of the much respected Mr. W. Wilkins,' but how many members it contained is unknown. It has now thirty-two, and the attendance on the public services has so increased during the last few years, as to lead to the rebuilding of the meeting-house. "The following churches have been formed and added to the association—

"A general view therefore of the state of the association at its formation, contrasted with its present state, gives us this result-

bers.

"Now, twenty-three churches, containing 1626 members.

"II. With respect to the churches in class 2, namely those existing fifty years ago, but not united in association till a more recent period, we are sorry to say that it has" Then, eight churches, containing 415 memnot been in our power to obtain the same explicit information as to what was their state at that time, as we have with respect to those in the previous class; but generally we may remark, that while one (Middleton Cheney) appears to have declined in numbers and influence, and another (Hook Norton) to have remained stationary, the other two appear to have increased, and to be increasing.

"The ancient church at Cirencester which has just completed the second centenary of its existence, and which has been favoured for nearly the whole period with respect to which we write, that is to say for forty-eight years, with the valued labours of the highly respected and beloved, and still surviving Daniel White, commenced the present century having thirty-four members, it has now seventy-two.

"The still more ancient church at HookNorton now contains sixty-sir members; what was its state in the year 1802 we have not

been able to ascertain.

"The church at Middleton Cheney at the beginning of this century, was in a very happy and flourishing state, under the pastorate of Mr. Thomas Green, who died in 1804, aged 49, having held the pastoral office for twentythree years, during which time he was instrumental in adding one hundred and eighteen members to the church ;-it now numbers only forty. It is sad to be compelled to attribute the decline of this church to the ministry of incapable and wicked men. May the upright and consistent character of the

"But these figures only indicate the growth of the association during the fifty years, and the superior position which we occupy in the anticipation of the advancing half-century, to that occupied by our predecessors in the commencement of the one that is past. Nor do they fully exhibit the latter, for in addition to the increased number of organized churches, and the large increase in the number of the professed disciples of our Lord, we must take into consideration all the various supplemental and auxiliary agencies which we possess that were unknown to our fathers. For instance, at the commencement of the period we have been reviewing, we are not aware that a single Sunday school existed in connection with either of the churches, now not one church is destitute of so interesting an auxiliary, while many of them have not only large and efficiently conducted schools on the Sunday, but support, wholly or in part, establishments for the daily instruction of the young. In our Sunday schools no less than 2400 children are weekly instructed in the truths of God's holy word. In addition to this important agency, we should likewise take into consideration our various auxiliary Missionary, Bible, Tract, Sick-visiting, and other societies, by which the friends of the Redeemer seek to advance his cause, and the whole will compel the acknowledgment, that the progress of that cause in our immediate district during

enjoyed a solid resting on the great truths of the everlasting gospel, and "a good hope through grace" of the "rest which remaineth for the people of God." When the incurable nature of his disease was announced he expressed himself with perfect calmness as confiding in the love and faithfulness of his covenant God, saying, "I know I shall not have one pain too much." One expression of the dying saint will never be forgotten by those who heard, and it is truly a golden sentence; when asked the state of his mind in the immediate prospect of dissolution, he said, "I am as satisfied of the reality of the person and work of Christ, as though I could now see him; nevertheless, to enjoy the fulness of that vision I must wait till I behold him face to face."

In this peaceful frame he continued till the silver cord was loosed on the morning of August 31st, 1852; and thus in the 53rd year of his age he finished his course and entered into the joy of his Lord.

remained the beloved pastor of that church till within a few weeks before his death, when in his mind all hopes of restoration to health being given up, he resigned up his pastoral office into the hands of those from whom he had received it. We can with safety and confidence say that the departed was eminently a good man, and was cordially beloved by the members of his church, by the neighbouring ministers of the gospel, and indeed by all persons who really knew him. He was remarkable for humility, for child-like simplicity, and for an utter destitution of all guile and duplicity: he never assumed a character, nor the shade of a character on any occasion which did not substantially belong to him: no man's character was ever more lucid and transparent than his. And on this account the comparatively few failings he had were the more conspicuous to his friends, as being ever surrounded by the clear and steady light of the virtues just mentioned.

service was undertaken at the previous request of the departed, between whom and Mr. J. an intimate and very cordial friendship had existed for more than thirty years. The text, 2 Cor. v. 4, had been selected for the occasion by Mr. Burdett sometime previously to his death. Throughout his long and painful affliction, and in the immediate prospect of death, the mind of our much-loved brother was divinely peaceful and happy. A widow and ten children are left behind to lament their great and irreparable loss.

