ture which was ever brought for its support, and that they were far from proving it, according to my understanding. I made some observations on Solomon's words, recorded in Eccl. ix. 10. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest." This passage, I observed, which our limitarian christians so frequently quote to prove that there will not be any alteration after death, does not very well answer their whole purpose. It proves, if it proves any thing, that there will be neither misery nor happiness. But we should remember that Solomon was only speaking about the body in the grave, and not about the immortal spirit. I also made some observations on Christ's words, recorded in St. John viii. 21. "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come." I endeavored to shew the people why Christ thus spake to the Jews, and gave them the reason why they could not follow him, because they were of this world, and he was not of this world. I showed them the reason why the Jews should die in their sins, because they would not believe in Christ. I observed, however, the time was approaching, when the Jews should believe in, and know Christ, and that "all shall know him, from the least to the greatest." I then concluded by exhorting the people to believe in, and love Christ. I had no sooner finished my observations, than a sister Bean and a number of the brethren commenced singing a hymn, the following verse I give as a specimen : Don't you see the poor backslider, Who was once near heaven's door? After singing, some intimated that they had been persecuted. 1 arose and observed that it was not my meaning to wound any one's feelings; but that I was willing to search and to be searched. Some of the brethren expressed a willingness that others should enjoy their opinion as well as they themselves; while others were opposed to any investigation of these things. The meeting was now concluded, and I believe what was said and done will eventually terminate in good. A. A. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSAL ASSO CIATION. The New-Hampshire Universal Association met at Hancock, N. H. on Tuesday evening, June 7, 1825, at the house of Br. John Washburn, where they opened the business of the council, by uniting in solemn and devout prayer, with Br. Elias Smith. ORGANIZED THE COUNCIL. 1st. Chose Br. Elias Smith, Moderator. 2d. Chose Br. Robert Bartlett, Clerk. 3d. Chose Brs. Charles Hudson, S. C. Loveland and Lemuel Willis, a committee to receive requests, if any there be, for letters of fellowship, or ordination, and to report thereon. 4th. Adjourned to 7 o'clock, Wednesday morning. 5th. Met on Wednesday morning; Prayer by Br. S. C. Loveland, 6th. Made arrangements for public services. MORNING SERVICE. Br. L. Willis, the introductory Prayer. Br. Warren Skinner, Sermon, from 2 Tim. ii. 19.—“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity.” Br. Lyman Maynard, concluding prayer. AFTERNOON SERVICE. Br. R. Bartlett, the introductory Prayer. Br. C. Hudson, the Sermon, from 1 Cor. ii. 14.-"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” EVENING SERVICE. Br. W. Skinner, the introductory Prayer. Br. R. Bartlett, the Sermon, from Ps. xc. 14.-"O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days." Br. Š. C. Loveland, concluding Prayer. BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL. 7th. Heard the report of the committee appointed to receive requests for letters of fellowship or ordination, who reported in favor of granting a letter of fellowship to Br. Lyman Maynard, and to confer ordination on Br. Warren Skinner, which report was unanimously accepted. 8th. Adjourned to 8 o'clock, Thursday morning. 9th. Met, Thursday morning, according to adjournment, and opened the business of the council by humbly invoking a blessing from the Deity, upon ourselves and all mankind, with Br. L. Willis. 10th. Chose Brs. W. Skinner, C. Hudson and S. C. Loveland, a committee to draft a constitution for the government of this Association. 11th. Voted, that all the Societies in connexion with this Association, be requested to send one or more delegates to represent them at the next annual session of this Association. 12th. Made arrangements for public exercises on Thursday. MORNING SERVICE. Br. L. Maynard, introductory Prayer. Br. E. Smith, Sermon, from Rev. v. 7.-"And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." Br. L. Willis, concluding Prayer. AFTERNOON SERVICE. Br. C. Hudson, introductory Prayer. Br. S. C. Loveland, Sermon, from 2 Cor. iv. 1, 2.-"Therefore, seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." Br. L. Willis made the ordaining Prayer. Br. E. Smith gave the charge and delivered the scriptures. Br. R. Bartlett gave the right hand of fellowship. Br. E. Smith made the concluding Prayer, and pronounced the benediction. Thus, harmoniously, pleasantly and religiously closed our public religious exercises in this Association, BUSINESS IN COUNCIL. 