the Rev. Thomas Binney; seconded by the Rev. Henry Madgin: That this assembly presents its cordial thanks to the Congregational Board of Education, and especially to the treasurer and secretary, for their effective exertions, and that as the object for which the board was constituted is worthy of the most earnest co-operation and support, this assembly entreats the churches in those counties which have not yet organized an agency for educational purposes, to use the utmost diligence in making prompt arrangements for carrying that object into full effect. The assembly then resolved itself into free conference on the state of religion among the churches and pastors, which was opened by prayer offered up by the Chairman. This conference was continued with much advantage to the close of the session. Many brethren bore part in it, and particularly many deacons and other members of churches not in the ministry. One most important subject to which special attention was given, and on which the lay speeches most forcibly dwelt, related to the inadequate support of the pastors of the churchesthe want of right views and convictions on this duty in very many instances-the injustice of sending large contributions to societies by churches where pastors are left to struggle with grievous difficulties-the miserable and mischievous effect of this both in depressing and harrassing devoted ministers in their work, and in preventing many suitable and highly respectable young men from entering the sacred callingand the urgent need of immediate reform of this great evil. When the conference drew to a close, it was moved by the Rev. A. Wells; seconded by the Rev. J. Alexander, and adopted with the utmost cordiality: That this assembly cannot too warmly express its grateful sense of the very efficient services rendered by its honoured Chairman, the Rev. Dr. Vaughan, in presiding so ably and kindly over all its proceedings, and now offers to that beloved brother assurances of the highest fraternal regard, and of most sincere wishes for the fullest success of all his labours as a tutor, a preacher, and a writer. The Rev. Dr. Vaughan having responded, the session was closed with prayer, conducted by the Rev. Dr. G. Payne, of the Western College, Plymouth. At table the following resolution, proposed by the Rev. Thomas Mann, of Trowbridge; seconded by Joshua Wilson, Esq., of London, was adopted with the warmest feeling, and responded to most affectionately by the Rev. Messrs. Pyer and Jones: That the reception of the friends and members of this Union by the churches of these towns and their pastors, to this its Eighth Autumnal Assembly, has not been exceeded in hospitality and fraternal kindness on any former similar occasion; and brethren present from other parts offer to their generous hosts assurances of most grateful esteem, and in particular to the Rev. Messrs. Pyer and Jones, who, as secretaries of the committee of arrangements, have rendered most indefatigable and efficient services. Also, on the motion of the Rev. Dr. Massie, seconded by the Rev. Thomas Binney, the company gave expression to warm thanks for the assiduous and successful efforts of the ladies, in the various families receiving guests on this occasion, to promote in every way their comforts, and to spread twice so bountifully this table for the public entertainment of the assembled brethren. THURSDAY EVENING, October 15th.-Public meeting to explain the constitution and promote the objects of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, in Mount-street Chapel, Devonport. Thomas Blackburn, Esq, of Liverpool, occupied the chair; and after an introductory prayer, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Slater, delivered a luminous and impressive opening address. The Rev. A. Wells next read a brief paper expounding the constitution and objects of the Union. The following resolutions were then successively adopted with cordial feeling and unanimity : First. Moved by the Rev. Dr. Campbell, of London; and seconded by the Rev. H. Bevis, of Ramsgate : That this meeting, strongly attached to what it deems the scriptural theology and constitution of the Independent churches of this country, most earnestly desires their growing prosperity and efficiency, and deems the present a period to them of equal importance and difficulty, requiring for their increased purity and strength the best efforts and prayers of all their pastors and members. Second. Moved by the Rev. J. D. Smith, from Ireland; and seconded by the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, of Hanley : That the Congregational Union of England and Wales commends itself to the approving judgment of this meeting as a voluntary and fraternal association of Independent churches, entirely in harmony with their principles, and well adapted to secure for them extensive cooperation and fellowship, with all their advantages of strength, delight, and brotherly love. Third. Moved by Mr. Gibson, a deacon of Norley-street church, Plymouth; and seconded by Mr. Clarke, a deacon of Mount-street church, Devonport : That this meeting has hailed the assembling in these towns of the Eighth Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union with the highest satisfaction, and having witnessed the various proceedings on this important occasion with great