REV. H. HOWELL.

church at Kenning Hall, Norfolk, entered inThe Rev. H. Howell, pastor of the baptist to rest, August 5th, 1852.

MRS. RICHARD HARRIS, JUNIOR.

The lamented Christian sister whose name As a preacher he made no pretence to the is placed at the head of this brief obituary, higher style of public speaking; but his died September the 11th, possessed of a "hope preaching was always distinguished by good blooming with immortality." She was born sense, by great plainness of speech, by at Tamworth in the year 1812, in which town, thorough evangelical truth, and by an ear- so rich in its varied associations, the earlier nest desire for the salvation of souls. years of her life were spent. Her removal to Whether in the pulpit or in the family, Leicester was occasioned by the event of her his prayers were unusually appropriate and marriage to one who now, together with a impressive, full of holy fervour and the deep young and numerous family, mourns his pathos of his soul, and seldom could those irreparable loss. Although distinguished by prayers fail to leave the impression on the great natural amiability of character, and mind of fellow worshippers, that the sup- accustomed to attend regularly the worship pliant must be in the habit of praying much of God and the preaching of the gospel on or he could not pray so well. The fu- the sabbath, formerly in connection with the neral of our dear friend and brother took Established Church, and more recently at the place on Tuesday, the 7th of September, baptist chapel in Charles Street, Leicester; in the burial ground attached to the chapel yet it was not until the last few years of her at Sutton-in-the-Elms. It was attended life that she experienced the power of divine by a large concourse of people from the truth, the "joy and peace of believing," or neighbouring congregations and villages and realised that important change which our by several ministers both baptists and Lord declares to be essential to an entrance independents. The Rev. G. Miall of Ulles- into the "kingdom of heaven." Her conthorpe read and prayed, the Revs. J. Bar- version, which was very marked and decisive, nett of Blaby and T. Mays of Wigston- and which led to a full and unreserved consecraMagna gave out suitable hymns, and the tion of her heart and life to the Redeemer, Rev. J. Davis of Arnsby delivered a very was brought about by means which serve to appropriate and touching address to the mem- illustrate the diversity of method adopted by bers of the church and the congregation. an all-wise God in bringing souls into union When the corpse was placed in the grave, and communion with himself. Devoted atMr. Charles Parsons, of Hinckley,-an aged tachment to her husband and an earnest and gitted member of the church just de- desire to oblige and please him induced her prived of its beloved pastor,-addressed the to maintain family worship, during his absence crowd of spectators in a speech which, by the from home on a continental journey, by readministers present, was much admired for its ing morning and evening, "Fletcher's Family adaptation to the occasion, its beauty of Devotions." The perusal of the truly excelthought, and the deep-toned feeling of friend-lent prayers contained in this work, in conship for the deceased, and of benevolence for the living, with which it was fraught. On the following Lord's day (September 12th) a funeral sermon was preached to the church and congregation over which the departed had so long presided, by Rev. J. Jones, the pastor of the baptist church at Monks Kirby. This

nection with his subsequent conversations, were productive, under the Divine blessing, of that godly sorrow for sin which "worketh repentance which needeth not to be repented of," and ultimately of a holy confidence and peaceful trust in the finished work of Christ. From this period up to the time of her death,

her consciousness of the favour and friendship | of God was scarcely ever interrupted, her religious experience was very joyous; her sky almost without a cloud; her progress in the acquirement of knowledge was rapid, and her usefulness as a member of the church of Christ was very extensive. Endowed with great natural energy of character and a benevolent heart, and these being under the influence of Christian principles, and the powerful motives of true religion, the result of their combined operation was an unwearied activity in promoting the temporal and spiritual welfare of others. Without the slightest adulation the language of Job may be applied to her in an unmodified sense, "When the ear heard me it blessed me, and when the eye saw me it gave witness; the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy."

