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AUGUST, 1856.

ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT, THE REV. B. S. HOLLIS,

DELIVERED AT

THE THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL ASSOCIATION OR CONFERENCE OF THE MINISTERS AND ELDERS OF THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S CONNEXION

HELD AT SPA FIELDS CHAPEL, LONDON, JUNE, 1856.

Fathers and Brethren, As you have done me the honour to request that I would again preside over your Conference, let me proceed to introduce the business that lies before us by offering a few introductory remarks: and as last year I endeavoured to discharge my conscience by reminding of our History and Mission as a Connexion, I propose on this occasion to advert to considerations of a more general character.

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But first suffer me to congratulate this assembly on our meeting once more under this venerable dome. "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain." The voice of the Countess was heard here. Here for three generations the silver trumpet, with no uncertain sound, has proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him that Ichabod is not inscribed on these portals, and that our inheritance has not been given into the hands of strangers. Spa Fields Chapel still bears our crest. In Veritate Victoria.

And let us rejoice with the Pastor and the flock over the noble work which they have achieved during the past year. Never did this edifice look more attractive, more Connexional. The eagle has renewed his youth. Look around! "What manner of stones and what buildings are here?" And we understand that the congregation is greatly increased, and that the ample School Rooms are thronged. It was well there were some friends of discernment and faith enough to say when the axe was laid at the root of this plant of renown, "destroy it not, for a blessing is in it." Its root was vigorous, though some few of the topmost branches indicated decay. "The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted." Dear and venerable Spa! "Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions sakes I will now say, Peace be within thee!"

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Another year is gone- irrecoverably gone. Let this suggest my first topic in seeking to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. God takes note of time. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways"-intimating that after so long a course of teaching there could be no excuse for ignorance. I know how trite it is to speak of the value and the flight of time, but it is no unprofitable theme, and

"The man is yet unborn, who duly weighs an hour."

When we think of the deductions to be made from active, useful life, for those "days of childhood and youth," which Soloman pronounces "vanity," and the days of sickness and age, when “the grasshopper is a burden” and "desire fails," few can be said to have more than fifty years in which to attempt any great work for their generation. And no man has more than one life to spend, spend it as he may. With so ephemeral an existence, and with objects around us so much worth living for, it is incumbent on us all to ask ourselves, and frequently, "How old art thou ?" What have we done for God? And How has it been done? What are we doing? And How are we doing it? I fear that much of our irretrievable past has been spent in vanity-in "resolving what to do," and breaking our vows-in pursuing objects beneath the notice of men who have but so short a time to live. If we have any reason to revise our course, if we are strongly pressed in spirit to live other than we have been living-to be more select in our aims, and then more earnest; as Christ, knowing that the time of His departure was at hand, at one time said to Judas, so let me, in all the quickening tones of christian admonition say to each of you, my brethren, "What thou doest, do quickly." "It is to be lamented," said Sir Thomas Smith, when dying, "that men know not to what end they were born into the world until they are ready to go out of it."

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And these remarks are not irrelevant to the business of the present Conference. Our several Institutions are fast verging to a crisis. may, if we will, make them take our own image and superscription. we deem it desirable that they should? And have we the energy to press home the die? The metal is warm now. And the work is on the wheel. A new Trusteeship is pending. A Theological Professor for our College is required. And there are open doors, wide and effectual, at home, and abroad, in Africa, and in Asia. God by his providential voice, and that a mighty voice, is saying, "Behold, I set before thee an open door; and no man can shut it." Shall we address ourselves to the race set before us, or abandon the course, and let others take our crown? Shall we work the old ship clear of the rocks, get her out again into the open sea, and do business in great waters; or let her drive?

