OUR BRITISH BAPTIST CHURCHES.

MR. BLOOMFIELD BAPTISING.

MR. EDITOR,-For several weeks I have heard with delight and profit, Mr. John Bloomfield, minister of Salem Chapel, Meard's Court, Soho. His language is chaste and good; his action in the pulpit is natural and attractive; his reasonings are sound and conclusive. He is grave and earnest; but frequently gets too loud. It is a pity men are

not more cautious to avoid this fault.

The sermon which pleased me very much, although I hope I have profited by several, was one on believer's baptism, on the last Sabbath evening of November. Many said, "what a glorious sermon we have had tonight!" The chapel was crowded; the congregation greatly impressed with the impassioned eloquence, and conclusive reasoning of the preacher on the subject of baptism. think the Baptist ministers keep this ordinance too much in the back ground. Mr. Bloomfield's text was from Acts viii. 12. After some very sententious observations on persecution, he said his text suggested three divisions. The first, the matter of Phillip's preaching. The reception of his ministry; and, the evidence of his ministry being believed, he preached Christ. He preached the person of Christ,-the work of Christ,--the word of Christ-and the laws of Christ. In the preaching of Phillip, Christ was "all and in all." The preacher shewed how Phillip's preaching was received. His ministry was attended by the sovereign grace and almighty power of the Spirit of God. The preacher here spoke upon faith as a supernatural principle-as an operative principle-and as a distinctional principle. His views of faith were instructive and consolatory. Then the evidence of their believing the ministry. Here Mr. B. seemed wholly in his element. He expounded the Scriptures on Baptism very powerfully. There was a manliness, an earnestness, and affection in his manner, that had great weight with the people.

After the sermon, which was a long one, Mr. B. baptised four men and two women. It was an impressive occasion. The minister seemed quite exhausted, preaching as he did, with all his heart and strength. I thought I should like to see them received into the followship of the church on the following Sabbath-day, the first Lord's-day in December. Mr. B. addressed them all very solemnly and affectionately. He told them, they came into the church when it was in peace and unity, and he hoped they would never be suffered to break the peace of the church. He took each one by the hand, and gave a Scriptural promise and caution to each. I should think there were 300 people at the ordinance, and they looked united, happy, and prosperous. What arduous fellowships--what wonderful grace! God grant that this man

of God, may long be devoted, heart and soul,
to his work, and that his people may hold up
his hand by prayer and sympathy! Your's
in the Gospel,
C. JACKSON.

MOUNT ZION CHAPEL, CHADWELL ST., CLERKENWELL. Ar the expiration of another most eventful year of time, we, as a church, are laid under greater obligations than ever to raise another His goodness in providence and grace has Ebenezer to the great God of all our mercies. continued unceasingly to flow through another year. His gracious purposes have been unfolded to our admiring view in blessing his own word to the ingathering of many enthroned Immanuel has been increased; precious souls. The visible kingdom of our and, blessings on his name, he has not left his servant to labour in vain, or spend his strength for nought. Anointed with fresh oil from time to time, he has been enabled sweetly to set forth the love, thoughts, and

acts of Israel's Triune God. Immanuel's

glorious Person, finished work, matchless grace, atoning blood, justifying righteousness and never-fading beauties, have been faithfully, fully, and constantly proclaimed, and not without effect. The Holy Ghost has accompanied the preaching of Christ with saving power to many hearts.

our pastor baptised nine believers in the name On the last Lord's-day in November last, of Father, Son and Spirit. It was a solemn and sacred season; the place was crowded. Our pastor spoke upon the occasion from the question contained in Exodus xii. 26,— What mean ye by this service ?”

not mean. First, not baptismal regeneration. He shewed, in the 1st place, what we do Second, not the removal of sin. Third, not to erect, as a stepping-stone to heaven. Fourth, not to exclude cruelly the people of God. Fifth, not to cherish a perpetual spirit of disunion.

In the 2nd place he shewed what we do mean, in the following particulars. First, we mean to shew that we bow to the sceptre of the King of Zion King Immanuel. Second, to shew the rise and foundation of our hopes-the deep sorrows and sufferings of our Lord.

Baptisin sets forth our faith in the Saviour's qualifications; the voluntary nature of his sufferings; the obligations of the Saviour. To shew our faith in the willingness of the Father to baptise Christ: to shew also that the atonement of Christ is perfect. He died once; we are baptised once.

The remarks made were weighty and solemn; and doubtless found their way into many a heart with a convincing power that the origin of the institution was Divine.

On Lord's-day, December 9th, we held our second anniversary of the opening of Chad

On the following Tuesday evening we held our annual tea meeting-a most spiritual, harmonious, happy and interesting meeting it was. We have been peculiarly favoured before; but think this was the best meeting of the kind we have had in Chadwell Street.

