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THE TREASURY OF DAVID. Vol. V. Psalms civ. to cxviii. By C. H. Spurgeon. Passmore & Alabaster. Price 88. "GOD's heroes," one has said, "are made out of broken lives." Another writer suggests "that the work of the world is done by weak and suffering men." Certainly Mr. Spurgeon's is a suffering, though also a joyous life; and as surely is it a life of abounding labour. Three years and a half have elapsed since the last instalment of his chief literary work came to hand; and notwithstanding those years have been crowded with labour, and marred by affliction, we have now the FIFTH volume of his magnum opus, betraying, in no instance, as far as we can see, the slightest trace of haste, or want of thoroughness, or diminution of freshness and fulness of force.

The extent of his researches for illustrative and confirmatory material has not been narrowed in the least. Gems are gathered from every collector's stores. Critical scholars like Perowne, Delitzsch, Tholuck, J. A. Alexander, and the writers of the Speaker's Commentary, are cited, along with "savoury" divines such as Henry, Bunyan, and Trapp. Travellers, explorers, and antiquarians, such as Gardner Wilkinson, Layard, and Tristram, appear on the same pages with scientific savants, such as Humboldt and Guillemin. Literary kings of all lands, as Herder, Junius, and Pascal, work in company with poets like Milton and Burns, Byron and Pollock, Coleridge and Dana. A book could not better verify its title than does this Treasury of the things relating to David's Psalms.

The expository power of the author has had no slight strain cast upon it by the work in this volume: but that strain has been well borne. The wonderful beauty and exhaustless riches of the Psalm of Creation are displayed with the skill and ease of a master. The historical wealth of the 105th Song is traced out with a royal hand. The idea of applying the chief vindictive psalm to Christ is stoutly rejected; and commentary is supplied which will carry conviction to most minds, if it does not relieve them of all difficulty. We regret that Mr. Spurgeon has been driven to a seeming acceptance of the heterodox theory of verbal inspiration; we say "seeming;" for the statement in the preface does not commit its writer to the worst forms of that notion. It is not

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the theory of the verbal inspiration of the English version, nor of any one particular text, and therefore, possibly, goes little beyond the ordinary faith of the teachers of the church of Christ.

Taken as a single commentary upon the Psalms, this is unquestionably, and by enormous lengths, the best we know. If a man must only have one exposition, we say, unhesitatingly, "Get Spurgeon's:" and when you are purchasing one for yourself, buy one, at the same time, for your pastor, if you know that he has not one. It would be a welcome Christmas Box.

SCRIPTURE RIDDLES IN VERSE. By R. Phillips. E. W. Allen. Price 2/6. THE Winter evenings are upon us. How shall we spend them? Get these riddles. They are fresh, and fairly expressed in verse; and sufficiently obscure to give pleasant exercise to the wits of the young. The answers may be had for sixpence.

NELLIE. By Lizzie Joyce Tomlinson. Marlborough & Co. Price 1s.

A TOUCHING story, told with real pathos, and illustrating at once the sadder and the more joyous sides of child life; and showing what depths of happiness are sounded by a loving sympathy, a real love, and a genuine trust in the God of the gospel. The little folks will be chained and charmed by it.

AFTERWORK. Stock.-A periodical for the family circle which we commended on its first appearance. It makes a pleasant and interesting volume, and is suited by its homely counsel and useful tales, to make leisure hours happy and profitable.

THE MINISTER'S DIARY AND VISITING Book, Hodder & Stoughton, price 2s., has now reached perfection as to its interior arrangements, and also as to general style of get up. Several new features are added. The minister who can "keep" these books well, and fill their pages according to his heart's desire, will be a perfect man. It is one of the best tools a minister can have.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S CARDS.Mr. T. I. Burton, of Louth, has forwarded us samples of his Chrismas and New Year's Cards. They are admirable in design, and executed with much taste and skill.-See Advt.

Church Register.

Information should be sent by the 16th of the month to 51, Porchester Road, Westbourne Park, London, W.

CONFERENCE.

The LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Denholme, Sept. 18. The Rev. W. Chapman conducted the introductory services in the morning and the Rev. N. H. Shaw read a paper on "Pastoral Visitation." Brother Shaw was cordially thanked for his paper, and requested to send it to the Magazine for insertion.

The afternoon session was well attended. The Rev. W. Gray, President, in the chair, supported by Mr. Bramley, VicePresident. Reports of churches showed 35 baptized, and 8 candidates.

I. The Report of the Finance Committee, on the application of the Rev. J. H. Smith on behalf of the Bethel Chapel, Manchester, was adopted, and the following resolution was passed thereon-"That while deeply sympathizing with Mr. Smith and his friends in their laudable efforts to secure the property described as situated in Oldham Street, for the uses of the General Baptist denomination, this Conference regrets to say that it does not feel itself in a position either to assist or advise in the undertaking, and recommends that the whole case be referred to the Manchester and Salford Baptist Union."

