would shed some rays of cheering light upon our future prospects in regard to our brethren-lost, it may be, to all human appearance, but not beyond the helping arm of a Divine Love to save to the uttermost. This, Sir, I believe is a fair subject for evangelical controversy, and well deserving of a searching consideration; and although I have been educated in what is styled the orthodox school, I have no hesitation in confessing that, like many more, I have formed my notions upon the question too much upon the authority of others, without instituting any profound inquiry into its merits. And I fear this is all that "Gael" himself can say in the matter. He finds it easier to follow in the track of his fathers, and to designate his brethren as visionaries and vain-janglers, than to help them out of their errors. True Christianity, it must be allowed, is no exclusive narrow-hearted system. It rejoices in the happiness of the human brotherhood, weeps over their calamities, and would experience an infinite addition to its blessedness, could a well-grounded basis be shown on which to place our hopes for the final extinction of all sin and misery, through every province of God's universe. Let me ask 66 Gael," and such as obstinately cling to an orthodox way of thinking, if they imagine that they manifest the graces of the Christian character now, in sorrowing over the details of human suffering and distress in the present brief span of man's earthly existence, but that hereafter they will be exalted to higher attainments in the divine life, and be more like the angels in heaven, when they will be able to contemplate with stoical composure of mind, the agonies of the lost in the regions of endless darkness and woe? Is it not true, that sympathy for the sufferings of our brethren, is one test of our Christianity in the present state of being? And why should it cease to be so in the future? Without entering into the discussion, I humbly think this inquiry is one involving the essence of Christianity. We know that God is love, and he has displayed his love not to a portion of the human family merely, but to the whole race whose humanity the Redeemer of the world took into union with his Divine nature-thereby becoming our Head and Representative, having taken bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; and, as our elder brother, is able to accomplish the redemption of the entire human family. Has he not love enough to prompt him to do this? And is his power not equal to his love? that power which is given to him in heaven and in earth, and by which he is able to subdue all things to himself? But I must not trespass upon your indulgence; and shall only remark, should any of your correspondents be able to support such a hope for the myriads of our fellow-mortals, by showing its harmony with Scripture testimony, and the internal evidence of truth, I think you would not feel yourself justified in closing your pages against him, because it would be unpalatable to the taste of "Gael," and some others of the same exclusive school. There are doubtless many difficulties 'o be explained, and I should feel grateful, and I think it would also be acceptable to many of your reflecting readers, if some of your correspondents on either side who are competent for the task, would enter into it calmly and with Christian temper, and favor us with the fruits of their deliberate study of this question. The result, I feel assured, would be not only harmless but profitable. I trust you will yet reconsider its importance, and allow renewed opportunities for Keir and Galloway, or any who may be of like mind, to indulge us with a further development of the conclusions to which they may have arrived upon such an interesting topic. With sincere wishes for success to your valuable periodical, I am, dear sir, your's very truly, November 7, 1851. PHILADELPHOS. [We have been favored with the series of Friend Galloway's Tracts and Pamphlets; but, after an examination of their contents, we are obliged to confess, that the ideas put forward, seem to us, in a theological point of view, more or less inexplicable. Had not the writer made himself the standard of right and wrong, of truth and error, instead of the Bible, we should not have objected to a continuance of the discussion. It is one thing to read the Bible for the purpose of proving the truth of any theory that may have an existence in the mind, and another to read it so as to learn and practice all it teaches and commands. Friend Galloway thinks God is speaking in him; and that if what is recorded in the Inspired Word does not comport with what is thus spoken, it is to be disregarded. Our friend thus elevates his own conceptions above Bible testimony, which is to be trodden under foot! Yet the Bible, not imagination or conscience, is the arbiter of truth. "This is the judge that ends the strife, Through all this gloomy vale." A discussion with any other arbitrators than the prophets, Jesus and his apostles, can be of no permanent value. J. W.] ITEMS OF NEWS. SUNDERLAND, NOVEMBER 13, 1851.