The gospel dispensation, by its Author, is wisely compared to a drag. net, cast into the sea, which encloses fish clean and unclean, good and bad. The church may be pure in doctrine, pure in all theories, and pure in the aims and desires of the great majority of its members; but it has never been long pure of hypocrites, pretenders, and unrighteous persons. Among the twelve Apostles there was a Judas; in the church of Jerusalem there was an Ananias and Sapphira his wife; in the church of Samaria there was a Simon Magus; and in the churches of the Gentiles, planted by the Apostles, there were persons uncircumcised in heart and ears: and it is even so at the present hour, perhaps, in the best churches on earth. Hence the necessity of scriptural discipline, and hence the importance of correct views of it.

We have an adage of sage wisdom amongst the politicians of this world-"It is in the time of peace," say they, "that we ought to prepare for war." As the mariner, while in the harbor, or in a calm sea, prepares for storms and tempests, so ought the church in times of great peace and prosperity to prepare for times of trial, of difficulty and discipline. It is too late to debate about the law and the rules of discipline, when the case to which they ought to be applied is under consider ation.

Some of our churches have passed through much tribulation from errors of this sort. The church in Richmond, the church in Baltimore,* the church in Lexington, and the church in Louisville have been distracted, divided, and alienated by errors in discipline; and had it not been for the recuperative energies of a good constitution and the vigor of the apostolic doctrine, unimpaired by human creeds and formularies, these churches would doubtless have perished from the way. But through the grace of God, and the excellency of our own constitution, the New Testament Scriptures, all these difficulties have been healed, and these churches are now re-united, and in a state of comparative prosperity. And long may they be so!

I am pretty well acquainted with the history of all these troubles, for I have been accurately informed of them from the beginning, and do unhesitatingly ascribe them all to a culpable ignorance of Christian discipline; or, what is still worse, to a shameful neglect of the practice of it. No doctrine, no sentiment, no speculative dogmas—nothing of the species of sectarian alienations, has ever occurred among any of them. Mal-administration, or error in discipline, was in every case the root of the evil-the source of all their misfortunes.

* I have every assurance that the brethren in Baltimore are cordially re-united, one brother only starding out, and I do most sincerely desire that he and all the brethren will beata Christian pains and trouble to have every thing removed out of his way, that their foy and the joy of us all may be complete. Brethren who visit the city of Baltimore from the West, are affectionately invited to visit this churen. Their meeting-house is in the centre of the city, not far from the Post Office.

"Happy the man," said a Roman moralist, "who makes the misfortunes of other men a lesson to himself." And happy the church, we say, that makes the errors and difficulties of other societies an admo nition to herself? Discipline is neither taught, nor learned, nor praetised in some churches at all: I mean Christian discipline. And yet it is, as respects themselves and one another, the most important lesson that they can learn.

Indeed the subject has been measurably neglected by our editors, scribes, and elders. Preachers, good preachers, are, for the most part, not indeed universally, but generally at least, very lame disciplinarians. It is a talent that is seldom associated with great powers of declamation. The talent of ruling well is, indeed, rarely possessed by great talkers. No good Admiral, General, Captain, or commander of any sort has been distinguished for much talking. There was no attribute of the orator in Napoleon, and very little in his conqueror, Lord Wellington. Alas for the church that is governed by a great preacher! Apollos was never appointed by Paul to set things in order.

"Old men for counsel, and young men for war." Let elders rule; not boys. England may have a woman to govern her, if she pleases, because she has a mighty Senate and an almighty House of Commons; but in Christ's monarchy there are neither Queens nor Dauphins: neither women nor boys sit in the seat of Moses nor of Christ.

