While they predicted terrible consequences, perhaps it would have been difficult at that time to have given a good theoretical answer to satisfy them. But thousands of experiments have been made for two hundred years; the scheme has been tried, and what is the result? That it is the only system by which christian discipline can be maintained; that if you touch men's bodies, or their temporal interests, you bring the world into the church; but if you make the church of Christ purely spiritual, and leave it in the hands of the faithful, you then can maintain a discipline truly christian in its spirit and holy in its effect. And upon no other system can you maintain it. If, therefore, we find that our churches have exhibited that great truth, why should not the union of them do so too? Let the union be once fairly tried, and without being any more of a prophet than arising from seeing effects in their causes, I could predict that the result of the trial of the union will be in harmony with that of the trial of the principle on which our churches are founded. (Cheers.) But we are to-day to pronounce a definitive judgment upon a Home Mission. (Hear, hear.) It was the theme of a friendly conference last night; and having ascertained the minds of our brethren in general on certain principles upon which they seemed to agree, proposals will be made this day to complete the union. Many, I know, would have wished for a new society. It lies with you to give them their wish. He that sitteth upon the throne, taking the elements of our old fallen nature, says, "Behold, I create all things anew." Act under the inspiration of that voice, and the Home Missionary Society will be regenerated, and be a new creature, (hear, hear) and, like ourselves, it shall have a new birth-day, which shall be written down in letters of gold. (Cheers.) It will be our own fault if the date of the birth of the Home Missionary Society be not changed, and a new style introduced. (Hear, hear.) I shall take my full share of the censure if this be not the case. There is a sacred obligation resting upon us to go immediately to the home missionary work in a new spirit. Perhaps I am not without blame for having done so little in that work hitherto. I own I wanted the sympathy without which I cannot act. (Hear, hear.) Unless my soul is in sympathy with the system, and I can see that it is doing what my soundest judgment approves, I can do nothing; and I am persuaded that there are many of my brethren who sympathize with me in this feeling. Well, then, if we can thoroughly approve of rendering this a Congregational Home Missionary Society, let us not be afraid or ashamed of the reproach of a Congregational crusade. Those who would place it upon us are the very men to whom we may reply, in the words of the apostle, “You have compelled me.” (Hear.) The apostolical succession crusade is now proceeding, and its advocates are carrying the warfare throughout the kingdom. We have as yet been too delicate in pressing our jus divinum. We, having, according to our own conviction, the jus divinum, the principle of divine right in the New Testament, have refrained from pressing it; and in this respect our charity, it is to be feared, has over-ridden our orthodoxy. But now we have been taught a lesson by other parties. If you, brethren, do not press your scriptural principle, they will press the fathers, and traditions, and put forth their claim as of divine right. (Hear.) It becomes us, therefore, now to press upon the public, not only our doctrines, but our discipline. (Loud cheers.) The times are favourable to it. As education and science are improving mankind, they are reclaiming their longlost rights. This will extend not merely to civil but ecclesiastical affairs. Our principles will commend themselves to men who assert their rights and liberties, and we shall be able to show them that in the church of Christ there is liberty without anarchy, there is order without despotism, there is the spirit that allows the soul to expand and the heart to beat high, and there is the mind that bows to Infinite Wisdom, to the counsels of Him who always judges right. Should we, by the goodness of our God, pursue this system for a few years, I doubt not but the happiness that has been seen in former days, will be renewed. Let us look back about two hundred years, and we shall recollect that of five Independent brethren in the Westminster Assembly, there grew up, ere yet the

Restoration took place, the convocation at the Savoy. What an increase had the churches then acquired! But now we have multiplied these five into two thousand. Within a short space they may increase in a mathematical ratio, and our two thousand will become four, eight, sixteen, two-and-thirty. (Loud cheers.) If, then, God should give us grace to pursue this principle in obedience to our Lord Jesus and love to immortal souls, our children will look back and bless God that they had fathers who took this onward movement, and adore him that they inherit their privileges and the blessings that they bring with them, and feel their obligation to hand them down to their children, and to extend them over the whole world. (Applause.)

The CHAIRMAN then introduced to the meeting the following gentlemen, in the character of deputies from other bodies: -The Rev. Thomas Pullar, representative of the Scotch Congregational Union; the Rev. John Young, M.A. and Rev. R. Redpath, M.A. from the United Secession Church of Scotland; and the Rev. Dr. Urwick, from the Irish Congregational Union.

