AN APPEAL TO BRITISH CHRISTIANS. How much has already been accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit accompanying our efforts, the following facts will show. Germany was, at the commencement of our labors, sunk in Rationalism and Scepticism; and it was only here and there that a faithful testimony was given from the pulpits of the land to the divinity of our adorable Redeemer, the efficacy of his blood and righteousness, the personality of the Holy Spirit, or the eternity of future punishment. With such a state of things amongst the clergy, it may well be imagined that the religious condition of the population generally was deplorable in the ex treme. But God had purposes of mercy towards our land: and, in accordance with his general mode of accomplishing these purposes, he employed also in this instance the feeblest instrumentality. It was towards the close of the year 1823 that the writer commenced his labors at Hamburg. He had just then formed a connection with the Continental Society as their missionary, and in his journal of January 4th, 1824, he wrote, and transmitted to the Secretary, the late Rev. Isaac Saunders, Rector of Blackfriars, as follows: Last Sabbath I held the first meeting; ten persons attended; this evening about eighteen were present. Read the 55th chapter of Isaiah; afterwards spoke a few words from verse 1, on the blessings offered, and the freeness of them. I is sown in weakness the Lord may raise in pray that what power.'-Sixth Report of the Continental Society, 1824. The sigh of the then warm-hearted, but inexperienced youth, has been heard. The seed scattered with a trembling hand has been watered by gracious outpourings of the Holy Spirit. have since heard the glad tidings of Millions salvation, and many thousand sinners have been savingly converted, and rescued from eternal misery. But the principles of religious liberty were not acknowledged in Germany; and no sooner was the fact known to the clergy, that so-called religious conventicles were held, than the civil authorities were put in motion to stop them. Threats, fines, confiscation of property, imprisonment, and banish 15 ment, became the order of the day, and have been experienced, with few exceptions, by our missionaries and colporteurs, and the brethren generally. So that during twenty years I had to preach with locked doors, for fear, not of the Jews, but of the Christians. My missionary tours were usually made at night, to elude the vigilance of the police and gens d'armes. It was generally in midnight hours, when the silence of death reigned around, that the converts were examined, and led to some neighboring stream to be buried with Christ in baptism, and that under the roof of some humble cottage the church was organised, the Lord's death commemorated, and the bishop, teacher, or deacon ordained. Before break of day I had to be on my way to the frontiers. The work was, however, from God, and therefore the combined civil and ecclesiastical powers opposed to it could not retard. its progress. In 1834 the church at Hamburg was formed of only seven believers, and now seventy churches-all formed on the model of the first church at Jerusalem, as recorded in Acts ii-have arisen, not only in Germany, but also in Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, and France. Some 20,000 precious souls have experienced the divine power of the gospel on their hearts, through the labors of these churches. A large number have already joined the saints in light, whilst between 6,000 and 7,000 remain until this day recommending the gospel by lip and life to the perishing multitudes around them. Among the converts are many from Romanism, and also a few of the descendants of Abraham. In the high mountains of Silesia, one of our churches consists entirely of converted Romanists. Our preaching stations exceed 500. The brethren engaged exclusively in Missionary labor and colportage are 80, and a large number of other brethren aid in preaching the word at the stations. The annual sale of the Holy Scriptures (without the Apocrypha, still circulated by the Continental Societies) varies from 70,000 to 90,000 copies, and the Tract circulation will reach in the present year fully 1,000,000. Of the Scriptures 600,000 copies, and of 16 HYMNS BY A DEPARTED SAINT. Evangelical Tracts upwards of 8,000,000, have been issued from the depôt at Hamburg since its establishment. Our prospects are encouraging as to the future, inasmuch as the spirit of persecution is gradually yielding to the conviction that our members rank amongst the most loyal subjects of the different States. New fields of labor are constantly opening before us, and we are thus encouraged to believe that this Mission is destined to accomplish far greater things in the general diffusion of the gospel, and in the conversion of sinners to Christ, than those already achieved. Having stated these simple facts, I commend the cause once more to the generous support and fervent prayers of all real Christians who may read these lines. I am, my dear brethren, yours in the best of bonds, J. G. ONCKEN, Pastor of the Baptist Church, Hamburg. Cossey Cottage, Hampstead, Dec. 12th, 1856. Annual Subscriptions and Donations will be received by Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, and Co., 54, Lombard Street; at the Baptist Mission House, 33, Moorgate Street; and by Mr. Wilkin, 136, Long Acre, London, to be placed to the credit of J. G. Oncken, on behalf of the German Mission.' P.S. Pastors of churches are respectfully requested to read the above appeal to their congregations. [We have received the following communication in reference to Mr. Oncken's Appeal, which we willingly insert, and trust that it will meet with a hearty and liberal response.