to the clergy, to keep their trade a going, I am very certain they are contrary to the simplicity which is in Christ Jesus, and pernicious to the souls of men.

The spirit of anti-christ appeared in the days of the apostles. It has continued ever since, filling the world with darkness, and perverting the right ways of the Lord. And, I fear there is not a Church under heaven, or an individual follower of the Lamb, that is entirely free from her accursed leaven.

In all probability God's temple will not be thoroughly cleansed, until the reign of anti-christ is at an end; which, I trust, will be in somewhat less than two hundred years. Then shall the Churches walk in light and purity, as in the early part of the apostolic age; and their members in holiness and lowe. "Belief of the truth," shall then be the one term, (OR GROUND) of communiona among them, and "brotherly love" their only bond.

As this period approaches, it may reasonably be expected, the eyes of the Lord's people shall be more and more opened to discern the nature of divine truth, and of their Lord's kingdom. The natural consequence of which will be, they shall depart farther and farther, "from the tents of those wicked men, and touch NOTHING of their's, lest they be consumed in their sins.

May the Lord, who has, I trust, opened your eyes to see many things which others see not, enlighten you more and more; that you may be the means of leading others to the faith of Jesus, and to the purity of Gospel worship.

Your ready servant,

W. C.

[In our August number, we reviewed a small Work entitled "A Plea for the Reformation of the Congregational Churches:" By Henry Webb. And in the October number, (p. 127) we inserted an Article from the same individual, soliciting information respecting Churches who advocate the Primitive Church order. We now have the pleasure of inserting an Address from the Church of which he is one of the Elders, We need not to say any thing in its commendation, it will speak for itself. Ed. C. A.]

with propriety asked why we have nevertheless withdrawn from those bearing that denomination, and formed distinct Churches.

To this very reasonable inquiry we reply in brief, that we have felt ourselves compelled to withdraw on account of the deviations from New Testament order remarkable in the congregational Churches of the present day. We regret to say that, in our view, these Churches have substituted arrangements of their own framing, in the place of those which the Apostles, acting under inspiration, laid down for the rule of the early Churches; and that, as a consequence, the ends for which such societies formed are to a great extent defeated: these ends being the edification of the members, and the extension of the Gospel in the world, that thus God may be glorified.

were

If a more definite answer be requested, we remark first, on the subject of the edification of the members, that this, according to the New Testament, is the mutual duty of all who are qualified-(1 Thess. v. 11.) Diversities of gifts are bestowed by God for that very purpose. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."-(1 Cor. xii. 7 Rom. xii. 1 Peter iv. 10.) The brethren are to "consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works"-to exhort one another-(Heb. x. 24, 25,) to have a care for one another.— (1 Cor. xii. 25.) Those amongst them pointed out by the Holy Ghost through their manifestation of the required gifts and qualifications, are to be recognized by the

Churches as their elders or overseers, and to them is especially committed the duty of feeding all the flock-(1 Tim. iii. 2, Acts xx. 28.) These are to undertake the office willingly, under a sense of their accountability to God for the talents imparted, and uninfluenced by views of worldly emolument. (1 Peter v. 1-4.)

Each Church is to act as a united body, under Jesus Christ, the exalted Head of each and of all.-(1 Cor. i. 10, Eph. v. 24.) In order that all may have him continually in remembrance in their Church meetings, and bear in mind constantly the relations in which they stand to Him and to each other, He has condescended to institute an ordinance by means of which they are to commemorate His death, until He come.(1 Cor. xi. 26.) He has not said how often this is to be done, but it appears from the New Testament, that during the time of the Apostles, the Churches met for this purpose, at least every first day of the week.-(Acts ii. 42, xx. 7.)

Neither is the number of elders, pastors. or bishops specified for each Church; it being

evident that this must vary with the gifts and requirements of each: a plurality, however, in each Church is constantly indicated. Thus at Jerusalem there were the apostles and elders.-(Acts xv. 4.) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the Church there.

(Acts xx. 17.) The Thessalonians had those who laboured among them, were over them in the Lord, and admonished them.(1 Thess. v. 13.) The Philippians had their bishops and deacons.~(Phil i. 1.) In the Church at Antioch were certain prophets and teachers.-(Acts xiii. 1.) To the number of such amongst the Corinthians we are indebted for the inspired directions of the Apostle Paul, as to the regulation of all Church proceedings with decency, and according to order.-(1 Cor. xiv. 40.) Titus was directed to ordain elders in every city. (Tit. i. 5.)

But how is it with the Churches now? They have, for the most part, arranged to meet once only in a month to commemorate their Lord's death; and with respect to their care one for another, and their mutual edification, they usually devolve all this on one individual, whom they engage for the purpose. One, not ordinarily of their own number, and it may be merely in the morning of his days, is appointed to teach for them, to exhort for them, to pray for them; the members meanwhile, old and young, contenting themselves with giving their periodical, silent attendance on his ministrations.

