This Every congregation now possesses the Bible, which we are assured contains all things necessary for life and godliness; and therefore, one congregation of disciples is as much a New Jerusalem church as another, and is just as infallible as any other in the world; and could she be prevailed upon to abide by what is written, all would go on right. This was not the case with the church at Antioch at the time the brethren were deputed to visit and consult the original or mother congregation respecting the law of circumcision. It is true the Apostles Paul and Barnabas were then at Antioch, yet it was needful that all the Apostles, those sent to the circumcision, and those sent to the uncircumcision, should teach the same things, both to Jew and Gentile. question, as well as that of abstaining from things strangled, and from blood, had not been settled, either by the Elders, the Apostles, or by the Holy Spirit ; therefore a consultation was deemed necessary, that there might be a united testimony in the body of Christ. Hence the whole congregation with the Apostles and Elders assembled with one accord at Jerusalem. They had not the New Testament to consult. The Holy Spirit was in them to dictate and to guide them into all the truth, which truth has been handed down to us in a printed form. They could infallibly say, after much consultation, "It seemeth good to the Holy Spirit and to us," &c. This was a new discovery, settled by the Holy Spirit, through the instrumentality of those who were to teach the disciples all things whatsoever Jesus commanded. How we, who are in possession of the revealed will of our exalted Head, can plead this as an example for us, when attending to any cases of discipline, we have not at present been able to discern. We are therefore disposed to conclude, that each congregation, even when in a state of dispute and strife, having obtained all the counsel and advice within her reach, must settle her own affairs, without any authoritative influence from other congregations. As to brethren going to law with each other before unbelievers, it is out of the question with all who have any reverence for the authority of Jesus our King. When all cases of discipline, of whatsoever kind they may be, are understood and conducted agreeably to the oracles of God, there will be no schismatics who will either obtain letters of recommendation, or commence a new organization, whereby other congregations can be deceived, or be in any way at a loss to know who those are, who are holding fast the truth as it is in Jesus. This at least is our present conviction. Let no person be excluded from the church on earth, except for crimes that would exclude them from the kingdom of glory. It is by our works and by our words, and not by our opinions or motives, that we are to be judged by the Lord. This is true. Nor is the Still there is a voluntary It is said, the term independency is not in the Bible. principle in creation, except in the Creator alone. self-government given to every person, especially to a disciple of Christ, with which no one may with impunity interfere. The same may be said of every scripturally organized church and family on earth. Ungovernable passions require to be curbed by the iron arm of power; unruly wills require the influence of wisdom and authority to control them. This controlling power is, first, in the exalted head; secondly, in his truth and institutions; and thirdly, in the understanding and affections of all his children, "I will put my law in their hearts," &c. Scripturally qualified officers are commanded to be ordained in every church. These, as we have stated, are to teach, rule, direct, and control the ignorant, unruly, and self-willed of their number. This is the extent of their power-this is the extent of their responsibility. leave it for the present. And here we must A LETTER OF COMMENDATION. [No disciple of Christ ought to remove from one part of the world to another without a letter of recommendation, and no one ought to expect such a testimonial whose behaviour is not in all things as becometh the gospel. The following is inserted as expressive of our views of such documents.-ED.] Nottingham, April 13th, 1847. To the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ assembling for worship in any part of the United States of America. BELOVED BRETHREN.-As in the providence of God, our sister C**** L**** who is an immersed believer into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is about to emigrate to the United States, we, the undersigned officers of a congregation of disciples regularly assembling for worship every first day of the week, according to divine appointment, feel great pleasure in bearing our testimony to the uprightness, regularity, and Christian deportment of our beloved sister, and recommend her to the fellowship of all who hold the faith, and practise the commandments of Jesus our Lord and King. JAMES WALLIS, WILLIAM POWERS, JONATHAN HINE, WILLIAM MARRIOTT Officers of the Church. "THE LAVER OF THE ATONEMENT." THERE seems to be great anxiety in the minds of some of our readers to alter the construction of John iii. 5; Eph. v. 26; and Titus iii. 5. To the one received last month, two others of a similar character have come to hand. But we have not room for their insertion at present. The parties contend that neither of the passages above quoted refer to baptism in water!! John iii. 5, ought to read. "Except a man be born of the LAVER OF THE ATONEMENT, and of the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." So also Eph. v. 26, Titus iii. 5, refer to the laver of the atonement! Now without stopping to refer to the character and respectability of king James's translators, and a host of Biblical commentators, Greek scholars, and learned theologians of every name under heaven, we shall simply ask, What could Nicodemus understand By the laver of atonement? The atonement by Christ had not then been made. There was nothing in the Old Testament Scriptures by which he could be instructed into such an idea. It is certain that the stern and heroic John, who came proclaiming by the authority of God the Father, the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord, had not imparted such an idea. THE LAVER OF ATONEMENT! What can it mean? And how must a guilty sinner be washed in the blood of Christ except figuratively through water? Is he washed by faith alone? This never can be, seeing the gospel was committed to the Apostles for the obedience of faith among all nations. But we pause for more light on the subject.