AT SION CHAPEL, LONDON, The Rev. G. Jones and J. Thomas, B.A., will preach during the present month. LADY HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL, BRISTOL. The Rev. J. Pearsall, having resigned on the 4th of March, the Rev. T. Dodd, of Worcester, officiated on the following Sunday, and arrangements have been made with the Rev. T. Roberts, of Gloucester, to preach here for the first three weeks in April. ST. MARK'S, PRESTON, Has been vacated by the Rev. C. Lee, who retires to the neighbourhood of Malvern, with a view of assisting in that locality. No arrangements at present have been made for supplying this pulpit. LADY HUNTINGDON'S CHAPEL, MALVERN, Will be served during the month of April by Mr. W. Mitchell, student at Cheshunt College, and son of our esteemed minister, the Rev. A. L. Mitchell, of Christ's Church, Exeter. EBLEY CHApel. The neighbouring ministers have promised to fill the pulpit for a time gratuitously, for the benefit of the late Rev. B. Parsons' family; an arrangement kind indeed to them, but of questionable wisdom with regard to the comfortable and useful settlement of the congregation with a minister of the Connexion, of which Ebley Chapel has long been a part. Ministers engaged to supply the following Chapels in the Connexion during the month of April. Zion Chapel, London.-April 1 and 15, Rev. G. Jones, of Tunbridge Wells; 22 and 29, Rev. J. Thomas, B.A., of Manningtree. Lodge Street Chapel, Bristol.-April 1, 8, and 15, Rev. Thomas Roberts of Gloucester. Ebley Chapel, Gloucestershire.-April 1, the Rev. E. P. Hood; 8th, Rev. L. J. Evans; 15th, Rev. W. Rhead; 22nd, Rev. L. J. Wake; 29, Rev. R. Ayres. Great Malvern Chapel.-Mr. W. Mitchell, student at Cheshunt College, during the month. Worcester.-April 8, Rev. B. S. Hollis, of Islington, in behalf of the Countess' Missionary Society. Gloucester.-April 1, Rev. W. Rhead, of Painswick; 8, Rev. J.James, of Bristol. Islington Chapel.-Easter Sunday Rev. T. Dodd, of Worcester. Malvern Link.-Easter Tuesday, Rev. B. S. Hollis will preach in behalf of our Missionary Society. N.B.-Ministers will greatly oblige by informing the Editor of their various not later than the 21st. Sabbath engagements during the month Sierra Leone, WESTERN AFRICA. "Rev. and Dear Sirs, -The following is an extract from my Journal, November 1, 1854. At my return from Sierra Leone, I arrived at Bompey at 5 P.M. On the 2nd the messenger of King Canrabah came to Bompey; I immediately delivered my message from town to him along with the circular given to me by the friends in Sierra Leone. On the next day he returned from the King with a message that he is happy indeed to see the circular, which he detained until he comes round and gathers the people. On Sunday morning we held divine service. I read the lessons, as usual, appointed for the day, and exhorted. I paid a visit to the King at Coromanca, for the purpose that his men should commence the building, as it was much delayed by them. At my return I met the men of Mr. T. G. Caulker with a message to the King for peace. The King was much pleased indeed at hearing such message, and requested the men to wait on him and his Minister, Mr. Momodo Bundo. "Dec. 3. This morning we held Divine Service. The meeting was well attended by the people, amounting to 29. "Monday 12. I visited the King at Bandasumer. He was at first much engaged; afterwards he showed me the names of those parties who had contributed towards the building, which amounts to 80 bars, equal to £4 in cash. We had a long conversation afterwards, on matters of great importance, and more especially of the advantages he and his people have now in the Gospel being in their country. "Saturday, 16th. I left Bompey for Bandasumer at 5 P.M., for the purpose of conducting Divine Service on Sunday there, as the King was anxious to see me, and to hold service in his house. 66 Sunday, 17th. We held Divine Worship at his Piazza at about 10 o'clock, and we had a good congrega tion, about 53 persons, and some of our friends at Sierra Leone; others standing outside, and wondering at what we were doing. They were very attentive to my exhortation, which was kindly interpreted by brother Skinner. In the evening brother Skinner conducted the service, and exhorted. After service the King was much pleased indeed, and said to brother Skinner, in the Sherbro language, all that has been said is true, and at this time he will endeavour to do more for the cause of God. I am happy to say we have on hand the names of the contributors towards the building the sum of 326 bars, and more expected to contribute towards it. The people are willing, out of their own expenses, to build a house and chapel. This sum is equal to £16. 