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any person wishing to become acquainted with our views. It would be out of place here to characterise the lectures. They are before the public in a permanent form, and are contained in one of the cheapest volumes that ever issued from the press. About 1,400 copies have been subscribed for.

It is known to most of you, that, with the exception of Mr. Burnet's Lecture, which had not been written, the series appeared in the columns of the Banner, at a considerable cost to the proprietors of that paper and to the Board; but the extensive circulation of that journal in Great Britain and her Colonies, brought the lectures under the notice of many thousands of persons who would never have seen them in the ordinary form. In reference to the expense, the editor of the Banner has addressed to the Secretary the following letter which awakens a hope that the whole, or a large portion of the money paid by the Board will be returned:

"Bolt-court, May, 1848.

"MY DEAR SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of your cheque towards reporting your lectures, for which I beg to thank you, as it will do something more than pay the heavy cost of stamps, and our Committee have cheerfully fallen in with the arrangement. The step will, I have reason to believe, very materially subserve your purpose. From many quarters I have had communications attesting the pleasure with which they have been read; and I doubt not but their appearance in the Banner will pioneer the way of the volume just published into a much wider circulation. The only thing that in any way mars my satisfaction in the matter is the straitened condition of your resources; but still I am fully convinced that you have done the thing that is right; and it is not wholly impossible that, at the end of the year, we may be able to make you a contribution for your glorious enterprise equal to the sum it has cost you. This, if it be practicable, I shall have great pleasure in earnestly recommending to our Committee.

"Ever yours,

"J. CAMPBELL."

The thanks of the Board have been unanimously and heartily presented to the lecturers, who, at a great expense of time and toil, promptly responded to the invitation of the Board, to discharge the onerous duty of delivering such a course of lectures.

What we now want is harmonious and vigorous co-operation. There is very much that is both practical and practicable that can be accomplished. It is necessary that we should improve existing schools. Funds must be obtained to strengthen and sustain poor schools.

Our Normal-school for females must be extended, and by the 1st of August we hope to open our Normal-school for the training of male teachers. The cause of Voluntary Education, which is steadily advancing, must be advocated and advanced. Visits must be made to our principal counties, cities, and towns, for the promotion of these objects. And ministers, deacons, churches, and school committees will be respectfully appealed to for church and school contributions to the Board. Annual subscriptions will be appealed for, that the Normal-schools may be efficiently sustained, and that men and women may be so trained in them, that when they become school masters and mistresses, the

churches and school committees will be amply repaid for all the assistance rendered to the Board. The statistics of our Sunday schools will also be obtained at an early period, and other matters connected with school-books and school erections will occupy the attention of the Board, and, if encouraged and sustained by the friends of education, there will be accomplished for our denomination, for our country, for liberty, religion, and learning, a work for which we, and those who come after us, will be sincerely and devoutly grateful.

Upon which it was moved by the Rev. T. Scales; seconded by the Rev. J. Woodwark; and carried :

1. That the Report now submitted to this Assembly be adopted and read at the public meeting to be held at the Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen-street, in the evening of this day.

Moved by the Rev. T. P. Bull; seconded by the Rev. J. Jukes; and carried:

2. That this meeting has heard with much satisfaction of the plans of the Board in relation to Normal-schools, and to the delivery and pub. lication of the Crosby Hall Lectures, and strongly recommends the most efficient means to be employed to extend the normal training of male and female teachers for schools, and the circulation of the Lectures; and further recommends that, as soon as the funds of the Board will permit, those schools should receive aid where poverty or High-Church influence render it impracticable, without such aid, that they can be sustained.

The third Resolution, proposing the names of the Officers for the year ensuing, having been moved by the Rev. J. Roberts, seconded by the Rev. Thomas Scales, an amendment was proposed by the Rev. J. Curwen, and seconded by the Rev. Andrew Reed, of Norwich, suggesting a new plan of electing the Board and its Officers. After some consideration, it was moved by the Rev. Dr. Massie, and seconded by the Rev. John Hayden :

That the paper submitted by Mr. Curwen be referred to the Committee of the Board of Education now nominated, for their consideration, without delay; and that they report thereon to the Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union and Educational Board, with a view to decision on the same.

