now. It may be difficult to break

up old and long established habits, and to tear yourselves away from the corrupt and ensnaring pleasures of the world; but thank God that is not impossible. It may be done. Yes, you may now awake and turn to God with full purpose of heart. You are already beyond the meridian of life, and therefore cannot be far from the brink of eternity. Improve the present moment, and your conversion is sure.

This, then, is the day of your gracious visitation. It may be improved and you may be saved. But if so, it will require decisive and unwearied attention. Think of these things. "Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." Presume not on his mercy. "And to-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart." You may be saved now; yes, you may find favour with God to-day, but if the present hour is neglected you may be for ever undone.

But perhaps one, and another, and a third may glance over this brief article, and be ready to say,-" I am not fifty." You are not fifty! Well, the fact gives greater hope concerning you. But be not presumptuous. The fiftieth anniversary of your natal day may find you in the tomb, and long ere that time arrives your spirit may be summoned to the bar of God. Your happiness in time, and your hope for eternity will infallibly depend on your conversion. It will matter but little whether you reach fifty years of age or not, but it does matter, nay, it is absolutely essential for you to be converted, for without this great change, you cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Therefore, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest."

And does not this little incident remind us that the humble Christian, intent on doing good, may be emi

nently useful in his day and generation. Our estimable friend could not ascend the pulpit, and deliver a well-arranged discourse on the doctrines and precepts of Christianity, but he could watch for a favourable opportunity of uttering a word of instruction in the ear of a careless sinner. He did so, and that word aroused her attention and led her to Christ. Go thou and do likewise. For, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver;" or, As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." WM. BAGGALY. Stockport, Sept. 19th, 1854.

MR. EDITOR,-Your often expressed desire for such notices from your readers, as specially illustrate the operations of grace, and tend to confirm the faith of the people of God, induces me to supply the following record. I humbly conceive it adapted to cheer and animate the efforts of Christian parents in seeking the salvation of their children, affording, at once, an exposition and a confirmation of the inspired sentiment, "Train up a child in the way he should go," &c. The writer is the youngest of three brothers, whose parents feared the Lord and worked righteousness, and who, moreover, were honourably identified with the noble struggles of 1797, for the interests of scriptural liberty and truth. Being truly devoted to God, they were earnestly concerned to have their offspring fully sanctified for his service. From infancy they sought to imbue their minds with religious principles, and evinced the intensity of their solicitude for their spiritual good, by many tearful exhortations, and much holy agonizing prayer.

For a considerable period these pious endeavours appeared unavailing, but in the ultimate result is furnished an additional corroboration

of the assurance, "In due season we shall reap, if we faint not." My beloved father did not see his prayers answered to the full while in the flesh, but, through infinite mercy, they have been amply realized since he was taken to his reward. His faithful partner, now bowing beneath the weight of a good old age, having been a disciple of Christ for more than sixty years, lives to reap the precious fruits of these hallowed.exertions. To her it is given to see her "children walking in the truth," and as she nears Jordan's streams, to adopt the exultation of Simeon,

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Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

The death of my father, in 1831, was the instrumentality first used for awakening real religious concern in my own mind. The impressions occasioned by this occurrence were greatly strengthened by the pointed, heart-searching preaching of the Rev. A. Lynn, to which, at that time, I regularly listened. Through these agencies I was roused to a vivid sense of guilt and danger. The inestimable privileges I had possessed, the parental attention I had receivedparticularly the affectionate counsels of my excellent mother-crowded upon my recollection, and filled me with anguish of spirit. Great indeed was my distress, but fleeing for refuge to the hope set before in the gospel, I soon obtained the peace that passeth understanding. Some years subsequently, my eldest brother was led by a remarkable train of circumstances to cherish a kindred anxiety. The truth was applied to his conscience with convincing power, godly sorrow filled his heart, and he was constrained to seek rest for his weary soul by a full closing in with the offers of mercy. From that time to the present, he has sustained a consistent connection with a Baptist church, and is diligently seeking a better inheritance.

There was still one brother wandering from God. He became an object of painful interest. Frequently

To

was his state deplored and laid before the throne of grace. It seemed as though our intercessions were vain. Year after year rolled over without any manifestations of genuine contrition. But, though long delayed, the blessing eventually came. my inexpressible joy, this dear brother came to me a few months ago inquiring, like the jailor of old, "What must I do to be saved?" Suitable advice was addressed to him; he sought the Lord with full purpose of heart, found him, at once identified himself with our Bethesda Society in this town, and, I delight to say, is now rejoicing in confident hope of the glory of God. Thus has a covenant-keeping God, by a chain of mysterious circumstances, fully accomplished the desire of his servants.