In keeping with these enquiries as to the great purpose of life, suffer me also to urge another question, What are we accomplishing in the way of saving souls from death? For therefore are we sent. I have looked abroad on the open valley, and I observe that it is full of dry bonesvery dry. Everywhere there is a want of the breath of lives. Adult

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conversions are of rare occurrence. Our chief success is with the young. Our schools are the chief means of augmenting our churches. If this judgment be correct two enquiries are forced upon us. First, Why have we failed with the adult? Are devils dispossessed with more difficulty after long tenancy? Can this kind come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting? Then why have we not fasted and prayed? It may be we have disparaged these spiritual weapons-the sling and stone, and have gone forth in some huge polished armour and thought ourselves equal to command success, to prostrate any uncircumcised Philistine; and God has sore wounded us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death" Brethren, to give life to a dead soul is the prerogative of the Holy Ghost. In vain do we experiment with our batteries. But if, for reasons beyond ourselves, the work of regeneration is now to be looked for chiefly amongst the young, then it is our wisdom to follow the fiery pillar and to "feed the lambs." The second enquiry should therefore be, What can we do to further the salvation of the young? Can we more adapt our discourses to their benefit? May we not wisely revise and resume our Bible Classes? And examine our Schools? And ascertain the character and competency of our Teachers? One year's fresh and fervent labour may make the little one a thousand. It is the manner of the God of Zion "Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings to perfect praise, and still the enemy and the avenger."

These remarks have been suggested by much that I have heard and read they are however confirmed by my own experience. : "As we have heard so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts." Last autumn I prepared for a winter campaign, arranged a course of sermons. On review I believe that many of those discourses were as adapted as any that I ever preached, if not more so, to convert men. But the result has not been encouraging. I do not know that one arrow has found its way between the joints of the harness, of all the shafts drawn from my quiver and discharged from my bow. And now the season is over, and my quiver quite empty. Nevertheless there is hope of the young, the young people in our schools. They are "submitting themselves, with pieces of silver." If your experience accords with mine, then, Brethren, we have need to abase ourselves, and "prophesy to the wind, and say, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain." "Awake! awake! O arm of

the Lord!"

Sorry should I be to divert your attention from our proper business by the introduction of any foreign matter. But the standard of theology and godliness in our churches cannot be deemed out of place at any annual gathering of such a body as that bearing the name of our illustrious Foundress. We have had a repute for orthodoxy-for holding fast the good old doctrines the doctrines of grace—the doctrines of revelation -the reality of man's fall, his need of the Spirit, the suretyship of Christ, and the everlasting love of the Father. Now, whatever may be said of certain recent publications, I believe the undefined negations, the dreamy sentiment, the natural-religion style of these works are a fair criterion of much of the ministry and composition of a large and influential and multiplying class of the teachers and writers of these days. How it is that

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the heretical tendencies and teachings of some modern books have received rather patronage than condemnation from brethren still professing evangelical views utterly confounds me. The conclusion at which I have arrived is that old fashioned truths-the doctrines of our ancient articles, and venerable catechisms are growing into disuse, and a new style of teaching, and the teaching of doctrines more pleasing to the carnal mind, are becoming more than tolerated, are becoming popular. How any man professing to be a subject of the grace of God, and professing to hold evangelical views of the gospel, could have produced and sent forth such hymns as those to which your attention has been called of late, and repeatedly, in the seasonable Letters of the Editor of the Banner, how a man could have sent forth such compositions" to be said or sung," in the church, or in the family, or for private use, and not have given some plain, unambiguous, unmistakeable intimations that he believed the heart of man to be evil, Christ to be properly God, grace before works, adoption before service, and the Holy Ghost a Person, a divine Person, to be addressed in a manner that no Socinian might employ or approximate-how all this could have been done, and a number of ministers so much as seem to patronize such a negation, all this still causes me perplexity and amazement. Glad am I that some laymen seem more alive to the custody of the doctrines of grace than their teachers—that the Levites have discovered more care for the ark than the priests. Brethren, this I say, one of the evil signs of these times is a lax theology, a philosophical kind of ministry, more scientific than spiritual, more argumentative than dogmatic treating the inspired scriptures as if they were to be ever brought to the bar of human reason, and await and abide her verdict-in fact, making Reason the ultimate appeal. The consequence, the necessary consequence is a purposeless God, then an impersonal Divinity. Then Pantheism shakes her mimic sceptre ! The old stratagem of the father of lies is being revived. God is doubted. There is a tree to be desired to make men wise. We are to be "as gods!"