By consent of the mover and seconder of the amendment, this resolution was put and carried as a substantive motion; and, with the like consent, the resolution nominating the Board and its Officers was also put and carried.

Moved by Rev. James Roberts; seconded by Rev. Thomas Scales; and carried:

That the following gentlemen be the Members and Officers of the Board for the year ensuing : Samuel Morley, Esq., Treasurer; Rev. Robert Ainslie, Secretary; William Rutt, Cash Secretary; Revs. T. Aveling, Dr. Campbell, John Curwen, T. James, W. S. Palmer, Dr. Reed, G. Rose, G. Smith, Josiah Viney, A. Wells, J. Kennedy; Messrs. W. D. Alexander, James Carter, Josiah Conder, T. M. Coombs, George Marshall, Henry Rutt, Charles Reed, James Spicer, Hull Terrell, Joshua Wilson, D. W. Wire, B. Hanbury, H. Child, George Simmonds, N. Griffin; with power to add to their number.

The session then closed with prayer, con

ducted by the Rev. T. P. Bull, of Newport Pag

nell.

SECOND ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE EIGHT-
EENTH ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION,
HELD IN THE CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY,
SATURDAY, 13TH OF MAY, 1848.
Rev. Thomas Binney in the chair. The Rev.
E. R. Conder, A.M., of Poole, conducted the
opening prayer.

The Secretary read the proposed rules for regulating the appropriation of the "Deferred Annuities Aid Fund." Moved thereon by the Rev. R. Harris, of Westbury; seconded by the Rev. T. Mann, of Trowbridge, and carried:

That the draft of rules for the "Deferred Annuities Aid Fund" now read, be received for consideration.

The rules were then severally moved and seconded for adoption, upon which discussion was taken, and various amendments were proposed and adopted, some by consent, others upon vote. The following are the rules in the form wherein they were adopted:

General Rules for regulating the "Deferred Annuities Aid Fund."

1. The object of this branch of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS and CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINES Fund is to assist accredited Congregational ministers to effect insurances, in the Government offices only, for deferred annuities, of not less than £50 per annum each, to commence on the completion, by the insured minister, of his sixtieth year.

2. The sources of this Fund shall be whatever sums may remain of the yearly profits of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS and CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINES, after each annual distribution of grants therefrom to aged brethren, it being hereby provided, that in no year shall such grants to aged brethren exceed one-half of that clear annual profit of the Magazines from which the distribution is made. Also, whatever donations, bequests, or other contributions can be obtained in addition thereto. All monies devoted to the purposes of this Fund, from whatever source obtained, shall be invested in the names of trustees, in the Government securities of Great Britain, and the dividends or interest thereon shall alone be employed annually for the objects of the Fund.

3. The ministers qualified to receive the benefits of this Fund shall be accredited Congregational ministers in England and Wales, ordained at least one year prior to the first payment from the Fund on their behalf, whose income, while receiving assistance therefrom, shall not exceed £200 a year from all sources, who shall be annually recommended by the officers of that Association within the bounds of which, or nearest to which they labour, and who shall be engaged in no trade or profession for profiteducation excepted.

4. The whole payment from this Fund in aid of each insurance for a deferred annuity shall be uniformly £150; and such whole sum shall be in every case divided into as many equal annual payments as may be required to complete the insurance, provided every such insurance be effected before the applicant has completed his fiftieth year.

5. The distributors of grants for aged brethren from the profits of the Magazines shall also ad

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shall be an annual election of brethren to the benefits of this Fund, and an annual report thereof, in connection with every Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. If in any year the number of approved candidates for the benefits of this Fund shall be greater than can be then received, seniority in age shall be the rule of prior reception. And those approved candidates who cannot be then received, shall stand first for acceptance at the next election.