The Baptist church government has been far-famed for its democracy. Jefferson is said to have got his beau ideal of the American Republic from a visit which, in his youth, he is said to have made to a Saturday meeting in a case of discipline, for which a Baptist church in his vicinity had assembled. The meeting of the late Congress might be appealed to as a proof of it. But fierce as our democracy is, it has been tamed by an old man. There is no Senate in the Baptist church, and therefore it is preposterous to assume that the sage of Monticello learned the frame-work of our government from a hundred and ten men, women, and children, meeting to try a delinquent for an offence against the Lord. In that assembly there was a Moderator, a very shrewd title, considering the elements to be governed; and the whole congregation was a Court of Oyer and Terminer. When the question was put, sixty-one, out of one hundred and ten, only voted—thirty for the delinquent's acquittal, and thirty-one against him. Forty-nine voted not at all. Thirty-one, then, was the governing vote. But in weighing the names after they were counted, eleven names of the thirty one were under age-actual minors, boys and girls; and of the remaining twenty leven were females. Of the minority thirteen had the age, experience,

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and wisdom of the church; while the remainder of the thirty were persons of full age and reason, and equal to the wisest on the other side. In weight the names were as one hundred to ten; but in count they were as thirty-one to thirty; and so President Numbers triumphed over Presidents Age, Experience, and Moral Excellence; and the delinquent was accordingly excluded.

This is the Baptist system in a strong case; but enough of instances in the history of our own times can be furnished that it is no false or suppositious one. Alas! too many have occurred in reference to our own brethren.

We believe in a senate, a presbytery, or an eldership for three reasons:-1st. Because, in the nature of the case, old men are better accomplished for the task; and, if not very near the people, are very near to God, and must soon give an account to him. 2d. Because God's ancient kingdom, while it was a theocracy, was governed by a senate-by the elders of Israel. And, 3d. Because "even so has the Lord ordained." Any one of the three is a sufficient reason; but the last is alone sufficient. The Apostles, at the command of the King, ordained a senate, a presbytery, an eldership-three names for the same thing "in every church" which they set in order. Titus," says Paul, ordain elders in every city as I commanded thee." "Therefore let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of superior honor." And do you "obey them that have the rule over you; for they do watch for your souls," &c.

Many of our brethren were brought up under the latitudinarian democracy of Puritan independency, refined and improved by importation into the American Republics; and therefore their notions of unrestrained liberty and insubordination which sometimes appear amongst those educated under such a system.

The first thing, therefore, to obtain good order, is to have persons chosen and appointed for that very business. So Paul associated things in his mind when he said to Titus, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou mightest set in order the things wanting-and ordain elders in every city, as I have commanded thee." The first thing to setting in order the things deficient, is, therefore, the appointment of elders. This Titus was to have done. As the Apostles were commanded to preach the gospel to every creature, so the Apostle commanded these things to be done by others.

The character of the elders is next given. As to the meaning of appointment, or ordination, that was already established, and known over the whole world, because it had heen practised in Jerusalem the mother church, long before the conversion of Paul. Churches the

have not elders, and possess the materials described, ought first of all to have them appointed to this office. But let them be chosen with all respect to the apostolic directions, and let them have the authority of scriptural ordination; for when chosen they have much of the destiny of the church in their own hands, and must be submitted to as the Lord directs. We shall keep this subject of discipline before our readers till it be understood, if we can make it intelligible to them all.

A. C.

Dear brother Campbell

CO-OPERATION MEETING.

HILLSBOROUGH, Va., November 25, 1839.

OUR Co-operation meeting in the city of Richmond, from the 8th to the 11th of this month, was better attended than any we have ever had. The notice was too short for all the congregations to send messengers to it. There were messengers and communications from between 20 and 25 congregations. All of them appeared desirous of aiding in sending out evangelists. There was more unity of sentiment in the reports than we have ever heard at such a meeting—indeed there was more love manifested by the disciples of Christ in Richmond, than I have seen for years. I am persuaded such a good spirit will produce some fruit to the glory of God. The great difficulty with us was to get good and efficient evangelists. The following brethren were prevailed on to act for us;-Brethren Coleman, Bagby, and Henshall, in Eastern Virginia. Brother J. D. Ferguson is attending the lectures of the William and Mary College. He will spend every Lord's day, and all spare time, in proclaiming the gospel in Williamsburg, and to the congregations in York and James City. Brethren Goss and M'Gruder will labor in Charlottesville and the region round about. Thus we have united in enlarging the sphere and number of evangelists to convert the world.