A Resolution was then proposed by the Rev. J. BLACKBURN, seconded by the Rev. THOMAS JAMES, and carried unanimously:

"That the deputies now present be received to sit and vote in the meeting." The Rev. ALGERNON WELLS then read the Annual Report of the Committee, and JOSEPH WONTNER, Esq. presented the Cash Account for the past year.

The Rev. Dr. MORISON, of Chelsea, rose to move the adoption of the Report, and spoke as follows:-Sir, I rise, I can hardly say in the full exercise of the voluntary principle, to move the following Resolution:

1. That this assembly approves and adopts the report of the Committee now read, and directs that it be printed and circulated under their direction : nor can the assembly forbear the expression of sentiments of warm mutual congratulation, and devout gratitude to God on opening, under circumstances so auspicious, the tenth annual assembly of the Congregational Union of England and Wales.

Christian brethren, I do sincerely lament the fact that I present myself to your notice at this early stage of the proceedings, not because I am unfriendly to the grand object of our meeting, but because I am somewhat apprehensive lest I should in any way injure the tone of delightful feeling which the Report we have just heard read has created in all our minds. I congratulate this meeting on the presidency of one this morning who has for fifty years served so faithfully his God and his generation, and to whom our body is deeply indebted, not more by his pulpit labours than by his writings, which have been expressly devoted to the propagation of our sentiments. (Cheers.) I congratulate this meeting on the unusually large number of christian ministers and christian brethren, convened on an occasion deeply interesting to our best principles and our best feelings. I think it is a token for good, that an institution which has crept into existence under at least partial difficulties, should, in so short a space as ten years, have taken that hold of our churches as to bring together so vast an assembly as that which I have now the honour of addressing. (Cheers.) I congratulate the meeting on the number of representatives present of bodies sympathizing with ourselves in sentiment and feeling in reference to our church polity, and of others, who, though not perhaps entirely agreeing with us on ecclesiastical grounds, are thoroughly one with us in the voluntary character of our christian institutions, and one with us in the faith of Jesus, and in the love of the brotherhood. (Cheers.) I am sure, Sir, that those brethren-I refer to our brethren of the United Secession body-are far more one with us than with any other christian community in the world, and are, I may say, by the circumstances in which we find ourselves placed in these times, so nearly approximating, that it would require an exceedingly subtle casuistry to say in what we vitally differ. (Hear.) Whether it be, Sir, that we have become a little more Presbyterian, or that they have become a little more Independent, I will not undertake to say, but my belief is, Sir, most firm, that we may take a leaf out of each other's book and be all the better for the perusal of it. (Hear.) I congratulate the meeting most of all upon the deeply interesting, and, in some

respects, I may say in many respects, vitally important details which have met our ears and awakened the best feelings in our hearts in the Report which has been presented to us. If we look at the actual good-yes, I say the actual good – which that Report proves, that this Union has been the instrument, under God, of effecting among our churches, and perhaps relatively among other bodies, I think we must be disposed, and I trust we are, to present thanksgivings to God for what he has enabled us, by his blessing, to accomplish; and if we look at the prospective measures which are touched upon in this Report, I do, as an individual, express it as my firm conviction, that it is impossible for the wisest and the best in this assembly to predict, with any degree of certainty, what good may not result from the measures which it is proposed to adopt. (Hear.) I do rejoice that questions which appeared to be very difficult at one time to adjust are approaching to a state of adjustment; for it would have been, I am free to confess it, in my judgment, a most fearful evil to our country had we had two Home Missionary Societies, worked by men of the same principles, doing the same thing, and yet necessarily called upon to make their separate appeals for support to the christian public. (Hear.) And I do think, Sir, that if our principles are worth any thing, they are worth every thing. (Hear, hear.) If it be our duty, as ministers, to work in a christian spirit, and with the Bible as our rule, to spread those principles throughout our several congregations, it must be no less our duty to endeavour to bless our country with the glorious communication of them to the public mind throughout the whole range of influence which we possess. It is not necessary that we should work those principles litigiously-I trust we do not so in our congregations-I am sure the less litigiously we work the principles of the New Testament, the more we approximate to the temper and feelings which the New Testament inculcates. (Hear.) But if there be a principle which separates worldly proceedings in reference to the church of Christ, if there be a line of demarcation between the secular administration of the church and the spiritual working of the church of Christ, it becomes us to present that line of demarcation in all its distinctiveness and all its palpableness to the notice of the great christian community in this land. (Cheers.) Sir, I think it would be out of taste for me to occupy more of the time of this meeting, but I cannot sit down without expressing the very great pleasure which I feel in witnessing this large meeting of brethren. I think, if we could only bring our brethren to act in concert in the whole of our movements, it would not be in vain in the Lord. (Hear.) I think, Sir, the vice to which our principles tend, if I might use so strong an expression, is this, that while there is nothing really included in them, abstractedly viewed, which could tend to isolation, there is some little danger, through the infirmity of our nature, (and I believe it is indebted to that exclusively,) that they will in some cases have this effect. (Hear.) Whatever, therefore, tends to form us into one entire and united body of churches, to bring us together in christian and brotherly amity, as on the present occasion, must tend to advance our social and christian principles. (Cheers.) With those views, I beg, Sir, very cordially to move the adop tion of the Report.

