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altered with the circumstances by which they were surrounded. And if any one have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. Let us then hold fast the laws and the institutions as so many channels to conduct us into the Spirit.

The following extract, quoted from the Protestant Unionist, is worthy of notice:

"If there be any organization, any tribunal beyond that of a single congregation, in the Christian institution, it is very desirable that we should know as soon as possible, what it is, how it is formed, and what its constitution and laws, that as a people we may adopt it, and without further delay, establish it. If there is any thing in the Apostolic model, which we as a body have heretofore overlooked and neglected; if it be true that we are not yet organized according to that model, it is high time that we were perfecting our organization -our conformity to the standard which we have adopted. But if confederations of congregations for governmental purposes, whether in matters of expediency, faith, or manners, are unauthorized by the New Testament, then we should steadfastly oppose and avoid all such confederations, and all approaches to them. The first question to be settled is, What organisations are commanded or warranted by the Word of the Lord? Without that high authority it is vain that any individuals plead considerations of expediency in favour of their schemes: all such arguments are utterly irrelevant until a "Thus saith the Lord" be produced. The advocates of every scheme of ecclesiastical usurpation, from the papacy down, offer the most plausible arguments from apparent expediency in its favour: but those who are governed by the Bible alone, cannot be subject to the jurisdiction of any tribunal, of any counsel, however constituted, until it can produce its authority from God's Word."-ED.

News from the Churches.

FOREIGN NEWS.

Salem, Marshall county, Mississippi.

OUR brethren are on the increase in this part of the world, though we have to encounter almost unexampled persecution. In Tippah county we have six churches, some four or five teachers, and about two hundred and seventy-five members. In Marshall county we have three churches, and about one hundred and fifty members. In Pesoto county, two churches, and about one hundred members; and several churches in Jishamingo county. I would suppose that, in the counties of Lafayette, Ponola, Pontoloe, Itawamby, Chiakasaw, Talahatchy, Choctaw, and Yelobushy, there are about five hundred members.

In Lowndes, Monroe, and Carroll, our cause is prospering. We have there able defenders; and nothing else is wanting in this part of the country, to exhibit a complete triumph for the gospel over the religions of men. J. W. M.

Georgetown, Ky., December 21. WITHIN the last seventeen days, at the urgent appeal of the brethren, I have been making an effort at Lexington, where we gained, up to last night, thirty

one additions-a few of them by letter. It was a most glorious time. The brethren were in good earnest, and made great sacrifices. The inclemency of the weather did not damp their ardour or zeal. They stood up to the work. Brother Church, of Missouri, aged about twenty-four, was with me part of the time, and laboured most successfully. He is worthy of imitation, in every way, by every young preacher in the land. There is no affectation or pride about him, while he is one of the most argumentative and eloquent young men I have ever heard. May the Lord spare and bless him many years to come! Brother Curtis J. Smith assisted us most successfully a part of the time. You know him, and his rare powers in presenting the gospel.

Our aged and venerable brother Creath fell in with us last night, and assisted in some of his thundering and stirring appeals. We gained four, and this morning I came home. The prospects were so fine that brother Creath was induced to remain and preach to-day and at night, and, if consistent with my engagements, to-morrow I shall be with them again. The generosity of the brethren towards me can never be forgotten.

Our friend and valued brother, John Curd, has removed to South Elkhorn, and taken his membership up there. This church, by his instrumentality, aided by his brethren, is becoming a model for the churches around. They have in hand to raise one hundred dollars or more per year, for the purpose of spreading the gospel in destitute places. I pray the Lord that their example may be like fire in stubble among the churches. And, by the way, if you go to England in the spring, would it not be noble in the brethren of the Old Dominion to raise a fund and send brother Henshall with you? May the Lord grant it! J. T. JOHNSON.

Columbia, Mo., December 31st.

My evangelical labours, for the year 1846, have just closed. Since the first of January last I have preached in the counties of Marion, Monroe, Warren, Callaway, Boone, Howard, Chariton, Carrol, Jackson, Lafayette, Pettis, and Cooper, Mo.; and Clark, Scott, and Lafayette, Ky. At many of the above places we co-operated with able and distinguished brethren. At many others laboured alone. The result has been the enlistment of one hundred and sixty noble volunteers in the triumphant and rapidly increasing army of the Great King. To God, and not unto men, be all the praise! S. S. CHURCH.

Marion, Alabama, January 21st.