Our meeting in Richmond we trust will be productive of much good. Some 8 or 10 have confessed and been immersed-the first since the destructionist doctrine was proclaimed there. Some five or six have been restored and joined by letter. They have increased 17 or 18. Love and union seem now to reign in the Richmond congregation. May their peace never be again disturbed by any speculative theorist! Brother Du Val has determined to move to Richmond: of course they will have his labors statedly. May he prove a Barnabas among them! We agreed to have another co-operation meeting in Charlottes ville, to commence on the Friday before the first Lord's day in May. We wish all the congregations in Virginia to send messengers to this meeting, that we may know the state and progress of the disciples united with us in restoring the ancient gospel and order of things. We do not know our strength in the state, and no wonder those who are watching and praying for our downfall should be ignorant of our standing and progress. We wish you to publish on the cover of your

Harbinger this meeting of all the congregations of worshippers of God in Virginia, who are resolved to build alone upon the teaching of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. We earnestly request that you will be among us at that time. Also, give an invitation to brethren John T. Johnson, D. S. Burnet, A. Crihfield, Challen, or any others, whose piety and usefulness are known among the churches. We think the time is fast approaching when the ancient gospel will triumph over all opposition. We want but two things to make it so-good and efficient Evangelists, and Elders that rule well. Will the brethren frem other states and sections of country lend a helping hand at this meeting? We entreat you, brethren, to do so.

I have recently learned, since our meeting in Richmond, that brother Coleman has immersed five or six intelligent and influential persons in the congr. gatiou at Antioch; among the number is our much esteemed and hospitable friend P. Woolfolk, and three of his daughters. A more accomplished family I do not know in that section of country. His amiable wife was one of the first of the number in Eastern Virgi nia who had the independence of character to confess before your then oppressed and persecuted fellow-laborer in the cause of primitive Christianity, and immersed by him i rejcice with her in the fruits of her "work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." 1 also understood that a daughter of our friend Jordan Woolfolk has boldly confessed Jesus and obeyed him in immersion. May these young intelligent disciples prove to be beloved Persises, or Phebes, Priscillas, Loises, or Eunices to the congregation and the rising generation!

We are now moving on in peace and love in our congregation, and our number is gradually increasing.

THOMAS M. HENLEY.

News from the Churches.

Houston, Marion County, Missouri, Septen.ber 16, 1839. During this summer I have immersed about twenty-five persons into Jesus Christ, who are now rejoicing in the Lord. EASTHAM BALLINGER.

Montevideo, Elbert County, Georgia, September 24 1839. The ancient gespel is making some progress in this vicinity, where, until recently, the reign of sectarianism was absolute and uninterrupted. On the first Lord's day in this month, at a meeting of the Disciples near this place, after a very interesting and highly appropriate address from brother Barnes on the occasion, twelve of the brethren, who had been recently immersed upon a profession of their faith, gave each other the right hand of fellowship as a pledge of Christian union in a congregational character. We adopted, as our confession of faith, the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible. On the same day there were two additions by immersion. On the Lord's day following we held a meeting, at which a numerous and highly respectable audience was both interested and edified by the labors of our beloved brethren Moore, Barnes, and Shehane. On that day we had two additions, so that we now have a church of Christ, at this place, which, in all matters of faith and practice, discards every book except the inspired volume, and every name except those which are sanctioned by the Book. This glorious reformation, I trust, will go on till it ushers in the millennial reign of peace on earth and good will among men. TINSLEY W. RUCKER.

Decatur, Illinois, September 27, 1839. The good cause of truth is progressing some in this region. I attended a co-operation meeting with the brethren in Shelby county, Illinois, on Saturday last. The meeting came to a close on Tuesday. We had a happy time. The Disciples were made to rejoice