6. All insurances assisted by this Fund shall be effected and managed by the London Committee of the board of distributors thereof; and the board of distributors are hereby empowered to make such regulations for conducting the details involved in carrying out the foregoing rules as may be found necessary.

Rev. A. Wells read the following recommendations of the preliminary meeting, held on Monday last, for preparation of business of this Assembly, and for nomination of brethren to serve the Union as Chairman, Officers, and Committee.

1. That brethren at Leicester be requested to receive the Union for its Autumnal Meeting in October next.

2. That a like request be made to brethren at Southampton for the Autumnal Meeting of 1849.

3. That the Rev. James Gawthorn, of Derby, be requested to accept the office of Chairman of the Union for the year 1849-50.

4. That Benjamin Hanbury, Esq., be appointed Treasurer of the Union, and the Revs. W. S. Palmer and Algernon Wells, Secretaries, for the year now commencing.

5. That instead of the Revs. H. Allon, T. Aveling, J. C. Harrison, J. Kennedy, E. Mannering, J. Stoughton, H. Townley, and Josiah Viney; and Messrs. F. Clark, W. Leavers, and C. Shepheard, who go off the Committee of the Union by rotation, the following brethren be requested to act for the ensuing year: Revs. Dr. Alliott, H. B. Bergne, A. Goode, J. Woodwark, and C. F. Vardy; and Messrs. G. Clark, Rice, Hopkins, T. Spalding, and E. Swaine.

Resolved hereon, as moved by the Rev. T. Mann, of Trowbridge; seconded by the Rev. R. Chamberlain, of Swanage :

That these recommendations be approved and adopted.

Moved by the Rev. G. Smith, Poplar; seconded by the Rev. T. W. Davids, Colchester; and adopted:

That the subject of the next letter to the churches be, "The Signs of the Times, in their aspect on the Principles, Duties, and Prospects of the Congregational Churches;" and that the Rev. Dr. R. Halley, of Manchester, be respectfully requested to prepare a draft thereof for presentation to the Annual Assembly of 1849.

The Secretary read a letter addressed to the Assembly by the "Free Synod of Cincinnati," as follows:

"The Free Synod of Cincinnati to the Congrega

tional Union of England and Wales. "FATHERS AND BRETHREN,-Although separated from you by the broad ocean, we recognise you as the children of our common Lord, and love you as fellow-labourers in the glorious cause of Him, whom the Father sent to be the Saviour of the world.'

"We, therefore, introduce ourselves to you as a body representing the 'Free Presbyterian Church of America,' which consists at present of but one Synod, composed of three Presbyteries.

"We separated from the two branches of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, America. We still retain the same constitution with them, but with the following addition to the form of government, to wit:

"Whereas in this country the sin of slaveholding prevails to an alarming extent, perniciously influencing all the actions of the church, either immediately or remotely connected with human rights, it is, therefore, deemed necessary, in adopting a form of government, to make a distinct declaration on that subject.

"DECLARATION.

"1st. God has made of one blood all nations of men; consequently, all human beings endowed with rationality, have an equal right to freedom.

"2nd. The holding of human beings as property, is destructive of all the ends for which man was created and endowed with rational powers; and, consequently, one of the greatest evils that can be inflicted upon human nature, highly immoral, and entirely inconsistent with Christian character and profession.

"3rd. No person holding slaves, or advocating the rightfulness of slave-holding, can be a member of this body.

"4th. That no Church, Presbytery, or Synod, tolerating slave-holders, or the advocates of slave-holding, in its communion, can be a constituent part of this body.

"This constitutes all the difference between us and the bodies from which we separated. We withdrew from those bodies, because that against our efforts, petitions, and remonstrances, they persevered in admitting slave-holders to the communion and offices of the church, and suffered their ministers to teach that slave-holding is a Bible institution, incorporated with all the laws and institutions of the Christian system.

