Association had for some time adopted the plan of giving letters of confidence, and it had proved very beneficial.

The Rev. J. BLACKBURN suggested that a note might be inserted embodying their views. The Assembly, he said, could not issue any order on the subject, having no authority; but respecting its importance, all present were agreed.

The Rev. R. ELLIOTT quite approved of what had been said, but they must not go beyond a recommendation. In some particular instances there might be, he said, discord between a minister and an association which did not at all involve religious character, and if it were in their power, on this account, to put a ban upon him, woe be to him.

The Rev. GREGORY, of Clifton, would like to know how such a rule would affect a minister who was not a member of the county association— whether it would be required that he be a member of that body in order to his obtaining fraternal intercourse with his brethren and their recognition, recommendation, and support? It was all very well, as had been stated, to exclude vagabonds from the church, but care should be taken that in excluding the bad they did not at the same time exclude the good.

The CHAIRMAN remarked, that the Congregational Union had nothing to do with the question, but it belonged solely to the association.

The Rev. GREGORY said he understood that the association must be in connection with the Congregational Union.

The CHAIRMAN.-Oh no; it is simply a recommendation to form associations, having no reference to the Congregational Union.

The Rev J. EDWARDS, of Brighton, observed that a minister of good character would always be able to obtain a letter of recommendation from the association without belonging to it.

The Rev. THOMAS HAYNES, of Bristol, thought that no good brother would ever suffer, if this were the standing rule. He believed that more vagabonds obtruded into their body than was commonly imagined-men who were more defective in their character and practice than in faith. Every precaution should be taken to exclude those who were unworthy of confidence, and every facility given for the reception of those of an opposite character. He was sure that their brother, who had been afraid of the practical effect of the rule, would have no difficulty in obtaining testimonials, if about to remove to another part of the country.

The Rev. J. BURDER, of Stroud, observed, that the good might easily obtain testimonials from their neighbours, and the bad could not. This was exactly the sort of punishment which, as Independents, they could inflict on a bad man. That negation of association would have a most beneficial operation. Hitherto, however, there had been too little caution observed in reference to the settling of pastors. He (Mr. Burder) had sometimes been amazed to see churches receive a person from a distance of three hundred miles, without making the least enquiry as to his character.

The Rev. R. ELLIOTT stated, in explanation, that he approved of the suggestion in toto as it stood, leaving it, that is, to the associations, to say whether they would recommend or not.

The Rev. A. WELLS observed, that those brethren whose consciences would not allow them to join an association, excluded themselves from whatever benefit such associations afforded. It might be a matter of regret that they did not join, but this was a matter in which themselves were chiefly concerned. To those brethren who entered them, the associations gave their countenance and authentication; those who did not enter them had not the same benefit. say nothing," said the Rev. gentleman, "to those that are without, but those that are within we do authenticate."

"We

The Rev. R. ELLIOTT begged to inquire if it was intended that the importance of associations joining with the Union should come before the meeting now, or at any subsequent period? It was to him a matter of great importance, that all the associations should join the Union. There were many persons present, how

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ever, who were anxious for all the information that could be obtained, that they might state distinctly to their several associations what were the advantages of a connexion with the Congregational Union. He was sure they would all be very happy to hear from Mr. Wells a short statement of the benefits to be derived from that connexion.

