TRANSACTIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES, AT HOME AND ABROAD.

ADDRESS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION ON BRITISH MISSIONS.

The following excellent Address has been prepared by the Committee of the Congregational Union, upon the new and interesting relation in which it stands to the missions for Home, Ireland, and the Colonies. We trust that it will not only be read in private, but at some early meeting from the pulpit or the desk of every church connected with our body, as it is eminently calculated to diffuse those principles and excite those feelings which are alike connected with the prosperity of our separate communities and of the denomination at large. Address to the Independent Churches and Pastors of England and Wales, from the Committee of the Congregational Union.

BELOVED BRETHREN,-Suffer the word of exhortation. Accept, in the spirit of love, a very earnest, but respectful and affectionate appeal relative to the spiritual exigencies of your native land. Give to this great subject your devout and thoughtful consideration. Brethren, we beseech you to think, pray, and act in relation to this work as its importance and your obligations demand. We ask you not to pardon, but to approve our importunity, for we are pressed in spirit to deal faithfully in this matter, the greatest that ever occupied the attention and demanded the energies of the Union.

You are doubtless aware that at the recent Annual Assembly of the Union, a connexion was formed between that body and the Home Missionary and Irish Evangelical Societies, similar to that which previously existed between the Union and the Colonial Missionary Society. The Congregational Union now, therefore, stands connected with the activities of the Independent Churches for the spread of religion in England, Ireland, and the Colonies-the most extensive, and, spiritually, the most necessitous portions of the British empire-efforts which have this double claim on your support, that they are directed to promote the salvation of your countrymen and fellow-subjects, and that they are conducted on principles both theological and ecclesiastical, which you entirely and cordially approve.

This connexion between the Union and the Societies in question has not been formed for a name or show, but for great practical ends. That all the facilities for influencing the counsels and energies of the Independent Churches possessed by the Congregational Union, might be devoted to rouse them to action, to unite them in effort, to harmonise them in wise plans for a combined enterprise for the spiritual good of the British empire. If the Congregational Union cannot thus assist these Societies, they had better never have been united with it. If it does not thus assist them, it will stand dishonoured before the world. But the attempt must be made. Every thing at this moment summons to action, forbids supineness or despondency. The Committees of those Societies will, doubtless, severally address their earnest appeals to you on their behalf. The Committee of the Union will appeal too. It has a testimony to bear, and arguments to employ, peculiarly its own. Give them, beloved brethren, a patient and a candid hearing.

Home-The British empire- England, Ireland, and the Colonies, form our noble object, our irresistible cause. Fifteen millions of people, on a low computation, in these portions of the British empire, are in a state which, judged of by your principles, is unsafe for their souls, fatal to their salvation. According to your views, they have not the truth of Christ, they do not possess vital religion, they are not in the way to heaven. Your views may be erroneous, but

upon your views such is their state, and in order to think more favourably of their state, you must renounce or modify your views. If you cannot do this-if you cannot abate aught of the elevation or strictness of your evangelical creed, then every conviction that binds you to conclusions as to the spiritual state of your countrymen so affecting, binds you also to exertions the most unwearied for the spread of that Gospel which you believe to be alone able to make them wise to salvation. And while you think these millions of your fellow-subjects in a state ruinous to their own souls, you deem them also for the most part as contributing nothing to the moral power, or the political safety of your beloved country. You deem them the weakness and peril of the state. On their account you dread lest the force of wickedness, and the displeasure of God, should ruin England.

And where are the fifteen millions of British subjects whose spiritual state can justify conclusions so gloomy, and by consequence demand efforts so extended, so energetic? Where? Amidst the dark shades of papal superstition—taught to depend for salvation on sacramental efficacy, and priestly ministrationcrowding the scenes of Sabbath desecration-filling the lecture halls of socialism or of chartist agitation-spread over your fair rural districts in hopeless ignorance and apathy-or filling with squalor and vice the busy scenes of your commercial and manufacturing activity-they are the victims of intemperance and infidelity —of scanty wages and neglected education – they fill your jails, man your ships, found your colonies. The seemingly fair fabric of your national greatness, built upon their labour and even their sufferings, is endangered by their irreligion. In the varied forms of their wretchedness, physical and moral, there is enough alternately to alarm your fears, and to awaken your compassion.

How great a work have you to do for your country! You cannot do the whole, but you must do your part. Your activities will provoke those of others. Your contributions for the spiritual good of your country cannot be dispensed with. You are the depositaries and trustees of principles, and of views of truth, in the absence of which the moral interests of Britain cannot be safely and triumphantly advanced, and with respect to which, if you are not the fearless advocates, those "truths will fall in the streets," and the "equity" founded on them will never "enter" into the national institutions. And are you deficient in patriotism? Can Protestant Dissenters--can Congregational Christians be wanting in love to a country which is what it is-the abode of religion and of religious liberty-as the fruit of the tears and blood, the courage and constancy of their own forefathers—and to whom their religious liberties, and the land which is their secure asylum, are more sacred and dear than to other men their wealth, their immunities, or their domination?