About 300 friends took tea together. The subjects spoken from were very interesting. Mr. Milner, upon the "Manna in the Wilderness." Mr. Mote, "The Brazen Serpent." Mr. Palmer, "The Ark of the Testimony." Mr. Murrell, "The Cloudy Pillar." Mr. Wyard, "The Smitten Rock." Mr. Newborne, "The Year of Jubilee." Mr. Aldiss concluded with a few congratulatory remarks upon our prosperity as a church. The Spirit of Christ, the great Antitype of all the subjects, evidently rested upon the speakers, and pervaded the meeting.

"Behold! how truly good

And pleasant 'tis to see

The children of our Father God

In friendship all agree."

Through the year, we've been refreshed
Oft, in hearing sinners tell
How to them the Word was blessed,
Snatching them as brands from hell.
Satan oft has been defeated

In attempts to do us harm;
As a flock, we've been defended
By our Shepherd's mighty arm.
Peace by him has been maintained;
Round us he his wings hath spread,
And our souls have been sustained
All the year with living bread.
Sure we are to him indebted
For such gracious, constant care!
To his name be all the glory!
Goodness crowns another year.

SAXMUNDHAM.

MY DEAR SIR,-You will excuse my saying, a feeling came over me to-day while reading the VESSEL, how many changes you must have had in eleven years past, since you launched the little EARTHEN VESSEL for the first time on the troubled ocean of this world; yet amidst all the tossings, it has still been borne up, and in many, very many instances, richly laden with heavenly cargo; treasures of life and joy to many a sorrowful soul. It hath shed a light in many a dark corner of this world, and in the more dark corner of many a poor sinner's heart: and I am thankful that you have been thus enabled amidst all your trials, to keep it sailing; and it rejoiced my heart to find in the December number, you feel much on account of some very unpleasant and unsavoury food, such as makes some of the children of Zion very sick, and often have I heard them say, "Oh, what a sweet morsel I Thus, amidst all that is distressing in the got reading that living testimony of God's world, and exercising in the professing church eternal truth, in such a piece in the VESSEL! of Christ, what a mercy to know, the founda- But you do not know how I felt under that tion of God standeth sure, having this seal,other piece,-that controversy-so and so.' "The Lord knoweth them that are his;" he Now, you speak of devoting more time to look is collecting the materials for mercy's build-over the cargo for the future, and right glad ing. "Shall come" will soon bring all the family together; and what a meeting will that be-to go no more out for ever!

During the past year, the Lord has added to our number thirty-nine: twenty-one by Baptism, and eighteen, most of whom have been out of church fellowship for years, seeking a home.

Thus, another Ebenezer,

As a favoured church, we raise,
To our covenant Jehovah !

He alone deserves the praise.
Ever since we've been together,
Mercies have not ceased to flow;
To our King, our Head and Saviour,
All we have, we feel we owe.
On the little garden, planted

By Jehovah's sovereign hand,
Showers of blessings have been falling;
Trophies of his grace we stand.
Kept as one in grace relation,
By the truth abiding fast,
Jesus and his great salvation,

All of grace from first to last.
God has kindly helped his servant
His great love-acts to declare;
And while truth has been proclaimed,
Has his holy arm made bare.

will be many of its readers to see an improvement; that is, let it carry such freight as will be calculated, under God, to be instructing to the ignorant, joy to the sorrowful, liberty to the bound, light to the dark, and life to the dead and God will bless it.

I have often felt much for you in the midst of your other business, travelling and preaching, with one here and another there writing you angry letters, and it has made me think and say, Who would be an editor? Yet I believe God has paid you in the work. Amidst all some good hath been done here, and some soul hath been blessed there. Enemies have been stirred up on the right hand and on the left. And thus God hath been working amidst it all; and the great enemy of all hath heard of it. So then, he must send his agents to make a noise here, and find fault there; but all to little purpose, for the Lord hath his men, his ministers, his people, and he will work by them. His counsel shall stand, he will do all his pleasure. May you be encouraged by his presence, and by an increase of grace and peace in your own soul, and by

a greater and more extensive circulation of the VESSEL, is the desire of my heart. And as you know our cause is very young, we only were formed into a church last Good Friday, and a blessed day we had, you are witness. We intend taking the VESSEL next year, a few of us, and our friend and brother Mr. Daniel Carriage, will thank you to make up a little parcel of twelve copies, for January, 1856, (he hath engaged to be agent in this town, if you please) and God grant that he may increase the number, and may God's blessing attend the reading of them.

healed; what love they have to Jesus and his people and ways.