6s.; also, our day-school is now increasing to the amount of 15 children-13 boys and 2 girls. They are advancing much better now, and willing to receive instruction, and very attentive, and I trust by God's grace they will be useful for the services of God. I remain, my dear Sirs, To the Members of the Executive Committee." Lotices. Want of space compels us to defer the paper on Sunday Schools, those of the Revds. Messrs. Price, Noyes, and others. Communications for the Editor to be sent to Messrs. Ward and Co, 27, Paternoster Row; and for the Executive Committee to Mr. Willcocks. 98, Goswell Street, London. The Rev. S. R Ward will accept our cordial thanks for his excellent paper on the subject of " Old Testament Slavery," which will appear next month. ASHFORD.-SPECIAL APPEAL. A public meeting was held in the Countess' Chapel on Tuesday evening, the 6th of March, to promote the enlargement of the school-room connected with the above place of worship. The Rev. J. Sherman, of Blackheath, the Rev. B. S. Hollis, of Islington, and the Rev. H. Creswell, of Canterbury, were present, and kindly addressed the meeting, which was numerously attended, and deeply interested in the addresses delivered. This effort on the part of the friends at Ashford is a positive necessity to give accommodation to the increasing number of Sunday School children in attendance, and is a most important element in the prosperity of the cause of Christ in this increasing town. The congregation, however, unaided by friends at a distance, are not equal to the pecuniary demands necessary to carry out the interesting object. They have already raised among themselves between £50 and £60 towards the required amount. The chapel needing repairs in addition, they expect to expend about £200; and they make this appeal to the friends of the Connexion to assist a willing but poor people to accomplish this good work. The Rev. J. Sherman and the Rev. B. S. Hollis have kindly recommended the case, and would satisfy any inquiries. Donations would be most thankfully received by the Rev. A. Turner, Minister of the Chapel, and duly acknowledged in the Harbinger. THE HARBINGER. MAY, 1855. "WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?" OR, CHRIST A STUDY. Mark iv. 41. The object of revelation is to bring Christ prominently before men. The world can no more do without Him, than the earth could exist without the sun. Christ is an inevitable necessity. What the sun is to the world of matter, Christ is to the world of souls, and infinitely more. He is essential to our peace, happiness and life. Without Him we have no way of access to the Father-no medium of communication between heaven and earth-the ladder would be removed, and all intercourse impossible. Death would reign supreme, and night would settle down upon every soul of man. From the darkness of unbelief, he would sink into the darkness of despair-"into outer darkness." Christ, then, becomes the most sublime and profitable of all studies. His wondrous person, mysterious character, and unparalleled life, invest his whole being with grandeur and awe. The astonished mariners exclaimed, "What manner of man is this!" They felt he was no ordinary being. There was something about Him they could neither understand nor explain. "And they feared exceedingly." How wondrous his person! Who can explain it, or ever comprehend it? What marvellous combinations meet in him! Here are met together in wondrous association, mercy and truth—righteousness and peace. Truth springs from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. But in Jesus they meet. Here is the Son of God, and yet the Son of Man-with a nature human and yet divine. A child born, yet from all eternity-not fifty years old, yet before Abraham-on earth, yet in heaven. To the eye of flesh a mere man, to the eye of faith, "God with us." To the world, E a root out of a dry ground, without form or comeliness, to the believer, "the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Then look at his character. How unlike other men! Man is a sinner, he was sinless. They are polluted, he was undefiled. Man errs, he never deviated from rectitude and right. They have blemishes, he had none. They have failings, he was faultless. In the midst of sinners, separate from them. His character reflected every grace and virtue, as from a thousand sunbeams! What a blending of dignity and humility His of meekness and majesty-of gentleness and authority-of grace and truth. All the virtues that have adorned mankind centered in Him in perfection! A model of patience, piety and purity! So high, yet how lowly.-So exalted, yet how humble !