Not many weeks have elapsed since the three brothers met, for the first time, as the subjects of saving influence. Never will the remembrance of that interview be effaced from their minds. With untold emotion did they extol the goodness of the Most High, for bringing their feet into the path of life, and with numerous counsels did they seek to encourage each other to steadfastness abounding zeal in the work of the Lord. It was truly a scene over which we may suppose angels rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

and

At a fellowship meeting, held that night, in our Bethesda vestry, each one of us recorded his grateful experience of the divine mercy and loving-kindness. It was a peculiarly refreshing season. All present felt the unction of the Holy One, and will long advert to it as a sunny spot in their heavenward course. Oh, could all Christian parents, whose bowels are yearning over the infatuated heedlessness of some prodigal Absalom, but have been in our midst on that memorable evening, they must have been stimulated to seek, with persevering ardour, their immortal security. After hearing the fervent and thankful acknowledgments of these brethren, for the advantages yielded by a religious training-the details they gave of the wondrous

manner in which they were effectually turned to the Lord-and the testimonies they bore to the preciousness of redeeming love, they must have returned to their homes, saying, "Soul, hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him."

Let all such anxious fathers and mothers take encouragement from this incident, and cease not from their pleadings with God on behalf of their beloved but erring ones, until they are permitted to rejoice in the fulfilment of their requests, or are called to exchange mortality for immortality. No tear shed over such transgressors can be forgotten; no prayer presented on their account be in vain. "The promise is to you and your children." Let us then, as parents, be mindful of the words -“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand, for thou knowest not whether shall prosper either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."-Eccl. xi. 6. Leeds.

can

J. MALLINSON.

CHAPEL VENTILATION, &c. 4 DEAR BROTHER,-As you are aware, I occasionally ascend a pulpit, and conduct public worship; and some twentyseven years ago did so very frequently. I have in such exercises suffered, in many instances, from causes for which, as I apprehend, there is an easy and effective remedy. I will explain myself. The persons taking charge of the places in which I preach, &c., in some cases, pay far too little attention to their due ventilation. I doubt not, indeed I know, that other individuals besides myself are, at times, seriously, and, I may add, unnecessarily punished in the same way; and I write to you in the hope that I may, in some degree and to some extent, correct this evil. Preachers among us have sometimes to exercise themselves in chapels, in rooms devoted both to preaching and school teaching, and in such other places as circumstances prescribe and allow. It sometimes happens, especially during the summer months, that in some of these places there is a sad lack of the introduction and circulation of fresh air, a defect this that is oppressive and injurious; for the good air required, and which, if admitted,

would revive and cheer, is shut out, while the foul air, which operates prejudicially on both speaker and hearer, is retained, though, throughout the entire service, it becomes worse and worse. And in many cases the preacher is affected to a degree that calls for serious consideration, and for a remedy too, if one can be found. The material system is oppressed, as is clear from the difficulty experienced in speaking, and experienced to a degree that exerts a prejudicial influence on the mind, clogging and deadening its powers; and the effects are too often seen in the audience itself, inducing a listlessness and drowsiness, painful to experience and witness.

And even in winter, at times, similar effects are produced, especially in the smaller chapels and preaching rooms, from their being over-heated, particularly where they are used both as schools and for preaching, and where the heating is effected by stoves, from which portions of smoke escape, that sensibly contaminate and poison the air. Nor should it be forgotten that, besides the direct contamination of the air, the power of sympathy between the pulpit and the seat, the preacher and his hearer, is such as tends to reciprocate dullness, and torpidity of feeling,—i.e., listlessness and apathy in the hearer fails not to be transmitted to the preacher, and vice versa. Thus heavy, dull preaching, will produce heavy, dull hearing; and heavy, listless hearing, cold and lifeless preaching, and convert such seasons into, at least, comparatively useless and unprofitable ones,—an occurrence to be deplored, and, if possible, avoided.

"Well," but say some chapel-keepers, "what can be done? We have hearers who dread currents of air, and if exposed to them, always suffer in consequence." My reply is, "There are sides of your building against which the wind, when there is one, does not strike; and if your windows on these sides are so opened as to allow the foul air to escape and the pure air to enter, to say the least, the unpleasant and mischievous effects would be greatly reduced. And then again, surely, before public service commences, a few minutes might be appropriated to the riddance of the foul air accumulated by the previous presence of your scholars and teachers, and the admission of fresh air, so very desirable and necessary. And theu, again, what reason can be assigned for

not opening your windows after your hearers and scholars are dismissed, and allowing them to remain open till you assemble again, taking care to open them on the sides against which the wind does not beat? Or, in such cases, why not open them all around, and allow the air freely to circulate?" Of course the weather must be regarded, and judgment be called into requisition.

I almost invariably find that, even in winter, where schools are taught in our smaller places of worship, and where the schools are somewhat large, that they are kept by far too close and warm, especially when it is considered what an accumulation of heat and impure air is generated by the presence and breathing of the individuals congregated together. The individuals themselves are not so sensible of the really existing offensiveness and oppressiveness consequent, as those are who enter after them, they having become gradually inured to the foulness of the atmosphere by which they are surrounded.

