lages, where the gospel has long been preached with success. A respectable family, which attended at Stratton (one of the nearest of them) thinking it would be a be nefit to the town, as well as an accommodation to themselves, built a chapel for public warship; and completely repaired an adjoining house, principally at their own expence. The chapel was thronged; many went away for want of room, and the services were solemn and impressive. One Spirit pervaded all the ministers, that of zeal for God, compassion for souls, and the warmest attachment to their King and Country! The friends of the gospel will be pleased to hear, that Mr. Mantell, late of Westbury, statedly preaches at this place; and that the people, in great numbers, attend upon his ministry. The Quarterly Association of Ministers in this connection, commonly called Welsh Methodists, was held at Swansea, the 7th and 8th of March, 1804: It commenced on the 7th, at ten o'clock, by a conference of the ministers till twelve. At two, the Ministers, with the leading Members and Officers of the different Societies, met; in which several matters were transacted, respecting the connection in general. At four, Mr. Bowen pray. ed; Mr. Davies, of Cynwil, preach ed from John v. 28, 29; and Mr. E. Morris, from Mat. xvi. 18. On the 8th, the services began at seven o'clock: Nath. Williams prayed; L. Morris preached, from John iii. 8; and E. Corslet, from Pet. iv. 17, 18. At nine, an experience meeting of the Ministers and Members of Societies was held. At eleven, Mr. Howell prayed; Mr. Williams, of Lletrod, preached from Rom. viii. 32; Mr. W. Lloyd from Rom. viii. 3; and the Rev. D. Jones, of Llangan, from John x. 16. At two, W. Bevan prayed; J. Bowen preached from Col. ii. 14; and T. Jones from Heb. x. 22. The different oppor-. tunities were well attended; and, on the forenoon of the second day, it was computed that there were from 8 to 10,000 hearers. On the evening previous to the Meeting of the Association, and the two following evenings, sermons were preached, by different ministers, at the chapels in the neighbourhood. Upon the whole, it was a very so lemn assembly; many souls were refreshed and comforted; and many Sinners, it is hoped, were brought to a sense of their lost state. great Lord of the Harvest seemed to bless it with his presence. The next Association is to be held at Newport, in Monmouthshire, on the 29th and 30th of May next. The - Mr. March 19. The Rev. H. Lacey, was ordained to the pastoral office at Winchmore-Hill, Middlesex. Mr. Thomas, of Enfield, began the service with prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Thorpe delivered the introductory discourse, asked the questions, and received the confession of faith; Mr. Wilks offered up the ordination - prayer; Buck gave the charge, from 2 Tim. ii. 15.; Mr. Fowler, of Edmon'on, engaged in the intercessory, player; Mr. Jones, of Islington, addressed the people, from Deut. i. 38, "Encourage him;" and Mr. Jackson, of Stockwell, concluded in prayer. A considerable revival, we understand, has taken place under the ministry of Mr. Lacey, so that they have been obliged to have the place of worship enlarged. The Society for Spreading the Light of the Gospel in the Dark Towns and Villages of the County of Sussex, held their Half-yearly Meeting at Alfriston, March 21 and 22. On the Wednesday, the Rev. Mr. Finlay, of Chichester, preached from 1 Sam. ii. 30; Mr. Gilbert, of Heathfield; and Mr. Pryer, of Arundel, engaged in prayer. - On the Thursday, after the discussion of much important business, Mr. Jones, of Oat-Hall, preached from 1 Pet. v. 10; M. Hamilton and Mr. Brown (both of Brighton) engaged in prayer. Many found it a refreshing and profitable season; and the Meetings for worship and business were held under encouraging tokens of the Divine Presence and favour. The next Meeting will be held at Shoreham, on the last Wednesday and Thursday in September. Mr. Gilbert, of Heathfield, to preach. The Half-yearly Meeting of the Dorset Independent Association, was held at Lyme, on Wednesday April 4. Mr. Innis (a student of the Axminster Academy) intro duced the services of the day with prayer and reading the Scriptures; Mr. Herdsman, of South Petherton, prayed; Mr. Keynes, of Blandford, preached; Mr. Saltern, of Bridport, concluded with prayer. The ministers of the Association transacted the business of the county during the afternoon-service; when Mr. Allen, of Exeter, preached; and Messrs. Harrington, of Winsham; and Crook, of Charmouth, prayed. In the evening, Mr. Rogers, of Beaminster, prayed; Mr. Banister, of Wareham, preached; Mr. Weston, of Sherborne, concluded with prayer. Mr. Weston had preached on the preceding evening. Wednesday, April 11. The Eleventh General Meeting of the Lincolnshire Association was held at Brigg, instead of Lincoln, as in tended. On Tuesday evening, a Sermon was preached at Wraby (a branch of the same interest) by Mr. Bean, of Alford, from Mat. xviii. 