-A character of unmixed goodness-of unsullied holiness! doctrines and teaching also were heavenly and divine. His speech dropped as dew and distilled as the small rain. What power and pathos were in his words! What authority in his teaching! How simple were his instructions, yet how weighty.-All felt him to be a teacher sent from God-a master in Israel. Multitudes hung upon his lips, and sat in crowds at his feet. The lowliest he encouraged, and the loftiest he brought down. "He taught as having authority and not as the scribes.' "Never man spake like this man." How entirely out of the common route was his life! It was one undivided act of consecration for his Father's glory and the good of man. "He went about doing good." He was no Ascetic. Neither does his religion conduct men into a monastery. The conventual sys WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?" OR, CHRIST A STUDY. | tem is not of God. Monkery is not after How wonderful! His death was that of Christ, and has no place in his life or the wicked, but his burial, that of the doctrines. He did not retire from the rich. As a malefactor he dies, as a rich world himself, nor enjoin seclusion on man he is buried. He dies between two his disciples. "I pray not that thou thieves, but his body finds a resting shouldest take them out of the world, place in the tomb of a rich man. In his but that thou shouldest keep them from life he is owned by the poor, in his death the evil." His was not only a holy and by the rich-multitudes followed him devoted, but an eminently busy and while living, but all forsook him when active life" a man approved of God dying. He suffers an ignominious death, among you, by miracles, signs, and but obtains an honourable burial. What wonders, which God did by him among manner of man is this? Nor does his you." City, town and village the wonderful history end here. The grave crowded thoroughfare and the desolate usually closes upon all that is mortal and wilderness witnessed his active efforts ends the longest life. Methuselah died, for the glory of God and the salvation and we hear no more of him; but not so of men. In the holy temple, and homely" this man.' He dies to conquer death. synagogue-on mountain top and by the He descends into the grave to carry sea side his voice was heard, his doc- away its bars and gates and bolts, and trines taught, and mankind instructed. throw it open, as Samson did the gates Multitudes every where thronged him- of Gaza. The third morning had scarceto the poor the gospel was preached. ly dawned when Jerusalem was stirred Diseases fled at his word-devils trem- to its depths, by the strangest cry, "The bled at his approach-death released its Lord is risen indeed!" The watch had prey at his command-the grave gave up fled in terror. The women who had its dead. The blind saw-the deaf paid an early visit to the sepulchre had heard the dumb spake, and the multi- returned in the utmost excitement to tude sang, "He hath done all things give the information to the disciples. well." He hushed the winds He The news spread like fire. What could calmed the storm, and walked on the it mean? Men asked, where all this sea-and finally ascended to heaven in a would end? He was gone. There was cloud. What manner of man is this! the empty sepulchre. Who could deny O what a life. it? And yet what a death! Come, see the place where the Is it conceivable that such a life should Lord lay!" Risen! What a strange be terminated by such a death! A life sound! What an astonishing fact! so useful and holy, dying the death of a Crucified through weakness, yet now criminal! Such an end is the fitting risen! How singular and wonderful! climax of a career of crime, but of one What manner of man is this? Behold of virtue, benevolence and charity, how yon napkin; how carefully it is folded, inexplicable! The judge can find no fault in him, and yet he is condemned. "He was taken from prison and from judgment"-gently and meekly he bears his cross. "And who shall declare his generation? What! are there none? Where are the sick he healed-the hungry he fed the dead he raised? Will no one own him or speak a word for him? Ah! "He was cut off out of the land of the living." Reproach, at last, breaks his heart. The weight of sorrow and of sin bear down his humanity. He sinks! He dies! But O my God, amid what scenes! The heavens are wrapped in darkness and the world in night! Rocks rend-graves open-all nature trembles ! Man alone is unmoved! Truly this was the Son of God! Nor was his burial that of ordinary men. "He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death." 