approval and pleasure, would now conclude them with augmented zeal and brotherly love, and with earnest prayer for a blessing on all that has been transacted and enjoyed. Fourth. Moved by the Rev. Algernon Wells; seconded by Samuel Morley, Esq., of London : That this meeting most highly appreciates the services rendered to the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and to its British Missions, by the Chairman of this meeting, and of that held yesterday evening, Thomas Blackburn, Esq., of Liverpool, in presiding so ably and courteously over their proceedings; and perceives in these visits of able and influential brethren from distant parts one of the many great advantages and pleasures connected with the Autumnal Meetings of the Union. Mr. Blackburn responded to this resolution; "Blest be the dear uniting love" was sung; the Rev. B. Kent, of Barnstaple, offered prayer; and thus closed, with every cause for satisfaction and gratitude, the Eighth Autumnal Meeting of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS, AND CHURCH MEMBER'S MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1846. Theology and Biblical Illustration. JUSTIFICATION: THE APOSTOLIC PLAN, AND THAT OF ROME. THERE are in the Bible many very important questions proposed, but at the head of them all we must place that of Bildad, in Job xxv. 4, "How then can man be justified with God?" All men who believe in the existence of a holy and righteous God, and who regard sin as entirely abhorrent to his pure nature, will cheerfully admit that this question is, above all others, intensely interesting to man, viewed in his present humiliating condition, as guilty and condemned. Indeed, the wisdom of all created beings had been utterly unable to give a satisfactory reply to it; and, so far as the purity of the Divine government and the salvation of man were concerned, it would have remained for ever unanswered, if the gracious God of our salvation had not come forth to solve the tremendous difficulty, by furnishing his own reply. When Martin Luther assailed the huge corruptions of Popery, and held up to the gaze of Europe the stupid mummeries of Rome, the main quarrel which the great Reformer had with that baneful code of men's inventions, was, that gave the most barefaced contradiction to God's truth on this subject, and made dead men's bones and other trumpery to have no little share in the eternal salvation of men. What a blaze of gospel light fell on the mind of that dauntless man, when, by studying the Bible, he discovered that the righteousness of Jehovah Jesus, in his mediatorial character, can alone solve, which it most gloriously does, the all-important question of Bildad. Rome, in her towering blasphemy, has pronounced all men "accursed," who assert that the salvation of a poor hell-deserving sinner is not helped forward by the merit of good works. The "Mother of Abominations" forgot to prove, what we entirely deny, that a poor sinful man, and there is no other sort of men, can by possibility have any righteousness of his own. Were we to admit it 546 JUSTIFICATION: THE APOSTOLIC PLAN, AND THAT OF ROME. that he can be saved by his own merit, it would still remain to be proved that he had any to be saved by. The righteousness by which a sinner can be justified must be equal to the demands of God's most perfect law. Such is the truth of the Bible, which Popery anathematizes; and here is a specimen of her own soul-destroying teaching: "Sacred to the memory of the benevolent Edward Mallay, merchant, the friend of humanity, the father of the poor. He employed the wealth of this world, only to secure the riches of the next, and leaving a balance of merit on the book of life, he made heaven debtor to mercy. He died," &c.* This perfectly harmonizes with Popery, for it is the theology of Rome! Such is the answer which Peter's assumed successors give to Bildad's question, while the blessed apostle himself would have said, "We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved," Acts xv. 11. "Through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ," 2 Pet. i. 1. Fellow sinner, read the above epitaph, and tell us what honourable mention is made in it of Jesus the Redeemer,—of the mercy of God in Christ, of the blood of sprinkling, or of the Holy Spirit's new creation in the soul, &c. No, no, Popery and Hindooism are here perfectly agreed. Both these systems, because they patronize the religion of human nature, self-saving, can take millions of souls to heaven without mentioning the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. The Divine revelation of mercy puts sinful human nature where it ought to be, in the dust; but Rome, in answering Bildad's question, tramples Christ and his salvation under foot, and instead of pointing the poor sinner to "Heaven's own easy, unencumbered plan," tells him of her own clumsy and countless contrivances, all of which give honour to the creature, and rob God of the glory due unto his name. How inestimable are our privileges in this blessed age of knowledge and liberty, when religious information is so widely diffused! Let us all, from gratitude to God, and out of love to man, labour to spread it more and more. The obligation is great, the duty is imperative, and the results will be blessed. The continued articles in your PENNY MAGAZINE, Mr. Editor, from