previously arranged in order, and the boundaries of their habitations: that they might seek after the Lord, if possibly they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and are moved, and do exist; as some of your own poets have said,-'For we his offspring are.' We therefore being the offspring of God, ought not to imagine the Deity to be like gold, or silver, or stone, wrought by the art and contrivance of man. For though God overlooked the times of ignorance, he now makes proclamation to all men every where to reform, because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world righteously by that Man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead."

The remarks made on the models before submitted, are applicable to these. The same cardinal topics are kept continually in view, and the attention of the hearers, whether Jew or Gentile, is directed to the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the earthly consummation of the whole economy of salvation. But for the application of these models to our times, we must take into view all our peculiarities, and all the principles embraced in the directions given under the first commission, as well as the conduct of the Apostles to their hearers. As we have never seen an Evangelist of the primitive character, nor a christian preacher who filled up the whole outlines of this calling as we have learned it from the Book, we shall in the next essay narrate the whole proceedings of Evangelicus, which we proposed as a model to ourselves about ten years ago; but, never having been employed in the work of an Evangelist, we have never practised upon it. Yet, after ten years' reflection, as often as the subject has been called up to our thoughts, we feel the more convinced that such is the most rational and scriptural model which a christian preacher could now adopt. It will only require a reasonable degree of christian fortitude to commence, and to persevere in a course, which indeed would be almost as novel as it is rational and scriptural. EDITOR.

Christian Preacher.---No. VII.

EVANGELICUS always took the most popular method to apprize the citizens of every town and village of his object in visiting them. On his arrival he assured them that he wished to know every person in the village who loved Jesus Christ, and that he thought no disciple of the Saviour would decline an interview with him on the affairs of the kingdom of which they were citizens. After ascertaining all of this class, he requested their presence and their prayers while he would attempt the conversion of the citizens to Jesus Christ; alleging that he would propose nothing to their acceptance that was not written in the Book: for that he labored to bring men into the fold of Christ, and not into the fold of a party.

He announced the time and place of his commencement, accompanying his appointment with the intimation of his design not to leave that place until he knew all in it who would obey the Lord. His first discourses were the person, mission, offices, and work of Jesus Christ; "opening and alleging," from both Testaments, that Jesus of VOL. III.

40

Nazareth was the Messiah, the Son of God and the Saviour of the world "announcing the kingdom of God and teaching the things which relate to the Lord Jesus Christ."

So soon as he had fairly exhibited the testimony, which was sometimes done in three discourses, sometimes in two, and sometimes in one, as the circumstances of the people indicated, and always either on one day or on two or three succeeding days, he requested all who believed the testimony adduced to take one side of the house, or to signify their faith by standing up.

After they had separated themselves, he immediately addressed those who said by their conduct they did not believe, requesting them in turn to specify the reasons why they rejected the testimony, or the objections which lay in their way. This he carried so far, in all suavity and mildness of manner, as to induce them either to state their objections, or to evince a total indifference, or unwillingness to be persuaded to submit to Jesus as the Lord Messiah. So soon as he fully ascertained how many had believed and who rejected the testimony of God, he turned to the believers and asked them if they would now submit to the will of the Lord in every thing, and began by stating to them the immediate duty of all who repented of their sins, or received Jesus as the only Saviour of the world. If any of these exhibited a lack of knowledge of his will, or any unwillingness to be baptized forthwith, he continued his interrogations and addresses until he fully ascertained how many would, with their whole heart, turn to the Lord. The others he addressed with all feeling, in the language of the warnings and denunciations of the Saviour and his Apostles, and cautioned them, on the peril of their eternal exclusion from the presence of the Lord, not to reject the counsel of God agains themselves.

After the baptism of all the converts, he taught them the constitution, laws and ordinances of the christian kingdom, and gave them scriptural ideas of the new relation into which they were brought to God, angels, and men, and to one another; and of all the privileges, honors, and immunities of the kingdom of which they had become citizens.

In the interim of his teaching the disciples, he visited from house to house, all who would bid him welcome; and from house to house, as well as publicly, he ceased not to preach and teach Jesus Christ. On entering a house, he was wont to say, Peace be to this family; and to explain himself by stating his errand to be a desire to converse with the family on the affairs of salvation. If he was invited to proceed, he did so with all conciliation of manner and heart-felt interest; but if he was not invited to proceed, or if he was insulted by any rudeness of repulse, he brooked the indignity for the Lord's sake, and walked away in silence.