—ED] To the Editor of the Gospel Herald. SIR-We request the insertion in your columns of the enclosed copy of a Resolution adopted by the Committee of the Baptist Union on the 8th instant, in relation to the appeal now in progress in this country, by the Rev. J. G. Oncken, on behalf of the German Mission. Your kindness will oblige, yours faithfully, J. H. HINTON, 'RESOLVED:-That this Committee_give to their beloved brother, the Rev. J. G. Oncken, a most cordial welcome, and express their unfeigned sympathy in those urgent necessities of the German Mission, which have occasioned his present journey. They earnestly commend his appeal to the kind and liberal regard, not of members of their own denomination only, but to that of all lovers and promoters of the gospel of Christ.' HYMNS BY A DEPARTED SAINT. To the Editor of the Gospel Herald. MY DEAR SIR-I forward, for insertion in your valuable magazine, the following hymns, written by Miss Ann Smith, of Bosworth, Leicestershire, who died, September, 1775. Her funeral sermon was preached October 1st, by the Rev. Robert Hall, of Arsby. Two of the hymns were sung before the sermon, and two read by Mr. Hall, in the course of the sermon. For the information of some of your readers, I may add, that the associations of the place where this dear young woman, and humble servant of God, breathed out her soul to her Lord, are very remarkable. Bosworth Field was the scene of a sanguinary and eventful conflict, and is a term that has become familiar to all readers of English history. On the 22nd of August, 1485, a battle was fought at this place between the forces of Richard III, and Henry Earl of Richmond, representatives of the houses of York and Lancaster. The army of Richard was defeated, his cause overthrown, himself slain, and his crown, almost the only honor he had ever possessed, was trampled in the dust. Thus were the Wars of the Roses,' ended. Exceeded in political importance only by the battle of Hastings, of all that preceded the wars of the Commonwealth, the scene of this eventful struggle is a place of great repute, and any relic of that blood-stained victory is regarded with antiquarian curiosity, and preserved with patriotic care. The noise of that strife has died away, and the spirits of the fallen brave are in the unseen world, a few only of the thousands that then fell having left their names to posterity. Now the jocund ploughman drives his team a-field,' and the bellowing oxen and bleating flocks, get their life where thousands met their death, and though more than seventy years have elapsed since the following hymns were composed, methinks I can now see Biographical Sketches. THE LATE MR. WILLIAM REYNOLDS. WILLIAM REYNOLDS, the subject of this memoir, was born on the 19th of February, 1788, at Ripstone, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. His parents were both partakers of divine grace, and paid strict regard to the morals of their children. When about six years of age, he was seriously impressed with the thought of death and judgment. Subsequently, when about eight years old, he had a very awful dream, which made a lasting impression on his mind, and led him frequently to pray that the Lord would pardon his sins. In referring to this he has observed― I prayed sincerely and fervently; it was not the love of Christ that drew me, but the fear of hell that drove me to it. Sin was still my element, but I had too much light to enjoy it, and no real religion to afford me consolation,' At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed in London, and, in compliance with his father's request, attended the ministry of the word at The Tabernacle,' Tottenham Court Road. There, under the ministry of the late Mr. John Hyatt, his mind was much enlightened, as it regarded the sovereignty of God, and the doctrine of election; yet for some time he was a stranger to the power of vital godliness. In the month of December, 1806, he went to the chapel much earlier than usual, about half an hour before the commencement of public worship, and near where he took his seat two female friends (one of whom he afterwards married) were conversing upon religious topics. The inconsistencies of some professors of religion were noticed, and the true character of the Christian set forth. These remarks very forcibly impressed him, as he had for some time past attended the house of God on Lord's day mornings, and spent the afternoon in some kind of worldly pleasure. He now saw it was impossible to serve two masters-God in the morning and Satan in the afternoon. He was also convinced he had never served God aright, that he had vainly attempted to enjoy the carnal pleasures of this world in connection with religion, and that his heart was unchanged by God's grace. He now began to under stand salvation was all of God, and earnestly prayed that he would form his soul anew. His cry was, 'Lord, save, I perish.' The word of God now opened to his enlightened understanding, he read it with new eyes, and attended the ministry of it with eager desire. When hearing the character