members whom another church had expelled, the attention of the meeting was drawn to this matter. The president was solicited to make some remarks on the subject in the course of which he stated, that "There should be mutual respect between churches for each other's acts. As sisters in a family ought to respect the acts of each other, so ought sister churches. When one church receives a member another church has excluded, there is a manifestation of disrespect. If the case of any one applying for fellowship with one church who has been cut off from another be not one of immorality, then calmly hear the church; if satisfied with her decision in the case, well; before he can be received he must make confession; but if not satisfied, act according to your own judgment. It is obvious, at the same time, that if the applicant be received, the church rejecting him is renounced as a sister church. These are matters which the suggestions of prudence and discretion must regulate. There are things which "nature itself," or common sense teaches. As to intercommunication, also, it would be improper to pass any enactment. If our recognition be demanded, we submit the matter to a committee and adopt their decision. If they do not demand our recognition, we let them alone." The remarks made on this subject gave general satisfaction. It will be scarcely needful to observe, that in all questions submitted for consultation we had the benefit of the learning, experience, and piety, of that venerable brother who presided on the memorable occasion. The following are the decisions unanimously determined. 1. Resolved-That all the churches now represented agree to cooperate in contributing to the support of a general evangelist. 2. Resolved-That the churches now represented state the amount which, in the ensuing year, may probably be contributed for general evangelical labours. 3. Resolved-That the churches not represented be invited to join in this co-operation. 4. Resolved-That brethren James Wallis, Nottingham, be the committee to carry the plan of co-operation into effect, with power to add to their number. 5. Resolved-That as a testimony of our esteem for, and of our gratitude to those brethren who have so nobly and so generously undertaken to proclaim the gospel in this kingdom, one hundred pounds of the balance now in the treasurer's hands, be devoted to Bethany College. 6. Resolved-That the remaining seventy-nine pounds nineteen shillings, be devoted to the maintenance of a general evangelist. 7. Resolved-That brother Jonathan Hine be entreated to continue to act as treasurer. 8. Resolved-That we defend in the action now pending against brother Campbell on a charge of libel. 9. Resolved-That the following brethren be a committee for the management of business connected with this action : Brother James Ainslie, Dundee John Davies, Mollington 10. Resolved-That the thanks of the churches in Great Britain and Ireland be presented to the brethren in America for the selfdenial, magnanimity, and generosity they have manifested in connexion with the mission of brother Campbell and brother Henshall. 11. Resolved-That brother Wallis be entreated to continue to edit and conduct the Christian Messenger as formerly. 12. Resolved-That brother Campbell be requested to select from the American churches a brother, who, in his judgment, is the most suitable to labour among the congregations in England. 13. Resolved-That a meeting of messengers from the churches be held in the city of Glasgow, in the third week of September, in the year 1848. It was in a high degree gratifying and encouraging to perceive that the brethren were " of one heart and of one mind" in passing these decisions. 66 The remembrance of that happy meeting, and of the affecting parting that followed, will never be forgotten. Many brethren were just beginning to know one another when the time came for saying, Farewell!" It was like the parting of Paul and the brethren at Miletus, when " They all wept sore, and fell on his neck and kissed him." Our fellowship together had been sweet, and some of us thought we should see one another's faces no more! Around were thrown the sacred bonds of peace, love, and brotherhood. Yet at the parting of brethren in the Lord, these bonds but extend-they do not break! And now may the blessing of Almighty God attend the endeavours of his people to extend the knowledge of the Saviour's name, exalt his praise, and promote his glory in the land. Let a closely embodied and unbroken phalanx be presented to error and iniquity. Let not only those errors be assailed which exist in all systems that exalt themselves against the facts, institutions, and precepts of the Christian religion, but let piety, morality, justice. truth, and fidelity, be honoured, applauded, and exemplified by all who are called by the gospel of the grace of God, to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the world. So shall the sunshine of the benign countenance of the Lord our God be upon us, and by Heaven's own eternal and omnipotent truth shall our minds be enlightened, transformed, invigorated. Let Him who has loved us with a love unspeakable-a love divine and stronger than death, be ever the object of our supreme affection-our profound adoration-our perpetual praise. So shall our hearts be filled with fervent gratitude, animated through heavenly hope, and expanded by celestial joy. And why, all this ? That we may be enabled effectually to carry out the injunction of the holy Apostle, "Shine ye as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life! CONTRIBUTIONS. The following sums were mentioned by the fourteen churches named below, as their probable contribution for general evangelization for the year 1848 WE feel obliged to brother Stephens for the interesting report now presented. A few additional concluding remarks seem to be necessary. There are other churches which stand ready, voluntary to devote of their substance to the support of proclaiming the gospel. All that is wanting is a number of men full of truth, urbanity, and self-denial-free from religious boast and affectation-right-hearted men, who feel for the condition of the lost more than themselves. This is the desideratum. As for money, there would be no lack for this purpose. Not, indeed, to make evangelists rich, but amply sufficient to provide them with food and raiment. Nor would it require a brother to be sent round on the irksome task of preaching begging sermons, at an expense of ten or fifteen per cent. on the amount collected. No: that which is devoted to the Lord, to be acceptable, must in the first place, be the parties own property, and not the creditors. Secondly, It must be unsolicited"from a willing mind," according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not. It must be with cheerfulness and promptitude. "As he purposeth in his heart so let him give." He that withholdeth when he has it in his power to give, just robs himself of so much reward both here and in a future state. "He that soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; he that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully." On Lord's day morning, October 3rd, brother Campbell, agreeable to previous announcement, delivered his last discourse in Chester. The audience consisted of from seven to eight hundred persons. The discourse continued for one hour and half. The subject was founded on 2 Cor. iii.