Thus he continued his labors publicly and privately, until he knew all in the place who had an ear for the authority of God. After setting the disciples in order, so far as to have them to meet every Lord's day to keep the ordinances, he went on his journey to another town,

and pursued the same course, until he had taken in as much ground as he could well cultivate, returning occasionally to visit the churches he had planted.

He never conversed upon the affairs of this world, except what immediately pertained to the health and circumstances of his brethren: for he often observed that preachers, in entering into all the frivolous and political chit chat of the day, unpreached by the fireside all that they preached from the pulpit, or on the days of public assemblies. He was wholly devoted to the Lord's work, teaching and warning every man publicly and from house to house, that he might, if possible, present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

In one year he planted twelve churches, and was an example to the flock in word and behavior, loved by the disciples, and esteemed by all men. Even those who sometimes regarded him in the light of an enthusiast, were constrained to say that they could wish that all enthusiasts were as exemplary and as consistent with their pretensions as Evangelicus. EDITOR.

[BRIEF

Progress of Reform.

EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS. ]

July 9th. Nicholasville, Ky.-"Brother Morton was with us at our last meeting: ten were immersed in the evening."

E.

July 5th Murfreesborough, Tenn.-"Opposition very strong: we have scarcely a meeting, however, without some additions. There are in this county five public proclaimers of the ancient gospel, men of talents and piety."-"The church of Rock Spring, by a vote of 97 to 3, have abandoned human creeds, and are going forward in Reform. Never did I see a better opportunity of doing good in this country: so much peace and harmony among the saints, so much wrath and confusion among the sects."

T. R.

July 13.-"The congregation in Bank street, Philadelphia, under the teaching of brother Ballantine, is increasing, and enjoying the favors of the Lord. Good feelings exist between the brethren and sisters in the Baptist congregations and the members of our infant church. I hope they may continu, and that we may exhibit to them the simplicity and beauty of gospel order. Number about 40." R.

June 25.-Elder Timothy Brewster, Ellisburg, New York, says: "The time of my departure is at hand. I have set up a little wigwam which contains about a dozen disciples. We are not visited by any of the brethren who labor in the word; and we live so far off, that I fear after my demise the little wigwam may fall with its found

er.

We have seen much change in the mode of preaching, and the things preached, in these vicinities; but not much change in practice. It is probable this will be my last communication to you; and my farewell address to you is, My dear brother, live in agreement with, and correspondent to, your published profession. Farewell!"

Rock Creek, Bedford county, Tenn. July 3d.-"The Reformation is advancing here. Within a few weeks about thirty have obeyed the gospel in the bounds of the labors of brother J. K. Spear and myself. Eight or ten more are expected next Lord's day, in my neighborhood, and among that number two of my children. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, for his goodness to the sons of men!" Yesterday I immersed a Cumberland Presbyterian elder, of good standing in that sect; and next Lord's day 1 expect to immerse his father, a Presbyterian, who has lived my neighbor for 20 years. Many of the intelligent espouse the cause of Reform." W. H.

[A letter dated the 13th July, informs us that this brother was not disappointed in the above expectations.]

Williamson county, Tenn. July 31.-"The brethren who have commenced their march out of Babylon are making more accessions now than all the sects in this district. Several ministers of the Concord Association have come out in the cause of Reform. In a tour of fourteen days, in the present month, we immersed twenty-three into Christ Jesus the Lord. On last Lord's day, and Monday, I saw seven more buried with Christ in immersion. In due time we shall reap, if we faint not." A. C. Yazoo, Mississippi, June 6.-"At Liberty church, Grand Gulf, I was informed that five churches among the Baptists had declared in favor of Reformation."

C.

Columbia, Tenn. June 18.-"During the meeting of the disciples of Christ of the Liberty Union, in May last, in Giles county, which continued four days, the cause of Reform was very powerfully plead; and never did I see more love and harmony prevail at any meeting which I attended, than at that meeting. It exerted a good and happy influence all round the country. Amongst the pleaders of Reform I was surprized to see so many old men; for we expect to see the young more susceptible of change than the old: yet amongst the Reformers are not only the young, but many of the middle-aged and venerable fathers in the land. Ten were immersed during the meeting, and the disciples were much stirred up and strengthened."