66 66 All lying in a place by itself," "not with the linen clothes." Would such a trifling matter be attended to if he had been stolen, as the scribes and pharisees asserted? Was this the act of manstealers? What! and the watch outside! Truly, the elders and council must have been at their wits end, to have fallen upon such a story! their sophistry however failed to suppress the truth. Out it came in spite of them. However unwelcome, men felt if to be true; and the doctrine of the resurrection became at once the lever and the corner stone of christianity. It was the watchword of the first christians, and the fulcrum of the first preachers. "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ." "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resur rection of the Lord Jesus." What manner of man is this! In his next advent, however, the question will be unnecessary. "Every eye shall see him," and the first glimpse of him will carry conviction to every heart. The unholy, that would not have him to reign over them, will quail before him, and cry to the rocks and hills to fall on them and hide them from his gaze, more terrible than a thousand deaths. But the righteous will welcome his appearing. "This is our God." Multitudes will sing "Come quickly, Lord, all praise to thee; My Saviour and my friend." The question will be settled for ever. None will enquire, What manner of man is this? A man, indeed, he will still be -THE identical man that walked our earth, and hushed the wind and calmed the storm; but now robed in awful ma jesty-the cloud his chariot, the light his garment, and bearing on his own countenance the unmistakable impress of Deity, "God manifest in the flesh.' Reader do you know Him, and have you made him your refuge? a Admiration of his character, or formal reception of his doctrines will avail nothing in that day. Speculative theories or doubtful disputations about his person or character or work will explode as airy bubbles! Nought but a personal, vital union with Him-a living christianity, will bear the fires of the last appearing. Reader what is Christ to you now? 'Till God in human flesh I see, DOES THE BIBLE SLAVERY? SANCTION | preachers, as a rule, hold it, preach it, and practice accordingly. Northern divines, of great celebrity, are of like opinion, to a greater extent than is generally supposed in England. To say nothing of the many of the latter class, who committed themselves to this view, virtually, by preaching obedience to the Fugitive Slave Law as a christian duty, and to forget, if one could forget it, that almost with his dying breath the late Moses Stuart, D.D., Professor of Theology, at Andover, defended American Slavery from the Bible; we have the grief to know that the Rev. Dr. Adams, of Boston, and the Rev. Dr. Lord, President of Dartmouth College, have, within the past six months published elaborate works, in favour of this most revolting idea. A priori, one can scarcely imagine how a minister of the gospel of Him "who came to preach deliverance to the Captives," and to "set at liberty them that are bruised," could believe in and recommend to his fellow men, a God and a Bible capable of sanctioning so odious strange, in a land whose professions of a system. Especially does this seem freedom form so prominent a part of their history and character, as is true of our New England brethren. But that such is the fact, unfortunately, we have evidence too ample. would in writing a book, but as fully as Let us look at this matter, not as one the limits of an ordinary paper, I take the negative side of this question. for this Journal, will allow. Of course I begin by denying that There is in the Old Testament the least sanction given to the Chattel Principle-the principle that underlies, and constitutes modern Slavery. According to Slave Law "Slaves shall B. P. be deemed, held, taken, and reported, to be chattels personal to all intents, constructions, and purposes, whatsoever." This is not peculiar to American slavery, but is common to slavery every where. This principle, I repeat, finds no sanction whatever in the Old Testament. The Old Testament, it is well known, is the armory whence pro-slavery men draw their weapons of defence, for their favorite system. Does that portion of the sacred oracles legitimately afford them any such resource? BY REV. S. R. WARD, OF TORONTO, CANADA. The common, the almost universal answer to this question, in England, and in Protestant countries generally, is, No! But in the United Sates of America, I am sorry to say, both in the North, and in the South, there are too many who would give an affirmative answer to this question. The Southern Before there was any law on the subject, the custom prevelant in Abraham's family was quite fatal to the idea I am combatting. We read in Gen. xv. 3, |