-ED. JEWISH CUSTOMS. THE COVERING OF THE HEAD.-The covering of the head in the worship of God, was by the Jews regarded as a token of reverence and humility. Thus, on the divine appearance to Moses in the bush, "he hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God," and on the extraordinary manifestation of the Divine presence to Elijah, “he wrapped his face in his mantle." Probably for the same reason, the angels were represented in vision to Isaiah as covering their faces with their wings in the presence of Jehovah. Exodus iii. 6; 1st Kings xix. 13; Isaiah vi. 2. PROSTRATION OF THE BODY.-Prostration was a form assumed by the Jews in prayer, when in circumstances of peculiar mental suffering and perplexity. Thus David, when pleading for the restoration of his child, prostrated himself on the earth. And the blessed Saviour of the world, when his "soul was exceeding sorrowful, even with a deadly sorrow," in anticipation of the suffering and ignominy he was about to endure for man, "fell on his face and prayed, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." 2 Samuel xii. 16; Matthew xxvi. 30.* THE LIFTING UP OF THE HANDS.-The lifting up of the hands was a gesture commonly used by the Jews in prayer, and was indicative of dependance on, and confidence in Jehovah. Thus when the hands of Moses were lifted up "Israel prevailed," and when he let down his hands "Amalek prevailed," David says, "Hear my supplications when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle." Paul desires that "men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting." Exodus xvii. 11; Psalm xxviii. 2; 1 Timothy ii. 8. PUTTING THE HAND ON THE HEAD.-When one person prayed for another who was present, it was customary with the Jews, to put the hand on the head of the person prayed for: and it was also their practice to bring their children to venerable individuals celebrated for their piety, to be thus prayed for or blessed by them. Thus, Joseph brought his sons Ephraim and Manasseh to his father Israel, and parents their children to the Redeemer of mankind. Genesis xlviii. 14; Matthew xix. 13. Monthly Record. THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME OF EDUCATION.-It may be fairly stated, that during the last month, the whole country, for, and against, the government measure, has been in a state of agitation. Hundreds of petitions have been sent from all classes of society. From the 12th to the 16th a succession of meetings were held in London, composed of delegates from almost every part of the country. But, notwithstanding the most vigourous efforts were put forth against the measure, when the House of Commons divided on the question on Thursday the 22nd ult., there was a majority for it, 325, minority against it, 41. PERSECUTION IN FRANCE.-A long article extracted from correspondence, sent from Douai under date of April 8th, 1847, has been sent for insertion in the Messenger. These extracts refer to the persecutions inflicted on three Baptist brethren, one of whom is an American missionary. Their sufferings and privations appear to be great, and they are justly entitled to a share in the sympathy, prayers, and liberality of their brethren. The following short extract is all that we can give: "You would be delighted by the spirits and disposition manifested by these our brethren. You have rarely, if ever, witnessed such self devotion; they are ready and willing to do or to suffer, to be imprisoned or vilified, anything, if the cause may be benefitted, in accordance with the divine will. Nor is this devotedness without effect, never were our brethren so prosperous in their work as now."-ED. THE MIGHTY ANGEL'S MIDNIGHT ROAR.-Some months ago, a pamphlet bearing the above title was issued from the press. It contended the "Midnight Cry" would commence on the thirty-first of March, 1847, and the final conclusion of this world would take place, March, 1848. The author, who of course, has many followers, now expresses himself in the following manner, "Owing to our disappointment, we most sedulously investigated its cause, and hasten to announce its discovery.-Daniel's vision in chap. viii. was for two thousand three hundred years, TO THE END OF WHICH the "little horn" was to practise and prosper (see ver. 12), after which comes the year of God's wrath which was erroneously included in the two thousand three hundred, and thus the MIDNIGHT CRY, will be a year later than stated; our reasoning and deductions are not otherwise in the slightest degree affected.-THE AUTHORS." It is uniformly the case with some religionists, that their reasons and deductions, as they call them, are never affected let what will come to pass. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN FRANCE.