A rare volume in any state, the present is handsomely bound and preserved, having belonged to John Swaffer, long-time Deacon at the Baptist Church at Ashford, County Kent. He served as Deacon from 1798 through to the mid-1820's and appears to have led the church at one point.

On the blank ffep, he pens in sepia ink a really beautiful address or charge based on John 16.33, "In the world ye shall have trouble."

A fitting theme, as the Baptists of the era continued to be experience both rapid growth and a proportional increase in resistance from other groups, often driven by their calls for Christians from other communions to be "re-baptized" and their prohibition of non-dunked Christians from their celebration of Communion. 

The MSs Sermon In Part:

". . . at last God will pour out the vial of his wrath upon the Church's enemies, for he says he will avenge his own elect which cry unto him day and night and will amply reward them for all their Tribulations, for he will wipe away their tears with the Handkerchief of Love, and Kiss them with the Kisses of his mouth, which shall be as myrrh and spices to revive and cheer their souls, thus will he lead them to the Chamber of Imagery to see the Glory of the only Begotten Son, to behold in him the fulness of the Godhead Bodily. Dear Brother or Sister in Christ, who can harm us if we are followers of our Jesus, knowing the Lord does give grace here and will Crown our Labours of Love hereafter. Be of good cheer. The race is nearly run. May we wait patiently, without a murmur, till our change cometh . . . 

August 30, 1823"

The Baptist Magazine for 1820. London. Printed by J. Barfield. 1820. 536pp.

[bound with]

The Importance of a Practical Regard to Christ as the Believer's Example. The Circular Letter from the Ministers and Messengers of the Several Baptist Churches Composing the Kent and Sussex Association; Assembled at Lessness-Heath, June 6 & 7, 1820. 16pp.

[bound with]

James, John Angell. Small Blessings not to be Despised. A Sermon, Preached for the Benefit of the Port of London Society, for Promoting Religion among Seamen, on Board the Floating Chapel, Moored off Wapping Stairs, in the River Thames, May 9, 1820. London. H. Teape Tower Hill. 1820. 46pp. 

Contents of The Baptist Magazine include material by or about: The African Institution, Society for Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews, Port of London Society, Religious Liberty Society, Signs of Declension in Religion, Letters to an Afflicted Friend by Abraham Booth, Henry Martyn, Sermons by Andrew Fuller, John Ryland, and John Mack, Missionary Prayer Meetings, Missionary Translations of Scripture, Intelligence from Mrs. Joshua Marshman, Letter from Mr. William Ward, Moravian Missions, Missionary Reports from Serampore, William Carey, Poem on Harriet Newell, Death of John Kingsford, Review of Haldane's Letters to Chalmers, etc. etc.

All bound in attractive half leather with marbled boards; nicely patinated with remains of old label at head of spine. Some bumping and through at corners. Very sound and text very crisp and clean indeed.