3. Wednesday morning, Mr. J. Griffiths, of Lincoln, preached from Pet. . 18, first clause; Mr. Smelle engaged in prayer; and the service was concluded as usual, by administering the Lord's Supper to the church, and other Christian friends present; in which five Ministers engaged. There appeared rather an uncommon degree of solemnity on the occasion. In the afternoon, Mr. Bean prayed; and J. J. Richards, of Hull, spoke from Isa. lx. 8, and concluded the ser. vice. In the evening, Mr. Row. land, of Gainsborough, called on the Lord in prayer; Mr. Bean preached from Titus ii. 11, 12; and Mr.J. Clark, Minister of the place, closed the worship of the day with exhortation and prayer. In the intervals of worship the ministers discussed, in a friendly manner, some useful practical subjects, especially Christian Discipline, including the reproving, suspending, and excluding erroneous, immoral, and refrac tory Members from Christian fel. lowship. The next Meeting is to be held at Pinchbeck, near Spalding, Sept. 12, 1804; when Messrs. Richards and Smelle are expected to preach. The following Article is copied from a Provincial Paper : "At Leicester assizes, a Mr. W. W. Horne, a preacher of the Antinomian sect, was convicted by a special jury, of uttering, in company, the following seditious expressions :- "We may as well pay a million a year to Buonaparte as to his present Majesty ;" and for drinking the following toast :"Here's to our friends over the water." In the indictment were several other expressions of an equally dangerous tendency. He will be brought up for judgment, in the Court of King's Bench, next term." We are sorry that even one individual should be found to come under the just censure of the law at this momentous period; but when it is considered, that the above criminal, in conjunction with a few others of the same creed, can deliberately speak and write against the law of God, it cannot Ee wondered at that they should violate the laws of man. It is a blessing, however, for society, that such teachers are very rare; and that Dissenters, no less than Epis copalians, mark them, and avoid them. Real religion is "pure, peaceable, full of mercy, and good fruits." POETRY. THE FOUNDLING. The following Poem was occasioned by seeing a poor Infant nearly starved, and who remained as dead for six hours; but was restored to animation by the skill of the Medical Gentleman at whose door it was dropped, and tender17 nursed in the lap of his Lady. O vhat a piteous sight is there! The Ipless victim of despair Mercy's lap reclin'd! Poor, blameless, blighted child of woe, Could sever Nature's ties! And thought the vows sincere She sought in vain relief; And spurn the charge she bore! At a promiscuous door! Yet not promiscuous-Him, unseen, So when a tyrant's cruel breath To sooth his guilty fear, Poor Moses, by the river's side, From sedgy Nile the prophet rose "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why at thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him." As pants, the Hart for cooling streams, With ardent thirst my fainting scul Oft with thy favour'd tribes I went, To pay their solemn vows. With bleeding heart and streaming eyes But darkness circles all thy throne, Were I indeed a child of thine, Hark! 'Tis thy God, thy Saviour's voice; Hope thou in him," whose tender hand Shall wire cach using care His gracious Spirit gives a song. Display'd in Jordan's land; To heal thy wounded heart; Wait then, my soul, with humble faith, Till his appointed hour arrive, And Jesus calls thee home. J. A. K. ON THE LATE REV. JOHN EYRE. Inscribed on the Monumental Stone, in his Chapel, Homerton. Sacred to the Memory of the late Reverend JOHN EYRE, A. M. and Seventeen Years Minister of this Chapel; their grateful remembrance of his important services; were not restrained by the limits of these walls, While Christians of various denominations while they unite to spread the knowledge of Christ his edifying example, and his extensive usefulness, who endows his servants with ability, and honours them with success, His remains are deposited in the vault beneath. |