A.

Little Rock, Arkansas Territory, August 30th, 1832.-"There were, 1 believe, twelve or fourteen Regular Baptists in this place. They had a meeting house; but for a year back had but little preaching, and what they had was of the old Fuller stamp. This, however, suited the little church. The members were all females but one or two, and they were not calculated even to pray in public. This summer a Doctor Hall, formerly from Kentucky—late from Florence, Alabama, came to this place, practising dental surgery. He is a teacher of the ancient gospel. There being several gentlemen here who had known him, one for seven years, he was requested to preach. He did so. The curiosity of the people was excited-their attention next. In a word, he has succeeded in burying the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. It was renounced by the church unanimously, the fourth day of this month. Since then Doctor Hall has immersed twenty-two persons for the remission of their sins. One of the most prominent members of the Presbyterian church, a merchant of this place. Col. Caldwell, speaker of the last Legislative Counsel, &c. &c. Also a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher, the most popular preacher in the Territory, and universally admired for his talents and beloved for bis piety. He has been a preacher eight or ten years." P. C.

Wilmington Clinton county Ohio, August 6th. Brother Rains, amongst other good news, says: "On last Friday week I arrived at Wilmington, since which fifteen persons have, within the bounds of my labors, been immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus. The disciples are, throughout all the congregations, more healthy in the faith than I expected to find them. The gospel is evidently gaining additional influence in these regions; and, notwithstanding the bitter opposition which it meets from the bigoted and prejudiced, must continue to increase. If an efficient evangelist could labor constantly in this field, I do believe that men and women would almost daily be added to the Lord; and that the labors of such a person would impart even to the disciples, much energy which they do not now possess." A. R.

Minerva, Stark county, Ohio, July 6th.-"There are about two hundred disciples in this place, who, I think, are endeavoring to follow the primitive example of the old Apostles. Our meetings are well attended, and the reformation progresses with much zeal, and that, I think, according to knowledge. "We had a three-day meeting about the middle of June, during which twelve were immersed. They appeared to be begotten by the Spirit, and I am sure they were lawfully born into the kingdom. The prospect of the work progressing is very good. We have but few meetings at which more or less do not obey the gospel. I attended a two-day meeting a few days since, in a neighborhood where there had been no preaching except by sectarians. The excitement was great, and at the close of the meeting, I immersed five persons. I shall attend with them on to-morrow again."

J. W.

Maysville, Kentucky, July 20th.-"Since I wrote you I have been constantly in the field, and am happy to report considerable success. During two weeks I, and others with me, have baptized about thirty persons, making, since I came to the state, two months since, more than one hundred and twenty within the sphere of my labors. In this work I have associated considerably with brethren J. Smith and A. Rains, especially the latter."

D. S. B.

Jamestown, Ohio, August 6th.-"We have just concluded a two-day meet ing at our village, during which ten confessed the Lord, and were immersed for remission of sins. Brother Rains was with us, and some of the brethren from Wilmington. We give thanks to God that the gospel, as preached by our Lord and his Apostles, is the power of God for salvation to all who believe it, at this day, as well as in the days of the Apostles. Our congregation has grown to ninety-four in less than two years, and additions are expected, not daily, but weekly."

M. W.

From many correspondents we are informed, in general terms, the Reformation is progressing; but the details are not given. The preceding have all been received since our last number was written. May the word of the Lord still run and be glorified; and blessed be his name that it is still spoken with effect! EDITOR.

Dear Brother Campbell,

For the Millennial Harbinger.

YOU say, (Millennial Harbinger, No. 5. vol. 3. p. 236.) "There is no law in the christian scriptures authorizing any one class of citizens in the christian kingdom to immerse, to the exclusion of any other class of citizens." Now, of this I have my doubts, and the reasons I will give you. Taking, first, your own method of reasoning, as found in the Christian Baptist, vol. 2. p. 277, 278, "Either there is a divinely authorized method of christian worship in christian assemblies, or there is not."-So, likewise, there is a divinely authorized class of administrators of immersion, or there is not. Now, if I un