On Lord's-day we attended to the despised ordinance of believer's baptism, when five poor sinners were not ashamed to follow their Lord in his own blessed ordinance, nor ashamed to sing, "Jesus is not ashamed of me." In the afternoon we received them into full communion, with a sister from another church, making six on that occasion, and three baptised and added before, making since chapel opening, eight baptised, beside some who had been baptised before. You prayed we might increase; we have a little. I hope we shall get more and more of such as shall be eternally saved. I am glad to hear of any prosperity among the churches; and God grant we may here get more and more, for the enemy is ever on the watch, to distress and cast down. May the Lord lift up the fallen, cheer the faint, and cause his ministers and his saints to bless him, for ever and ever. I am, dear brother, in the bonds of everlasting love, yours truly in him,

Blaxhall, Dec. 10th, 1855.

CARMEL CHAPEL,

W. DAY.

I thought perhaps you would like to hear a little about our little cause here. I must say, since you was here God hath been very gracious to us. Sometimes we are obliged to sing out, "how great things the Lord hath done, whereof we are glad!" Some solemn impressions were made on the day the church was formed, that cannot be erased, nor do we wish they ever should. I must say, when our little house was opened, by our highly esteemed brother Wells, now a little more than twelve months,-in November, 1854,--God did indeed send him with a message, and he felt liberty in his soul, and very happy in his work. The day will be long remembered. And I heard a man, a stranger to us, who came from afar, say on that day, "This house will be for the discontented, and those deep in debt, and in distress, like the Cave Adullam." My heart said, Lord grant it may be so. And we have had some come among us so deep in debt and nothing to pay with, that they have been so distressed in their poor souls, and so discontented and dissatisfied with themselves; but the Lord hath made them satisfied with a free discharge, and made them sing, "This makes Sovereign mercy dear, and Jesus all in all." Our brother Grey has for some time been unable to attend by reason of affliction, but his heart is with us, and he lays on his bed, and weeps for joy when he hears of the bless- He is too wise to err. Mr. Hanks, late of ing souls receive under the Word. May the Manchester commenced his stated labours Lord restore him again, if it is his blessed will. here last December, 1854. He came in the We have had some of late come before the fulness of time and in the fulness of the Goschurch, whose first conviction seems made on pel; for the word through him hath been the Good Friday, when the little church was power of God unto salvation, a gracious outformed here. Oh what a solemn day that was! pouring from on high hath been vouchsafed, I think every member and many besides, will and the little hill of Carmel hath blossomed long remember how the Lord blessed his Word as the rose and yielded a thousand sweets. on that day; and I think my brother could Here the Lord hath met with the careless sinindeed say, "My heart is enlarged." God ner; here, glory be to his name, he hath met grant us many such days in his Zion below. the hungry and thirsty souls and fed them Our brother Felton was with us on Monday, with the bread of life, here the mourners have November 19th: we had a tea meeting,-a been comforted, here the weak and wavering kind of anniversary. Our little chapel was have been strengthened and established. Infull, and very comfortable indeed; and in the deed, there has been such a gracious outpourevening brother Felton was very sweet in his ing of blessings that our little chapel hath been preaching. God was indeed with him, and he full of his glory. did indeed tell us of dropping heavens and opening earth, and skies dropping righteousness; and every dear brother that hath been with us, speaking in his dear name, hath declared what liberty they enjoy in speaking among us; and I believe the reason is plain, the Lord is with us, "the God of Jacob is our Refuge; a very present help in trouble." I am sure it hath warmed my heart to hear poor sinners come, and tell how they were

NEW ROAD, WOOLWICH. THIS cause of truth has miraculously risen. Seven years ago about six God-fearing men met in a room for prayer; it is evident by signs that have followed that God was with them. After meeting together thus a short period, they where induced to take the present chapel, which they opened with fervent prayer. Israel's God was with them and inclined the hearts of faith ful ministers to occupy the pulpit, which continued until the Lord in answer to prayer sent them a pastor. The right man in the right place and at the right time, thus demonstrating to us Divine order in providence as in grace.

During the past year about 27 have been added to the church, there are now 10 candidates who have declared to the church what the Lord hath done for them, amongst them is a serjeant in the army whose account of God's dealings with him are mysterious and won. drous, which account I hope to forward you in detail, which I am sure will interest the living in Zion, and lead them to say as it hath the church here, is not this a brand plucked

from the burning? What hath God wrought? | was advanced by persons who are now either Is any thing too hard for the Lord? members of the church here, or regular The church and real friends to the cause met worshippers with us. last Monday Dec. 10 to commemorate Mr. Hanks's entrance amongst them, and to praise the Lord for his goodness in sending a pastor after his own heart, who hath so fully fed them with wisdom and knowledge.

