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on behalf of our distressed brethren | your honourable House to reject its warmest thanks both to the comevery proposal which may contemmittee and to the subscribers they plate any alteration of the recent represent for the timely help; while policy of this country towards the it hails the spirit in which that help States of America. was given as an expression of brotherly love, and as a means of drawing the two sections of the Baptist body into closer and more practical union.'

The subject of slavery in the Confederate States of America provoked a warm and interesting discussion, the Revs. T. W. Mathews, T. Goadby, J. F. Winks, J. B. Pike, S. Allsop, and others taking part. Afterwards the following resolution was agreed to:

1. That it is with grief and indignation this Association has learned that ministers of religion of various denominations, including Baptists, in the Southern States of North America, have issued a manifesto appealing for sympathy to all Christians throughout the world, in their maintenance of slavery. That this Association do, in the most emphatic manner, record their protest against this most unjust and impious principle.

2. That, in view of Mr. Roebuck's motion to be presented to the House of Commons on the 30th | of this month, for the recognition by this country of the slaveholding Confederacy, it is the duty of this Association to aid the expression of public opinion, by petitioning the honourable House against such proposal.

"That the following petition, therefore, be signed on behalf of this Association by its chairman and secretary, and be forwarded for presentation:

"The petition of the Association of General Baptist churches, assembled from various parts of the kingdom at their annual meeting, held at Nottingham, June 25, 1863,

"Humbly sheweth,

"That your petitioners highly approve of the conduct of Her Majesty's Goverment, in hitherto declining intervention in the present quarrel in America; and entreat

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And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.""

A right loyal and dutiful address of congratulation to the Prince of Wales on his auspicious marriage was also adopted. G. Stevenson, Esq., Solicitor, of Leicester, gave some valuable suggestions in regard to chapel deeds, and their registry, and advised caution in adopting the provisions of Sir Morton Peto's Act. The claims and stability of the National Society for the support of Aged and Infirm Baptist Ministers were advocated by Rev. B. C. Young, a deputation, and were ably supported in a lucid speech by Rev. James Martin, B.A., of Nottingham, one of the committee. An address from the Temperance Societies of Notting ham was ordered to lie on the table.

Of purely denominational business the most important of Thursday afternoon's sitting was the proposal to publish by subscription a series of volumes containing selections from the writings of General Baptist authors of the past and the present centuries. The committee appointed to consider the subject made the following report:

'After considering various sugges tions the committee recommend-1. That the series of volumes be published by subscription on the responsibility of the Association or its committee, and that the price do not exceed 3s. 6d. per volume. 2. That the series be completed not later than 1870, the hundredth anniversary of the

denomination. 3. That it be called the "Centenary Memorial Library." 4. That the volumes be assigned as follows:-One to the early General Baptists; one to the Taylors; one to the Deacons, their contemporaries, and immediate successors, including the names of Freeston, Felkin, Orton, Pickering, &c.; one to Mr. Pike and the early mission

The Rev. James Sherman.

aries; one to the names of Jarrom, Wallis, Jones, Stevenson, Goadby, &c.; and one to the annual Circular Letters. 5. That the first volume be ready next year, if a sufficient number of subscribers can be obtained, and that prospectuses be issued as soon as possible." On the reception and adoption of the report it was suggested that an additional volume be issued containing an historical review of the denominational history for the century.

The secretary announced that the statistics of the year showed additions of over 1,600 members, but a clear increase of only about 450. The total number of members in the Connexion is not quite 21,400.

Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman, vice-chairman, assistant secretary, preachers, and the friends at Nottingham. It would be ungrateful not especially to acknowledge the kind and judicious forethought of the friends at Broad-street to secure the comfort

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of the ministers and delegates. The chapel was often rendered oppressively hot through the large attendance, and the noises in the street hard by were a perpetual annoyance; but when it was proposed to adjourn to a larger chapel, the brethren at once showed their appreciation of the kindness of the Broad-street friends by consenting, notwithstanding the discomfort and inconvenience, to remain.

The next Association will be held at Boston, Lincolnshire, Rev. R. Ingham, of Vale, Todmorden, to be the chairman; Rev. E. Stevenson, of Loughborough, the morning preacher, or in case of failure, Rev. H. Ashbery, of Sheffield; and Rev. H. Wilkinson the afternoon preacher, or in case of failure, Rev. Giles Hester, of Loughborough. The letter is to be written by Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., the subject to be Amusements and relaxation in relation to Christian Life.

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'And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.'-DANIEL.

'In labours more abundant.'-PAUL.

'Servant of God well done! They serve God well

Who serve His creatures.

What's done is what remains! Ah blessed they

Who have completed tasks of love to stay

And answer mutely for them, being dead!

Life was not purposeless, though life be fled.'-MRS. NORTON.

