might be justifiable. A letter of commendation is designed to give confidence. Now, if an individual is well known to the members of the church which he proposes to join, or if some faithful brother who does know him well, will testify to the church concerning his good standing, a letter of commendation might be dispensed with. QUERY BY R. G. AND REPLY BY J. M. M. Query. Is it contrary to the law of Christ for members of his church to go a visiting, instead of meeting with their brethren at the house of God? Answer. The law of Christ is, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhort one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching." Heb. x. 25. Whatever interferes with this command, is contrary to the law of Christ. And as to visiting, cases might occur when it would be right for Christians, even on the Lord's day, and instead of going to meeting, to go a visiting. For example: when the visit is of a purely benevolent character, to administer relief to the sick and the suffering, &c. &c. But ordinary visiting, on the Lord's day, which is merely to spend this precious day in idle chit-chat, is wholly inconsistent with the Christian profession: and that professed Christian that does so, to the neglect of the meetings of the brethren at the house of God, not only violates the law of Christ, but gives proof positive that his heart is not right in the sight of God, and that he loves the society of the world more than he loves the fellowship of the saints. ITEMS OF NEWS, STATISTICS, &c. DUNDEE. HOME NEWS. September 10th, 1845. TRUTH marches onward in a slow but steady step. Although the seed sown seems to be buried in the mists of sectarianism it may yet take root and yield an abundant harvest. Since you were last written to from Dundee five persons (one male and four females) have put on the Lord in his own appointed way. We have the prospect of more soon. Oh that those who know the truth would practise it! We are going on in peace. All are anxious to assist in every effort for the spread of truth. G. SCHLESEMAN. P.S. Much praise is due to brothers R. Anderson, of Perth, and D. Lawson, of Newburgh, for their kind assistance, none amongst us being able to proclaim CULLEN. August 21, 1845. WE have had a visit from a brother residing at Aberdeen: he says the prospects there are cheering, and if an evangelist could be got amongst them for a short time, much good would be effected. In the Banff district we have the pleasure of reporting things in good condition; the greatest harmony and love prevails; we know not of a single question existing throughout the whole which in any way tends to mar their peace, or hinder their progress in going on to that perfection of character so very desirable to be found in the disciple of Jesus Christ. Long, long may such be the case. GEORGE JACK. WORTLEY, NEAR LEEDS. September 16th, 1845. IT is now a long time since you heard anything of the congregation in this place. We are still living together in peace and unity one with each other. We had the pleasure, last first day, of admitting two into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, by baptism into his name for the remission of all past sins. Two of the brethren have lately removed from Halifax to Leeds, and have united with us. Our number is about forty-four, and we are striving together for the faith of the Gospel. B. MAUD. MAIDSTONE. September 17, 1845. ON Lord's day, August 31st, the assembly room of the above place having been taken for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel, and duly announced, I delivered two addresses, having present in all from six hundred to a thousand persons, and having pre sented to their notice the order of the church at Jerusalem, and proclaimed the ancient Gospel, I was rejoiced to find two applications for immersion, and several others declare their conviction and determination to obey. I spent the next day (Monday) in speaking to inquirers, and have heard this week the excitement still continues. Brothers Collins and Errey have taken up their residence there, and I fully expect soon to see a church of some inportance in that place. D. KING. LONDON. September 19th, 1845. It gives me pleasure to inform you that the church meeting in Elstree street, Pancras Road, are living in the enjoyment of the truth, striving together for that perfection of character without which no man can enjoy eternal life. I also have to state that on Wednesday evening last, a male and female were baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of all past sins: the former has been a Wesleyan local preacher. May they prove faithful unto death, and receive a crown of life. T. L. FOREIGN NEWS. SIXTEEN DAYS DISCUSSION. January, 1845. Brother Campbell.—I have just returned from a debate held at New Philadelphia, between brother A. Hall and Mr. Leonard Parker, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. I attended the first four days of the discussion, and then left for home. It continued (as I am just informed by one that attended through) sixteen days, and six hours a-day, making ninety-six hours. The subject discussed was the action and design of baptism. The subject was ably conducted by brother Hall, and the truth lost nothing by the investigation. Ten persons were added to the church of Christ during the progress of the debate; among which number were four Methodists, one Roman Catholic, one Baptist, one Episcopalian, and one Universalist. It was evident to all that Mr. Parker at the close of the first four days felt himself completely discomfited, and would gladly have left the arena had he not bound himself in an article to debate the above number of days. There is no doubt but that the labours of brother Hall in the above discussion will result in great good to the cause of truth. May the Lord bless him in his labours of love, and keep him humble and zealous in the work of the ministry! W. COCHRAN. Middletown, Gurnsey county, Ohio, OBITUARIES. Cullen, August 21st, 1845. WE could have desired a much more pleasing task than the one before usthat of paying a last tribute to the memory of departed worth. We are well sure you