I was told in reply that God would have been just to have sent the whole world to hell if Christ had never come, and if he pleased to save any, the rest had no right to complain. To this I objected that man, by the fall, did not incur eternal death, and besides it was for unbelief men were now condemned; and that God never placed man under a constitution which he could not obey, and then promise to punish him for not obeying it. In conclusion I told him if the church would not make these opinions a term of communion, I had no objection to their holding them as matters of opinion, and would not ask them to adopt mine before I would join them. He replied we did not believe the same gospel at all, nor worship the same God, or believe in the same Saviour, and consequently could not have any fellowship. I said, there was no fact recorded in the New Testament that I did not believe most firmly; that I believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, and that he put away sin by a sacrifice of himself; that God had signified his pleasure with this sacrifice by raising him from the dead; and that those who would believe in and obey him would be raised at the last day and clothed with a body like to his own glorious body, and be for ever with him, He said it was not in our believing the same facts-we should be agreed, but in our views of these facts; and, according to me, when Jesus expired upon the cross it was a matter of doubt whether any human being would ever be benefited by it, as it depended wholly on human contingency whether any believed it or not; but that, according to his views, it was as fixed and certain as the throne of God. I was accordingly rejected for not believing that God would send men and women to hell for not believing a proclamation, to believe which they neither had, nor would be given any power.

Not knowing where any other church met, went to observe the order of this church on that day. If a man agreed not with them in every thing, faith, practice, and opinion, love, salutation by a kiss, as a church ordinance, he must be treated as a heathen or a publican!

In the evening I went to see another of these churches. On entering, all the people, both members and spectators, were sitting promiscuously; and after singing, prayer, and reading, one of them took out a text, from which, after dissecting it, he spoke for about threefourths of an hour, on many occasions going into the opposite extreme of that I had been engaged in hearing in the morning.

He was the only speaker, as the Bishop allows no one to speak but himself, except by his special license. In attending to the breaking of the loaf, the members rise from amongst the spectators and take the front seats; and if any spectators happen to be seated there, they either retire to the back seats, or have the symbols passed by them. Into this church I could not enter unless no better appeared, as no liberty was given to speak, these abuses could not be very easily corrected. I talked to one of the most influential members during the week, and found him dissatisfied with those things to which I objected, but knew of no way of getting them to rights.

The next Lord's day I visited another, and was pleased with their order; the brethren enjoying all their privileges. Calvinism was, however, maintained pretty strongly by most of them. It was not, indeed, made so great a barrier as in the first church I visited. I determined to join this one, and try to get the others to adjust their differences and walk together. One of the other two not described, agreed in every matter with the first, except, that one party holds they may dress as they please, and the other that little or no difference should be between the rich and poor in this respect. This was the cause, or the principal and ostensible cause of their separation. I cannot tell the cause which keeps the other and the second named apart, except not liking to be under the dominion of the Bishop, who assumes to lord it over the rest of his brethren.

A question arose some time ago amongst them about the Holy Spirit, which caused a great deal of bad feeling and angry debatings. Two of the present bodies hold that the Spirit of God is God himself, and that when persons were said to receive the Spirit in the first age, it was the power of God conferred upon them-not his Spirit dwelling within them, but his power. Two others hold that the Spirit was the agent in producing all the miraculous displays of power, as well as giving the prophecies, and that men now need no working of the Spirit upon their hearts to prepare them to believe the written word. The other holds that the Holy Spirit, as well as in giving confirmation to the testimony and enabling the Prophets to foretell future events, works upon the hearts of some unbelievers when hearing the word, so as to enable them to believe the word which they are hearing, while this working is withheld from those who do not believe.

In consequence of this, these different parties are wont to accuse the others of denying the Holy Spirit, of denying the operations of the Spirit in the salvation of men, of believing in mystic influences, &c. &c.

