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ness of these three attributes. In fact, Messiah is now the temple of Deity; and in this form he will dwell, speak, and shine in his body the church for ever. It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is; and every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure. May all who have named his name, be anxious to attain so dignified a standing in the presence of the adorable Creator.-J. W.]

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM
CANADA.

Pickering, June 19, 1849.

BELOVED BROTHER WALLIS, It is long since I wrote to you, and it is long since I heard from you; but you must not suppose that this is indicative of any abatement of my affection for you and the "holy brethren" with you. No! Christian affection is not abated by time or distance; it endures unto death, yea, it endures in eternity. What a glorious assembly there will be in heaven at the final consummation! Those who have loved upon earth, and who have been separated by distance, will be there united for ever: those who have met together round the table of the Lord upon earth, will there sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, when our vile bodies shall be changed and fashioned like unto the glorious body of our exalted Redeemer, and our voices tuned to sing in rapturous strains unto Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Here Christ's church is divided into numerous congregations, separated by extensive regions of land and immense oceans of water in heaven there will be but one assembly, each one beholding his brother's presence, and made partaker of his joy.

| bring forth obedience. Here we have the extensive lake, the flowing river, and the meandering rivulet, beneath whose surface the body of the sinner can be plunged

"That when beneath the waters laid, His breath suspended in their womb, May call to mind how Jesus died,

And buried lay within the tomb." Is not the gospel really glorious, adapted as it is to men in all climates and all conditions of life? Its means are abundantly sufficient to convert every soul, and bring every creature into the kingdom of Christ.

I suppose you know that we have a periodical in Canada, THE WITNESS OF TRUTH, conducted by Brother Oliphant.

am happy to inform you that the disciples were never in so prosperous a state in Canada as at the present time. Not only are the disciples increasing in churches already formed, but new churches are being established, and new candlesticks set up. The brethren are about entering into co-operation for supporting evangelists to proclaim the gospel through the country. Faith cometh by hearing;" there must be some one to speak, or there would be no one to hear: preachers, then, are essential, for "how can they hear without a preacher?" Your affectionate brother,

66

E. SHEPPARD.

COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE.

DEAR BROTHER-Another month having elapsed since I wrote you, I would again convey to you a few thoughts connected with Jesus and his truth.

I thank you for your letter. ** How far are disciples often from obeying the Lord's new commandment. It is to the faithful a ground of comfort that the Lord searches the heart; he knoweth them that are his. Nevertheless every man shall be salted (seasoned) with fire, (trial, suffering)-as every sacrifice is salted with salt. Trials may proceed from a thousand sources: they show us what we are, and whether we love God. Oh, the salvation of God is of such moment to us as intelligent and responsible creatures, that crowned with its blessings, we may say

"I will not fear what flesh can do,
My trust is in the Lord."

I never expect to see those brethren with whom I was united in Nottingham, whose brotherly kindness I remember with pleasure, and whom Christian love prompted to acts of benevolence and goodness towards me which will never be forgotten-I say I never expect to see them again upon the" footstool," but look forward to a meeting in heaven, where I shall see them rewarded for their labours of love by Him who has said, "Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold wa-"They that trust in the Lord shall be like ter only in the name of a disciple, verily I say Mount Zion which cannot be moved." He unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." that believeth in him shall not be ashamedI am happy to inform you that the Canadian shall not make haste-" shall not be conclimate is very favorable for the growth of the founded." Oh, for more of the heroism of Christian graces, and the exercise of the Chris- Paul-"I count all things but loss for the extian affections. Here we have loving and lovely cellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my brethren-men of talent, men of virtue- men Lord." who undertake and carry out that form of doctriue once delivered to the saints. Testimony is, too, sufficient to produce faith, and faith to

I cannot say much about the Sunderland meeting, but did not expect to find Brother Dron the only messenger from Scotland. It

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THE SUNDERLAND MEETING.

DEAR BROTHER-I cannot say that I approve of the resolution No. 5 passed at the Sunderland meeting, page 320 of the July HARBINGER. Although it may be the duty of messengers to care for the body generally, yet such resolutions as that, in my opinion, is an infringement on the independence of individual churches. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be immoral. It may commit an error, and by a careless oversight, certain of its members may escape the just application of the laws of Jesus; but when a church, as a whole, becomes dishonest or immoral, it proves itself to be unworthy of the name it has assumed, and no sister church ought to have any thing to do with it. If there be a few names in it, as in Sardis, let them come out and be separated from such apostacy. Innovation must be carefully watched, and schisms prevented by those who advocate the bible alone as the standard of appeal.