I have, my dear sir, often felt disposed to address you on this subject, and through you, our useful, but, in too many cases, too inconsiderate chapelkeepers, but have deferred 'till now, perhaps, instigated by recent experience and suffering, particularly in two instances, which I shall now briefly notice. The first case occurred in a small chapel where I lately preached in ́ the forenoon with some discomfort, arising from the causes enumerated, viz., a warm day and a want of air in the chapel. In the evening, on entering the pulpit, I became greatly oppressed from these causes, and before had proceeded far in my discourse, became so ill and spoke with such difficulty, that I actually was compelled to ask for a free admission of air, to enable me to proceed, and though relieved to a considerable degree by its admission, with great difficulty dragged through the service, with pain to myself, and, I fear, with very little benefit to the hearers. In the other case, I preached in a chapel where a flourishing school is taught. I was so oppressed and injured by the morning exercise, as to be obliged to decline attempting my evening appointment—an omission this, painful to myself, who never, if possible, omit any appointments to which I commit myself on the plan.

I reached our city some hours

before the time for our evening worship, and was so unwell as to occupy nearly the whole of the intervening time in reaching our chapel, though the distance is not more than a mile and a half. I hesitated whether or not I should pass onward to my home or enter. At length I entered, not, however, at the front door, but at a door behind, leading to the chapel through the vestry. I wondered the service was not commenced, it being then a little beyond the appointed time; and soon began to suspect that the preacher appointed had not, through some mishap, arrived: and as I was by no means in such a state of health as would warrant me, under any circumstances, to listen to any entreaties that might be preferred, in case I should be urged to undertake the service, I therefore retired, and was on my way home, when, having been observed, I was followed and overtaken, and importuned most earnestly by friends to rescue them from the dilemma into which the congregation was thrown, by the non-arrival of the preacher expected. I did violence to my feelings, and most reluctantly complied, on condition that one of the friends would open the service. This chapel is much more spacious and lofty than the one in which I had already officiated, and from whose pulpit I had fled through indispositionindeed it is six or eight times as largein which no school is taught, and in which there is a more free circulation of air; and yet, though I was spent by my previous engagement, affected, in no slight degree, in my lungs, and prostrated by a general lassitude and debility, I spoke even with greater ease and comfort, though I suffered no little, than I had done in the small chapel where I had officiated in the forenoon, with its impure atmosphere and want of free circulation. And this I attribute entirely to the causes specified. Indeed, my own conviction is, that I am less physically taxed and injured by two or three services conducted under the favourable circumstances of free, pure air, than by a single service where the air is confined, and charged with impurities, and not allowed to relieve and correct itself. I imagine, too, that this is the case with most other persons who labour in the ministry. I speak, of course, of such as enter heartily into the spirit of their work, and can, in its discharge, at proper times, glow and

flame; and not of those, whose listlessness, or peculiar temperament, is so apathetic as to save them from sustaining much or no injury anywhere.

Mr. Editor, having, as I assume, been long observant of such matters as those now noticed, and as I have not been altogether without personal experience respecting them, I have ventured to offer to your consideration these brief and hastily written remarks, in the hope that, should they meet with

your approval and find a place in your valuable periodical, they will prove useful to such of your readers, both preachers and chapel-keepers, and all those, indeed, who feel interested in the comfort and efficiency of public teaching and worship. I do not often trouble you with communications, but rest assured I am yours, as ever,

Very sincerely, &c., W. S. 45, Chorlton Road, Manchester, 10th August, 1854.

Most of our friends are aware that a few weeks since, an official proposal was made by the Lynn circuit to be united to our Connexion. The Editor being personally known to some of the authorities of the Lynn circuit, he had been previously applied to for information on a variety of topics respecting our denomination.. This correspondence resulted in a formal application for union, which, being accepted by the annual Committee, was cordially and unanimously ratified at a large meeting of members and delegates, held in Lynn on the 13th of September.

The

Editor, by special invitation, spent one Sabbath in Lynn prior to that date, and was glad to find a cause which presented the elements of considerable prosperity. The chapel is situated in a new but populous part of the town. It is a large, substantial building, sixty-seven feet in length by above fifty in width, with commodious vestries and school-rooms underneath. In the morning Mr. Bootman preached, and the congregation was pretty large, the chapel being about twothirds full; and in the evening, the Editor preached, when the place was well filled in every part. There is a good Sunday school, and an unusually large proportion of the

scholars are young persons between sixteen and twenty years of age. The entire circuit embraces nineteen preaching places (fourteen of which are chapels or rooms), thirtynine local preachers, two circuit preachers, and between five and six hundred members. So far as we can see, the union is cordial and likely to prove mutually satisfactory and happy. Mr. Gilton is spending a month in Lynn, to visit each place and to introduce the rules and uşages of the Connexion. Meanwhile, Mr. C. Bootman, the superintendent of the Lynn circuit, is supplying with acceptance and usefulness Mr. Gilton's place in London. We subjoin a brief statement of the case, furnished by Mr. Bootman himself.

DEAR SIR,-An addition to the ranks of the New Connexion having been made by the union of the Lynn circuit of Wesleyan Reformers, a word or two to our new friends in various parts of the kingdom may not be unsuitable, through the medium of your valuable periodical. I can easily understand how readily the question will be asked, as

to

"who are these people, and why do they occupy their present position?" To such an inquiry I answer, they are Methodists-persons, some of whom have for half a century been members of the old Conference Connexion, and who, having tasted that the Lord is