of the new-born soul set forth, he was enabled to trace his own features, felt his heart soften, repentance flow, hope and love increase, and enjoyed gospel liberty. The sixty-third Psalm was much on his mind at this time, containing, as it did, a true description of his feelings. He continued to hear Mr. Hyatt, under whose ministry he was led to see his interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and feeling a desire to commemorate the love of his Divine Master at his table, he was admitted a communicant in the year 1809, and continued in that connection until the year 1812. By the request of a friend one evening in May, 1810, he went to hear the late Mr. Keeble, at Blandford Street, London, and 18 THE LATE MR. W. REYNOLDS. from the impressive manner of the preacher, and unctious flow of gospel truth he delivered, was induced occasionally to attend that place of worship. He found Mr. Keeble's ministry much sounder in doctrine, and deeper in experience, than any he had before heard. At that time the subject of baptism had not much engaged his thoughts, but in the year 1811 he witnessed the administration of that ordinance, and was led to the New Testament for information on the subject. He was baptised by Mr. Keeble, and received into the fellowship of the church at Blandford Street on the first Lord's day in April, 1813. Here he found a peaceful happy home, and the ministry of the word was much blessed to him. In the year 1811 he was married to Miss Mary Mason, who had also become a member of the same church. She was a person of great discernment, eminently spiritually minded, and proved a very valuable companion. In the month of July, 1817, he began to speak in the name of the Lord. The church having invited him to speak before them with a view to the public ministry, he acceded to their request, after much prayer, and in humble dependance on divine aid. He continued to preach to them twice or thrice every month, to the end of November, when they gave him a cordial and unanimous call to the ministerial office, saying, 'Go, preach the gospel wherever the Lord shall send you.' In the month of February, 1818, he was called to preach at Ipswich, Suffolk, to a few members from each of the Baptist Churches there (Stoke Green and Salem), who were united in church fellowship, and met for worship in a chapel originally built for the Methodist body. In the month of November following he was unanimously elected to the pastoral office, and was publicly set apart on the tenth of that month, when Mr. Keeble delivered a very impressive charge from 2 Tim. ii, 7. For a short time the church prospered; nine persons were baptised, three of whom were given as seals to his ministry; but a prospect fair was blighted, discord entered, which ultimately proved the overthrow of the church. The doors were closed, and the chapel converted into dwelling houses. A lamentable fact! At this time the Baptist Church at Wattisham, Suffolk, was without a pastor, and invited Mr. Reynolds to supply for them four Lord's days, in December, 1819. The cause of Christ there, at that time, was very low, the congregation consisted of only fifty or sixty persons, the church was divided, and the chapel very dilapidated. He accepted the invitation, and at the end of that time received a further invitation for three months, and subsequently for six months longer, when the congregation had greatly increased. In the summer of 1820 the chapel was well filled, a spirit of love and unity pervaded the church, and they cordially and unanimously invited Mr. Reynolds to the pastoral office, which he accepted. Here the Lord greatly blessed his labors, and during the next four years sixty-two persons were baptised and added to the church, which was now restored to peace and unity. Sinners were converted, backsliders restored, and members were received from other churches from dismission; so that in the beginning of the year 1825 the church numbered about one hundred and sixty members. The old chapel now became too straight to contain those who flocked to Zion's holy gates, and, consequently, it was resolved to remove the old building and erect a new one on the same site, which was done, and opened for divine service, August 2nd, 1825, when the late Mr. John Stevens of London, and Mr. C. Elven of Bury, preached. During the next two years the cause of Christ continued to prosper. In the year 1827 the church sustained a great loss, by the death of Mrs. Susanna Pearson. After that time a wintry season ensued. The word of God, although faithfully preached, was not attended with such marked indications of the Divine blessing. We now come to an important part of Mr. Reynolds's history. In the early part of the year 1829 he received a letter from the Baptist Church at Hull, inviting him to supply them for a month, they having recently lost their pastor by death, to which Mr. Reynolds replied, that he had no intention of leaving his present sphere of labor, but as they kindly offered to pay his travelling expenses, he would supply for them three Lord's days, and collect what he could at Hull and its environs, towards the chapel debt at Wattisham. To this proposal they assented, and Mr. Reynolds named the arrangement to one of his deacons, who acquiesced. When the time came for him to go to Hull, he found all the deacons, except the aforesaid, unacquainted with his intention, he having forgotten to