13th. Chose Br. W. Skinner, Standing Clerk of this Association, and purchased him a book to keep the records in. 14th, Voted, that the proceedings of this Association be published in the Christian Repository, accompanied with a Circular Letter from Br. C. Hudson, and request the editors of our other religious publications to give them an insertion in their columns. 15th. Adjourned this Association to meet by divine permission, at Jaffrey, N. H. on the second Wednesday and Thursday in June, 1826. The places of residence of the ministering brethren who were at this meeting. Br. Elias Smith, Boston, Mass. Br. Samuel C. Loveland, Reading, Vt. Br. Charles Hudson, Westminster, Mass. Br. Warren Skinner, Langdon, N. H. Br. Robert Bartlett, Hartland, Vt. Br. Lemuel Willis, Lebanon, N. H. Br. Lyman Maynard, Barre, Mass. EPISTLE. To their brethren in the faith of the gospel, the members of the New-Hampshire Universal Association, present Christian salutation, humbly praying that a knowledge of God may be realized by all, that enjoyment may be as extensive as creation. DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN, We The infinitely wise Director of all events has kindly favored us with another opportunity of meeting our friends and brethren from various parts of the heritage of our Lord, and has given us abundant reason to bless his holy name. were received by the brethren in the faith, and by the friends of liberal and consistent Christianity in the place of our assembling, with the liveliest expressions of friendship and affection, which were sensibly felt, and feelingly reciprocated by us. The affairs of our council were conducted in the greatest harmony. All things were done in the unity of the spirit. One brother was received as a laborer in the vineyard, and another was set apart by solemn ordination. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in company, where our attention was directed to the character of God, and the foundation laid in Zion; and to the nature of man, and the extent of his faculties; which led us earnestly to implore the satisfying mercy of God, and to rejoice that the Lion of the tribe of Judah was permitted to take the book, and by loosing the seals, to unfold to our view its lumin ous pages, where we beheld the glorious ministry of reconciliation, which was supported by divine mercy, and which directs its laborers to renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, to spurn craftiness, and handling the word of God with deceit a ministry which enjoins upon its watchmen to manifest the truth as it is in Jesus, and so commend themselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. These exercises were rendered impressive by devout and solemn prayers, and delightful by strains of music which cheered and gladdened our hearts. Brethren in the faith of the gospel, while we realize the favors of our Father in heaven, and witness the extension of our cause on every hand, it becomes us to be mindful of that Being from whom cometh every good and perfect gift. It is not sufficient that we embrace the truth in theory; we must adorn our profession by practice, if we would appear Christians to men, or be accepted as such by the Judge of the world. The religion of Jesus Christ is valuable only as it tends to make us happy; that is, as it tends to make us virtuous. A system which does not move us in gratitude to our God, and good will to men, is only à bubble. 'Tis not sufficient for us to believe in God's impartial goodness. We must add to our faith, virtue, or else our profession is an empty sound. Our opposers have long charged our doctrine with a licentious tendency. This sarcasm has often been confuted in theory. It only remains for us to confute it in practice, and our triumph will be complete. Nothing will silence an adversary like a life of godliness and honesty. This is á silent, but solid argument, the strength of which our opposers will be compelled to acknowledge. But if we repel the charge ever so often in theory, while our conduct confesses it true, we are only strengthening the hands of our enemies; we are furnishing them with a weapon which they will wield with assiduity and success. In your social relation, much can be done to aid the cause of the gospel. Do not neglect to form yourselves into societies, and to organize churches, that thereby you may commemorate the dying love of our dear Redeemer in the way of his own appointment. You are earnestly requested in future to represent yourselves in this Association, by one or more of your brethren, whom you may select. In this manner, a social intercourse will be opened between all our societies which will tend to bind them together by the strong cement of intimacy, friendship and mutual interest. The brethren in the ministry will permit me to offer a few words for their consideration. All the moral obligations |