II. Brother Roe, of Preston, having expressed a desire for ministerial aid on the second Sunday of every month, arrangements have been made for the supply of Preston pulpit until June next, according to the wish expressed.

III. The Rev. W. E. Bottrill being about to separate his pastoral connection with the church at Wellington Road, Todmorden, fervent desires were pressed that the blessing of God might rest upon him in his future course.

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IV. The Rev. N. H. Shaw's removal from Dewsbury to Rome:-"That in taking our farewell of brother Shaw, we recall, with much pleasure, the very agreeable intercourse we have enjoyed with him for the long space of eleven years on Conference occasions, and the marked success which has attended his labours at Dewsbury; and that while we regret his removal from our midst we cannot but congratulate him on the high honour conferred in his appointment to the superintendence of the Roman Mission, and earnestly wish that the spirit of Christ may largely rest upon him; and we assure him that he will be followed by our prayers for his health and happi

ness, and also that he may be eminently successful in winning the people of Rome to Christ. We further express our sympathy with the church at Dewsbury, and commit it, in its sorrow, to the special care of the great Head of the church."

V. Next Conference will be held at Enon Chapel, Burnley. Time of meeting, the third week in January. Preacher, Rev. J. Bentley. Speakers for Home Mission meeting, brethren Bramley, Reynolds, and Sharman.

The usual home missionary meeting was held in the evening, presided over by the pastor of the church, Rev. J. Bentley. W. SHARMAN, Sec.

CHURCHES.

ALLERTON, Sandy Lane.—Anniversary services, Aug. 18. Preacher, Rev. W. Sharman. Collections good.

CHATTERIS.

Anniversary services were held on Nov. 6. Rev. W. S. Davis, of Huntingdon, preached in the afternoon. Tea meeting at 5.30. Mr. B. Allpress, senior deacon, presided at the public meeting. The following took part in the service-Revs. H. Gee, W. Horton, H. B. Robinson, S. H. Firks, Professor Berlyn, and the pastor, F. J. Bird. Proceeds, over £10.

CROWLE. We have been favoured with the services of the Rev. J. Manning, lately evangelical agent of the Midland Baptist Union. Crowds of people attended the services. Several are inquiring the way to Zion.

The

EAST FINCHLEY.-The anniversary tea and public meeting was held, Oct. 23. Upwards of a hundred sat down to tea. It was stated, in the annual report, that the debt on the chapel had been reduced to £41. The sum of £320 had been raised for all purposes since the erection of the chapel two years since. church has twenty-six members, and the Sunday school nearly a hundred scholars. There is a Young Men's Bible Class with fifteen members. The Chairman, C. H. Hawkins, Esq., promised five guineas towards the further reduction of the chapel debt, and further sums if a permanent building should be erected, which he considered would be required. The sum raised, including the collections at the anniversary sermons amounted to £9 1.7s.

HITCHIN.-Anniversary services, Oct. 13. Preacher, Rev. J. H. Atkinson. 270

CHURCH REGISTER.

to tea on the 14th. Mr. A. T. Bowser presided at the public meeting. Addresses were given by Revs. J. H. Atkinson, J. Stockbridge, F. G. Marchant, J. Dixon, G. Wright, and Mr. C. A. Bartlett. The Treasurer of the Building Fund, Mr. Harrison, reported that the total cost of the new building, including extras, and all other expenses, was £3,132 14s.; the receipts from all sources, £2,341 16s. 8d.; leaving a balance due of £790 17s. 4d. A vigorous effort is being made to reduce the debt to £250 by June, 1880. We have promises of £291 8s., in addition to to which the anniversary produced £77 6s. 84d. (including a futher donation of £25 from Mrs. Pegg, and £10 from Mr. Norton), it is confidently hoped that the desired amount will be realized by the date named.

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The chapel has undergone thorough cleaning and repair: additions have been made to its conveniences and comfort, and the school-room has been much enlarged. Re-opening services were conducted by J. Clifford, Oct. 23, and Rev. T. Goadby, B.A., Oct. 27. The cost is about £170; and owing to the generous help of one good friend, who started the work with £50, the whole sum has been paid. It was exceedingly pleasant to see friends from Retford and Hull, and other parts, present to express their sympathy and give their aid. The chapel seats 250, and the church is one of the oldest Nonconformist societies in the district, dating as far back as 1663. The pastor, the Rev. J. Young, commenced his pastorate, Feb. 8, 1872.

