that the latter was often the scene of foreign inroads, while the former was but seldom annoyed with savage invaders.

Garmon and Lupus, having established order in Britain, returned to France. As soon as the news of their departure was generally announced, the false teachers re-entered upon their labors, and soon filled the country with the sound of their insipid doctrines. A messenger was sent to solicit the return of Garmon to the former scenes of his ministerial labors, inasmuch as the advocates of Pelagianism were throughout the country loudly decrying the fundamental principles of Christianity, and, by all the art and cunning of errorists, were attempting to erect their own standard of faith. Garmon proceeded to Britain without delay, and took Severus with him, an able and eloquent man in the Scriptures.

Nothing deserving of peculiar notice transpired in Britain, between the final departure of Garmon thence, and the coming of the Saxons thither.

See Extracts from the Parish Church, in the Religious Magazine.-Benedict's History of the Baptist Denomination in America.-Hanes Prydain Fawr, by Rev. Titus Lewis; Hanes Crefydd yng Ygymry, by Rev. Prof. D. Peter: Translated by Evans Martyn, and published in the Christian Herald, Vol. 6.

WELSH ASSOCIATIONS.

We have every reason to believe that the Welsh Baptists had their associations, and that Dyfrig, Illtyd, and Dynawt, were the leading men among them, long before Austin's attempt to convert them to Popery, in that association which was held on the borders of England, about the year 600.

The first association after the reformation, as far as we can find, was held at Abergavenny, on the 14th and 15th days of the sixth month, in the year 1653; when the ministers and messengers of five of the old and apostolical Baptist order, met and calmly and deliberately considered the best means to be adopted for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. They represented the churches of Olchon, Llantrisaint, Llanwenarth, Swansea, and Carmarthen.* They unanimously agreed that the church of Olchon should ordain more elders and deacons, and assist the church of Llanwenarth to support their minister. The names of the delegates are not recorded. It is only stated, that twenty-four of them signed the minutes; and J. Thomas, the Welsh historian, has given us only the names of seven of them-namely: Howel Vaughan, Walter Prosser, Thomas Parry, Howel Watkins, Charles Garson, and Stephen Brace,

The next association was held at Aberavon, within the bounds of the church of Swansea, in the year 1654; wherein it was resolved, that the church of Carmarthen being destitute of a pastor, should be supplied by other ministers in regular rotation; and that John Miles, David Davis, Walter Prosser, and William Prichard, should prepare writings to be presented to the next association, on the duty of pastors, deacons, and members of churches; which also they did. John Miles was appointed to visit the churches of Olchon and Llanwenarth, as often as he could during the year, to assist them, and to endeavor to ascertain whether there were any among them that were likely to be useful in the work of the ministry, and to form his

*From the history of the above churches, we find that each of them had several branches; and that every minister was both a pastor and a mission. within the bounds of his own church. The distance from Llanwenarth to Carmarthen is about one hundred miles, and nearly as much from Olchon to Swansea,

ary,

judgment of the gifts and qualifications of such as had com. menced preaching.

The next association was held at Llantrisaint, in the same year; when the subject of laying on of hands on the baptized, first came under their consideration. The above named ministers, and William Thomas also, were appointed to write on the subject against the next association, to be held at the Hay, within the bounds of the Olchon church.

We have not seen the account of that association, but soon afterwards Messrs. Rider and Hopkins, who were great advocates for it, were sent down from Glaziers' Hall church, London, to Wales, and laid their hands on some of the children of Gomer, for the first time since the introduction of Christianity into the Isle of Britain. By degrees, it became a universal practice. Some years afterwards, the question was agitated again in the churches of Maesyberllan and Ebenezer, and finally settled by the association that it should not be a bar of communion.

The associations were held afterwards in the following places:

This year the association published their Confession of Faith, which was adopted by the Philadelphia Baptist association in 1742.

Abel Morgan.