May this Connexion never be blighted with such an eastwind; never cursed with such a canker. Let our motto be-"Preach the word." Go, stand, and speak unto the people all the words of this life.” Humility becomes us, and a patient, prayerful investigation of the mearing of the Holy Spirit in His word. But, clothed with these endowments, authority is best befitting our office-the style of the prophets-the proclamation, the ambassador-like bearing of the first ministers of Christ— "Thus saith the Lord." "God commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent." "Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins."

The foundation of a vigorous piety can be laid only in correct christian doctrine. The great truths which the gospel requires us to believe, contain the reasons and the source of all the peculiar traits of character by which it requires us to be distinguished. You cannot displace or pervert one of these truths without affecting the whole christian life. If all are neglected that life withers away, like a tree severed from its root. The duties of religion are all founded upon its doctrines, and from them all the motives to a godly life must be derived. If we are sanctified it is by

the truth. If therefore there is a lack of a full and distinct apprehension of the great doctrines of the gospel the defects which prevail in christian character may be at once explained. The Bible is a neglected book. It has been crowded out by the pressure of publications light and evanescent as the daily journals, or the knowledge that is possessed of its contents is exceedingly superficial. No wonder if ceasing to abide in the truth we become barren and unfruitful in the ways of the Lord.

Brethren, I ask, whether the exclusion from many pulpits of a thoroughly doctrinal preaching has not contributed greatly to a superficial religion? We take it for granted that our hearers are established in the divinity of Christ, justification by faith, the kingly character of God, the purpose of the atonement, the work of the Holy Spirit, the nature and evil of sin, and then when by "the sleight of men," some new thing, they are moved from the hope and faith of the truth as it is in Jesus, we are surprised. In such matters let us take nothing on trust. Let us regard our people as a teacher does his class, aiming to prepare every student for examination day. It is the counsel of the apostle of the Gentiles" that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."

In reviewing our ministry through the past year, what have we accomplished? What have we attempted in the way of a connected and comprehensive presentation of the doctrines of the cross? Has all been desultory, aimless, inconsiderate, unadapted? In what vital doctrine have we established our people? How fare our young people? Are they armed for the battle? I would like to see introduced into all our schools a Connexional edition of the good old Assembly's Catechism. By means of a preface we might furnish information to our children of our existence and mission as a religious body, and testify to the world that as a body we hold fast the doctrines of the Reformation.

And this leads me to express my sincere gratification at the success which is crowning our endeavours in the introduction of our New Hymn Book. That book will long perpetuate our Connexion. It will show too that the sons have not cast off the faith of their fathers. That book is a

standard of our Theology. It is a system of divinity. It is the poetry of our fifteen articles. It sets forth what has long been surely believed amongst us. No people can long employ it if ceasing to hold the proper divinity of Christ, the person and work of the Holy Spirit, the fall of man, and salvation by grace alone. And when many a "Rivulet" has run dry this river will continue to make glad the city of God. We believe and therefore speak. Our Hymn Book will be to us as a Connexion, like

the ark for the outcast babes on the Nile: in our weakness and menaced destruction it will keep us afloat until some daughter of Pharaoh shall step forth and see the child weeping, and say-and say, we trust, to its natural guardians, "Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will pay thee thy wages."

To return. Not only let us aim to lay a solid foundation of Theology in our preaching and Bible Classes, but let us never forget that we are commissioned to go after that which is lost. And thus commissioned shall we consume our strength, as some have done, in displays of wit, and learning, in culling flowers of literature, in polishing off all the angles

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