WILLIAM ALERS HANKEY, Esq. in seconding the resolution, said, My Christian friends and brethren, will you allow me to add another term to it? (Hear.) I stand before you in the character of a pressed voluntary, and if you can reconcile the terms, or find out the connection between the two, I will thank you. (A laugh.) The case is this: I came into this room without the slightest expectation of being called upon to take any part in its proceedings. Your Secretary put a paper. into my hands, and would not take it back again, or accept any denial. You will therefore construe my appearance amongst you, and my participation in the proceedings of the day, as an expression rather of the feelings of my heart, than of any confidence I have in the capacity of my understanding to do justice to that motion which I am now about to second. There is one light in which I beg to view our assembly. We met as a Union, and I regard my participation in the services of the morning as an illustration of the character of that Union; that 3 G

N. S. VOL. IV.

it is a union between the lay members and the ministers of our churches, and I consider this as a leading and important part of that constitution on which our churches themselves are founded. (Hear.) This distinguishes the denomination to which we belong. If I look to the Established Church I see a contrary principle prevailing. The ministers of that body are distinguished by a title which no one but themselves is allowed to assume: they are the cλepot, the selected; and were we to inquire of those who are the strongest public advocates of the cause of the Establishment, as opposed to the cause of the Dissent, I am persuaded that we should find that their views have more reference to the unity of the body of clergy, than of the members of which the congregations are constituted. That is not the case with us: we call our churches, "the whole body of the faithful." (Hear.) Our ministers are not called Kλɛpot, they are called "ministers," and are therefore the servants of the churches, under their great Lord and head. (Hear.) This I trust will be not only the denominational, but the practical distinction maintained in our churches, as long as they shall last. My friends, we live in peculiar times, and no one who has the least portion of intelligence can cast his eyes around him, and reflect on the state of our country, but he must observe, coming more and more into palpable contact and collision, the two great leading principles in the administration of all ecclesiastical affairs; I mean the compulsory and the voluntary principle. (Hear.) I have long been an adherent of the voluntary principle. Educated in the Church of England, I was, for a certain period of time, its very zealous supporter, as far as my influence extended; but growing experience, and I hope, in progress of years, enlarged knowledge of the Scriptures, led me seriously to consider the question, and to make decision. On that decision, which was formed at an early period, I have acted through my life-for I have been the best part of fifty years a member of a Congregational church-and in those principles I can truly tell you, I am growing more and more confirmed as my years advance. (Cheers.) Indeed, every circumstance around that affects the general welfare of the world and the progress of true religion tells me, that the voluntary principle is that and that alone, by which the Gospel can be carried successfully into all the corners of our own land, and more especially to the limits of the world. I feel, my christian brethren, that the observation of my esteemed friend, who moved the adoption of this resolution applies peculiarly to myself. It would indeed be a want of good taste, as well as propriety of feeling, were I to take up much of the time of this meeting, considering the greatness and the imminent importance of the measures which are to be brought before it. I heard the report with deep interest, and I think I may truly say, that a report combining in itself a larger measure of most important materials, and expressed with all the gentleness and kindness, and yet firmness of christian principle; a report more replete with every thing which commends itself to christian feeling, christian judgment, and christian taste, was never presented to a christian assembly. (Cheers.) It would be in vain, my christian friends, were I to attempt to follow the report in its different branches; that will be done much better by brethren taking up each separate topic, and confining his attention to the express question that he undertakes to handle. (Hear.) In that way, and perhaps in that way alone, can full justice be done to its excelleace. I therefore beg to express my entire adherence to it. Having said these few things, and thanking you for the attention that you have paid to me, I beg leave most cordially to second the motion.