I have no idea that differences can exist between two individuals, or between two churches, for any length of time, if they be Christians, because Jesus our Lord has furnished us with the very materials, by a proper application of which, both may be brought into one; if love for the truth's sake be in existence in each

party. When this is the case, our greatest differences will sink into the shade; we shall forgive and forget, and thus settle them at

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BAPTIST ASSOCIATION LETTER.

THE Circular Letter from the Northamptonshire Particular Baptist Association, forwarded to us by an esteemed friend, one of the ministers of the denomination, has duly come to hand. The annual meeting of the association, it appears, was held in Northampton on the 29th and 30th May. It comprises 36 churches, 29 of which have stated ministers. During the last year 128 have been baptized, 42 received by letter, 59 deaths have occurred, 30 have been dismissed, 18 excluded, and 22 withdrawn, leaving a clear increase of 43, which gives an average of rather more than 1 per cent. for each

congregation. If we are correctly informed, the largest and most influential of these churches have adopted the principle of mixed communion; or, in other words, they have so far amalgamated with the pious of other denominations, as to admit to church membership those who have not been baptized into Christ. Hence we are informed in the letter, that candidates are "received into the church by experience, without baptism !" The object of this movement is, no doubt, to promote union among those who profess to love the Lord; for union is the one thing demanded in the present day. But any plan devised for effecting this purpose which sacrifices the truth, or dispenses with any of the institutions of Christ, must be offensive in his sight. It is human invention, and stands on the same ground as infant sprinkling, being destitute alike of divine precept or example to sanction it. Besides, the parties thus received are in danger of being self-deceived, by resting for salvation upon their confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of own experience, rather than upon the good God. There is, indeed, no authority for Christian experience being regarded as a ground for admission into the church of Christ. The original and divine plan of entrance into the church is faith in the Son of God as the resurrection and life-repentance, or deep conviction of sin and baptism. To enter the congregation of the Lord otherwise than this, is to climb up some other way, and cannot be approved by the exalted Head of the Church. What the Baptists gain, either in purity or numbers, by this modern movement of communion, is not for us to say. To their own Master they must stand or fall. We are sorry to say, as far as our knowledge extends, that they are generally the rich, and not the poor, who remain unbaptized among the Baptists (Mark x. 23.)

The subject of the yearly address to these churches, is one of great importance, namely, "THE OBLIGATIONS AND ADVANTAGES OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP." The name of the writer is unknown to us, but we are pleased to observe, that in bringing it before his brethren, he very properly commences at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, the first day after the ascension and coronation of the Lord at his Father's right hand. It was in Jerusalem that Christianity commenced its career. The law of the new covenant was to go forth from this city, (Isa. ii. 3, Mich. iv. 2, Luke xxiv. 49)

tion of the letter, had not a press of matter prevented us; but the following extracts will, we are sure, be acceptable :-

and we recommend all to begin their study of variety of means are consequently employed by the Christian system from this point. We the saviour of the body' to keep them from should have been happy to give the larger por-Among those means, religious fellowship occufalling, and to promote their growth in grace. pies a scarcely secondary place. By joining a church, the young convert formally separates himself from the world, and as formally allies himself to the sect everywhere spoken against.' From that time he feels that the eyes of bad men and good men are upon him: new restraints are thrown around him; new motives to watchfulness and self-denial are

"When Peter preached on the fiftieth day after the death of Christ, three thousand souls gladly received his message, and were baptized. Many of these it is reasonable to suppose were inhabitants of Jerusalem; and many others strangers who had gone thither from different parts of the land, and from other parts of the world, to keep the feast. Each of these converts might, when baptized, have gone to his own home, to meditate there on the novel sentiments he had adopted, without any attempt at further communion with those who, like himself, had received the new faith. But such was not the course pursued. Similarity of opinions and feelings, on subjects of the deepest interest, would naturally draw those thus distinguished towards each other: and it is manifest that the Apostles, the authoritative expounders of Christian practice, encouraged this uniting tendency. The baptized, we are told, 'continued steadfastly in the Apostles' fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers.' All that believed were together.' They formed one church or congregation, to which the Lord added daily such as should be saved.

"To prevent however all possibility of misconstruction, to prevent also their own time from being absorbed by mere alms-giving, the Apostles instructed the assembly to select seven discreet and devout persons who should take charge of the contributions made for the poor, these seven being for that particular business, the deacons, that is the ministers or servants of the whole brotherhood. This primary Christian organization, though greatly disturbed and weakened, was not destroyed, by the persecution which arose on the death of Stephen: and after the conversion of Saul, its strength was revived; so that when Saul returned from Damascus he found a company of believers, to whom he assayed to join himself;' and when admitted to their confidence, he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.' There are several references of a later date to this orignal association of Christians, this first church

from one of which we learn that about the year 52, it comprised not only Apostles and brethren, but also elders; and from all of which we learn that it was the will of God that the disciples of Christ should be associated.