What a work have you to do for the world! You would evangelize Britain, that Britain may evangelize the world. When the Apostles would find a centre where to kindle a light that might illuminate the world, they began, divinely in structed, at Jerusalem. With similar largeness of views and wisdom of procedure, you must begin in Britain.

How great a work is before you for the souls of men! How feeble is every consideration of mere patriotism or philanthropy, when compared with direct compassion for immortal souls-for their conversion to God-their cleansing in the blood of Christ-their safety in the great and terrible day of the Lord! This is your object and work.

"Not for a favourite form or name,

But for immortal souls we plead."

Great is your work for the truth of God! Do darkening clouds of error spread over the land? Is another Gospel preached which is not another? Let controversy and learned toil do their valuable and necessary work to arrest the growing mischief. But preach the Gospel, pure, simple, saving Gospel, not in the form of controversy, but of testimony; not to encounter error, but to save souls. This will fill the land with light; this will render error powerless, and the truth irresistible and triumphant.

How important is your testimony to the ordinances of Christ! It is your's to sustain the primitive apostolic practice of infant baptism unmixed with the fatal superstitions of baptismal regeneration. It is your's to sustain the sacredness of the Lord's Supper, not by the absurdities of transubstantiation, or what cannot be distinguished from it, but by fencing the solemn commemoration of a dying Saviour's love, by the sanctities of a faithful, godly, scriptural discipline.

Nor is it a light struggle to which you are now summoned for the great cause of religious liberty. You must make a firm stand for liberty on conscientious grounds. You must witness against human legislation and force in the church of Christ. You must stand for the voluntary character and support of his kingdom. Upbraided as political, you must show yourselves the true friends of spirituality.

All these great duties you will best discharge through the medium of vigorous Home Missions. Faithful efforts to spread the gospel in its purity throughout the empire will sustain your piety, increase your influence, and establish your principles. Putting forth your utmost strength for this highest of all objects, on truly scriptural principles, will best promote every subordinate purpose which your enlightened christian benevolence can meditate. It will work for truth, charity, liberty. It will bless your country, and prepare your country to bless the world.

On this great work you must enter with equal ardour and wisdom. Feebleness and folly must have no place in your counsels. Private regards must not sway public measures. Local interests must not absorb your efforts to the neglect of large views and extensive co-operation. You must seek a higher class of agency. You must, regardless of expense, undertake bold enterprises amidst the dense masses of population. You must, to the utmost, favour and promote the Home Missionary tours of your most gifted pastors. Excessive scruples as to order, dread of public censure or contempt, must not deter from open-air preaching. There must be combination among all your churches on a large scale for this work. The strong must aid the weak. The Association in each county must be informed of-must care for-must assist-the efforts of the Associations of all the other counties. At present Cornwall and Cumberland have no more mutual knowledge, sympathy, and help, than Otaheite and Jamaica.

Pecuniary contributions must be made on a scale commensurate with this great object and its claims. Every church, rich or poor, should make its constant annual contribution on a liberal scale. England, Ireland, and the Colonies, do not they form a field deserving and demanding this? How much precious time, labour, money, are now absorbed in deputations to obtain resources for these objects! How often are committees perplexed, how injuriously are their efforts retarded, by anxiety and uncertainty in obtaining funds! For your own empire and countrymen, brethren; for every thing sacred in your religion, every thing dear in your native land, we plead. We propose an annual collection on a concerted day, in every Congregational church in England and Wales for home. We propose that every Congregational pastor in England and Wales should on that day plead with his own people for efforts to evangelize our own empire, conducted on our own Independent principles. Nor must this be all. Annual and weekly contributions, and liberal donations, must be added. Each pastor and his people can distribute the amount realized by them as they may judge best-such a proportion for England-such for Ireland—such for the Colonies. This, brethren, is an enterprise requiring deeds, not mere words. Our proposals, and your response, on this subject, to be of any value, must be practical. Will you on the last Lord's day in every successive October, make the annual collection for British Missions now proposed?

Will you make this important object a matter of church business? Will you employ in its support the influence and organization of your church state? Will you urge on members of churches the special obligations under which they are placed to promote it? Will you establish it as a church custom to appeal to every member for a weekly contribution to sustain Congregational efforts for

the spread of the Gospel among the British people wherever they dwell? How potent, how productive would be the universal adoption by all members of your churches of this apostolic, regular, conscientious form of contribution!

