flowers. And thus it was in former times. The Lord caused it to rain upon one city, says Amos, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered (Amos iv. 7-8). It was literally so about Semak and 'Abadîyeh, while their nearest neighbours were rejoicing in abundant showers. There are other interesting allusions to matters in agricultural experience in this passage of Amos. I have withdrawn, says God, the rain from you when there were yet three months to the harvest. This is utterly ruinous to the hopes of the farmer. A little earlier or a little later would not be so fatal, but drought three months before harvest is entirely destructive. In the 8th verse we read, So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water; but they were not satisfied -afact often repeated in this country. No longer than last autumn it had its exemplification complete in Belad Beshara, the ancient inheritance of Naphtali.-Ibid. THE SHUNAMMITE. How came it to pass that the good Shunammite lost her land by merely going to reside during the famine in the country of the Philistines, as we read in 2 Kings viii. 3? It is still common for even petty sheiks to confiscate the property of any person who is exiled for a time, or who moves away temporarily from his district. Especially is this true of widows and orphans, and the Shunammite was now a widow. And small is the chance to such of having their property restored, unless they can secure the mediation of some one more influential than themselves. The conversation between the king and Gehazi about his master is also in perfect keeping with the habits of Eastern princes; and the appearance of the widow and her son so opportunely, would have precisely the same effect now that it had then. Not only the land, but all the fruits of it would be restored. There is an air of verisimilitude in such simple narratives which it is quite impossible for persons not intimately familiar with Oriental manners to appreciate, but which stamps the incidents with undoubted certainty. The thing happened just as recorded. It is too natural to be an invention or fabrication.—Ibid. ENCHANTED GROUND. Ir is to be feared that God and holy angels, as they see us walking to heaven in the bright and peaceful sunshine, may judge us, for that very reason, encompassed with greater peril than those who found their way thither under cloud and tempest. The storms of affliction made our fathers gird that mantle about them which the summer sun may entice us to throw aside. In the Valley of the Shadow of Death and in Vanity Fair, the Christian of honest John Bunyan 'played the man;' it was when he trod the drowsy enchanted ground' that he felt the access of that fatal lethargy. Sad to think that many a poor ignoramus may have made a better use of a tattered leaf or two of the Bible, which perchance he could scarcely spell, than we who can have it not only in every house, but in our memories; and may have more securely grouped his way to heaven by the bye-paths of dungeon and martyrdom, than we to whom the portals of God's temple stand invitingly open day and night.— Henry Rogers. UNPUNCTUAL PEOPLE. WHAT bores they are; what havoc they make with the precious moments of orderly, systematic men of business. A person who is faithless to his appointments may not intend to swindle people, but he does. Το those who know how to turn time to advantage, every hour has an appreciable pecuniary value; minutes, even, are worth so much apiece. He who robs you of them, might just as well take so much money from your purse. The act is petty Obituary-Mrs. Cheatle. to the amount of time he compels you to waste, and the value of it, at a fair apprisal, to yourself or your family. The only capital of a large portion of the community is time. Their compensation is measured by the clock. The moments of which promise breakers cheat them may represent in fact the necessaries of life, and the loss of an hour may involve the privation of a loaf or a joint, or some other article urgently needed at home. Nobody places any confidence in persons who are habitually behind time. They scarcely succeed in any enterprise. Therefore, for your own sake-as well as for the sake of others-be punctual. 66 381 larceny or grand larceny, according | the inevitable negro is left out. My contribution upon so dark a subject will at present consist of a single specimen of negro eloquence to which it was my fortune to listen a few weeks since. The preacher was descanting upon the miracle of our Saviour in restoring sight to the blind man, and he went on in this manner: 'De poor blin' man sittin' by de wayside hear Jesus comin', and he cry, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!" and de bystanders tell him stop his noise; but he keep on crying, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.' Den Jesus hear him cry, and he come and make clay of spittle and 'nint his eyes, and he see. Now I spec', if blessed Jesus in heaven to-day, with fousands and fousands of archangels about Him, hear de voice of one of dese poor sinners cryin' have mercy on me, He tell all heaven stop, stan' still, while He come see what poor sinner want.' This sentiment was greeted with cries of Amen! That's it!' 'Just so!' 'Good!' 