the pen of the Rev. T. Timpson, are invaluable to our juvenile hearers and members. How strikingly do those articles prove that the light of Divine truth is not adapted for Popery, that the "Mother of Abominations" is a kind of night! O that all Christians were awake to their responsibility, and that they felt more powerfully God's holy claims on their best efforts to do his will, and extend his work! "JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" was the watchword of the noble Reformers; and with that Divine weapon they prostrated the fallacies of Rome, and shed glorious light on the face of Europe. What are those blessed advantages of civil and religious liberty, in the possession of which we now rejoice, but the fruits of those seeds of truth which Martin Luther and his co-workers cast into men's minds? Let us not forget our fearful responsibilities for these advantages, but labour to perpetuate them to those who shall come after us. "Great is truth, and it must prevail;" but it is not of truth locked up in a cloister, or buried in the minds of a few, but when sown broadcast, and with unsparing hand, that this can be said. Truth is great indeed, and it is because it is so that we are all bound to diffuse it whenever we can. "The night cometh, when no man can work.” W Devon. W. O. N. * The writer has often read the original. It is in the South (Romanist) Chapel-yard, Cork. A VISION. "He that hath an ear, let him hear." IN my solitary musings on the state of piety among the churches, a vision of intense and thrilling interest gradually unfolded itself to my mind. tains an ancient letter, which has been written afresh at the command of Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, and who walks amidst the golden candlesticks. It is now addressed expressly to you." Unrolling the parchment, he read with a clear but tremulous voice, with the deepest solemnity on his countenance, and with humble yet emphatic tone, "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." (Every one's fixed attention seemed to say, Now then we shall learn what is our true relation to Christ; whether we are approved of by him, or have grieved his Holy Spirit.) The swell of distant music broke upon my ear, the indistinct outlines of form, dimly visible, seemed to dance before my eyes. I fell back in my chair, and with the stillness of death listened and looked. Presently the interior of a building, whose dimensions and elegance I had never seen equalled, became distinct to my perception. In this spacious edifice was assembled a vast concourse of people, men and women, old and young, dressed in every hue of colour and in every variety of fold. Jewels of gold and silver, and "I KNOW YOUR works. YOU ARE NEITHER precious stones, sparkled with dazzling COLD NOR HOT." (Confusion and shame brilliance among the rich-flowing drapery; mingled in every feature.) "I WOULD no ornament which invention could devise, or wealth procure, seemed to be wanting, nor very sparingly distributed, among that orderly throng. On a platform, at the far end of the building, sat a large number of men only; and before a seat somewhat more prominent than the rest stood one of intellectual and grave countenance, with an open book in his hand. The music, which rolled softly and sweetly through the hall, paused, and the man with the book open before him said, "Lord, revive us, All our help must come from thee." Again the full-toned organ peeled its harmonious notes, and the voices of singing men and of singing women filled up the chorus. silence. The music ceased. There was "We are met," said the man still standing, 66 we are met to deliberate on the state of things among us as a Christian people, and to inquire what can be done for the promotion of a more healthful tone of spiritual feeling in the churches of our land." As he thus spoke, a man of austere visage, of mean and strange garb, and of foreign air, suddenly appeared at his side. When all eyes were turned towards him, he stretched out his hand, and said, "In the form that now stands before you is embodied the spirit of ancient Elijah. He is commissioned to make known the feelings with which the adorable Lord Jesus regards a great part of this assembly and of the churches which it represents." And then, drawing from under his mantle a small roll of parchment, he added, "This con YE WERE COLD OR HOT. SO THEN BECAUSE YE ARE LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPUE YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH. He rolled up the parchment, handed it to the president, and, pointing to a Bible which lay open on the table, thus continued: "Every sentence of that book comes from the throne of heaven. Every word of it should be read and heard as a voice proceeding directly from that throne-as if the thunders of heaven solemnly reverberated, Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity. How comes it to pass that the WORD OF GOD-the COMMANDS OF THE ETERNAL-the instructions of INFINITE WISDOM-the provisions of BOUNDLESS Love, are met with indifference? You are torpid and insensible in the presence of the Most High, where you should be all activity and feeling. The God of heaven beholds this; he looks down upon you with inexpressible dissatisfaction, and through his Son declares, I would ye were cold or hot.' Hear