Never were the Congregational Churches summoned to a duty more arduous, at a time at once so critical and so inviting. Never were they in a state more prepared for the enterprise. They retain unimpaired their sound theology. Their pastors have learned to preach the old truth in a more stirring manner, in a way more immediately adapted to effect the conversion of souls. On the solid basis of scriptural truth they know how to found the most energetic appeals to conscience. They are prepared to preach in the right way to careless multitudes. Seasons of renovating, encouraging revival have been enjoyed by many churches. How potent may that ministry prove in the conversion of those who never heard a faithful gospel, which has availed, by God's blessing, to arouse such as had grown obdurate by years of unprofitable attendance on evangelical preaching! The pastors and their churches have learned, amidst the recent storm of obloquy which has fallen on them for the sake of their distinctive principles, and amidst the melancholy defection from the truth of numbers around them,—to value more than ever, both those highest doctrines which they now hold with firmer grasp, and those subordinate principles which they have found conservative of the great vitalities of the gospel. A spirit of liberality rests on the churches. In many instances they give nobly. They sustain cheerfully the constant pressure on their resources needed for the support of their own worship, and for the spread of the gospel. Our pastors and their churches, blessed be God, are a people greatly prepared for vigorous efforts in his service.

The Independent Churches are under various and solemn obligations to make efforts and sacrifices for the spread of evangelical religion in Great Britain, Ireland, and the Colonies. Divine Providence has secured to them under the British crown, and amidst the free institutions of this favoured country, for a term of one hundred and fifty years, great liberty, security, and repose. During this long period of tranquillity they have grown numerous and powerful. They are richly favoured with all the ordinances and privileges of the gospel. They are entrusted with great resources for usefulness. Their efforts in this work have indeed, of late years, been great, but they require to be much increased. There is need that their attention should be more especially directed to this particular department of labour; and that their proceedings in it should be improved by system and co-operation. If the exiled Jews in the land of their enemies, and of their banishment, were enjoined by the prophet, “to seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace"-how much more from attachment to their beloved native country, and value for their christian privileges, which in its security are secure, should the Independent Churches put forth their utmost efforts to spread the truth and power of the gospel wherever the British people and British institutions are found? Other powerful bodies are now roused to unwonted activity in energetic efforts to diffuse among their countrymen their own views of religion. If you deem those views salutary and saving, how ought their labours to stimulate and encourage your's! If you deem them pernicious, ruinous, what terms can express your obligation to redoubled efforts for the diffusion of your truth as the only corrective of their error?

The Committee of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, therefore, brethren, invite you with earnestness and affection to come forth to this work. This Union is becoming what it was from the first intended to be, a medium for the co-operation, counsels, and efforts of our churches. Here are three great societies adopted as your own, through a recognized connexion with this Union. They now represent your body, act on your principles, and look to you for support. They are your own. The Committee of this Union will now, qually with their own committees, labour for their interests. At the Annual

Assembly of the Union, their affairs will be appropriately the subjects of discussion and of prayer. Between their committees and that of the Union there is the most entire harmony and concert. They are independent, but affiliated societies; managing their own affairs, but open to the influence, and expecting the assistance of the Associated Pastors and Churches of the Congregational Union. The whole arrangement is intended that with one heart, and one hand, the entire community of Independent Churches may labour for the cause of Christ in the British empire.

And now, beloved brethren, if you would be true to your principles, and faithful to your opportunities; if you would serve your generation as your forefathers served theirs; if you would wisely select those fields of labour immediately your own, and success in which will spread its widening influence and preparation to others more remote; if you would answer the expectations that have been raised of some energetic movement on your part; if you would avoid contempt for feebleness, disunion, and too high conceit of yourselves; if you would do honour to your principles, and service to your Master; if you would do your part for your country and the world-Now is the time, and Now the opportunity -the way for union, contribution, action is open before you. Those who guide and manage the movement must not be wanting to their duty. Nothing is needed but the spirit of union and prayer, of liberality and zeal. pour it forth abundantly!

We are, Dear Brethren,

On behalf of the Union,

Your affectionate fellow-servants of the Lord Jesus,

The Lord

The adjourned meeting was held on Friday Morning, May 15th, at eight o'clock, when Dr. BENNETT took the chair, and conducted the devotional

exercises.

The Rev. A. WELLS, the Secretary, then read a Statement of the affairs of the Colonial Missionary Society for the past year.

The Rev. H. L. ADAMS, of Newark, in rising to move the adoption of the Statement, said, that he, and the people of his charge, felt a very great interest in the Colonial Missionary Society, identified as it was with the Independent denomination. Until the last year, there had never been a collection in furtherance of its object made at Newark, but when his friend Mr. Binney visited them for that purpose, a short time since, he was received on all hands with great affection, as the representative of the Colonial Missionary Society. He believed the reason why the funds were not more than £3500 was, because the churches were not aware that it formed part of that Union. In reference to the Home Missionary Society, he would just say, that the Nottingham Association had resolved to enter heartily into the plans contemplated by this Union; the intelligence of its proceedings from time to time had excited a holy joy in their minds, and they determined at once to join the sacred phalanx against sin and ignorance, the great and powerful foes of God and man. That meeting would be surprised when he told them, that a person might travel twenty miles in that county and not find a single Independent chapel. He had within the last few years become a nonconformist, having been educated in the Established Church, and made some sacrifice for his principles. Some persons had thought that the brethren in his part of the country were animated by a zeal that was not according to knowledge, and others had checked them in their attempts to diffuse the Gospel in the neighbourhood; but God had enabled them to bear up in the midst of opposition, and in a town of which a