'O, yes!' &c. NEGRO ELOQUENCE. A LETTER recently sent from New Orleans relates the following incident: 'In this unparelleled contest, a letter from any part of the great field is scarcely considered complete if Obituary. HARRIET, wife of the Rev. G. Cheatle, was born in Nottingham, in the year 1788, and died on the 6th of August, 1863, at Balsall Heath, Birmingham. On the 12th of August her mortal remains were interred in the graveyard belonging to the Baptist chapel at King's Heath. Her departure has left a void which will never again be filled in the circle to which she was endeared. She was not called away in the June of womanhood and in the midst of its unfolding blossoms, but was mercifully spared to her family until the December of age bore her upward to breathe by the river of life for ever. She was the daughter of Mr. Charles Hill, who was a member of the Church of England, an upright man, and peculiarly attached to what is commonly called the established religion' of the country. To the firmness and discipline, together with the regularity and punctuality which characterized his actions, may be attributed in some degree that decision and calmness which was manifest in the life of his daughter. In the year 1813 she was baptized at Beeston, in Nottinghamshire, and remained a member of the church at that place until her removal to Birmingham. After coming to Birmingham she joined the church at Lombard-street, and ultimately became united by marriage to Mr. Cheatle. In the attempt to describe the subject of this memoir as a wife, a mother, and a Christian, it will be difficult; perhaps it will not be possible to avoid some ap- | hold, and she was borne gently and pearance of exaggeration in portray- trustingly from those whom she ing her general character and loved upon earth to purer communion virtues. As a wife she was affec- in the better land. Her spirit detionate and careful, anxious for the parted in peace. She has left comfort of her husband. She shared many bright and beautiful thoughts, in his ministerial trials, and bore which show what is lost by her rewith him the burdens inseparable moval. The Christian principles from the faithful discharge of the which she embraced in the morning duties of a Christian minister, and of her life, she consistently mainit may truly be said she was an tained throughout the lengthened helpmeet' to her partner. As a mother, period of her existence. This may she was faithful in her duty. She be attributed in a great degree to shared in the thoughts and feelings of the regular and constant reading of her children. Her advice was always the Word of God. In the meridian guided by the discrimination of of life, although surrounded with a Christian principle, and while she numerous family, and overburdened did not fail to afford encouragement by the cares thereof, still she was in times of family conflict, her main full of ardent sympathies and earnest object was to guide her offspring in anxiety for the relief of the suffering the heavenward path, and never poor, and not unfrequently has she would she deviate one step beyond denied herself and her children the that point at which the light begun comforts of home, to be enabled to to fail, and the ground ceased to administer assistance to the needy. feel firm beneath. As a Christian In mentioning these things, it is not she was perfectly genuine and intended merely to give a warm transparently sincere. Her conduct colouring to character, but rather to was marked by frankness and can- stimulate others to tread in her dour, and those who were most footsteps, and to shew that there is intimately acquainted with her can truthfulness and beauty mingled in testify that her every pulse of equal degree in the doctrines of sympathy was quickened and warmed the gospel, true religion being exwith Christian benevolence. She hibited in the outward image of that moved quietly in her sphere, and Christianity which is usually conthe mantle of humility which adorned templated in its inward and spiritual her, she wore gracefully until God essence only. We need not say more. called her to go up higher, and to She who has seemed to carry so long look no longer upon sublunary a charmed life, as she moved in the things. In the contemplation of midst of her family, has at length death she was happy, and in the fallen by a shaft which is never prospect of eternity, calm and aimed in vain; but she did not fear serene; and the many expressions the attack, she humbly rested on she gave utterance to, indicated the Saviour for acceptance with forcibly the confidence she placed in God, and the words of the Great God. She bore her affliction with Teacher were applicable unto her, patience and resignation until the Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs slender ties which alone bound her is the kingdom of heaven. to life gradually lessened their J. S. C. Correspondence. ON THE DRESS OF CHRISTIAN | Christ may dwell in your hearts by WOMEN. To the Editor of the General Baptist Magazine. DEAR BROTHER,-The following outflow of Christian fidelity from a pastor in the West of England to a Christian sister, I heard read a few weeks ago, and it struck me that perhaps it would be fully as suitable to more persons than contemplated by the writer, so I asked leave to copy it, omitting names, &c.; with the hope, that if you kindly insert it, it might do some good even in our Connexion. There is, we know, such a thing in the world, as female vanity, and some of it peradventure, sometimes finds its way even into our churches. So it is safe now and then to sound a gentle alarm. It is indeed impossible to mark the line where consistency ends and impropriety begins; but it is on that very account obvious to remark that a sister of Christ ought to be very determined to be on the right side. Happy is she who condemneth not herself in that thing which she alloweth. Such a one consulteth as to her attire with Christ in her closet, and in her conscience, as much as with the milliner and the mirror. If every article she wears were brought to the standard of Scripture, (1 Peter iii. 3-5., and 1 Tim. ii. 9, 10.), dress would become a means of grace. But here is the letter. 