"For such teaching, the Synod of Cincinnati, upon legitimate reference from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, suspended the Rev. Mr. Gorham from the exercise of the functions of the sacred ministry; but the Assembly to which the Synod belonged, did, in palpable violation of the constitutional bond, declare the action of the Synod unconstitutional, and therefore null and void, and ordered the Synod to review and correct its proceedings.

"The Annual Assembly has declared, that to make slave-holding a bar to communion, is in effect to dissolve the body. Such are the positions assumed by those two bodies, after a long succession of efforts has been made to reform them. Such positions we deem unscriptural, highly dangerous both to civil and religious society, and wholly inconsistent with Christian character and profession. truly be said of churches assuming such attitudes, that they are the bulwarks of slavery. Such sanctions give it greater influence over the community than can be given to it by civil legislation.

It may

"From such bodies, duty to God, to ourselves, to the church, and to the degraded millions sighing in their prison-house of bondage, re

quired us to withdraw, so soon as we ceased to hope for reformation. To adhere to such churches, and give them our influence and support, would be to strengthen the iron bands of oppression, already the strongest on earth-to extinguish every ray of light, life, and hope, that might fall upon the hapless millions by slavery doomed to darkness, death, and despair, and to swell the fountains of corruption now deluging and wasting the fairest portions of the world. While we remained with those powerful bodies, the tide of their influence continually rolled upon us with wasting tendency, and seemed likely to overwhelm us in ruin. We have, with painful emotions, seen numbers that once stood firmly with us in the front rank, falling back, leaving the contest, and yielding up the field as hopeless. The preservation of our cause demanded our withdrawal, and separate organization in a Presbyterian denomination, sound in the faith, and free from the contaminating and controlling influence of proslavery churches.

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By making the sacrifices of a painful separation from bodies with which we had been long connected, and to which we had been warmly attached, and by the addition made to our form of government, by which all slave-holders, and the advocates of slave-holding, are excluded from membership, we have borne our testimony to the churches, to the nation, and to the world, against the sin of holding human beings as property.

"At present we are but few in number, but still we rejoice in our liberation from pro-slavery communions, and we are encouraged to hope for worthy accessions, and that we shall have the favour of God; and if God be for us, who can be against us? By his assistance we hope to be able to arrest the car of despotism that is rapidly rolling over the fairest portions of our country, depressing our holy religion, crushing our free institutions, and destroying our brightest prospects. It is our intention not only to oppose slavery and all its destructive influences, but to oppose all that opposes the kingdom of Christ. We aim to promote pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father; which consists not only in visiting the fatherless and the widows, but also in keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.

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Hoping that you, fathers and brethren, will sympathise with us, we propose to you a friendly correspondence, and we solicit the aid of your influence and your prayers. And we pray that the richest blessings of Heaven may rest upon you and us, until we shall meet around the throne of God, having our robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.

"Yours, for Christ and his cause,

"ARTHUR B. BRADFORD, Mod. "J. R. GIBSON, Stated Clerk. U.S.A., Ripley, Ohio, Nov. 4, 1847."

Upon which it was moved by the Rev. Dr. Massie; seconded by the Rev. J. C. Gallaway; and adopted:

That it be left in charge with the Committee of the Union to send a fraternal reply, in the name of this meeting, to the letter from the "Free Synod of Cincinnati," now read, which the Assembly has received with deep interest and sympathy, as expressing a firm protest against the sin of slaveholding.

Moved by the Rev. R. Chamberlain, of Swanage; seconded by Rev. J. Kennedy, of Stepney; and adopted:

That, at its rising, this Assembly do stand adjourned for an Autumnal Meeting in October next, at Leicester; or failing the proposal with the brethren in that town, at such other place as the Committee may deem suitable, and find prepared, to receive the Union for that occasion.