'We do not believe in the cynical theory that under favourable circumstances feebleness and folly will suffice for popularity. Popular men may say and do foolish things, but no man ever yet gained popular suffrages, much less kept them without corresponding elements of power. Mr. Sherman had not the lofty rhetoric of McAll, nor the intellectual beauty and fervour of Harris, nor the massive force of Angel James, nor the sententious wisdom of Jay, nor the classical brilliancy of Sortain, nor the thrilling passion of James Parsons; but he had a pervading unction, a sympathetic tenderness, a contagious sensibility that were peculiarly his own. His sermons were suffused with feeling that over-powered all indifference and even all criticism.'-ALLON.

MR. ALLON has given to the church an exceedingly interesting and instructive specimen of Religious and Ministerial Biography. It is well conceived, ably written, lively and picturesque in style, and what is best of all, admirably condensed.

Many of our modern religious biographies are spoiled and unfitted to accomplish the object sought in

Memoir of the REV. JAMES SHERMAN, including an unfinished Autobiography. By HENRY ALLON. London: Nisbet and Co., 1863.

their compilation by reason of their extreme bulkiness. Three or four volumes of considerable magnitude on the same subject have a frightening and forbidding aspect.. Comprehensiveness of outline, combined with conciseness of detail, especially in the record of a man's life, are qualities which give a book an inviting aspect and a permanent value. Brevity is not only the soul of wit, but the salvation of wisdom, when that wisdom is embodied in biography.

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themselves a person to represent in whom actions both greater and smaller, public and private have a commixture must of a necessity contain a more true, native, and lively representation.' For Lives,' the same noble author continues, I do find strange that these times have so little esteemed the virtues of the times, as that the writing of lives should be no more frequent. For although there be not many sovereign princes or absolute comamanders, and that states are most collected into monarchies, yet there are many worthy personages that deserve better than dispersed reports or barren elogies. For herein the invention of one of the late poets is proper, and doth well enrich the ancient fiction: for he feigneth, that at the end of the thread or web of every man's life there was a little medal containing the person's name, and that Time waited upon the shears; and as soon as the thread was cut, caught the medals, and carried them to the river of Lethe; and about the bank there were many birds flying up and down, that would get the medals, and carry them in their beak a little while, and then let them fall into the river: only there were a few swans which if they got a name would carry it to a temple, where it was consecrated.'

Religious biographical memorials when well conceived, and well executed, form very entertaining and edifying reading. They are links in the chain of history. Biographical notices give life and freshness to history. Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, and Macaulay's History of England are fascinating and entertaining, not only for the historical details which they contain, but also for the many striking photographs of the distinguished characters which they bring before you.

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History' says Lord Bacon, which may be called, Just and Perfect History, is of three kinds, according to the object which it propoundeth, or pretendeth to represent: for it either representeth a time, or a person, or an action. The first we call Chronicles, the second Lives, and the third Narrations, or Relations. Of these, although the first be the most complete and absolute kind of history, and hath most estimation and glory, yet the second excelleth it in profit and use, and the third in verity and sincerity. For history of times representeth the magnitude of actions, and the public faces and deportments of persons, and passeth over in silence the smaller passages and motions of men and matters.

But such being the workmanship of God, as He doth hang the greatest weight upon the smaller wires, 'maxima è minimis suspendens! it comes therefore to pass, that such histories do rather set forth the pomp of business than the true inward resorts thereof. But Lives, if they be well written, propounding to

Man in the complexity of his nature, the vicissitudes of his experience, and the grandeur of his destiny must of necessity present an interesting field of study, and there is no life of any dimensions, but contains inspiring lessons of encouragement, and impressive lessons of warning. Passion with her flaming torch and principle with her even balances appeal to us from the records of the dead.

Much of the Bible-the embodiment of God's character and willcomes to us in a biographical form. The Divine shines through the human, the heavenly treasure is put into an earthen vessel. The candle is from heaven, but the lantern is from earth. The characters of Scripture are exceedingly numerous and strikingly diversified. We see

Biographical Form of Scripture.

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human nature in all its aspects. We | Apostles contains the record of the have in the same book, full-drawn sayings and doings-the persecutions portraits, and side glimpses of a and sufferings of two remarkable great number of individuals. There men-Peter and Paul. It embraces is a life-like freshness in these two circles of church historybiographical paintings. There is no Peter is the centre of one circle, repulsive caricature no fulsome and Paul of the other. Peter's work adulation. All is true to the laws is preparatory to Paul's. Peter takes of life. Adam, Cain, and Abel the gospel to the Jews, and his impress us with their true characters. ministrations are almost entirely Enoch and Noah-Abraham and limited to the circumcision. Paul Isaac-Jacob and Joseph-all have takes a wider radius. He is chosen their distinctive features, and each to carry the lamp of Life to the teaches us some particular lesson of Gentiles, and his labours are delife. The extended life of Moses, voted chiefly to the uncircumcision. the expansive life of Samuel, and Peter's centre of influence is Jeruthe still more expansive life of salem - Paul's centre of action is David, are exceedingly rich with first Antioch and then Rome. Peter lessons of Divine instruction. The speaks Hebrew-Paul, Latin and trials, sorrows, disappointments, Greek. The early history of the deliverances, joys and triumphs of church-the persecutions and trials life are all made to pass before us which gathered around its cradle with dramatic interest. We in a came to us chiefly in connection with great measure read the history of the lives and labours of these rethe nation in the lives of its leaders. markable and divinely commissioned men.

