hurch inviting Mr. Bentley to be its pastor. Rev. W. B. Davis asked the "usual ques"which Mr. Bentley answered in a highly actory manner. The Rev. E. H. Delf offered he "ordination prayer." The Rev. S. G. , B.A., President of Rawdon College (Mr. ley's late tutor), then ascended the pulpit, delivered a powerful charge to the young ter from Matt. xiii. 52. After the morning ce there was a dinner at the Corn Exchange, hich the Rev. E. H. Delf presided, and at h addresses were delivered by the Revs. S. G. A, B.A., H. S. Brown, J. J. Brown, C. Vince, B. Davis, J. Sibree, W. A. Salter, T. A. Binns, Bentley, and others. The evening sermon was ched by the Rev. H. S. Brown, from Acts 47. The congregations were good, and the le series of services went off remarkably and augured well for the subsequent piness, both of the people and pastor of St. hael's. IDDLESBOROUGH - ON TEES. The Baptist ch under the pastorate of the Rev. W. ems celebrated the seventh anniversary of formation of the church, and the first of settlement of the minister, on the 4th, and 6th of September. The services were ducted by the Rev. G. V. Barker, of Sunder, and the Rev. J. P. Chown, of Bradford, who ivered a lecture in the same place, after a public meeting, on the Monday, and preached on the day in the Independent chapel. In a brief ort of the condition and prospects of the cause, Tas stated that the church consists of about members, nearly all of the working class, and the Sunday-schools contain about 100 iren; that the circumstances of the church of the large and rapidly increasing population, ire a suitable place for worship and instructhat a site for chapel and school-room has secured, and plans for the building prepared approved; that the anticipated cost, including site, is about £1,200, towards which £450 has subscribed, of which sum about £300 has n contributed in Middlesborough, £70 in wcastle, £30 in the West Riding, and £30 in the hbourhood of Berwick; and that help from be friends of chapel and school extension is ntly needed for the sake of the church and multitudes around. on In ATCHET, SOMERSET.-The Baptist chapel, and ster's residence adjoining, in this place having rgone extensive alterations and repairs, the el was re-opened for Divine service' nesday, 7th of September, when a sermon was hed in the morning by the Rev. J. Leechman, of Bath, formerly of Hammersmith. fternoon a public meeting was held, when chairman, the Rev. S. Sutton, the former r of the church, gave an interesting sketch of hurch's history since its commencement, and e circumstances which led to the alterations. treasurer to the building-fund, Mr. S. W. ams, then read a very gratifying statement of ces. The meeting was afterwards addressed ames Sully, Esq., of Bridgewater; and the W. H. Fuller, Minehead; S. Pearce, Crew C. Williams (Wesleyan), Willston; Dr. hman, and J. Mills, Stogumber. A numerous sat down to a public tea provided for the ion, and in the evening a sermon was preached le Rev. W. Guest, of Taunton. On the followSunday sermons were preached, in the ing by the Rev. P. W. Ramsden, of Dunster, in the evening by the Rev. C. O. Morris, of gewater. ALMOUTH, CORNWALL.-A series of interesting services in connection with the recognition of the Rev. George S. Reaney, late of Regent's-park College, were held at Falmouth, on Tuesday, August 23rd. In the morning, at eleven o'clock, after reading the Scriptures, and prayer by the Rev. Mr. Fowler (Wesleyan), the Rev. G. Wilson, of Helston, delivered the introductory address, and proposed the usual questions, which were appropriately answered. The Rev. J. Allen, M.A. (Independent), then offered the ordination prayer, imme diately after which the Rev. T. C. Page, of Plymouth, gave a solemn charge to the minister, founded on Eph. iv. 12. In the afternoon, after the dinner was over, which had been provided in the schoolroom, several fraternal_addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Fowler, Allen, Page, Barnett, of Birmingham, Wilshire of Penzance, Reaney, and Messrs. Bond and Gutheridge, and J. D. Freeman. In the evening, after devotional ser vices conducted by the Rev. Mr. Page (supplying at Truro), the Rev. J. Wilshire delivered a discourse to the church from 1 Thess. iii. 8, and closed the services of the day with prayer. The meetings were well attended, and very interesting throughout. ACCRINGTON.