-The Royal Court of Amiens sat on the 25 ult., to hear an appeal brought by three members of the Evangelical Baptist Society, against a judgment of the tribunal of Laon, by which they were condemned to pay a fine for associating with others, more than twenty in number, for religious purposes, contrary to the 294th article of the penal code. The court decided that the sect of Baptists was beyond the pale of the religions authorized by law, and was, consequently, an illicit association. The judgment of the tribunal of Laon was then confirmed. A WORD FROM IRELAND.-This unhappy country is still the scene of superstition, misery, starvation, and premature death. We give the following:INDIAN MEAL.-There is in Dundalk and at Philipstown Mills an unprecedented demand for Indian meal. The dealers declare that it has nearly superseded oatmeal.-Newry Examiner. SPREAD OF FEVER.-Fever is rapidly on the increase, and the disease is now turning out to be of a very malignant character. A new fever hospital was established in this town within the last fortnight, capable of holding 96 patients; it was filled in three days. In the country districts typhus fever is raging to a fearful extent. There is not a village in the country free of it.-Sligo Champion. LOAN OF A COFFIN.-Feeling seems to have left the people. A man died on one of the roads here lately, and his wife managed to procure a coffin, but a relation of her own died in the meantime, she lent it for his use, and her husband lay unburied for a fortnight.-Cork Constitution. EXTERMINATION AGAIN.-A correspondent, writing from Cappoquin, gives us a heart-rending account of two exterminations which lately took place in his neighbourhood. We do not like to mention names, as both cases are now irremediable; but this we may say, that a mean advantage was taken of the absence of the poor creatures from their cabins, during which time they were levelled to the ground! Is there no hope for the people ?-Waterford Chronicle. EMIGRATION!-Our quays are still crowded with poor people, from all quarters of the country, in search of foreign-going ships. "To America, to America,' is the cry, fearful though it be. On Monday, the Medina sailed for New Orleans, with a full human cargo, and there are several large ships now fitting out for other quarters of the great republic.-Waterford Chronicle. THE ONLY SOIL TURNED UP.-Notwithstanding the reduction which has taken place in the price of Indian corn, our agricultural labourers are still enduring the most dreadful sufferings; the accounts we are daily receiving from distant parts of the country represent the state of the people as truly deplorable. The deaths from starvation are multiplying every hour, and notwithstanding all that has been done by the government, and the generous people of the great British nation, thousands upon thousands will be swept away by absolute hunger during the present spring and the ensuing summer. The people, as we have said on a former occasion, have given themselves up to despair; in the remote districts there is nothing whatever doing; the only soil turned up by the spade is the rank earth of the grave yards. There is not a burial place in the county that is not overstocked with dead; and we do really believe that the mortality is greater now than it was when the cholera raged.-Sligo Champion. Howden, North Shields, April 20th, 1847. It is with great pleasure that I sit down to inform you of the labours of our dear brother MacDougle, who has been called out to proclaim the gospel in this district. He has been labouring in North Shields for the last fortnight, and the minds of all the brethren have been much edified and built up in the faith and hope of the gospel. We cannot but thank God for stirring up the mind, and qualifying at least now and then one for so important a work. Our prayer is, that in the providence of God, their number may be greatly increased, and this brother may be permitted to labour long and successfully in the work of the Lord. W. RAMSHAW. H. HUDSTON, PRINTER, BOROUGH OFFICES, NOTTINGHAM. THE basis of the Evangelical Alliance is the subject of our present consideration. Some months ago we rather demurred at some of the propositions presented, not because we dissented from the views sought to be expressed in those propositions, but because of the scriptural impropriety of the style. With all due deference to the very eminent and distinguished men that composed that august assembly, some of whom have been long and favourably known to me in their literary and Christian labours, and for whom I cherish a very high respect and esteem, I will proceed to state and endeavour to sustain my objections to some of them. The first proposition is," The divine inspiration, authority, and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures." To this proposition I cordially assent, because it expresses a biblical truth in definite, clear, and appropriate terms. Indeed it is, in fact, identical with the proposition, "The Bible contains a revelation from God, of his will concerning man:" for it is essential to a revelation from God to man that it be adapted to man as he is; and must, therefore, be inspired, authoritative, and alone sufficient. * The second proposition is-" The unity of the Godhead, and the trinity of persons therein." * The term Godhead is rather unintelligible and unscientific. Manhood primarily means human nature; but manhead is unintelligible, if not absurd. Now Godhood might mean divine nature, and would be even better than Godhead. Still we have it three times in the common version. But every time we have Godhead in the common version, we have a different word in the original Greek. Once we have the adjective theion, Acts xvii. 29. We have also the noun theiotees, Rom. i. 20; and we have the word theotees, Col. ii. 9. These, in the common version, are rendered by one and the same word, Godhead. Still we would not hypercritically repudiate the word Godhead, nor the proposition, on account of it. Augustine distinguished between theotees and theiotees, main |