LOUGHBOROUGH, Baxter Gate. — A bazaar was held on Tuesday evening, Oct. 22, to liquidate the debt on the schools and frontage to the chapel. The chapel has been opened for public worship fifty years next Christmas-day. About fourteen years ago the increasing requirements of the church rendered it necessary that better Sunday school accommodation should be provided. A new school was, therefore, built; and, at the same time, the entrance to the chapel was greatly improved. £1,000 remained to be cleared off; and as this was the Jubilee year the friends thought it a fitting opportunity to move in the matter. Various efforts have been made during the last two years to liquidate the above debt. The bazaar was opened by George Stevenson, Esq., of Leicester, and was open the following two days. The total amount realized (including subscriptions and donations) amounted to the handsome sum of £500.

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MORCOTT AND BARROWDEN. The 143rd anniversary services were held on Sunday and Monday, Oct. 20, 21. Three sermons were preached by the Rev. J. Salisbury, M.A. The congregations were large and appreciative. Collections, £6 9s. 6d. On Monday the tea and public meeting took place. Addresses were given by the pastor, Rev. S. Peacock, who presided, Rev. W. Skelly, of Gretton, and Mr. J. Stanion, of Ketton.

On

NORTHALLERTON.-Anniversary, Oct. 13. Preacher, Rev. W. Sharman. the Monday following we had a tea and public meeting. J. Wilson, Esq., presided. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. F. A. Charles, R. F. Handsford, E. R. Smith, R. Moorse, and W. Stubbings. Chapel crowded. One of the most successful anniversaries we have held. We have bought an old building at the east end of the chapel, and have erected a MINISTER'S HOUSE. The entire proceeds of this anniversary were devoted to the building fund.

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ALMY, REV. J. T., has accepted a hearty and unanimous invitation to the pastorate of the church at Ryde, I. W., to succeed the Rev. J. Harrison, formerly of Lombard Street, Birmingham. We part with Mr. Almy with unfeigned regret; are grateful for the good work he has done at Hucknall; and pray that he may be increasingly useful in his new home.

PAYNE, REV. CHARLES, has just removed from the Knoxville Baptist church, to Pella, State of Iowa. He has done good work at Knoxville, and had an invitation to Greenville as well as to Pella.

ROBERTS, REV. J. T.-A welcome service was held, Nov. 2, at West Vale Chapel, near Halifax, in connection with the settlement of the Rev. J. T. Roberts as pastor. Mr. J. Horsfall presided. Mr. E. S. Brooke presented a statement of the reasons leading to the election of Mr. R. The new pastor replied. Addresses were given by Revs. J. Wilde, R. Briggs, B. Wilkinson, and Messrs. W. Jones, S. Dyson, J. Conway, A. Simpson, and B. Crabtree.

TETLEY, REV. W. H.-A public recognition was accorded to the Rev. W. H. Tetley, as pastor of the Osmaston Road church, Derby, on Thursday, Oct. 24. First

of all came a public tea in the Sacheverel Street school-room, tastefully decorated for the occasion, when nearly 400 friends gathered round the tables. At seven o'clock the public meeting was held in the chapel, which was well filled. Mr. T. H. Harrison occupied the chair, and by his chaste and thoughtful address gave the meeting a good start. The Rev. T. Miram offered prayer. Mr. Storer as acting senior deacon, in hearty and humorous fashion, told the story of the church's wooing and winning its new pastor. Mr. Tetley replied, pointing out the fact that during the last sixteen years the church at South Parade, Leeds, had twice disturbed the settled relations of pastor and people: once, in 1863, at Coleford, when the late Rev. W. Best, B.A., went to South Parade chapel, Leeds; and again, in 1877, at Derby, when, to fill up the vacancy caused by Mr. Best's removal to Watford, the Rev. G. Hill, B.A., had left Derby for Leeds. Singularly enough, in each case, Mr. Tetley had been finally chosen to stop the gap occasioned by these South Parade settlements. Telling addresses followed from the Revs. T. Goadby, B.A., G. Hill, B.A., W. Crosbie, M.A., LL.B., and J. W. Williams.

WOOD, REV. W., having resigned the pastorate of the church at Market Harborough, a farewell tea meeting was held Oct. 7. Public meeting afterwards, Mr. G. Payne, of Leicester, in the chair. Addresses were given by Revs. W. Evans, A. North, W. Skelly, W. E. Morris, and W. H. Dale. Mr. Wood has accepted a unanimous invitation to the church at Infirmary Street, Bradford, and has commenced his ministry amongst them.

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MARRIAGES.

DENNIS-BASSINGDALE. At the Baptist Chapel, Crowle, Lincolnshire, by the Rev. J. Stutterd, Mr. William Dennis to Miss Sarah Ann Bassingdale, both of Crowle.