'Dear sister in the Lord,-I look at Jesus, then at you; desiring to well consider His love, to remember that He seeth not as man seeth. Yet to the spiritual eye, Jesus is seen more or less distinctly when He really dwells in the heart. That faith. As well meant no doubt, you some months since gave me a word of warning, lest I should hinder the work of the Lord. So now, love constrains me to write you a line, having confidence that the Lord will give you grace to receive and take to the mercy-seat what I say; (aiming to stir up your pure mind by way of remembrance) lest it should be so, that, though unwittingly, you should grieve the hearts of the saints, and hinder the Spirit's work in our midst. 'Will you call to mind our sister H.'s loving advice, as one standing in her station almost alone among the weaker vessels, able with a good conscience in these days to admonish a sister about dress? Does conscience in you say, I abode by her counsel? Is it true, that the two words in the Book of God, "modest apparel," are considered by you? I full well know that "immodest" is the word suited for the great mass of females, even in the true church of the living God, in these last solemn days; so that example, so powerful in its influence, tells everywhere for the worse. Will you, my sister, seek grace, so that your example in this (as it hath in other ways), may act for the better on the church and on the world? Reproofs of instruction are the way of life. Through Thy precepts 1 get understanding. God is able to make all grace abound toward you. If ye love Me, keep my commandments. Yours, in love and faithfully in Jesus.' J. C. This is the letter; and I humbly, respectfully, and lovingly commend it to all Christian women; being theirs, and dear brother, yours, faithfully. M., B. Intelligence. CONFERENCES. THE WARWICKSHIRE CONFERENCE was held at Warton, near Polesworth, on Monday, September 14th. The morning service was opened by brother Lees, of Walsall, and the sermon preached by brother McNaughton, of Wolvey, from Revelation i. 20. At the business meeting in the afternoon Mr. James Goadby, of Ashby, presided. The devotional parts of the meeting were conducted by brethren Harrison and Cross. It was reported that sixty-six had been baptized since the Conference held in May, and that twentyseven now remained as candidates. The reports from most of the churches were highly satisfactory, and from some they were especially pleasing. The Netherton case, referred by the Association to this Conference, was considered. It was an appeal for sympathy and help in an effort to build a new chapel. It was stated that the old chapel is too far away from the population; that it was exceedingly inconvenient for a place of worship, so much so that no respectable tradesman will attend the services held in it, except on special occasions; that the friends regard it as a disgrace to themselves and the Connexion; and that it is absolutely necessary to erect a new place of worship if the General Baptist church is to exist and be useful. In order to carry out their object the friends at Netherton have purchased a piece of land at a cost of ninety pounds, which money has been contributed and paid. The anticipated cost of the new building is about eight hundred pounds. The ground on which an appeal for help is made, is that the church is small and composed almost exclusively of working men. After considering the above cir. cumstances and other information afforded by the deputation from Netherton; it was unanimously resolved:-That we cordially approve of the intention of our Netherton friends to build a new chapel, and recommend their case to the sympa thy and help of the denomination. It was stated that the Conference was in debt to its late secretary. Resolved: that we make a collection at the next Conference in the afternoon for Conference expenses. That the thanks of this meeting be given to brother McNaughton for his excellent sermon. That the next Conference be held at Coventry, on the second Monday in January, brother Lees, of Walsall, to preach in the morning. J. HARRISON, Secretary. THE MIDLAND CONFERENCE met at Wymeswold, on Tuesday, September 15th, 1863. Rev. J. Cholerton, of Coalville, read the Scriptures and prayed, and Rev. C. Clarke, B.A., of Ashby, preached from Heb. xiii. 8, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. At the afternoon meeting Rev. G. Staples presided, and Rev. C. Burrows, of Lenton, prayed. From the reports presented it appeared that fifty-one had been baptized since the last Conference, seventy-seven were now candidates for baptism, and two had been restored to fellowship. From more than twenty churches there was no report. After the singing of the doxology the minutes of the previous meeting were read, and the following business transacted: 1. Thrussington. The secretary reported that this case had been taken to the Association, and that the resolution upon it published in the Minutes was as follows: "That the name of Thrussington be henceforth left out of the Minutes.' 2. Female Agency in the Church. Rev. J. Salisbury, of Hugglescote, |