Very much of the historical part of the New Testament is presented to us in a biographical shape. We stand in silent reverence, and profound awe before the simple and sublime biography of Him who was the Father of Eternity, and the Son of a Virgin, the Ancient of days and the contemporary and companion of Peter, James, and John-Of Him who built the beautiful heavens, and hung the golden orbs of light in the sapphire vault, but was found in the manger at Bethlehem as a helpless babe-Of Him who was the Prince of Life, the Lord of Glory, and yet died on the cross and was laid in the grave-God manifested in the flesh-The Lamb of God-The light of the World-The Saviour of Sinners-the Biography of Him who was, and is;-all this, and infinitely more, must possess the most transcendent interest, and contain the most inspiring and hearttouching lessons. The Life of Christ is the blossom of the Prophecies, the root of the Epistles, and the germ of the Apocalypse. It has a four-fold form-a face beaming with love for each quarter of the world. The book called the Acts of the

The history of the church in the present day is to a great degree embalmed and preserved in a biographical form. As the great and the good, the active and the useful, go one after another into the darkness of the grave, and into the light of the Lamb, those who are left behind gather up with pious interest and affectionate regard the memorials of their sayings, doings, and sufferings. There are monuments of love in books as well as in marble.

The life of a good, earnest, active man enshrined in a well-written book is a treasure to the individual, an honour to the church, and a blessing to the world.

Such a book we have in the memoir of the Rev. James Sherman by Henry Allon. Mr. Sherman was a man of deep piety, of wide-spread influence, and of extensive usefulness. He was not so great in intellectual power, or so remarkable in intellectual attainments as some of his contemporaries. The heart was the seat of his subduing power, and the source of his great influence over the minds of the people. He

was a man of strong and active | heart to God, and his over-mastering emotion. There was a fountain of desire was to give himself to the tears in his nature which never ministry. His way was made ceased to flow, while his thoughts plain, and he was admitted into were fixed on the agonies of the Cheshunt College. While a cross, and his eyes were fastened student he became a popular on the wretchedness of man. preacher. His first settlement was Keenness of sensibility,-tenderness at Bristol. Thence he removed to of affection, a deep and yearning Reading. Here he laboured with compassion for the souls of men, great success for fifteen years. combined with a restless earnestness and untiring activity to secure their salvation were some of the qualities and characteristics of this largehearted and eminently useful man. Mr. Sherman's life was crowded with tokens of the providence, the goodness, and the mercy of God. He was born of humble parents, and in early life he had to struggle with poverty. He was apprenticed to a master who had no sympathy with his religious feelings and intellectual pursuits.

At the same time,' remarks Mr. Allon, it is likely enough that a lad like James Sherman, full of indefinite yearnings and imaginings, liking books and dreaming of the ministry, would not make a very useful apprentice. The racer will not be very effective in the mill. His work was manifestly very irksome to him, nor would any kindness of treatment, probably, have made him take to it lovingly. This was neither his fault nor that of any one else. He was endowed with a mind and a temperament altogether unsuited to any form of industry which his position seemed likely to secure. Just as in the higher circles of life some men are born with sympathies fitted rather for the stable or the workshop; so in the lower circles of life men are born with capabilities and sympathies for pursuits apparently beyond their reach. In such cases jarring and misery ensue; a yearning and a struggle after some other than the position in which they are born, and the chafing and the suffering which rebellion against it causes. God in His providence removed the difficulties and opened his way for him. He had given his

Hundreds were converted to God by his faithful and affectionate ministry. He built many chapels in the surrounding villages. From Reading he removed to Surrey chapel, and was the successor of the famous Rowland Hill. Surrey chapel was the great field of his labours. For eighteen years he was the centre and life of a most complicated machinery of Christian activity and enterprize. All classes had his attention and affectionate sympathy. His sermons were so touching and powerful that sometimes nearly a hundred were converted under one sermon. His beloved wife-a most intelligent and devoted Christian lady-was of the greatest assistance to him in helping on the cause of God. The intense mental application necessary to the performance of his pulpit duties, and his increasing labours in every direction, in the course of time began to tell on his system. In 1854 he resigned the pastorate at Surrey chapel, and returned to a smaller sphere at Blackheath, where he formed a new church, and, by his reputation and ministry, attracted a large congregation of respectable and influential hearers. In 1861 his earthly labours were brought to a close by the hand of death. The church of God throughout the nation was touched with a mournful feeling when he fell. His large-hearted Christianity could not be shut up in denominational limits. He was willing to serve all sections of the Christian church, and there are probably persons to be found in almost all denominations of Christians who were converted by his touching and heart-searching ministry. He

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