that word. Let it sink into your stagnant hearts and trouble them. God is dissatisfied with you; he well nigh loathes you, and has almost commanded his church and his happy creation to spue you out into the pit of uncleanness and death. I put it calmly to your consciences, does not the majesty of this Bible, of this glorious revelation, rebuke your want of feeling, your want of selfdenial, your want of love, and zeal, and constancy in the Divine service? When the LORD is speaking, are you to be listless? When he is pleading, are you to trifle? When he calls upon you to act with vigour and endurance, are you to sit down idle? If this would be insufferable rebellion, let the meltings of your souls flow down because of your prevailing indifference to the MESSAGE OF GOD. "That Bible contains the most inspiring theme ever set before the mind of man or of angel. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. The sufferings of Christ meet you almost in every page. The CROSS, with marked prominence, stands out everywhere. The longsuffering and goodness of God are throughout it illustrated and enforced; so that you, whose sins were the thorns and nails in the mangled flesh of the Redeemer, whose guilt pierced his heart and troubled his soul in death, whose perversity and vileness are to be conquered and cleansed, You should never be unmoved by the affecting theme. The barest mention of the gospel should be enough to kindle in your breasts the most enthusiastic passion. The remembrance of God's love in giving his Son, and of the grace of Christ in sacrificing himself for your benefit, yea, for your veritable deliverance from hell, should be enough to keep alive and flaming within you the most absorbing love. Mercy! what will not mercy do? Many a time has it subdued the most deadly hate and the fiercest rebellion. Lovingkindness! what has not that effected? It has won the most callous heart. Generous adventure! what are thy trophies? A whole army of admiring followers crowding to bless the deliverer, the friend. But where is mercy like that which the gospel reveals?-mercy weeping over implacable foes, mercy staying the red arm of insulted holiness and vengeful majesty. Where too is love like that of the gospel?-love that covers a multitude of sins, forgets a life of stout-hearted rebellion, and parts with the dearest, supremest treasure to bless the vilest ingrate. What page of chivalric heroism affords even a faint illustration of thy self-sacrifice, O Jesus! There is not a noble sentiment, there is not a holy passion of which the heart of man is capable, that the gospel is inadequate to inspire. If enthusiasm is fanatical in any other department, it never can become so in religion. If indifference can be tolerated on any other subject, it must find no quarter here. The gospel of Christ, by its soul-inspiring theme, rebukes all coldheartedness. To be lukewarm is more repulsive than the chill of death. To be listless and forgetful awakens stronger aversion in the Lord of life and glory than absolute indifference. In looking over the ranks of Israel, and seeing a number of this sort in his camp, he sternly exclaims, 'I would ye were cold or hot.' Ye lukewarm professors, does no shame start to your cheeks when you hear that rebuke? Does no remorse agitate your bosoms-no trouble seize your breast? Shall the Lord descend from heaven and bear your sins on the tree, and you stand by beholding his blood, his tears, his pallid quivering lips,hearing his groans, his sighs, his prayers, -at length seeing his head fall in death and his murderers exult ;-stand by and see all this-believe it is for you-believe that there, on his heart, is the burden of your sins; that there, in the blood accumulating at the foot of the cross, is the fountain for your uncleanness; that there, in the awful curse that rests upon him, is the removal of God's curse from your guilty head and heart;—see all this, believe all this, profess to feel all this, and yet remain indifferent, destitute of zeal— devoted zeal, self-denying zeal, life-consuming zeal? Wonder, O heavens! Be astonished, O earth! These men profess to have received the gospel! "IMMORTALITY! CONDEMNATION! HEAVENLY BLISS! Surely no book, no philosopher, no science, ancient nor modern, ever propounded considerations half so absorbing and immense! Surely no traffic for gain, no route to distinction and honour, ever supplied the imagination with such visions and results. The Bible tells every rational being that he is never to die; that the part of his nature which he calls himself is to outlive the dissolution of the tomb, is to enter upon a new order of life in a new world, surrounded by a new order of things; is to derive its happiness (if happy it shall be) from new relationships, objects, and pursuits. This doctrine is not one of speculation, around which hang the misty shadows of doubt and uncertainty. It is declared as a veritable fact on the highest authority, Here, then, come; stand on the verge of time and contemplate that vast eternity into which the angel of death will soon thrust you. There is the wide region stretching before your eye-vast-immeasurable. There You must wander and weep, or rest and rejoice, when this solid earth is burnt up. Whatever changes may happen in the heavens the sun, the moon, the planets, or the far |