That meeting was a sweet soul-cheering and soul-reviving season; many of the friends spoke the feelings of their hearts freely and demonstrated that God was in them of a truth. May Israel's God be with you in your work of faith and labour of love.

J. B.

"The debt of £25, incurred in furnishing the little place, before referred to, having been paid off, and the building finished, it was opened for public worship on the 14th of January, 1853; and shortly after this a church was formed here upon Gospel principles, consisting of twenty-eight members, and ultimately our dear brother, now in the chair, became our ordained pastor; and all went on well for the first two years, or thereabouts, during which time we were enabled to pay about £90 off our debt. But unhappily, about this time, a state of things developed itself, which is at once too painful, and too notorious amongst our friends to need more MR EDITOR.-The following are the par- than the most cursory reference in this ticulars of a very delightful Tea and Public report; the more especially, as we have the Meeting held at Garner," on Tuesday even-happiness of knowing that this state of things ing 27th November; as your readers have not heard any thing of us for some time, my brethren hope this may prove interesting.

GARNER BAPTIST CHAPEL,

CLAPHAM.

The meeting was convened for the two-fold purpose of strengthening the spirit of unity which, through the goodness of our God, now reigns amongst the friends at Garner; and also for putting into operation some systematic means for the gradual reduction of the heavy debt upon the chapel. These being the avowed objects of the meeting, our friends were on the alert to insure the comfort of those who might favour us with their company; and at half-past 5 o'clock we had the pleasure of seeing 160 persons sit down to tea with us, The tea being over, the chapel filled, and our pastor having taken the chair, the public service opened by singing

"Kindred in Christ for His dear sake," &c. Our brother Edgcombe besought the Divine blessing, after which, our Secretary read a report of the progress of the cause since its foundation, as follows:

was

"CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,-This cause founded on Lord's-day, December 14th, 1851, by the opening of a small upper room, in a little back street in this neighbourhood, which was fitted up, and made as comfortable as our means would allow, at a cost of about £25; in which room the glorious Gospel of our more glorious Reedeemer was faithfully preached by various ministering brethren, who were kind enough to come and supply for us, until the month of April following, when our present pastor, brother Elven, made his appearance amongst us, and his ministry was so blest to the souls of the people, that this little place became too strait for us. And an eligible plot of ground having offered itself, a lease of it was taken by some of the brethren. Upon this piece of ground it was then proposed to build a small chapel, at a cost of about £500 or £600. But, however, by the time we had done building, we found we had incurred a debt of £1248 10s. 8d., £848 of which sum (for the purpose of paying the builder) was raised by loans from various of our friends, in amounts varying from £230, down to £5 each, bearing interest at five per ocnt.; nearly the whole of which latter sum

is now numbered amongst the things that are past, and we believe that we have now the satisfaction of recording, to the honour of our God, that the pastor, deacon, and people at Garner, dwell together as the head of one man, having but one, or rather a triune purpose in view, the glory of God our Heavenly Father, the prosperity of his church, and the good of souls generally. And thus we feel, that we are now in a position, with the blessing of the Lord upon the means we may be led to adopt, to make a long pull, -a strong pull,-and what is better than all,-a puli ALTOGETHER, at the heavy debt upon this place. And as our dear Lord has favoured us with token upon token that this is a spiritual vineyard, of his right hand planting, we are helped with some degree of confidence to believe that the same God, to whom also belongeth the silver and the gold, will enable us honorably to meet every just claim against us, and that in the event, we shall have to raise another Ebenezer to our God, and record to you the fact that this great financial mountain has become a plain before our much greater

Zerubabel.

"In conclusion we beg to state, that since the formation of this branch of the visible church the number of its members has increased to about double its original number, after deducting those few who have been removed from us by death or otherwise; besides which, we have now several others waiting to join us-some being from other churches, and some being recently given seals to the ministry of our dear pastor, who are waiting to follow their Divine Lord and Master through the sweet waters of believers' baptism; so that, under existing circumstances, setting the good over against the evil, our encouragements over against our disencouragements, we feel constrained to say that all things have hitherto worked together for our good-The Lord having done great things for us, whereof we are glad.'"

The chairman then called upon our brother Wells to address the meeting, which, in his usual vivacious, instructive and forcible manner he did, to the edification of many present. Brethren Banks, Wyard, Edgcombe, and

Mr. Winslow set forth Jesus Christ as the church's salvation, redemption, and final glorification. He also threw out some very encouraging things for the people of God, very clearly drawing a line of distinction between those who are interested in the all-important theme of redemption, and those who are not. It has also been my mercy to go and speak to them in my weak way several times; and II think they are a people in whom the love of God has been shed abroad; and are united