Several other gentlemen having joined in this request,

The Rev. ALGERNON WELLS rose, and said: Nothing, my brethren, could have been more remote from my expectation, than to be called upon to expound the nature or advantages of the Congregational Union. I was here quite for another department of labour, to do my part, as well as I was able, to carry the important business which is before the meeting through its orderly progress to a result which, I hope, will be very satisfactory. My own conception of the advantage of the Congregational Union consists, primarily, in the notion of getting together an immense number of minds, that should all recognize, by the act of uniting with one another, that they are in community; that they have opinions wherein they differ from the rest of mankind, but agree among themselves; and that they, getting this notion of a distinct community of their own, should thereupon think that their Union will help them exceedingly in working out, throughout the whole extent of their reach, the great principles about which they are agreed. This principle is accordant with the whole structure of human society which groups men together, first of all, in the least community of families, and then takes a great number of families and makes a nation of them, not at all destroying the existence of the family by connecting all the families into one national community. I conceive, therefore, that there are a great number of churches which are all as several and distinctive as any household, but that they may all realize that one community without ceasing to be separate households; that when you get that idea, that sentiment, you have great power in the sentiment itself; that it is quite impossible to work great sentiments and great objects upon any other ground than great union; and that as numbers are an essential element of sublimity, and a great element of power, and as the sublimest notion that we can form of the redeemed church consists in that incalculable representation of numbers, myriads upon myriads, all of one heart, and all singing one theme, so here, in this world, that class of men who stand alone, or who live only in little fellowships, never will and never can be powerful; that the thing is in itself an impossibility; that those persons who never think of themselves as connected with any other Christians, those who worship within the four walls of their ordinary sacred resort, will, from having got that idea in their minds, make themselves feeble, if there were no other way of doing it. And I conceive, therefore, that this aggregation of numbers of persons together, makes each individual a great deal more powerful than he was when he stood alone. He brings his contribution of strength to the general community, and he takes back again a portion of the strength of every one else; and he no longer is an individual, in respect of the power that backs him, while he is an individual in respect of the liberty of his particular actions. You get all the power of a fluid, in which every separate particle moves with every other particle without the least impediment, and yet the aggregation of particles becomes an ocean that roars. Here we come together from various parts of the kingdom. I go back again to my particular abode, knowing myself connected with all of you, and that what I am doing in my little charge at Clapton, two thousand brethren are doing in their respective churches elsewhere; and that for the truths which I witness wherever there is a necessity for it, my solitary voice will be backed by that of two thousand associated brethren, whose faces I have seen, whose pulses I have felt, and who have said to me, "Go, and we will sustain you." Well now, if you have got not an inch beyond that single circumstance, that your aggregation gives you an extent, and power, and association, you have got a power that our churches for a very long time wanted. Now then, we get this without the addition of any binding force; we are not water frozen into ice and chained, but we are water with its fluidity, free, yet powerful. I see other bodies coming together and clamouring for

power. I read, with an interest that was as deep as it was painful, the discussions that have ensued in the separation of the British and Canadian Conferences of the Wesleyan body. There will be no separation between the Congregational Union of England and Wales and their brethren in Canada; but there is continual communion with us, and amidst those wilds, be assured, they work with heart and mind as they never would have done; and they never would have been there to work at all, if it had not been for such communion. Well, then comes the next notion, that of counsel. After you have got the notion of power, here are come together to counsel one another, to see whether, in our sentiments and opinions, we be like-minded or not. And we trim too: but then, brethren, it is trimming in love, and not in unfaithfulness. You tell me, that if I put out that my sentiments are more scriptural than the Bible Society, I shall give offence. I believe it; but I will not say it. I have got the counsel of a wise mind, which prevents me from doing a thing that is inexpedient, though I might be able to prove it in a contest. How important it is that we should be able to come together, and take counsel together, at such times as these, when every man's hand is against us-and against us, I will say, for no evil that we have done, but for our ministry of truth. We cannot but condemn institutions that are of the world. We did not put the institutions there. We go out to do our Master's work, and we have not gone far before we find a great impediment, and we simply bear our testimony about that matter. Well, now sometimes we are assailed thus. I go into counties in which the associations are depressed. I see the education, the rank, and the political power of all that possess any thing which gives them superiority over others, in array against us, and working by various charms to draw away the intelligent and wealthy people from amongst us, until I am chilled, and almost waver in my attachment to these great principles. How am I to get warmed again, but by seeing that there is a very large number of men of God who are faithful to these principles? Oh, my brethren, I am sure there must be a mistake among us, if it is necessary to prove that it is a good thing for a vast number of brethren to unite together who hold the same sentiments. We must have fallen into misconception about the whole structure of the human mind, and of human society, and about the church of the living God. At least, I think so. Well, then, we are in a practical age, and then comes the question—“ Oh, this is very fine, to get together Congregational brethren of the same faith and order; but what is the practice of the thing?" Well, now we are coming to the practice: it was impossible to get to the practice before the Union was formed. Well, then, we had to build up the Union. I hope it is safe now. What have we done? My brother told you, last night, several things that we have done. We meet in London, and we get together three or four hundred pastors, and the question is, " What are you doing?" The question would never have been asked, if we had not got together. Well, then, they said, "Home missions-that is the thing you must undertake: you must get a home mission." And an anxious thing it was to get a home mission without trespassing in the doing of it upon brethren already in the work. You know the history of all that anxiety, and all that discussion by which we arrived at last at a union, which was cemented with honesty and love, and which works in peace and harmony. This is what we are doing. We are coming together, that our churches may be moved and strengthened to do this work. But now, as to a particular association, I am asked, what better an association will be which is united with us, than another that is not? Now, my charity is so large, that I would deal with those who are not united with us, and give them as much benefit as I could. But here is the thing. We want to come to wealthy places, and gather up money, in Lancashire, and Yorkshire, and Somersetshire, and to go to Nottingham and the poor districts, and say, "We are getting money from wealthy places, and we will give it to you." Why, brethren, the exhalations that arise from the earth form clouds leagues away; and we want to do the same thing, bringing the strong to assist the weak. Now you will never do that without a central organization, without something to enable you to judge where to receive, and where to give. And you