— Dear Brother: Having, in the kind providence of our Father, arrived at home, after an absence of twelve weeks, during which time I have made a tour among a few of the churches, I sit down to give you some account of the same. On August 21st, I left home on a visit to a relative in Liverpool. Not being able to find out our brethren in that place, and not feeling at liberty to spend a Lord's day without the observance of Christian worship, I went on the 23rd over to Chester, and met with a kind reception by the brethren; I spoke to the church in the afternoon, and delivered an address at night, being requested to visit them again. The next Lord's day, the 31st, I had the opportunity of speaking at Chester in the morning, and at Saughal in the afternoon and night, to most cheering and attentive congregations. I remained at Mollington until Tuesday, Sept. 2, and then returned to Liverpool, where I preached twice that week. Receiving an invitation from Wrexham, I arrived there Sept. 6th, and remained for a fortnight visiting other places in connection, speaking twelve times in that vicinity. On the 19th I visited Oswestry, where the Baptist chapel was obtained for the occasion on the Lord's day. On the 22nd, visited Llanfair, and remained one week, giving six addresses to attentive and increasing congregations. On the 28th I passed on to Welchpool, and delivered two addresses. Among the many places that call for help, this is ble in each other's houses: of course the I one peculiarly so; a small church is struggling on with one active brother, who needs help and countenance. Besides, the Baptists are now scattered among the various sects, and their chapel is for sale; I consider, if some time and labor were spent there, much good might accrue. On Oct. 2nd I went on to Shrewsbury, visiting in connection with this place three country stations, and having good and attentive congregations at each. I delivered fourteen addresses in connection with this locality. I left on the 16th for Ellesmere, where there is a small church, but having no regular room for meeting, they assemhearers were not so numerous as might have been, yet all things considered, we had a fair hearing. On the 21st, I returned again to Wrexham, and spoke the same evening, but suffering from a cold, did not speak again until the 24th, and left on the 28th, having on this occasion delivered six addresses. returned again to Chester, and spoke the same evening, and following evening at Saughal, to most attentive companies. On the 30th I returned to Liverpool, speaking the same evening in a room held by the Town Mission, to an attentive company, making in all four addresses. On Nov. 1, visited Wigan, and spent ten days in connection with this place. Visited and delivered addresses at Leigh, Chowbent, and Halsham Moor; in all nine addresses. After which, on the 11th, made the best of my way home, finding my family all well, thanks to the unfading source of all goodness.-It may be inquired, how many have been immersed in connection with all this labor and travel? It certainly would have been cheering to have had some conversions; but as it is, we have not had one. In this matter we certainly are disappointed, yet not in despair. How much soever we might desire it, we are convinced our churches generally are not in a fit state to receive additions. The great object of receiving converts into the church, is to make them better. This can never be done unless the members of the church are living up to their privileges, are spiritual and heavenly-minded, consecrating themselves, with all they possess, to the Lord, and exhibiting in their daily walk, the power of the truth to corrcet whatever is wrong, either in our spirit, temper, or deportment. Thus perfected ourselves, we shall be the better fitted to correct what is wrong in others, and thus prove a blessing to all with whom we come in contact. Under a deep conviction of these things, I have labored, (time must prove with what success) to bring about a better state of things in the societies I have visited, so that they may present an aspect at once attractive and captivating, exciting to greater diligence and labor in the good cause. But although we have not immersed any during our tour, yet we are not without prospect of a goodly number being gathered in. We ought not to expect fruit as soon as the seed is sown. Perhaps we have been faulty here in former times; we would wish now to act more rationally. Sow the seed, and allow it time to germinate. In other words, the people must have time to examine and compare what we say, with the book; and then being fully convinced what is truth, they will confess, and cleave to their confession till the end. This we can say, the attention of many has been awakened, and I have good hopes that you will hear of the immersion of several in the localities I have visited. Certainly much depends on the continued activity of the brethren. F. HILL. EDINBURGH, NOVEMBER 3.—Yesterday (Lord's day) a young woman, daughter of our beloved Sister Gourlay, was immersed into Jesus, and same day added to the church meeting in Cordwainer's Hall, 48, Potter's-row. That she may be an ornament to the Christian name, is the hope of your's in the faith, J. P. LEIGH, NOVEMBER 18.