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brother Parmley's. He sometimes speaks publicly, but has been unexpectedly detained here some time. I spent most of my time here in writing letters, and settling up several matters which I could not finish before leaving home. I made some few excursions through the city, and delivered two or three discourses in different parts of it, which, together with some other matters that occurred here, I will notice in my next. Several letters to your mother and the family are mailed with it at Liverpool. I need not request you always to remember me before the Lord, as I know you do; but I desire you especially to pray that by our instrumentality the word of the Lord may prosper, and that we may have free access to the hearts of the Lord's people wherever we go. I have received several letters of introduction to distinguished persons both in the Church and State. Our constant prayer is, that our labours in the Lord may be honoured with fruit that may redound to the glory of God and the happiness of many. My love please communicate to all the family.

Your affectionate father,

A. CAMPBELL.

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN ?

IF so, you have given yourself to the Lord. You have made a full surrender. You do not live for yourself. Christ is your master. Your mind is his. Your time is his, your property is his. You are to obey him. You are to live to his glory. You are to deny yourself. You are, if necessary, to die for him.

What! did you give yourself to the Lord, and at the same time withhold your mind, your body, your time, your property, your influence? Did you withhold your heart? Worthless gift! A shell and not the kernel !—a shadow and not the substance! You are not a Christian. You are a deceiver, and self-deceived. You are poor and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked. You are not a luminous but an opaque body. You are a cloud without water—a stream cut off from its fountain. Your's is a dying life—a living death. A Christian! Why, a Christian is one that imitates Christ -that follows Christ-that has the Spirit of Christ! Do you imitate Christ? Do you go about doing good? Do you do good to all men as you have opportunity? Christ divested himself of glory-made a sacrifice of himself for you! What sacrifices are you making for him? A. R.

THE CHRISTIAN'S MOTTO.

BE not disheartened because the eye of the world is constantly and earnestly fixed upon you to detect your errors, and to rejoice in your halting. But rather regard this state of things, trying as they may be, as one of the safeguards which a kind Father has placed around you, to keep alive in your own bosoms an antagonist spirit of watchfulness, and to prevent those very mistakes and transgressions which your enemies eagerly anticipate.

Etems of News.

A LIST OF CHURCHES, WITH REMARKS.

SOME of our brethren, when in Chester, were very desirous to obtain a list of all the churches, with the number of brethren in each. Also the name and address of one leading brother in each place. This has been sent for insertion in the Messenger in a very imperfeet form. The mere name without the address is not of much use to any one, especially when the parties reside in large cities. To insert the probable statistics, is a false way of presenting the matter. If it is to be done, let it be in as correct a manner as possible.

We have presented below a list of all the places sent for insertion, adding as many others as we can recollect. In each of these, either churches have been formed, or brethren reside where no organization has at present taken place. If a leading brother in each place will take the trouble to send us, by the 16th of next month, the number of brethren, with his own name and address, it may be given in a correct form to our readers. We hope all will send without fail, and each say whether or not they desire to have it published. As this is a matter of expediency, the majority shall rule. Do not fail to obey the call of these brethren. If nothing is said in the note sent, we shall conclude that there is no objection to the proposition.

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If we mistake not there will be found in the foregoing places, with those that may be added, some two thousand three hundred disciples of Jesus; beside

many hundreds who say we are right, but who are not at present prepared to take a decided stand for the Bible alone.

Many prophecies have been delivered respecting these brethren and churches. By some it has been said, They being poor, feeble, and ignorant, must soon come to nothing or sink into infidelity! Others say, that as they have no paid ministry, they do not, after all their boast of taking the Bible alone, stand on Apostolic ground, and therefore will not prosper. Others again predict that we shall amalgamate with the Baptists, &c.

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Now in reply to all these, and many other wonderful predictions, we have only to remark, that if the disciples personally know to whom, and for what they have been converted, they have no need to fear falling into infidelity, or of becoming obliterated from society. As to a paid ministry, we refer to the one man system." It will, in the providence of God, answer its own purpose, and then sink into oblivion as an invention of man. No such system can be found recorded in the New Testament. The Apostles ordained elders, bishops or pastors, in every congregation. These were not their successors, for they had none. Nor were they a class of collegians or priests corresponding with those now in existence. No: they were simply intelligent converts, worthy merchants, tradesmen, or handicrafts of any kind, who knew how to take care of their own families. Apt to teach the good doctrine of the Bible, and in every way worthy to rule the church of the living God. Such were primitive bishops and deacons. O how the fine gold has become dim in this respect!