Of these arrangements we seriously complain, as of human inventions, originating in a deficiency of spiritual life in the members or the Churches, and as tending to perpetuate that deficiency, By the one-man system, the gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit on the members are quenched, overlooked, or despised.-(1 Thess. v. 19, 20.) The one-man is supposed fully competent to the performance of all that is to be done in the assemblies, and should any of the members desire an opportunity of manifesting a living interest in the common salvation, they must go elsewhere for that opportunity: the Church desires uothing of that sort from them they prefer hearing exclusively a regular minister. Under this arrangement members of Churches are contented to remain from year to year in a state of spiritual childhood, and when for the time they ought to be teachers, need still to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God.(Heb. v. 12.)

The same system which restrains the developement of the spiritual gifts of the members amongst themselves, operates repressively also with respect to the extension

of the Gospel. The Churches do not present sufficiently the appearance of united earnest. ness, to command the attention of the world. Instead of the free proclamation of the glad tidings of salvation to all who will listen, they are ready to receive, if not to require money from men who make no profession of faith in Christ, as a return for the accommodations in their places of worship. The system of seat-letting is too nearly related to the means employed by men of the world for the support of their lecture-halls, and places of amusement, for them to perceive any material difference; and thus the religion of Him whose kingdom is not of this world is misrepresented: an evil of no slight magnitude

We might go farther, but, perhaps, suff cient has been adduced for the present to show why we cannot consent to form a part, however unimportant, of these Churches. We cannot read the New Testament with care, and believe that apostolic rebuke would not have been largely administered had any of the first Christians commenced the adoption of plans now in existence amongst the people of God in their Church capacity. What apostles would not have sanctioned, we may not look upon as harmless amongst ourselves. What they inculcated we may not neglect without sin.

(To be concluded in our next.)

GOD THE REFUGE AND PORTION OF
HIS PEOPLE.

BY THE LATE MR. SAMUEL ECKING.
Should tempests beat with horrid rage,
And billows in succession roll;
Should Earth with all her charms recede,
And nought remain beneath the Pole,
My God, on thee alone I trust,

Nor death nor hell can make me fear;
Thy presence can support my soul,
And ev'ry gloomy prospect cheer.
Possessing thee, no want I find,
I feel no emptiness within;
Thy love inspires my drooping heart,
Thy Blood has cancell'd all my sin.
Stupendous grace! surprising love!!
O for a seraph's tongue to sing,
Salvation, in immortal strains,

To JESUS, my victorious King.
Be all the pow'rs my soul can boast,
Be all the remnant of my days,
Enploy'd in one harmonious song,
In sounding my Redeemer's praise.

Died on Sunday, Oct. 24th aged 53, Mrs. Mary Dean,
for many years a Member of the Scotch Baptist
Church, Beverley, and daughter of the late Mr.
John Charlton, Elder of that Church.

To Correspondents and Readers. Communications have been received from W. Brown,--A. Liddell,--Geo. Chesser,--R. I,--J. H. --A. B.,--P. B.,--Robert Jones,--J, M.,--G. S.,-Spectator,-H. Humphries,--Henry Webb,-D. L.

Printed and Published by J. Everson, Beverley, London:--A. Hall, & Co., 25, Paternoster-row.

SIR, You are not the first, by many, who have accused me of being uncharitable. According to the popular notion of charity, so I But not, I trust. if I am tried by the scriptures.

am.

What the religious world calls charity, is a murderer; and what is often stigmatized as uncharitableness, bigotry, party spirit, censoriousness, and the like, will, I am persuaded, be found true charity in the day of God.

The charity which subsists at the expense of truth, and which unites as christian brethren, men of the most opposite opinions and practices, does often rejoice in iniquity of the most mischievous kind; and so cannot be the charity which Paul recommends: for that" rejoices in (or with) the truth" only. See 1 Cor. xiii. 6.

If I hated a man in my heart, and wished to procure his damnation, I would compliment him with the name of" christian brother," and praise his "rich experience," although his creed, and his spirit, and his conduct, were inconsistent with the christian name. But if I

[Vol. 3. New Series.

loved that man, and desired his salvation above all things, I would solemnly protest against his errors, and never allow him to suppose that my opinion of his state was favourable, until I had full conviction of his being a believer. Meantime I would behave with all kindness and affability towards him, in order to convince him, that the other part of my conduct arose from religious principle; and was fraught with the utmost charity to

his soul.