Resolved on the motion of the Rev. G. Smith; seconded by the Rev. R. Ainslie :

That the Rev. John Kelly, of Liverpool, be requested to join the Rev. T. James, Secretary of the Irish Evangelical Society, as a deputation from this Union, to attend the next Annual Meetings of the Irish Congregational Union, in Dublin.

Moved by the Rev. Algernon Wells; seconded by the Rev. Dr. Ferguson; and unanimously adopted:

That this Assembly, with assurances of the highest personal respect and regard, offers to its Chairman, the Rev. Thomas Binney, its warmest acknowledgments for the eminent ability and courtesy with which he has presided over all the proceedings of its various sessions.

The Chairman having responded to this vote, closed the proceedings of the Assembly with prayer.

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

THE season having arrived for holding out-door services, the brethren are availing themselves of the opportunities that occur for addressing the multitudes that can easily be gathered on such occasions. The subjoined account has just been received from the Rev. James Bain, of Straid. The scene of Mr. Bain's labours is a mountainous district in the county of Antrim, where, by the blessing of God on his efforts, he has succeeded in gathering a considerable congregation, and a church of nearly seventy members. He has also a flourishing Sunday-school, and an effective Bible-class. The famine of last year pressed sorely on the people throughout the entire district; but God has over-ruled the calamity for good. The bounty of English Christians, in feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, has in this, as well as other parts of the country, produced the most salutary effect. It has led many to reflection, which it is hoped, in numerous instances, has issued in saving conversion. The following extracts from Mr. Bain's letter will be read, the Committee believe, with great interest by all the friends of the Society :

"On the afternoon of the last Sabbath in May, I proceeded, according to appointment, to meet Mr. Dougan, of Carrickfergus, in order to hold our open-air service on the Cairn-hill. The day was cloudy but exceedingly warm, except at the top of the mountain, where the atmosphere was delightfully refreshing. I found my brother at the foot of the hill waiting for me. As we ascended, the prospect became increasingly interesting, the view extending itself all around as we drew near to the summit. On the top the scene was truly beautiful; the mind felt the power of nature's grandest picture. I have often stood on that eminence and gazed with intense feeling on the surrounding scenery; but never did the pencil of the divine Artist appear so exquisite in its delineations as on that occasion. I felt my whole soul rise in holy and

devout adoration to Him who has laid the foundations of the everlasting hills. Such a scene was well fitted to prepare the mind for preaching the glorious gospel of Christ to perishing sinners.

"Standing thus in silent admiration, there were other objects which attracted our attention yet more powerfully, and awakened a deeper and more impressive interest than even nature's beauties, with all their fascinating power; it was the groups of the people, some crossing the country in the distance, others already ascending the hill, and all anxious to reach the spot we had selected for proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation. The scene was truly cheering and delightful. The first person that caught my attention on the top, leaning against the circular wall of the Druid's temple, was old He had been four hours in getting up; and gladness lighted up his weather-beaten countenance as he met us, and saluted us with his emphatic Welcome!' saying, I come for old time's sake!' Walking round the wall towards the door-way, and passing group after group, giving and receiving many salutations, we entered the ruins and opened the service by singing a hymn which I had selected for the occasion, the effect of which seemed to solennise

every heart. After singing, prayer, and reading the Scriptures, Mr. Dougan preached a most impressive sermon; and never did a people sit with more attention, or listen with deeper interest to the proclamation of the blessed gospel. There were 600 persons present. I gave away 450 tracts, and many more could have been distributed if I had had them. Though our meeting continued for an hour and a half, and the people were seated on the turf, yet all seemed to feel it good to be there, and many anxiously inquired when we should hold another meeting. Such was the nature of the first of a series of open-air services, which I hope to be enabled to hold during the summer. May they be followed by the conversion of many souls!"

The Committee cherish the hope that services like these, which are frequently held by the agents in different parts of the country, will be attended by the blessing of God; and it is their prayer that, in the words of their friend, "they may be followed by the conversion of many Bouls."