place of interment on the day of her funeral, and which crowded the sanctuary she was wont to attend on the following Lord's day, strikingly attested the extent to which her virtues were appreciated, and the high estimation in which she was generally held. Her death was improved to a large and affected audience from the language of the apostle, (Phil. i. 2, 3,) "Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better," words so expressive of her own happy state of mind, and so calculated to comfort a bereaved family, an afdicted church, and a sorrowful circle of friends. It is earnestly hoped that the example furnished by her religious life, and her painful yet triumphant death may lead many, and especially those who were most dear to her, to follow her as she followed Christ, and ultimately meet her in heaven.

MRS. FAYNE.

On Friday, Sep. th, the beloved wife of the Rev. W. Payne of Chesham, and daughter of the Rev. W. Tomlin, was released from her sufferings and admitted to her rest. It was her privilege in childhood to enjoy the religious intruction of parents whose holy example was a living commentary on the excellency of the knowledge of Christ. their care the seeds of truth were first sown in her heart, and, through the Divine blessing granted in answer to prayer, sprang up and brought forth fruit. Though she had early

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Her last illness continued about three weeks, and was borne with the meekness of Christian resignation, and with the fortitude which springs from strong faith in the rectitude, wisdom, and goodness of God, and from the realization of the truth of the "many exceeding great and precious promises" which are the believer's portion. To her, death presented no terrors, eternity no alarms. Her conversations during the whole of this period were exceedingly interesting, and evinced a mind reposing intelligently and calmly on the great work of human redemption, and, at the same time, filled with heavenly thoughts and aspirations. It has been observed, in the case of many Christians, that there has been a brightening up of the mental faculties im-shown a quick susceptibility of religious immediately preceding the hour of dissolution, pressions her humility and diffidence kept somewhat resembling the prophetic power her from making a profession of love to displayed by the ancient patriarchs under Christ so soon as many others; but her subsimilar circumstances. It has appeared as sequent course always caused the church to though the immortal spirit were asserting its regard her matured decision with grateful distinctness from, and its superiority to, that satisfaction. For some years she was an infrail tabernacle which it is about to desert, or, defatigable Sunday-school teacher, a zealous as though its various powers and suscepti-tract distributor, and collector for the foreign bilities were already being braced by the mission; and there are many proofs that she genial breezes of the heavenly Canaan. Thus, laboured not in vain. Her marriage gave in the present instance, there was displayed reason to hope that she who had been useful an unusual lucidity and vigour of mind, as a pastor's daughter would be still more so wholly distinct from that unhealthy excite- as a pastor's wife, and at first she was able ment which is sometimes produced by arti- very efficiently to discharge the duties of her ficial means. When it was evident that her important station; after a time, however, her end was very near she summoned her remain-health began to decline, and though her life ing strength, and calling for her beloved and sorrowing parents and children, her other relatives and domestics, individually, she addressed them appropriately to their several ages and circumstances in a strain of earnest and pathetic eloquence, never to be forgotten by those who heard it. Shortly after this dying effort to benefit the souls of those whom she loved, her happy spirit took its flight to the presence of that Saviour "whom having not seen "" on earth, she had so earnestly loved and served. The numerous and pensive concourse which flocked to the

was spared for several years she was compelled reluctantly to abandon former methods of usefulness. She then sought out other ways of doing good, and by her kind and gentle watchfulness over the young females of the church and congregation became a great and lasting blessing to many who cherish her memory with the warmest affection.

Her religious experience was in the main trustful and joyous, though sometimes her heart was saddened by doubt and difficulty. The cross, the love of God in Christ, the