will sympathize with us in the great loss we have sustained by the death of our aged, respected, and much beloved brother Kelman, of Turiff. He took supper along with his family in his usual health, but before six and a half hours had passed away, he was gone into eternity. Rupture in the brain cut him off in spite of the efforts of eminent medical skill. Thus we have another warning to be "also ready!" For more than forty years he has been striving for reformation among the Scotch Baptists. He had an extensive knowledge of his Bible, and he truly was made "wise unto salvation." He was constantly rejoicing in hope of glory, and as he increased in years so did he increase in his devotion to his Father and his God. Being a man of enlarged views, he examined the claims of the New Testament order of worship, saw the path of duty, and along with a few others set up a congregation in Turiff, the first in the north of Scotland, and to the time of his departure was one of its faithful and devoted presidents. He most certainly will have his reward in those mansions of everlasting light, reserved in heaven for all such. G. JACK. Sinclairtown, Kirkaldy, September 16th, 1845. As the sun in the material world does not always shine with unclouded lustre, but sometimes conceals his glory amidst storms and tempests, so in the moral or spiritual world, the sun of prosperity does not always shine with undiminished radiance, but is sometimes darkened by events of an adverse nature. This truth the disciples of Jesus in this place have experienced by the sudden death of our much esteemed and beloved brother George Barclay, who fell asleep in Jesus on Wednesday the 10th instant, after a short illness of sixteen or eighteen days. Brother Barclay was a strong, robust man, and gave promise of a long and useful life. But alas! poor and fragile man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. In the true and emphatic language of Job, "He cometh forth like a flower and is cut down, he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." He was born into the kingdom of Jesus on the 31st of July, 1842, and during the short period of little more than three years made rapid progress in imitating his great Master in works of benevolence. Brother Barclay could not edify the church by the power of his tongue, but he contributed to the same grand end in an eminent degree by a constant exhibition of the spirit of his divine Master. His humility, docility, and the beloved suavity of his manner, endeared him to us all, and it will be long before we can forget such a sweet companion. He was moreover a peacemaker, and consequently entitled to the endearing appellation of a "child of God." But the power of the religion of Jesus shone in all its splendour while lying on his death bed. Although suffering great pain, a murmur never was heard to escape from his lips. The patience and resignation to the will of his Father, and his unshaken confidence in the finished work of Jesus, and the hope of the Gospel, was a complete triumph over all the power of the enemy. As the sun grows larger at his setting, so did the religion of the kind, child-like, George Barclay. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, from henceforth they do rest from their labour, and their works do follow them." May it be the ambition of each one of us to be faithful imitators of those who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promises. And let us all take this most important lesson- that the time is short, and not one of us knows how short. Let us then be watchful and READY; and whenever it pleases our Master to call us to give in our account, may we obey with joy and not with grief. Yours in the kingdom and patience of Jesus, JOHN TAYLOR. WHEN in Kirkaldy, on a short visit to the brethren in that place some two years ago, we were entertained by brother Barclay, and truly his physical appearance at that time promised to the church and to the world, a long and useful life: But the ways and thoughts of our heavenly Father are in all things above ours as high as the heavens are above the earth. The truth in brother Barclay accomplished the design for which it is sent, and now he is taken from the evil which is yet to come.-ED. For the Christian Messenger. HERE AND HEREAFTER. WHEN nature's profusion is tempting thee ever And surely there would not, beneath and above thee, To use them, yes, use them, in life's onward haste! To bound the desires of a spirit sublime; What is not with holiest feelings consistent, Oh touch not! to prove thee it must have been given! J. M. CHRISTIAN WORSHIP. CALM was the night, and soft the breeze My thoughts were fixed on things My heart and soul were there: In hast'ning through the giddy world, There, on a lowly cottage floor, The poor disciples meet, Humbly to worship and adore At their Redeemer's feet. O! what a sweet and heavenborn love No pompous squires or wealthy lords But poor illiterate men who've learned And thus they sat, and not a thought How will they hail the happy morn Their freedom now draws near. And then with all the angelic host, They mount the airy sky, Then blest for ever with their Lord, EUPHEMIA. AFTER reading in order the history of the deluge, Olympas thus began: Olympas. We are now come to the end of one world and the commencement of another. What, Thomas, were the causes that ushered in this awful catastrophe ? Thomas. Murder, violence, and rapine seem to have completed the measure of human enormities. Moses says, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually; "The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence;" "For all flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth; and God said, The end of all flesh is come before me: for the earth is filled with violence through them, and behold I will destroy them with the earth.” Olympas. God our Father, then, intended more than the destruction of the human race and the living creatures on the earth. He said he would destroy them with the earth. Tell me, Susan, with what element did God destroy the earth with its inhabitants ? Susan. With water. Olympas. Whence did the waters come, William ? |