want, therefore, such a Union as this, having as little responsibility and as little power as possible; to say the truth, we have more already than sits easy, either upon our hands or upon our consciences. Well, then, this is what we meditate to do, to gather and disperse; gather first, and disperse afterwards, bringing the strong to help the weak. I had the honour of going down to attend the meeting of the Lancashire Union. I made an appeal to them, with the plainness that I ventured to use. I said, "You are spending £2000 a-year for home missionary operations within the county of Lancaster; you have sent more than five thousand pounds to assist in sending the gospel to the heathen. Let me tell you, that there are hundreds, and thousands, and millions of souls in counties in England, where your own denomination is poor, and if you can raise two thousand pounds for Lancashire, and five for the world, you can do something for them also." Well, the principle so far commended itself to their understandings that, as my friend, Mr. Slate, knows, a motion was given notice of, which I prepared at the instant, that the Lancashire Association should give a division of its proceeds to the Congregational Union of England and Wales. Now, the only thing I disapprove of is, that Lancashire should want all that £2000, and that they should make for us a separate collection. But still it shows that our brethren there are making progress. We shall have presently to discuss the edecation of ministers. I feel that subject to be of the last importance. If we get men we shall have money. We have nothing to do but to pray to God to send out labourers into the harvest.

A conversation then took place upon the subject of statistics, more particularly with reference to the census to be taken in January, 1841. Mr. Wells stated that in that census it was intended to include religious statistics, and pressed upon the meeting the great importance of making accurate returns. There was to be a return of the places of worship and the number of attendants, and the Committee were requested to give publicity to this circumstance.

The discussion on this document having closed,

RICHARD ASH, Esq., of Bristol, in moving its adoption, rose and said, I shall merely observe, that I highly approve of the object for which we are assembled, and consider my native city greatly honoured by this provincial meeting being held within it. Though I am fully persuaded that the first Christians were independent of each other, and that the words bishop, pastor, and presbyter designate the same office; yet I see no reason why those who embrace the same sentiments as to doctrine and practice should not unite for the purpose of more effectually promoting the spread of the gospel, free from what they consider to be human additions and imperfections. I would now move

"That the document on associations be adopted by this meeting, and printed as part of the minutes of its proceedings, subject to such revision as the discussion has indicated that in the view of the meeting it requires, which revision is accordingly entrusted to the care of the Committee."