"When sinners are converted to God, the

saints rejoice over them with great joy; yet they rejoice with trembling. The state of the just here, and especially of those newly brought to the faith of Christ, is ever represented in scripture as one of jeopardy; and a great

created; and by habitually uniting with his brethren in the service of God, he is continually kept within the range and operation of a countless variety of salutary influences.

"Thus to protect and nurture the plant of grace, is evidently the kind purpose of him who knows us altogether, and whose will it is that we should be saved. Baptism and Christian fellowship have both been instituted for this purpose, though not for this purpose alone. By baptism the convert gives himself to God: by joining a church he gives himself to the people of God according to his will. The former we regard as of the nature of a solemn vow, by which the Christian in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, formally consecrates himself to God; it is the sign and summary of that solemn surrender which every really devout person makes of himself to the Lord; it may be practised amidst multitudes on the banks of the Jordan, or within the walls of a prison, or in the solitude of the desert: in either case it is the aptest and most efficacious expression of the believer's relation to God, and, when rightly understood, is eminently adapted to gather up in a single point and to keep before the mind those things unseen, by faith in which we live. As the heap of stones which Laban and Jacob raised would, when they were far away, give definiteness and force to the compact that existed between them; so is baptism beautifully adapted to keep before the mind of the Christian that solemn engagement into which he has entered with the most high, and to hold him to the fulfilment of that engagement. Baptism is the solemn ratification of the covenant into which the believer enters with God: church member

ship is designed, by a great variety of social influences, to preserve him from violating that covenant, and to prompt him to the fullest and most successful pursuit of all its blessings."

QUERY AND REPLY.

"In what way, and through what medium, does the Holy Spirit now convert sinners to God, so as that they may become saints?" E. M. H.

This query surely does not come from a converted person; but, if it do, the follow

ing brief remarks will not be unprofitable. | fession, and having been baptized into If a person do not read the words of the Jesus, he is now going on his way reHoly Spirit, as recorded in the Bible, he joicing. M. H. will never be converted so as to become approved of God; but let him read, in the first place, the four Gospels, and become fully persuaded from their testimony that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of God, and the only Saviour of sinners. Then let him read the Acts of the Apostles, and learn therefrom how convinced believing sinners become saints, and what they were commanded to do that they might be saved. After this let him read the letters of the inspired apostles to the churches, and in all things obey them. Reading, hearing, and obeying the word of God, is the teaching of the Holy Spirit, and is the only medium, since the day of Pentecost, (Acts ii.) by which sinners can now become saints. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." If any one can present a different way, let

him do so.

Pitgar, July 7, 1849.

ITEMS OF NEWS.

J. F.

ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. The laws of Jesus, in reference to discipline and the proper government of the church of Christ, have for some time past engaged much of our attention. That these laws must be administered by some who are competent to rule and guide the body, if we wish to see that body in health and peace, we believe is clearly taught and enforced in the Sacred Oracles. Accordingly, during last month, "we looked out from amongst us" three brethren unanimously considered to be both faithful and competent to form an eldership. Their names are Brothers Nathan Harrison, James Washurst, and James Schofield; the former as pastor, the two latter as deacons. After having chosen these brethren, the church assembled on the morning of Lord's day, July 1st, that by prayer and fasting, with the imposition of hands, they might be solemnly set apart to their work. Having obtained the services of our beloved Brother Greenwell, he earnestly sought the blessing of God, and then proceeded with a few remarks on the design of what we were assembled to do; after which, each member of the body, both male and female, in an orderly and solemn manner, laid our hands upon the brethren chosen; thus pledging ourselves, by our own voluntary act, to obey them so long as they teach and administer the laws of Jesus our king. In the afternoon and evening, discourses were delivered by our Brother Green well, which were listened to with great attention by all present. Last month one made the good con

NEWTON STEWART, JULY 10.-Brother Service, from Glasgow, has laboured in this place and neighbourhood for four weeks, proclaiming the gospel in the open air almost every evening, in the town hall every first day, and daily from house to house. His practice has been to proclaim the gospel, and point the way of entrance into the kingdom, keeping nothing back. Since he came amongst us we have had one addition, and hope for more soon, a good deal of excitement having been produced, and much discussion and considerable enlightenment. The brethren have been greatly refreshed by his visit. Brother Service, who is an able and zealous advocate of primitive Christianity, is now gone to Dumfries to labour. May the Lord prosper the good work in his hands. Yours in the kingdom, W. M. C.