-On Wednesday evening, September 14th, the presentation of three memorials and several purses of gold (amounting in the aggregate to £150 12s. 4d.) to the Rev. Charles Williams, who is about to leave for Southampton, took place in a small room of the Peel Institution, Accrington. There were about a dozen persons present. J. E Lightfoot, Esq., was voted to the chair; and the first presentation (from persons of various religious denominations) was made by him. Tye second presentation (from the church and congregation meeting in Blackburn-road Chapel, and from other friends in the county) was made in appropriate and affectionate terms by Mr. G. Marshall, a deacon of the church, and by Mr. L. Whittaker. The third presentation (from the Young Men's Association) was made by Mr. J. Barnes. All these presentations were kindly and appropriately acknowledged by Mr. Williams. The Rev. M. Lewis, Mr. Rhodes, and Mr. Berry also delivered addresses. We understand that previously to the above meeting taking place, the young ladies of Mr. Williams's congregation presented to him a handsome and costly album, containing many of their portraits. ILFRACOMBE. On Tuesday, September 13th, the Rev. J. Edelsten Taylor, late of Bristol College, was publicly recognized as pastor of the Baptist church, High-street, Ilfracombe. The Rev. E Webb, of Tiverton, read the Scriptures and prayed. The Rev. G. Waterman, M.A., gave a short statement of Nonconformist views, and asked the usual questions. The ordination prayer was offered by the Rev. F. W. Gotch, LL.D., Resident tutor of Bristol College, who also delivered an impressive pastoral charge, founded on 1 Cor. iv. 2. Luncheon and tea were provided in the Independent schoolroom, kindly lent for the occasion, which was tastefully decorated by the ladies of the Baptist congregation. In the evening, an inter esting meeting was held, P. Adams, Esq., of Ply mouth, presiding. Able addresses to the church and congregation were given by the Revs. E. Webb, of Tiverton; T. Aston Binns, of Warwick; F. Clarke (Wesleyan); W. Davey, of Comb martin; B. Price (Free Church); and G. Waterman, M.A. (Independent). The pastor then closed with a short address and prayer. opened on Thursday August 4th, and Sunday, August 7th, when sermons were preached by the Revs. C. M. Birrell W. F. Burchell, of Blackpool, and E. C. Lewis, of Rochdale. On Saturday August 13th, a public meeting was held in the chapel, when addresses were delivered by the Revs. G. Marshall B.A.E. C. Lewis; H. W. Parkinson; L. Seddon; W. M. Fox R. Eardley, B.A.; A. Pitt; Messrs. John Ashworth, W. J. Hall, and T. Watson. The attendance on each occasion was large, and all the services deeply interesting." The interior of the chapel; has undergone a thorough transformation. The chapel is now.commodious and capacious. The entire cost is £600, of which £505 have been raised. H. Kelsall, Esq., with his accustomed liberality, is building a large, handsome, two-storied school-room which will cost £1,200, situated behind the chapel. KINGSBRIDGE, DEVON.-On Tuesday, September 6th, a congregational tea-meeting was held in the school-room of the Baptist chapel, Kingsbridge, to take leave of the late pastor, the Rev. T. Petera, who has accepted an invitation to the pastorate of the church at Watford. After tea the meeting was presided over by J. Scoble, Esq., when interesting addresses, abounding in expressions of esteem for Mr. Peters, and of regret at his removal, were delivered by various friends. A purse of thirty sovereigns, spontaneously contributed by the church and congregation, was presented to Mr. Peters by Mr. Balkwill, as an expression of their affectionate regard and appreciation of his ministry. Mr. Peters responded, attributing all success in his ministry to the grace of God, and feelingly touched upon the comparative peace and happiness of his eight years' connection with the church. CARDIFF.-On Tuesday, August the 16th, the memorial stone of the new Bethany Chapel, now being built in St. Mary-street, Cardiff, was laid by Thomas Hopkins, Esq.; and though in his eighty-fifth year, he did the part of mason well, handling with uncommon dexterity the beautiful silver trowel with which he was presented on the occasion. In the stone was deposited a large glass bottle containing copies of the magazines and of The Freeman, a record of the church's history, and other papers. The pastor was assisted by the Rev. J. W. Lance, of Newport, and by some of the ministers of the town, who with all present seemed deeply interested in the proceedings, The building is progressing rapidly, and will be opened early in the new year. ALDBOROUGH, SUFFOLK.-On Tuesday, evening, September 6th, meetings were held in Union Chapel, Aldborough, for the purpose of taking leave of the Rev. T. M. Roberts. B.A., who, after a pastorate of four years at Aldborough, has accepted a call to Newbury, Berks. A tea-meeting, and a public meeting afterwards, were largely attended; and able addresses were delivered by the Rev. G. Pope, late of Collingham, Notts; by the deacons, Messrs. Lincoln, C. Smith, and Willes; and by Mr. R. Taylor, of Notting-hill. In the name of the church and congregation, Mr. Lincoln, the senior deacon, presented to the retiring pastor a handsome and costly tea service, together with an inkstand, in token of the affection of his late charge. LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDS.-On Thursday, September 8th, a new Baptist chapel was opened in this town, when the Hon. and Rev. B. W. Noel, A.M., preached two very characteristic sermons in the morning and evening, and the Rev. W. T. Henderson, of Devonshire-square, London, preached in the afternoon. About fifty took dinner in one of the school-rooms, and in the afternoon tea was provided in the assembly-room of the Co Exchange, when upwards of 250 were prese On the following Sunday two sermons We preached by W. Heaton, Esq., of London. T chapel is in the Italian style, aud will seat fro 400 to 450The cost will be about £900, and t amount already raised is about £500. HARLOW, ESSEX-On Tuesday, August 23rd public meeting was held in the Baptist chap Harlow, in connection with the resignation of t Rev. T. R. Stevenson, who for upwards of the years has filled the pastorate of the church w shipping there. The chair was taken by Char Barnard, Esq., of Harlow Bury, and address expressive of esteem and sympathy toward M Stevenson were delivered by the Rev. F. Edwar B.A., of Harlow; W. Cuthbertson, of Bisho Stortford; J. Wood, of Sawbridgworth; and M Whittaker, one of the deacons of the church. the course of the evening a handsome drawin room time-piece, and a purse containing £22, we presented to Mr. Stevenson. MINISTERIAL CHANGES.-The Rev. T. 1 Roberts, B.A., of Aldborough, Suffolk, has bee cordially and unanimously invited to the pastora of the church at Newbury, Berks, and commence his duties there on the third Sunday in Septembe -The Rev. W. H. Tetley has accepted a cord invitation from the Baptist church, Coleford, a has commenced his labours.-The Rev. S. Woodrow (late of Regent's-park College) accepted a cordial and unanimous invitation fr the church at North-street, Halstead, and w enter on his ministry' the second Sunday October.-The Rev. T. Rose, late of Pershore, h accepted the cordial invitation of the church Long Buckby, Northamptonshire, and has co menced his labours.-The Rev. R. Shindler h resigned the charge of the church at Modbur Devon, and has accepted an invitation to th church at New Mill, Tring, where he expects commence his labours October 2nd.-The Rev. K. Bland has resigned the pastorate of the chur at Town Field Road, Chesham, having accepted invitation to the co-pastorate of the church Beccles, Suffolk, in conjunction with the R George Wright.-The Rev. Joseph Upton Dav B.A., has resigned the pastorate of the chur meeting in South-street chapel, Hull.-The R Thomas Rees has resigned the pastorate of 1 Baptist churches, Maesbrook and Landrinio.-T Rev. W. Omant has resigned the pastorate of t church at Rickmansworth.-Mr. James Orcha of Chilwell College, has accepted an invitati to supply the pulpit of the Baptist church Winksworth, Shottle, and Bonsall for one yea and is expected to commence his labours the on the first Sunday in January next.-The Re A. Cox has resigned his connection with t church at Dunchurch, having accepted a una mous invitation from the second Baptist churc Cradley, Worcestershire.-Mr. J. Cecil Whitake of Regent's-park College, has accepted th cordial and unanimous invitation of the Bapti church, Chippenham, to become their pasto -Mr. G. Walker, of the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon College, has received and accepted unar mous invitation to the pastorate of the Bapt church at Fenny Stratford.-Tae Rev. T. Fie has resigned the pastorate of the church at We Malling, Kent, and will be glad to supply destitute church. His address is 6, Talbot-terrac Clarendon-road, Notting-hill, W.-The Rev. Cal C. Brown has accepted the pastorate of the Bapt church, Devonport-street, Shadwell, and com menced his labours the first Sabbath of Se tember. VOL. VIII.-NEW SERIES.] [NOVEMBER 1, 1864. THE CHURCH. "Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone." NOVEMBER, 1864. THE NAME "CHRISTIAN." BY THE REV. JAMES MURSELL. "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."-Acts xi. 26. Ir is always interesting to trace the beginnings of things or of names which have become mighty in the earth either for good or evil. Not long ago two brave and adventurous Englishmen-one of them, alas! just cut off in the prime of his life and fame-returned home after having discovered the source of the great river Nile; a secret which had occupied the attention and baffled the research of travellers and scientific men for years, and even for centuries. One can well imagine the emotions of absorbed interest and delight with which they stood beside the springs which fed that mighty stream, so famous in ancient story, so beneficent in its influence on the land through which it flows. It has ever been a favourite employment of the antiquary to trace the history and origin of the various orders of knighthood and titles of nobility with which the illustrious of the world are adorned; and frequently the search is difficult and the conclusion very doubtful. But with respect to that name which, though it gives its wearer no place among the princes or peers of earth, is yet really nobler than any title which monarchs can confer, which ranks in the heraldry of heaven as the loftiest order of chivalry, the grandest patent of nobilitywith respect to the name Christian, we are not left to dim conjecture or laborious research to discover its origin; the information is given in the brief but authoritative announcement, "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." 