name it to his brethren in office. They, consequently, were much surprised, and one of them strongly opposed it. This gave rise to much misunderstanding and contention. Mr. Reynolds felt his mind wounded and uncomfortable, and hastily came to the conclusion that the Lord was saying unto him, 'Depart hence.' THE LATE MB. W. REYNOLDS. From the church at Hull he received a pressing invitation to go and preach the gospel to them, and on the 29th of December, 1829, he started from Wattisham for that place. He left a kind and an affectionate people, most of whom deeply lamented his departure; and when he calmly considered the past, he felt convinced that he had greatly erred in removing from that place, where his labors had been so signally blessed, and greatly feared the Lord would chastise him for the same; nor were his fears groundless, as he was never again so happy in his work, nor his ministry so useful. How needful is it that the Christian, and especially the minister of the gospel, should act with caution, as one wrong step, although overruled for some good, may prove a lasting source of At Hull Mr. Reynolds met with very kind friends, some of whom are still living, and during his last affliction often testified their unabated affection to him. During his short stay at Hull, which was about two years, sixteen persons were baptised, and added to the church; but the cause of Christ there suffered much from the ravages of the cholera on the continent in the year 1831, which greatly affected the commercial interests of this town; and this, with the failure of the whale fishery at that time, caused great distress; the church and congregation became unable to meet the current expenses, which were very heavy (the chapel being rented), and they, consequently, came to an understanding with Mr. Reynolds, that as soon as a door in Providence opened, he should be at liberty to leave. In the beginning of the year 1832 he removed to Willingham, Cambs., having received an invitation from the church there. He found them in a very divided and unhappy state. Hoping, however, that a brighter scene would dawn, he continued to labor amongst them until May 1833, when he left, not without having had some tokens of the divine blessing on his ministry. In the month of July following, the Lord directed his steps to Sudbury, Suffolk, where the church was very low, the people had been scattered, and there was a debt of two hundred pounds on the chapel. Everything looked gloomy, but to prevent the chapel from being closed (which was then feared), he determined, in dependance on the Lord, to go there, and continue until the Michaelmas, which he did; the congregation increased during that time, and signs of usefulness appeared. He continued to labor there until the year 1837, and during the four years twentyeight persons were baptised, the pewing of the chapel was completed, a yestry added, a 19 small burying ground purchased, and the old debt reduced to one hundred and fifty pounds. Pecuniary circumstances, however, induced Mr. Reynolds to remove from this sphere of labor, as he found if he continued there he must be prepared to make further sacrifices, which he was unwilling to do, having already expended a considerable sum, which he had received from a private source. The Baptist Church at Clare was at that time without a pastor, and in the summer of 1838 they gave Mr. Reynolds a unanimous invitation to the pastorate, which he accepted, and continued there until the summer of 1841. During the early part of his ministry at that place, the preached word was greatly blessed, sinners were born of God, and believers greatly edified and established in the great truths of the gospel; but the spirit of contention entered the church, and after a stay of just four years, Mr. Reynolds resigned his office as pastor. On his removal from Clare, he was called to preach the gospel at London Street, Greenwich, and afterwards at Eynsford, Kent. At both these places for a time the word was blessed. At Greenwich he was called to sustain a severe loss in the decease of his wife, who died November 3rd, 1843. (A short memoir appeared in the GOSPEL HERALD and Primitive Church Magazine for January, 1844.) In the year 1846, when at Eynsford, he again married, to his now bereaved companion, who proved a great comfort to him in his long affliction and declining age, and who is now left with an infant charge to mourn his loss. In the year 1851 he removed to Otley, in Suffolk, but after a very brief stay there he removed to March, in the Isle of Ely, Cambs. Here he preached in the old chapel, called 'The Tabernacle,' where he found the prospect very gloomy. The church consisted of only nine persons, and the congregation reduced to fifty. He was favored there to gather a congregation, and to see a Lord's-day school established, numbering seventy children. But in the commencement of the year 1855 he was taken with loss of memory whilst preaching, which his medical adviser treated as apoplexy. It being now evident that a long time must elapse before he would be able again to resume his public duties, in the month of June he resigned the pastoral office. He then removed to Stowmarket, Suffolk. where one of his daughters resided, hoping that change of air, and rest, would be the means of restoring his health. The Benevolent Society, for the relief of aged ministers and their widows, in that county, having |