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The resolution was then put from the chair and carried unanimously.

The Rev. Dr. LEIFCHILD then rose to move the second resolution, and addressed the meeting as follows:-Sir, I have consented to say a few words to this resolution, because as it has been refused by several of our brethren, I felt that it might possibly be in some measure neglected, if I did not come forward and address you upon it for a few moments. I perfectly accord with what Mr. Wells said last evening respecting the importance of this Union, chiefly as bringing us together in such meetings and associations as the present. (Hear.) I have felt this morning in this as

sembly the truth and importance of that sentiment. " Behold how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Here we are from different parts of the country, differently located, differently endowed, (laughter) differently modified by circumstances, but agreeing in our views on all substantial points, and almost all minor points, with one feeling and with one heart. (Hear) But these meetings help to the recognition of that fact; they repair our friendships, they revive the smouldering embers and make them kindle into a flame, and we feel, while we say, "Behold, how good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Now, before I come to the precise object of the resolution, I will, as I have reason, take upon me to offer my humble congratulation to this meeting on the advance of our distinctive principles, which, I believe, are more clearly recognised and more freely and boldly asserted than they have ever been before. (Cheers.) I think, my brethren, there was for a long while too much concealment of those principles, too much of keeping them in the back ground, either with a view of conciliating prejudice or of averting the wrath of the dominant party, and thus the country and our own people have been left in ignorance of our principles and of the grounds on which they stand. And I do not think we have gained any thing at all by that policy. (Hear, hear.) I think the church people, who have come in contact with us, have not valued us the more for that concealment. (Hear) I think, when they have known that we were dissenters at the bottom, conscientiously believing that the separation of church and state was necessary to the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, our concealment of it did not commend us to their esteem; they have thought that it might proceed from pusillanimity, or a carnal policy, and though they have flattered us with their countenance, yet how little of their effective and active co-operation have we had? (Hear.) I, therefore, do heartily rejoice that we are come to stand upon our own ground, that our principles are now made fully and widely known, and that we know now our real strength, that we knows who's who. (Laughter and cheers.) Now it may be gratifying to some of our brethren from the country to know, that we in London have been moving a little in that direction, and chiefly by the multiplication of tracts and small publications of a suitable kind for universal circulation, and that we have been putting them in circulation, especially among our own people, with a view of getting them from that class into other classes, and so through the country, because we have felt that information on the subject is wanted, even among our own people; we have left the country in such a state of ignorance upon many of our principles, that it has really been left to the dictum of editors of newspapers and fashionable magazines to expound the constitution of a christian church-men about as competent to write upon that subject as a man who has never entered the house of another is to write about his character, his family, and the discipline of his household. (Hear.) But we have of late been improving in this particular, as, I doubt not, most of you are aware and glad to hear. We have even challenged the Christian Influence Society to meet us, to meet us fairly, and to bring the matters in dispute before the public mind at once, either with one, two, or three on a side, or in any way that they would like to have the business managed. And, upon their refusal, we met them on their own ground, and endeavoured, through those lecturers, who came forward boldly to the task, to answer what were called, (but it was a sad misnomer,) arguments, and they have been answered and refuted; and although the antagonist arguments were prostrated, and, I think, destroyed, yet it was done with the utmost kindness and christian courtesy. (Laughter and cheers.) There is a gentleman in this room (Sir C. E. Smith) who has come forward, not from impulse, but from an enlightened conviction on the subject of the voluntary energies of the christian church being employed in advancing the cause of Christ with heart and hand; and, although among the first of those in the higher walks of society who have taken such a position, I trust he will speedily be followed and surrounded by others of the same grade in society; and I feel persuaded, brethren, that as we stand firm to our principles, and as they gain