As to our amalgamation with the Baptists, the idea is utopian. To which class must we turn? In what way could this heal their present divisions and apostacies? Besides, however well we might be disposed to feel towards them, we could not be received, unless indeed we could surrender our own convictions and practices of the truth to receive their creeds and customs, for many of which there is not the least authority in the Bible! Will the brethren do this? No: not any of them who understand their profession. The Baptists must reform if ever we be brought to unite on the one foundation of Christian union.

Some there are who say to us, Better never to have been born than to embrace our present views and practises. Jesus once said this respecting a certain man: but then, be it remembered, he spake from a certain knowledge of the case-but these our well-wishers speak ignorantly, and therefore are worthy of sympathy. They do not know what is in the Bible. Their knowledge is circumscribed by their education, or by the sects and parties to which they belong. Were but their eyes opened to behold what Jesus and his Apostles said and did,—if teachable,-they would no longer follow the doctrines and commandments of men, but would at once renounce the whole to become the implicit followers of the Lord; and thus find the pearl of great price to the joy and rejoicing of their hearts.

Let the brethren who reside in the above-named places in this kingdom, hold fast their profession, and by faith contend earnestly and affectionately for the primitive gospel, institutions, and Spirit of the Lord, and they have nothing to fear either in this world or in the next.

Dundee, October 16th, 1847.

THE Contemplated union with the Scotch Baptists and our brethren, noticed in last month's Messenger, has now come to a termination. Our Baptist friends have agreed, "That after serious consideration they think it advisable to remain as they are, but in future they will cherish a friendly and hospitable

feeling towards the people (our brethren) who assemble in Hammerman's Hall.” Our brethren were very anxious for a union with this church, as it contains many who are of a similar mind with ourselves; but our friends could not see the possibility of two bodies (churches) being united together. However, this endeavour at union has not been entirely unfruitful. Upwards of twenty who were connected with the Scotch Baptists, have come over to the cause of the Reformation. This was not so much from the importance they attached to an immediate union, as it was from what they considered to be certain irregularities among themselves: such as an unnecessary delay in baptizing those who make application for membership; and, after the individual is baptized, a show of hands must be taken to see if the church has any objections to the reception of that person into its fellowship!! Even this they would not have considered as sufficient ground for leaving, as they thought that in process of time these things would have remedied themselves. But it being an understood and fundamental principle in the church that a member going to a distance, could hold felloswhip with any church-open communion-and I have heard of some with the Independent churches, and when they return, the church nor any one has a right, and would be set down as disorderly, were they to refer to such conduct. This church will not receive into its fellowship any who are unbaptized, but admits all who are, to whatever denomination they may belong. As an argument in support of this practice, it has been stated, that our brethren, especially in Nottingham, act upon this principle. Is it so ? [It is not so.-ED] Those who have "come over to help us," tried every thing in their powerindeed, left nothing untried to get their brethren to see eye to eye" with them on these matters, until their endeavours were treated with ridicule and contempt. As a last effort the following paper was read by one of the members, the elder refusing to read it to the church :

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"BELOVED BRETHREN.-The past as well as the present aspect of affairs in this church, have called forth our serious considerations; and we deeply lament the present divided state of the body. It has been a matter of prayerful study as to the best mode of getting matters brought to some sort of an amicable settlement. The conclusion come to on Sunday last by those who met in the evening, appeared to us to be forced rather than the spontaneous breathing of a satisfied mind. [This refers to the resolution of the Scotch Baptist church mentioned in the commencement of my letter.] This was the case with ourselves, and of others who have expressed their minds on this matter. While we thus deplore our present state as a church, we are not vain enough to imagine that there are no just grounds for supposing that we are free from error; and of this we are more convinced, from the fact of many of our brethren withdrawing from our fellowship. In order to prevent a continuance of this, and for a better understanding amongst ourselves, we would suggest a few queries to be answered by the brethren in the aggregate.

"1. Is it lovely in the eyes of the world, or is it in accordance with the mind of Jesus our Lord, to see our brethren leave us one by one, while we look on with a callous mind without inquiring into the reasons, or adopting some course with a view to prevent a continuance of such painful separations?