In the last ten or twelve weeks brother Graham has had the aid, in preaching and proclaiming of the gospel, of brethren T. Fanning, B. F. Hall, D. G. Ligon, and others. The result of their continued labours was the addition of about twenty persons to the cause of the Ancient Gospel in this town and county. JOHN R. M'CALL.

New Albany, Ia., January 21st.

SINCE I have been converted from the Roman Catholic church, I have baptized about five hundred persons-twenty-three of that number were convicts in the Indiana Penitentiary at the time they were converted to the Lord. Last week I held a protracted meeting in Louisville, and eight noble souls made the good confession, and five of them were baptized during the meeting. Three are to be baptized Lord's day week. The week before I held a protracted meeting in Moresville, Ia., constituted a church with sixteen members, and since then increased that number to forty-four. Some were added by letter. I had the assistance of brother Navell at the close of the meeting at Moresville.

JOHN E. NOYES. Mobile, January 15th.

ON Monday, the 11th inst, I immersed an intelligent man, (Dr. Goodlow,) in Marion, Ala. Many fine accessions have been made in Marion recently, through the labours of brethren Fanning, Ligon, and others. W. H. H. Paris, Mo., December 16th.

Since my last we have had several additions-eight baptized in this church a few days since.. H. THOMAS.

Oshawa, C. W. December 13th. We have had some ingathering to the churches within a few miles of this place. The church at Pickering has received some eight or nine, I think, by immersion; and in this place two by immersion, and some five or six by the right hand of fellowship, previously immersed; that in Darlington, some fifteen by immersion, and five or six who had previously been immersed and been members of the Christian Connexion, so called. Among the new converts are some of splendid talents, and they are all of the more intelligent thinking class. I may be permitted to name one or two: In Bomanville (Darlington) there is received among the immersed, brother J. Simpson, a man of great influence, magistrate, &c., and endowed with fine talents, which he is already improving in the best of causes. We reckon much on his zeal, piety, and talents as a public speaker. Another brother, C. Lister, a young man of great promise, is commencing also to occupy a public station. We count the acquisition of these two of great service to the cause. Prospects in all the above-named places are still very flattering for more converts. We do not count by the hundred or thousand, as you do down South or up West, but all the ground we get we keep. The brethren in Darlington receive a powerful (if low slang is powerful) opposition from the Congregational minister at Bowmanville, and the result is, he has lost several of his best members, who have been immersed, and almost totally broken up his flock. Brother Lister was one of his deacons. J. ASH.

Mount Eden, Ky., January 8th.

IN company with brethren W. G. Sweeney and P. H. Morse, we added one hundred and thirty-five to the army of the faithful, in the counties of Anderson, Mercer, Washington, Boyle, Marion, and Green, last year. L. MARRETT.

*

Boon County, Missouri, December 16th.

I also spoke to an attentive audience in the Methodist meeting-house in Brunswick. On the last day of November I closed a very interesting meeting in Fayette, where I had been labouring for several days. There were five additions. One Methodist sister went into the water singing, and came out rejoicing. One other who was immersed was an intelligent sister from Virginia. Brother Allen Wright had added seven others to the congregation a short time previous. A short time since we had two additions in Columbia. T. M. ALLen.

Martinsburgh, Knox county, Ohio, December, 26th. Ar a meeting held in the Denis Church, near Bladensburgh, seven persons came forward, confessed their faith in a crucified Saviour, and were immersed into his name. N. Ross.

Centreville, Ky., November 17th.

WE have closed a five day's meeting at Republican, near Lexington. Nineteen confessed the Lord and Saviour in order to baptism for remission of sins. The Lord be praise! In the four weeks past, I have witnessed the confession of one hundred and three persons. J. A. GANO.

Hamersville, November 15th.

I HAVE just returned from Felicity, where we had an interesting meeting. I had the pleasure of immersing three individuals into the death of the Lord Jesus. Two of them were students of sister Goodrich's school.

W. S. P.

HOME NEWS.

Auckland, New Zealand, November 30th. BELOVED BROTHER WALLIS.-Favour and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Although a stranger to you in the flesh, yet having been born into the same kingdom with you, and holding the one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, I feel assured you will be glad to hear of the

extension of the Lord's kingdom. Since brother Jackson wrote last, we have had two added to the church on making the good confession and yielding to the Lord's commands. We are yet but few in number, but are determined to persevere in the strength of the Lord. "The truth is mighty and will prevail." In the bright hope of the Gospel, J. BARTON.