66 But we are left to draw our own conclusions as to the questions, by whom and with what feeling and object this name was first given to the followers of Jesus; though we have more than usually complete opportunity for arriving at a true decision on the subject. And first, the name was evidently not assumed by the disciples themselves, nor at first adopted as the name by which they chose to be known. 'Saints," "brethren," "disciples,' ""believers"—these and other like names are repeatedly used in the New Testament to designate the followers of Jesus. But the name "Christian" only occurs in two passages besides the one before us, and in each instance the manner of its introduction is peculiar and suggestive. It is found in the taunting exclamation of the unbelieving Agrippa: Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian; " and again in Peter's words of encouragement to the persecuted saints, where it would seem to be used because it was the name of scorn by which their persecutors would be sure to call them: "If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed." These two passages, taken in connection with the general probabilities of the case, would lead us to conclude that the name was given as a name of reproach and contempt, rather than of mere discrimination and description. But certainly it was not given by the Jews. The word Christ, we need scarcely say, is not a mere name, but a descriptive designation, equivalent to "the Messiah." The Jew recognized this meaning of the word with a clearness which we have in some measure lost. To call the followers of Jesus "Christians," would have been to acknowledge that Jesus was the Christ. "Nazarenes," ""Galileans"-these were the names of scorn which Jewish lips uttered against the disciples of the Crucified. If they had coined a name for them, they might have called them Jesuits, followers of Jesus; but Christians-followers of the Christ—never. The name, then, was given by Gentiles. The Church, hitherto to heathen apprehension only a sect of the Jews, began now to be gathered from Jews and Gentiles indiscriminately, and to show itself distinct in organization and aims from the Jewish community. A new name was needed, and none was more natural than this, framed from the word which was oftenest on the lips of the disciples, and which most compendiously uttered their distinctive creed. And Antioch, famous, as we are told, for the coining of nicknames, was just the place where this new name was likely to be invented and conferred. If this view of the original purpose and meaning of the name be the true one, there is surely something grand and impressive in the fact that the Church of Christ has adopted it as her chosen and favourite designation. That which was meant to be a brand of shame she has taken, and has "bound it as a crown unto her." She has "remembered the word that was said unto her, the servant is not greater than his lord;" has felt that she could be known by no fitter and no nobler name than that of her Lord and Head; that no name could better express her faith in Him, her union with Him, and her desire after likeness to Him. And if the name were one of scorn, what of that? So was His in the mouth of an unbelieving world. She has accepted it as the pledge that, sharing His reproach on earth, she shall assuredly share His glory in Heaven. It is surely the noblest use to make of the reproach of the world, thus to "count it all joy," thus to turn the badge of shame into a blazonry of glory. It is, too, a striking proof of the power of the Gospel, of the position it has won for itself in the esteem of the world, that this name, in our age and country, is no longer, in the coarse and literal sense, a name of scorn. Many are ambitious to wear it who have no sympathy with the character it describes. The insult now-a-days would be, not to call a man a Christian, but to insinuate that he had no claim to be so called. The cross, once the symbol of deepest shame, is now the badge of highest honour. We may well rejoice in all this as a proof of the power and progress of the Gospel; but let us not forget that such a state of things brings with it peculiar dangers, and calls for special watchfulness on our part. A time when this name is a name of honour rather than of reproach, when the general profession of Christianity has become a fashionable thing, when it is easy to maintain the name with average credit, is a time when it behoves us to look well lest we have "the name to live whilst we are dead." It is well that we should study closely what the name we wear implies, what it claims of those who assume it. We all must feel to how great an extent this word Christian has become a mere technical terin, with little of distinctive meaning in it. It may not, then, be unprofitable to spend a few minutes in reminding one another what the word really means, in trying to bring back some of the freshness of meaning which the name had when it was given first in Antioch. 