DUNDEE, JULY 10.-We baptized a middle aged man here last week in the name of the Lord Jesus. He has attended, with several others, for some time past, and appeared to take deep interest in the meetings. We are not without hope of advancing still further in bringing forth fruit unto God.

A. F.

CUPAR, JULY 18.-The congregation in this place is living in peace and love, enjoying the immunities and blessings of the New Institution, and in connection with the other churches in the neighbourhood, labouring to spread the glorious gospel of the blessed God. These labours have not been in vain, several having confessed the Lord, and been immersed into his name. To Him be all the praise. Within the last month three have been added to the church in Cupar, and others are asking for the good old way: we hope they will have courage to walk therein, that they may lay hold on eternal life, which is promised to the faithful. Is it not strange, that in a matter of such awful moment, men should be so unconcerned that they will not put themselves to the trouble of examining and searching for the truth; but take for granted that the system they follow is right? In things connected with the affairs of this world, few would act so unwise a part; but, alas! the people in general seem so wedded to their own ways, that when the simple truth is presented they treat it with indifference. Still some honest hearts receive the word, and bring forth fruit, some thirty, some sixty, and some a hundred fold. We ought, therefore, to be diligent in sowing the seed, and wait with patience for the harvest. Yours in love,

A. D.

DUMFRIES, JULY 18.-As a church we are now walking in peace and love; a young man was added to our number in April. We have at this time one of the brethren from Glasgow labouring in Dumfries and in the locality; he is as laborious as any who have previously visited this locality. The seed must be sown, or there can be no harvest. T. L.

OBITUARY.

SUNDERLAND, JULY 13.--It is our painful duty to record the death of our Brother, John Hill, of North Shields. It is is now upwards of twenty years since he was baptized, and on the Christian Messenger first making its appearance, it was eagerly read by him, and its principles adopted. Having a large family to provide with the bread which perisheth, he was obliged to devote the time his family was at rest to a perusal of its articles; and thus, by self-denial, store his mind with a knowledge of the truth. He became acquainted with our late Brother Briggs, of Newcastle, associating with the church of which he was pastor, as the only one in this vicinity holding to the ancient order of worship. For a long time he stood alone in North Shields, but a few disciples being gathered together there he became their President. Though possessed of no talent for public speaking, yet his influence was of much use, and his death will be felt by the brethren. Notwithstanding that he had many difficulties and discouragements, yet he pursued the even tenour of his way, fully persuaded that the principles he had espoused were founded in truth. He died on the 2nd instant, after an illness of only four days, surviving his wife (who was called away in a few hours whilst on a visit to Durham) but twelve days, and leaving to the sympathies of the brethren three children under fourteen years of age in a helpless state. Truly we may say, in the midst of life we are in death, and there is but a step between us and the grave. It is consoling to know, that he whom the church has lost, lived in obedience to the gospel, that it was his support in sickness, and that he died in the enjoyment of its hope. Yours in the one hope,

FRANCIS HILL.

GENEALOGY OF SHEM.

We have received the following genealogical table from T. G. in reference to the note inserted on page 303, in which we allude to the number of years Melchisedec resided with Abraham, and state that it would be difficult to prove such period of residence was a hundred years.

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Shem lived after Abraham was born..... 210 The former part of the note is evidently a mistake. Abraham must have been cotemporary with Shem more than 100 years, yet he could not have been so for 210 years. Moses says (Gen. xii. 4) that Abraham was 75 years old when he departed out of Haran, which was on the death of his father (Acts vii. 4) Now the days of Terah were 205, and Abraham was 75 when his father died, consequently he was born when his father was 130 years of age, and not 70 as above stated. The circumstance is often overlooked, that in biblical chronology the eminent persons are placed first, although they may be the youngest. J. W.

THE SPIRIT OF PROGRESSION.
BY MRS. F. D. GAGE.

THE gloomy night is breaking,
E'en now the sunbeams rest,
With a faint, yet cheering radiance,
On the hill-tops of the West.
The mists are slowly rising

From the valley and the plain,
And a spirit is awaking,

That shall never sleep again.
And ye may hear, that listen,
The spirit's stirring song,
That surges like the ocean,

With its solemn bass along!
"Ho! can ye stay the rivers,
Or bind the wings of Light,
Or bring back to the Morning
The old departed Night?
"Nor shall ye check my impulse,
Nor stay it for an hour,
Until Earth's groaning millions
Have felt the healing power!"
That spirit is Progression.
In the vigour of its youth-
The foeman of Oppression,
And its armour is the TRUTH.
Old Error with its legions

Must fall beneath its wrath;
Nor blood, nor tears, nor anguish,
Will mark its brilliant path.
But onward, upward, heavenward,
The spirit still will soar,

Till PEACE and LOVE shall triumph,
And FALSEHOOD reign no more.

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