[Brother George Taylor, late of Halifax, has removed to Auckland, and is now a store or shopkeeper, in this metroplis.-ED.]

West Caulder, May 17th, 1847. THERE is a small congregation of disciples who, for two years past, have met in this place reguarly every first day of the week, to observe the positive institutions of the Lord. We have unitedly sent our mite towards paying the expenses of brother Campbell's visit to this country. A. MUIR. DURING the last month, one has been immersed into Jesus at Huddersfield; one at Brighton; one at Bulwell; three at Nottingham; and two Baptists have joined the brethren at Carlton.-ED.

SOME of our brethren desire clearly to understand, whether the fund raised, or now raising, by individuals and congregations, for defraying the expenses of brother Campbell and his associates' visit to England, is to embrace the local as well as the general expenses. That is to say, Would the expense of taking a room, advertising, &c., &c., for lectures and proclamations of the gospel in any given place, have to be paid by the congregation in that place, or would they be defrayed from the general fund?

The contributions already made, are understood by the donors to be appropriated to defray the expense of the passage across the Atlantic-travelling in England-hiring rooms in large towns where there is at present no congrega tion to do it or where they are so poor that it is impossible for them to do it either for themselves or the public. Also, proper maintenance, and all other comforts necessary for the health and well-being of our brethren, while they are amongst us, will be paid for out of this fund. Let all remember that the strong in the kingdom of Christ are to help the weak, and it is immutably fixed that they who sow sparingly shall reap sparingly, both in this world and the next.-ED.

Poetry.

THE LAW OF LOVE.

POUR forth the oil-pour boldly forth;
It will not fail until

Thou failest vessels to provide,

Which it may largely fill.

But, soon as such are found no more,
Though flowing broad and free
Till then, and nourished from on high,
It straightway staunched will be.

Dig channels for the streams of love,
Where they may broadly run ;
For LOVE has ever-flowing streams
To fill them every one.

But if, at any time, thou cease
Such channels to provide,
The very founts of love for thee

Will soon be parch'd and dried.

For we must share if we would keep
That good thing from above-
Ceasing to give we cease to have:

Such is the law of love.

*The above beautiful and descriptive lines, very forcibly illustrate a principle which lies at the very foundation of that religion which our Lord exemplified in his conduct and enforced by his precepts when he was upon the earth, and which will always continue to be a true characteristic of Christianity under whatever name it may be exhibited.

The reader will not fail to be reminded of the beautiful but simple record of the miracle of the widow and her cruse of oil-2 Kings iv. 6: "And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel; and he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil was stayed."

The way to receive a blessing must be in keeping the hand open.

THE THREE ANGELS.-A VISION.

BY J. C. PRINCE.

IN the shadow of slumber as dreaming I lay,
While the skies kindled up at the coming of day,
Three Angels, with pinions of splendour unfurled,
Came down with the softness of light on the world.
Grace, glory, and gentleness compass'd them round,.
And their voices came forth with mellifluous sound
As they uttered sweet words, heard and echoed above,
And departed on God-given missions of love.
From nation to nation one wandered afar,
And the tumult, the broil, the delirium of War,
The music that mocked the last struggle of life,

The trumpet that wailed through the pauses of strife,
The sod-staining revel, the cloud-cleaving roar,
Were awed into silence to waken no more ;-
The death-dealing bolts of the cannon was stayed,
The soldier flung from him the blood-reeking blade,
The plume was uncared for, the helmet unworn,
The laurel was withered, the banner was torn,
The gorgeous delusion of warfare was past,
And the spirit of brotherhood triumphed at last!
Then Science arose from his thraldom, and stole
From the keeping of nature new gifts for the soul;
Then valorous Enterprise waved his proud hand,
And might and magnificence covered the land;
Then Commerce, from bonds of oppression set free,
Linked country to country, and sea unto sea;
Then Art, with a dream-like devotion, refined

Into beauty and purity, matter and mind;

Then Knowledge let loose all her treasures, and found
Goodly seed springing up in the stoniest ground;
Power, Plenty, Intelligence, prospered amain,

Secure of a placid and permanent reign;

While the Poet, a prophet, a teacher in song,
Sang hymns of rejoicing to gladden the throng;-
And well might such multiform blessings have birth,
For the angel of peace had re-hallowed the earth!
Another dear visitant, sweetly sublime,
Went forth as a pleader for error and crime;
In the palace she tempered the soul of the king,
While his heart opened out at touch of her wing;
In the senate she governed with eloquent awe,—

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