-Dear Brother: : Every disciple of Christ will rejoice to hear of the spread of truth, and of souls being translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son. I am glad to inform you, that during the last few weeks we have had three added to our church: one, the wife of a brother, and two young men. We have lately been favored with a visit from Brother F. Hill, of Sunderland, who has been laboring as an evangelist about Chester, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, &c. He appears to be well fitted for his station. May his labors be crowned with much Our Baptist friends at Chowbent very kindly lent us their baptistry success. on the occasion of immersing our two young brothers. Brother Hill preached in the school, and I afterwards baptized them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they came away rejoicing in God their Saviour, and giving honor and glory of God. We have been delivering a few tracts, changing them alternately, and as a fruit of that labor, we have had several strangers at our meetings, and are not without hope that it will end in the salvation of souls. WILLIAM TURNER. OBITUARY. JAMES BUCHANAN, ESQ. for many years British Consul in New York, died on Saturday, Nov. 1, 1851, at Elmswood, near Montreal, in the 81st year of his age. Some time ago, when Mr. Buchanan retired from the office he filled for so many years, he removed to Clifton, Niagara Falls, where he had a most delightful residence, and where he received his old friends with great hospitality. At the time of his death, he was on a visit to his daughter. I knew this gentleman well: he was a man of a liberal mind, a warm heart, and an unflinching advocate of primitive Christianity, as he understood it. He was a warm personal friend, and a devoted servant of the Lord. Before bishops, priests, and statesmen, he contended for the Bible as the only Christian creed in form and fact. Intelligent, affable, and faithful, he was a true Christian gentleman, equally ready to do a favor to a prince or a beggar. I have known but few men who have relied more consistently upon the providence of God, than Brother Buchanan. He leaves a large family, and an unusual number of descendants, to mourn their loss. D. S. BURNETT. FAMILY CIRCLE. THE SCRIPTURES are a treasure of divine knowledge which can never be exhausted. The most learned, acute, and diligent student cannot, in the longest life, obtain an entire knowledge of this one volume. The more deeply he works the mine, the richer and more abundant he finds the ore. New light continually beams from this source, to direct his conduct, and to illustrate the works of God and the ways of men. Never rest upon anything you have, unless you see God in it; and then be sure you rest not upon the enjoyment, but upon that God who manifests himself by it for the enjoyment will be quickly gone, but He who is the giver of it will remain. CHRISTIAN LIBERTY is the power belonging to a Christian to avail himself of all the means in his possession, to do and get good: the Scriptures being his guide the rights of others duly regarded-love the moving principle and the doings of Christ his example. -F. A. A world without love would be a world in which every social bond would be loosened and broken, and human passions become the play of so many lawless forces, which would ultimately involve society in eternal enmity and opposition. According to Jewish writers, miracles had ceased for a considerable period before the incarnation of Christ. Was not this in order that the prodigies which he performed might be the more illustrious, as the stars disappear some time before the rising of the sun, and thus add to his splendour? The aggregate amount of Christian duties may be reduced to three things -faith, obedience, and patience; and the vital principle which animates them all is submission. Faith is a submission to the oracles of God - obedience is a submission to the commanding will of God - patience is a submission to the chastisements with which God may see fit to visit us. GOD IN CREATION. "No God! no God!"-the simplest flower And trembles at the sound; The solemn forest lifts its head Th' Almighty to proclaim; High sweeps the deep and vengeful sea, And red Vesuvius opes its mouth, To hurl the falsehood back. The palm-tree with its princely crest- In yon far island glade- And from their burning thrones, the stars That thus a worm of dust should mock CONCLUSION OF THE VOLUME. THIS number terminates our editorial labors for 1851, and in another month, the year itself, with all its associations and responsibilities, will be added to the mighty period of the Past. We indulge a hope that the records of our fourth volume, and the sixteenth which we have issued in support of the principles of Primitive Christianity, will be read with earnest attention, and retained in the memory for many years to come. May they prove a savour of life ending in life, and not of death ending in death! There can be no position of neutrality in the world, much less in the kingdom of Messiah. "He that is not with me," said Jesus, "is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad. He that soweth to the flesh, shall from the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall from the Spirit reap life everlasting." Our course is onward with this Work. But we require a more extensive circulation, and we ought to have it, if not amongst other bodies, at least in the circles of our own brethren. It may be encouraging to know, that we have sixteen subscribers in Australia, one in Port Natal, and one in Paris. It is to Great Britain, however that we look for support in this undertaking; and we hope that such an effort will be made in behalf of the Harbinger, as to add greatly to our list of subscribers. We trust the year 1852 will realize our expectations in this respect. On the 1st of January we shall send to all our present subscribers, unless previously apprised to the contrary, which, in justice to ourselves, ought to be done immediately. |