On the 22d of July I joined the third, in the order I have described them, not because I thought them less blameworthy for the divisions, (for it would be difficult to draw the line between the two,) but because I thought their order the nearest to the New Testament. The Bishop to whom I applied, said it was unusual to receive members before a previous examinatian before the church in a private meeting; however, after consulting with one or two near him, it was agreed I should be proposed to the church, which was done, and I was received unanimously. That night week, one of the Bishops being ill and not able to attend, and the other complaining a little, I was requested to attend the meeting in his stead; but declined, as I said I wished rather to hear than to be heard. During the week, ending Saturday, the 18th August, I determined removing to the West, and felt myself bound in duty to lay before them my views upon sectarianism, and the way christians could and should be united, before I would leave them. I had tried in private with a few, to see if any way could be devised for those five churches, or even two of them, to be brought together; but found all averse to such a union. It appear

ed to me the more advisable way to make an address to the church on Sunday, the 19th of August, on the subject; laying before them the influence facts have upon men, contrasted with opinions-the truth that all revealed religion was based upon facts-the evils of sectarianism-the things to be believed and obeyed before entering the church-how the gospel was propagated in the first age-what means God had left in the world for its continuance-the bond of christian union-and for what persons should be excluded the church, &c. Accordingly I stood up at the proper time, and commenced; but it is a law laid down that the meeting must begin at half past 10 o'clock and break up at half past 12, so that their dinners may not cool or be too much cooked. I had to be expeditious: but before I was ten minutes on my feet, it was intimated to me to sit down as the time had expired. I of course did so, intending to prosecute it next Lord's day. I spoke of the impropriety of hurrying in this way to the Bishops; but they said, "Things should be done decently and in order; and were people to come out and be detained too long, they would get discouraged." The course I nad marked out for myself would have at least occupied one hour and a half. After the evening meeting, was asked by one of the members to take tea with her. I consented, and one of the Bishops came along also for the purpose of speaking to me about certain views he heard I entertained, none of which he ever heard from myself, (as this was the first day I had spoken in the church, and no allusion was made to them in that address.) But certain persons, desirous of promoting strife, had given false representations of my sentiments to him. In our way to the house he said I was a "Campbellite." I told him that was a term of reproach-that I acknowledged no teacher or head but Jesus. After entering the house I was attacked upon Calvinism, Baptism, &c. and instead of allowing me to state my own views, all their arguments were levelled against the views attributed to me. I complained of this as unfair, and with difficulty now and then got edging in a word. For a long time I sat silent, for I could do nothing else; and when they had spent themselves I was then called on to state what I believed. I told them I should have been called on to do so in the first instance, and it would have saved them the trouble of fighting with a phantom of their own make. As I proceeded to state my views, I was interrupted every minute, which I complained of; and as I found a very short time would be allowed me, I to'd them in so many words, "that I was no advocate for the incredibility of God's testimonythat I believed it wanted no further confirmation, and that the Spirit had done all he ever would do for the conversion of any mortal; but that he had promised to do something for those who, upon what he had done, would believe on Jesus and obey him-that I took the words of Peter on Pentecost, and of Ananias to Paul, as they were written that I believed that immersion was the institution God had appointed for communicating the assurance of pardon of sin to all believers." The Bishop seemed a good deal vexed that I held such sentiments, and shortly after left the house. The two female members and ĺ

reasoned the matter over coolly for about two hours after his departure, in which I proved that their views ended in the same thing on the subject of immersion, and that in the other in man's irresponsibility. Left them at 10 o'clock P. M. completely in a dilemma, but unconvinced.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

Progress of Reform.

THE following letters, from brethren Rains and Hayden, communicate information of a very interesting and refreshing character. We always feel more solicitous to learn the progress of the churches, their health in the faith, the perseverance of the saints in their attachment and loyalty to the glorious Chief to whom they have vowed the adoration of their hearts, than for new conversions. To induce persons to enter the kingdom of Messiah only that they may, after a very brief trial, be judged unworthy of the confidence and fellowship of christians, is a very poor service to the cause of truth and good manners. Every thing conducive to the prosperity of the kingdom and the progress of the gospel, is dependent on the behaviour of those who have assumed the high and holy profession. One sinner destroys much good. One backslider exerts a baneful influence on society, and frequently nullifies the exertions of two new converts. The churches who keep the commandments of Jesus, are always growing in numbers as well as in faith, love, and holiness. When the disciples walk in the truth, they are multiplied, as well as edified and comforted. ED. M. H.

BROTHER CAMPBELL,

Dear Sir-THE gospel of Jesus still continues to triumph. Not only through the "Harbinger," the "Evangelist," and the "Messenger," am I informed of its advancement; but by personal observation. May the good Lord give energy to all his servants, and, through them, success to the word of his grace!