1. It is a badge of separateness from the world. both It was obviously this at first; the very fact that a new name was coined bespeaks it. The men of Antioch felt that they had now to deal with something new, in creed and character; for unless the creed had been boldly avowed, and fully expressed in character and conduct, they would never have deemed it worth while to invent this nickname for its professors. And surely in the due degree, and after the fitting fashion, this ought still to be the force of the appellation. It ought to describe a character which should be recognized at once as different from that of the world at large. The difference will not, of course, be so broadly marked in our time and country as it was in the apostles' days, or as it is in heathen lands in our own. The world has learned the outward decencies which true religion enjoins; and come to profess the true religion as its creed, to be in name a worshipper of God and a believer in Christ. The Christian, on his side, must take his part in the business of life like other men, and in its innocent recreations too. But when all this has been allowed, there still ought to be, there still will be when piety is real and active, a distinction which the world itself will see and recognize between the Christian and other men. Not the shallow distinction of an ascetic, artificial separation from the society and pursuits of the world, but that deeper and harder distinction which consists of a life actuated by purer principles, directed to higher aims, inspired with a truer spirit, having more reality in its beliefs, holding another attitude towards the world and God, towards earth and heaven, than that of men in general. It is a sad sign of the state of our piety when the world sees no difference between our spirit and its own; when it feels that the name Christian is no real distinction of the man who wears it. 2. It is the compendious description of a character. "Christian" meant at first, and should mean still, one of Christ's people, and one who proved that he was Christ's by being like Christ. In proportion as we are like Christ are we truly and rightfully styled Christians. It is not enough that we own his Godhead, or profess to trust Him as our Saviour; our faith must prove its reality by its transforming and assimilating power. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." This is the true secret, after all, of Christian unworldliness. Our effort should be, not so much to be unlike the world as to be like Christ; if this be attained, the other will follow of itself. Our piety deals too much in negatives. Be it ours to strive after positive conformity to Christ, by close communion with Him, by simple, prayerful dependence on Him, by habitual, loving study of His character, till," beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." Then men will "take knowledge of us, that we have been with Jesus." Then they will feel that the name Christian has fitness and meaning as applied to us, even as it had when it was given first in Antioch. 3. It is a memento of responsibility. It marks us as not our own, but another's-is the seal of His proprietorship over us. It stamps us as servants of a master, soldiers under a captain, subjects of a monarch. All this implies the fact, and should impress the feeling, of most solemn responsibility, of obligation to faithfulness, allegiance, courage, consistency. We ought to regard ourselves as the representatives of Christ in the world—as keepers in a most solemn sense of His honour, as intrusted with the interests of His kingdom, as sworn to do faithful fight for Him against all evil within and around us. We have called the Christian profession an order of knighthood, and so it is, the chivalry of Christ. No vain and vaunting cavalier is the Christian, doing deeds of useless valour at the prompting of an earthly love; no crusader bound on the bootless errand of wresting the holy city from pagan power; but he is a true knight still-a knight with vows of fealty and affiance resting upon him, sworn to a holier warfare and panting for a nobler prize than crusader ever waged or longed for. The escutcheon blazoned on his shield is the blood-red cross, the emblem at once of his hopes and of his consecration to the Crucified; the passion burning in his heart is love to Him who died for him; the motto on his arms is, "The love of Christ constraineth me;" the fight he wages is the slaying of self and sin, and the winning of the world for Christ; the guerdon after which he aspires is the smile and "well done" of his approving Lord; his cry of triumph even in death is, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day." Is this our character? Do we thus feel ourselves bound by ties of personal obligation to Christ? Do we go up and down in the world as men with whose |