- "If the ministration of condemnation was glorious, the ministration of the Spirit is much more so :" or, in other words, "The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." The speaker remarked, that on the giving of the law, written by the finger of God on two tables of stone, three thousand of the Israelites were slain in one day: so on the giving of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost-three thousand of the same nation were made alive to God, created anew in Christ Jesus as the firstfruits of an entire new dispensation. To say the least, this was an elaborate, intelligent, and instructive discourse, which will be long remembered by those present. At half-past two of the same day, the brethren met to break the loaf in commemoration of their common Lord. Brother Henshall presided and delivered an address suitable to the occasion. Brother Dron, Ainslie, and Wallis, conducted the devotional exercises of the service. The number of brethren present was estimated at about one hundred and fifty. To be allowed, nay, even invited, thus to memoralize the wonderful condescension and marvellous achievements of the Son of God, is a great honour, one that must astonish, if not excite, the wonder and emulation of the angelic hosts. All the arrangements and different services at Chester were orderly, social, edifying, and very encouraging. Envy, jealousy, and rivalry—those demon guests-seem for once, to be entirely absent; or at least, if not absent, kept in a secret corner unnoticed by all. In the evening of the same day brother Campbell delivered, in Dr. Thom's meeting house, Liverpool, his last discourse in England. This being only sixteen miles from Chester, and a public breakfast announced for the following morning in Liverpool, most of the brethren left Chester for Liverpool. Being detained to speak in Chester that evening, we were not able to proceed with the rest, but we understood that the audience was large and the subject sublime.—“ The justification of Messiah by the Spirit of God." We had the privilege of hearing brother Campbell on the same topic when in Banbury and Newcastle. It stands, in our mind, as the superlative of all we heard. Not indeed that it could be the same discourse. No : this would be impossible; for no two, even on the same topic, are alike. The different points investigated-the illustrations so varied-so pure-so elevated and vast-like the works of creation-the moral and spiritual hemispheres are presented to view with heights and depths, lengths and breadths, immeasurable and sublime. All the discourses being delivered extemporaneously, the subjects investigated, with the attributes of their great author-their vast dimensions each being spread out before the mind of the speaker, and the mind of the speaker unshackled by human theories, expanded before the subject, in the progress of discourse you appear imperceptible; and by the purest and simplest style of language to be introduced, without ostentation, into the presence of the Deity himself. To the renewed mind this is always consoling and edifying. Such have been our own feelings while hearing some of the dis courses from the lips of Alexander Campbell of Bethany, Brook county, Virginia. At the breakfast on Monday morning nothing particular took place, except a little of that physical and social enjoyment which is usual on all such occasions. The room was by far too small for the company, but as no remedy was then at hand the inconvenience had to be endured. This we know was very mortifying to the brethren at Liverpool; but as it was the first meeting of the kind held by our brethren, and the number present far exceeding all expectation, it was the more excusable. After breakfast an adjournment to the meeting-room of the brethren took place. Here again brother Campbell presided. All was orderly, affectionate, and interesting. A consultation took place respecting various matters and things pertaining to our present and future prospects in the kingdom of Jesus. It was matter of regret that so few of the sisters were present on this occasion. An assembly made up chiefly of males, bespeaks something wanting, especially when rising up to sing the high praises of God and the Lamb. Brothers Henshall and Davies concluded this meeting with solemn prayer to the God and Father of us all, when the assembly broke up, probably never again to meet in this world. Monday being the 4th of the month, the regular time for the steamer to sail, except when it so happens, Tuesday at two o'clock was the time appointed for all the passengers to be on board-when on the arrival of the mail bags from all parts of the kingdom, the paddles began to move this modern ark in splendid style towards the western world. It was reckoned that about thirty brethren and sisters accompanied brothers Campbell and Henshall to the vessel, who after taking a peep with many others at this floating and magnificent mansion of the deep, at the ringing of the bell were compelled to take the last the final farewell! We understood there were about one hundred and thirty passengers, whose united passage-money alone would amount to little short of five thousand two hundred pounds!! J. W. HINTS TO YOUNG MEN.-No. I. THEORIES are numerous, and the human mind is vastly productive. Plain men are bewildered by airy and fanciful speculations on any subject, but more especially on the subject of religion. There is a period in every man's mental career, as in his bodily growth, when he is fond of novelties, playful with serious subjects, and apt to take up with half formed ideas and undigested notions. Nothing is more gratifying to vanity than the thought that we have overreached all the mighty efforts of the ancients, and are outstripping the living in the "march of mind." Many are the wrecks of moral and religious character that lie thickly scattered on the shoals and rocks of the world's great sea; |