It may hurt the feelings of men, when we tell them the truth, and shew them that we do not think them christians; or that we "stand in doubt" of them. But it cannot further injure them; and may do them infinite good, by leading them to "search the scriptures," and to "examine their ownselves." Whereas, by speaking smooth things to them, and verbally or tacitly acknowledging them for brethren, before they give sufficient evidences of being such, while, perhaps, it gratifies them exceedingly, and gains the unfaithful flatterer a great name for charity, is a ready way to foster their delusions, lull

their consciences faster asleep, harden them in sin, and plunge their souls into ruin.

What sort of charity is that, my friend, which sees the danger of a fellow-creature, and rather than alarm his feelings, assures him that he is in perfect safety; instead of warning him of his danger, and shewing him the only way of escape? Such as set the feelings of men in competition with their souls, or think it better to avoid singularity, and insure to themselves quietness and a good name, than to "reprove them at all events, and not suffer sin upon them," must be destitute of love to their neighbour, and of all religious principle.

Indeed, I am seriously afraid, there is very little RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE among the generality of professing people; or their conduct would not be what it is. They contend much for what they call heart religion; while they sneer at religious principles, and discover much dislike towards such as are governed by them. "Away with your doctrines, they are ready to cry-give me experience. What's the use of stuffing people's heads with doctrines? And who can tell which are true and which are false, while so many good people differ? Doctrinal preaching is only calculated to prevent the exercise of MUTUAL CHARITY by stirring up strife; or, at the best, to fill people with head knowledge. Give me a warm heart and comfortable feelings, and let me live in peace and charity with all mankind." The doctrines of Christ being enemies to their universal charity, and his commandments tending to make men too scrupulous, they are almost totally excluded from their refined systems as mere non-essentials. And being perfectly agreed on the subject of

warm hearts and comfortable feelings, they AGREE TO DIFFER on almost every other. Whatever tends to promote these, (whether it be a dream, a voice, or a powerful preacher they admire. And whatever tends to disturb their quiet they reject The man who shall dare to dispute the christianity of these preciou warm-hearted souls, or trouble that consciences with the doctrines and commandments of Jesus, is sure to be hated by them. They will rise in a fury against him, and do their utmost to "expel him out of their coasts." For, notwithstanding te soft aspect and gentle name, MODERN catholic charity can persecute the friends of truth.

Alas for such professors! "A deceived heart has led them astray: and "they feed upon wind."-Woe unto them, for under the plausible pretexts of mutual forbearance and christian charity, they foster ont another's delusions, and wink at one another's sins. "Behold, al ye that kindle a fire, that compas yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have at God's hand :-ye shall lie down in sorrow.”

My ideas, you think, are “very narrow." If they are not narrowet than the word of God, I am content: I do not wish them wrider. And I have some relief under this heavy charge, when I recollect who it was that once said, "strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

I pray to be kept from being really uncharitable; but I equally desire not to affect being more charitable than our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles. I esteem them the best models of christian charity; and contemplating it in

their conduct, I find it very different from what goes by that name now. Charity never deviates from one fixed principle. That principle is supreme love to God, and regard to his word. This makes her conduct very different to different persons, and to the same person under different circumstances. She baptized the publicans and sinners who came to John's baptism, but refused the pharisees and sadducees, and called them a generation of vipers. She spake comfortable words to the followers of Jesus. But she rebuked, with uncommon sharpness, some of the most devout among the Jews, calling them hypocrites, and asking them how they expected to escape the damnation of hell? ‡ She called Elymas, the sorcerer, a child of the devil,|| and told Simon Magus that he was in the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity; and spurning his profane bribery, said, "thy money perish with thee." §

She would not give place by subjection, no not for an hour, to those false teachers who perverted the gospel of Christ, that "the truth of the gospel might continue with" us poor genliles,** She even desired them to be cut off from the churches of Jesus, and denounced a heavy curse on all such as should follow in their wicked ways + ±

This, sir, is CHRISTIAN charity; but there is little of it in the present day.

There is a notorious harlot, who has had the audacity to assume the name of charity; and the people are mightily taken with her. But she is a most unprincipled hussy, and no way related to christian charity. "She is loud and stubborn. She winketh with her eyes, and flattereth with her tongue. Her lips drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But her end is bitter as wormwood; sharp as a two-edged sword. HER STEPS TAKE HOLD ON HELL. She hath cast down many wounded: yea, many STRONG MEN have been slain by her."

But christian charity is a favourite only with a few. The world greatly dislikes her, because she refuses to acknowledge any out of their proper characters. However, there is not a greater proof of men's minds being vitiated than their not loving her, for she is "altogether lovely."

She

But to the friends of truth, she always spake with kindness and gentleness, unless when they transgressed the law of the Lord. Then she was angry with them, and on a very particular occasion she said to an eminent apostle, "get thee behind me satan." She afterwards withstood the same apostle to the face, when he was to be blamed.§§