2. Seeing that these things are going on, can we for a moment suppose that we are right ourselves when we act in this manner, and while others would rather quietly withdraw from us than endure that torturing of feeling, which we are sorry to say has too much and too long, and we fear will still continue in the church?

"3. Is it understood that this church will still adhere to old customs and practices, however good at one time, but which now appear so obnoxious to many brethren? And will the church rather allow the brethren to leave the fellowship, than give up any of their old customs which these brethren consider quite antipodes to the genius of the Christian religion?

Being of this mind ourselves, would it be too much for us to ask the church to appoint a select committee composed of some of those who are of a similar mind with us, and others who may differ from us, to investigate those matters or that you adopt some other plan that an amicable issue may be the result?"

[It was here signed by a number of the brethren.]

The reception this document received was of the most unfavourable description, and upwards of twenty brethren and sisters then gave up the case as a hopeless one, and have now entered the ranks of Jesus, "the Captain of their salvation." We have great hopes from this movement, and look upon it as the dawn of a new era of Reformation in Dundee; and it is our earnest prayer that we may live in peace, enjoying the love and affection of one another, and the approbation of our heavenly Father.

Yours in the hope of eternal life,

FRATER.

Mill of Craigston, October 10th, 1847.

I HAVE been wishing to write you for some time, but deferred, hoping I might have to report something of the beneficial effects of the labours of our beloved brother Campbell; but though I have thus waited, I can only state, that we still hope the effort made will not be as water spilt upon the ground. The prospect for any deciding immediately for the truth, is not very bright. One thing may be said, namely, that his visit to the north has done away with much prejudice that was entertained against him in that quarter. His lectures in Banff were attended by some of the clergy. Among the rest, the two Congregational preachers of the district, namely, John Murker of Banff, and Joseph Morison, Milkeat, about ten miles distance from Banff. The latter, a brother of Dr. Morison of London, has been a violent opponent of the primitive gospel in this place, and being man of considerable energy of mind, has succeeded to some extent in injuring the Reformation for which we plead, and retarding its progress by holding it up as "merely the opinions of a newly sprung up sect called Campbellites, who, if not Romanists, were on the high way to the bosom of the Great Harlot, believing and teaching the doctrine of baptismal regeneration," &c. This has had the effect of preventing the people from calmly considering the subject. This Joseph Morison dwells in my immediate neighbourhood. I took the first opportunity of asking what he thought of A. Campbell's lectures. He frankly answered that "he heard them with rapture, and forgot for the time that there was any difference between them-that his prejudice was to a great extent removed, and that he would read his writings with more pleasure than before." This is as much as could be expected from a decided opponent, and I consider it a fair specimen of what others who were privileged to hear brother Campbell's lectures in Banff, would say, if they would speak their mind.

What a privilege to be under such teaching! And to what an extent is our responsibility heightened, by having the gospel and its requirements so fully presented before us! are questions that call for the consideration of each of us. Brother Campbell was enabled to deliver two powerful lectures at Banff, and I thought while listening to them, what a blessing could they be preserved in writing, that they might be referred to again. I see, by the Messenger, that others have had the same feeling respecting his discourses in other places, and likewise he has said that he intends to print at least a sample of his lectures in this country, if he is spared to fulfil his intentions.

What has determined me in writing to you this evening, is a statement in the last Messenger. I am truly sorry that you have been under the necessity of making the statement alluded to-partly because it betrays a want of interest in the publication among the brethren, and I having to confess that I have not paid that attention to former statements that I ought to have done. Not that I did not endeavour to promote its circulation, but that I did not propose helping to defray the loss incurred by bringing out too limited a number of copies. I have taken a copy of it since you began, and have urged the brethren to take one each, who were able, or one between two or three, but have not succeeded in getting many copies ordered. However, to day it has been arranged that two extra copies are to be ordered for Turriff, and I should think that if a like increase should take place according to the ability of the rest of the congregations-through Britain, you might be able to go on. But if that shall not take place, or if the increased circulation contemplated even if it did, were still insufficient, then I propose that all who have an interest in the Messenger come forward and bear the burden. Although there are many claims on me, (and who possessed of the least spark of benevolence, but has claims on them more than they can satisfy ?) yet rather than let the Messenger drop, I will contribute

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