GIBSON-CHAPMAN.-Oct. 26, at Commercial Road Chapel, by the Rev. J. Fletcher, Mr. Charles Malcolm Gibson, to Miss Selina (Lilly), youngest surviving daughter of the late Wm. Chapman, London.

HEYES-HILTON.-Nov. 6, at the Baptist Chapel, Macclesfield, by the Rev. J. Maden, Mr. Samuel Heyes, to Miss Elizabeth Hilton, both of Macclesfield.

SKINNER-BARSON.-Oct. 22, by licence, at Woodgate Chapel, Loughborough, by the Rev. E. Stevenson, Mr. John Skinner to Betsy, youngest daughter of Mr. Samuel Barson, all of Loughborough.

OBITUARIES.

KIRKMAN.-Nov. 13th, in his 65th year, very suddenly, Thomas Kirkman, of Garland's Lane, for many years a deacon of the Barton church. He was interred at Barton.

ROBINSON, GEORGE, Esq., the owner of the Tetley Hall estate, near Crowle, Lincolnshire. This gentleman was a member of the Church of England. Twelve months ago he was taken seriously ill; and not believing in the doctrines taught by the Vicar of Crowle parish church, sent and requested the services of the Rev. J. Stutterd, who spoke to him, in his own room, the simple truth of a crucified Redeemer; truths to which he listened with intense pleasure. On Oct. 31, he and one of his daughters took a walk to the railway station, when he dropped down dead on the highway. The event was the topic of discourse in the Baptist Chapel on Lord's-day evening, Nov. 3.

SANBY, PHILIP ENGLAND, (Sanby Brothers, Port Elizabeth, S. Africa), the beloved son of Jas. K. and H. M. Sanby, died on the passage "The home, Sept. 26th, 1878, aged 25 years. Lord shall be thine everlasting light."-Isaiah lx. 20.

He came in the strength and glory of youth,
For his hopes had mounted high;
And we wished him good successs in truth,
As he bravely said "Good bye."

In his fresh, strong youth he went his way
And his cloud-like thought took shape:
"A castle of air is fair and gay,

And there's all good hope at the Cape."
Ah, had we known what was to be,
How loud our cry had been-
Beware of the peril that's in the sea,

And the sickness that works unseen.

But times and seasons, and life and death,
Are not in our feeble hands;
And what He doeth, taking our breath,
The good God understands.

"Oh, Philip, dear, that thou wert here,

Safe in our fond caress!"

But better than father and mother dear,

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God knoweth, how to bless.

To but one earthly friend 'twas given

To weep by the loved one's side: But a joyful company from heaven Were with him when he died.

We grieve for the young life passed away, We mourn for his lonely bed,

For the witless waves that toss and play O'er so belov'd a head.

Yet ocean vast is as good a grave

As ever the burial sod,

And 'tis only a shell beneath a wave,
The loving soul's with God.

THE

MISSIONARY OBSERVER.

DECEMBER, 1878.

New Year's Sacramental Collections.

DEAR BRETHREN,-We beg to remind you that the first Sabbath of the New Year is the usual time for making simultaneous SACRAMENTAL COLLECTIONS for the Widows and Orphans of our Missionaries.. We hope it will be convenient for you to continue your usual contribution, and, if possible, by a little extra effort to increase the amount.

The sum required to pay the several Insurance Premiums, together with the allowance to an invalid missionary, is over Two Hundred Pounds, and it is most desirable that this should be raised apart from the ordinary funds of the Society.

Should the first Sabbath of the year be found an inconvenient time to you, we would suggest that the collection might be made on the first Sabbath of February or March.

It will prevent confusion in the accounts, and ensure the correct appropriation of the Sacramental Collections, if they are sent direct, and separate from the ordinary contributions of your church to the Society. We remain, yours faithfully,

W. B. BEMBRIDGE, Ripley, near Derby, Treasurer.
WM. HILL, Crompton Street, Derby, Secretary.

Post Office Orders to the Secretary should be made payable at the General Post Office, Derby.

The State of the Mission Funds.

INFORMATION has reached us to the effect that " some of the leading members" of one of our churches are discouraging the collection of Mission Funds on the plea that there is a balance in the Bank, and that money is not required. As we have heard of a few other friends reducing or withholding their contributions for the same reason, we think it desirable to repeat what was stated in the Report, p. 59, that, in the early part of the official year, before the bulk of the contributions begin to come in, at least £1,000 are required as a kind of working capital, and in order to save interest to the Bank. The half-year's salaries of the missionaries, etc., become due June 1st, and, at the present moment, not only has the balance been absorbed, but money is due to the bank, for which interest will, of course, have to be paid.

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