Mr. Bain's labours, in immediate connection with his church, are of a most encouraging character: "For indications of the growing influence of the gospel," he remarks," are not witnessed at my out-stations alone. The Spirit of the Lord is being poured out on the church and congregation. At one church-meeting, held on the 1st of June, nine persons were admitted to our fellowship. In some of these cases the work of the Lord, in opening the hearts,' was of the most cheering kind; indeed, I might refer to all. But the son and daughter of

possess peculiar interest. They were the children of a father now in heaven, who was long a member of the church, and whose last prayer was for the conversion of his children. They have been constant attendants at my Bibleclass for years, and now they have given themselves to the Lord. Their parent has been dead three years, yet now has God answered his prayer. How true it is that the prayers of the righteous become the inheritance of their children.

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Theology.

PEACE OF CONSCIENCE.

PEACE of conscience is a blessing which flows from the gospel, and from the gospel alone. Conscience knows Jesus, and the gospel of Jesus; these and none else will it obey. The truth of this point will appear, if we consider what is the argument that pacifies and satisfies conscience. To know this we must inquire, what is the cause of all those terrors and agonies with which the consciences of men are at any time assailed? Now, this is sin. Could this little word, but great plague, be blotted out of men's minds and hearts, the storm would be soon hushed, and the soul become a pacific sea, quiet and smooth, without the least wave of fear to wrinkle its face. This is the Jonas that raiseth the storm; the Achan that troubles the soul. The envenomed head of sin's arrow, which lies burning in the conscience, is guilt! This, by its continual smart, keeps the poor sinner from peace; yea, sometimes fills him with insufferable torment. A fearful expectation of judgment to come, and of the punishment due to his sin, which is no less than the infinite wrath of the living God, must needs plunge the poor creature into a dismal agony. He, therefore, that would use an argument to pacify and comfort a distressed conscience, that lies upon the burning coals of God's wrath, must quench these coals, and bring to the sinner the certain news of this joyful message, that his sins are all pardoned, and that God, whose wrath doth so affright him, is undoubtedly-yea, everlastingly-reconciled. This, and no other argument, will stop the mouth of conscience, and bring the creature to true peace with his own thoughts.

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Son, be of good cheer," said Christ to the man sick of the palsy, "thy sins be forgiven thee." Not be of good cheer, thy health is given thee, (though that he had also ;) but " thy sins are forgiven thee." If a friend should come to a malefactor on his way to the gallows, put a sweet posy into his hands, and bid him be of good cheer, smell on that; alas! this would bring little joy with it to the poor man's heart, who sees the place of execution before him. But if one comes from the prince with a pardon, and puts it into his hand, exhorting him to be of good cheer; this, and this only, will reach the poor man's heart, and overrun it with a sudden ravishment of joy. Truly, anything short of pardoning mercy is as inconsiderable to a troubled conscience as that posy to the dying prisoner. Conscience demands as much to satisfy it, as God himself doth to satisfy him for the wrong the creature hath done him. Nothing can take off conscience from accusing, but that which takes off God from threatening. Well, we have only one step further to go, and we shall bring this demonstration to a head. From what quarter comes the good news, that God is reconciled to a poor soul, and that his sins are pardoned? Surely from the gospel of Christ, and from no other source besides. Here alone is to be found the covenant of peace betwixt God and sinners; here the sacrifice by which this pardon is purchased; here the means discovered by which sinners may have the benefit of this purchase; and, therefore, here alone can the accusing conscience find peace. Had the stung Israelites looked on any other object but the brazen serpent, they had never been healed; neither will the stung conscience find ease by looking upon any besides Christ in the gospel of peace.

There was abundance of sacrifices offered up in the Jewish church; but, from first to last, they were not able to quiet one conscience, or purge away one sin. But in the gospel joyful news is brought to the sinner's ears of a fountain of blood opened, which for its preciousness is as far above the

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