I have recently returned from a tour of four weeks through several counties in the state of Ohio; within which time we received the good confession from forty-three persons, and immersed forty-one. Since last winter, about forty persons have been added to the congregation at Red Oak, Brown county, Ohio; and, as you have faithfully reported in the August number of the Harbinger, a large number has been added to many congregations in Kentucky. Without doubt, there will be many more conversions this year, than were last year; and if I do not very much mistake, this work of gospel conversion will go on, in one increasing ratio, until the kingdom of the clergy will be shaken from its foundations, and the whole earth filled with the glory of the Lord. The arguments used by sectarians, (the chief of which is misrepresentation,) are gradually, with a great number of persons, losing their charms; while the advocates for the primitive gospel are daily increasing in argumentative strength! On these principles, can the result of the present struggle be doubtful? No! Great is the truth, and mighty above all things, and will prevail!

I was much pleased, while on my last tour through Ohio, with the appear. ance of the disciples. I do not profess to be intimately acquainted with their private deportment; but, if their appearance in their meetings has not greatly.

deceived me, they possess much of that religion, which, in the sight of the Father of lights, is "pure and undefiled." Never have I witnessed meetings such as were some of those which I attended in my last tour! There was no distraction, no screaming, no falling, no enthusiasm; but much mild, meek, melting joy! Torrents of tears were shed! O how eloquent were these tears, when the eyes of the disciples were turned towards the unregenerate, and it was known that it was their extreme solicitude for the salvation of sinners, that had thus broken up the fountains of their sympathies. To the power of truth, and the ardent desire of the disciples for the conversion of their neighbors and neighbors' children, do I attribute the success with which I met!

I said that there was no distraction in our congregations. One lady did clap her hands once or twice, and utter the word "glory" with some emphasis, when her mother, a Presbyterian lady, about eighty years of age, came forward to confess the Lord. And would not an angel have done the same? Pray, do not think me enthusiastic! In shunning the icebergs of Calvinism, I hope to be prevented from running into the wild fire of Antinomianism! At several meetings which I attended, I heard several warm expressions of joy, from some disciples, when sinners came to us, and acknowledged Jesus; but nothing that can be called a violation of the rule, which says, “Let all things be done decently and in order."

Reformation is, I think, a progressive work;-I mean, in the hearts and conduct of the disciples. It is effected by a process similar to that of the silently ferventing leaven,-in a proper time it will leaven the whole mass! No man whose knowledge of the gospel is superficial, can be so deeply and so permanently affected by it, as one who has the word of Jesus dwelling richly in him. Upon this principle, then, do I account for the manifest change for the better in the disciples whom I have mentioned. The gospel has been preached among them with much simplicity for several years; during which, the faithful have been drinking the unadulterated milk of the word, and have consequently grown thereby, and are now exhibiting the blessedness which this glorious gospel has imparted to their souls. May they, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, abound more and more in love and all good works.

I was exceedingly well pleased that there have been, as yet, but few apostacies. Although there are some hundreds of disciples in Clinton and Green counties, and have been many for several years, the greater part of whom were immersed specifically for remission, yet I have heard of not more than one or two who can be said to have apostatized! By some means the disciples of the ancient gospel, I think, view with greater abhorrence apostacy, than do the generality of the votarists of modern gospels; yes, and this is as it ought to be: for it does appear to me to be a crime the most appalling, to profess discipleship, by putting on the Lord, and afterwards, willingly and wilfully going into sin, to deny him!! May every disciple tremble whenever he finds himself inclining to act counter to his holy profession.

Permit me, brother, to conclude this letter by wishing you grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father, and from Jesus our Redeemer!

Yours,

Dear brother Campbell,

OUR general meeting, advertised some time since in the Harbinger, has taken place, and closed yesterday, having continued four days. Without exaggeration, we certainly had as good, or profitable and agreeable a meeting as I ever witnessed. In our Regular Baptist Association we were wont to think and report that we had a good interview and much union, if we had no angry debates, &c. but such love, such union, (not of opinion, but of faith and christian feeling, zeal, and intelligence,) I never saw, but among the disciples of the ancient mould-certainly as much as ever at the late meeting.