The Rev. J. SIBREE, of Coventry, briefly seconded the resolution, which was unanimously adopted.

The doxology was then sung, and the Chairman having closed the sitting with prayer, the meeting adjourned till Thursday, nine o'clock, A. M.

The ministers and gentlemen dined together at the Montague Hotel, and the social intercourse was highly agreeable.

In the evening a vast congregation assembled in the Tabernacle, every part of that spacious building being crowded to overflowing. The Rev. Dr. Redford, of Worcester, opened the service by reading the Scriptures and prayer. The Rev. William Jay, of Bath, preached a deeply interesting sermon from Luke xix. 40. "If these hold their peace the stones would immediately cry out." The venerable preacher observed, that the text is susceptible of three imports. I. That silence would be vile. II. That it would be difficult. III. That it would be useless. We regret that we cannot find room for a complete analysis of this valuable

discourse, but a passage of its impressive close will, we are sure, reader.

interest every

"While I have a full conviction-and I should not discharge my conscience this evening, unless I mentioned it-a full conviction that much has been done, yet I am aware that there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed; and that the harvest truly is great, and the labourers are yet few. And though I do not, and cannot think with some, that Britain is in such a state as should alarm, it is in such a state as should arouse us. And while there is every thing to excite, there is every thing also to encourage. I have always loved the cause which has drawn so many together yesterday and to-day; I have always rather peculiarly pleaded for home exertions; not to the exclusion of foreign, but, I should rather say, in aid of them. The Saviour, when he sent forth his disciples, said, Preach repentance and remission of sins in my name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.' If we had to cut through a large forest, I suppose we should begin at the near side, so that our progress would also prepare our way. It is easy to see how home efforts even aid the foreign service. Every society that is formed by means of them will become a little magazine of means; every sinner that is converted by the Gospel will become an intercessor; and as to ministers, they will become advocates. Dr. Davis was the offspring of barn-preaching; and so was Toplady. It would not be delicate in the preacher to observe of himself; otherwise he might observe, that if in any measure he has been useful for more than half a century, from the pulpit or the press, he was the produce of humble village preaching.'

The Rev. J. BLACKBURN, of London, closed the delightful service with prayer.

The Editor regrets to defer the report of the second day's proceedings till his next Number, but he could not withhold from his readers the interesting intelligence which occupies the following pages.

BIENNIAL MEETING OF THE DORSETSHIRE ASSOCIATION.

The autumnal meeting of the Associated Congregational Churches was held at Swanage on the 15th and 16th September. The Rev. T. Durant preached on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning, at seven o'clock, a prayer-meeting was held at the Congregational Chapel. At half past ten the Rev. Mr. Guenett preached on the given subject, "Tradition;" the Rev. J. Bristow, of Exeter, presided at the Lord's Supper; the brethren and friends dined at the Royal Victoria Hotel, where the business was transacted, and we have never before been gratified by seeing at this place so large an assembly on a similar occasion. In the evening, at seven o'clock, the Rev. R. Keynes preached. The weather was unfavourable, but the attendance was very great. The collection amounted to £15. 8s. The following resolutions were adopted at the business meeting:

Moved by Rev. R. Keynes, seconded by Rev. A. M. Brown, and supported by Malachi Fisher, Esq.

"That the meeting rejoices in the affiliation of the Home Missionary, Irish Evangelical, and the Colonial Missionary Society with the Congregational Union, and earnestly recommends these societies to the prayers and pecuniary aid of our Associated Churches."

Moved by the Rev. Mr. Bodwell, A. M., seconded by John Brown, Esq. "That the Associated Churches be requested to forward to the Minute Secretary, previous to the spring meeting, the number of church members, the number received within the last twelve months, and the number who have died, who have been dismissed to other churches, or who have been separated from church-fellowship."

The spring meeting of the Association will be holden at Blandford; subject proposed-Lay Agency; the preacher, the Rev. A. Morton Brown, A. M.