his way here, he stopped a night at Rotherham, which he passed without any sleep, in great distress, and intense pain.

"He arrived at home in the middle of the day of Friday, May 26th, when I immediately saw him. The whole of the left arm was swollen to at least half its natural size. There was a large slough at the lower part of the fore-arm. The inflammation involved the sub cutaneous cellular texture of the whole fore-arm and hand, where it was evident, if suppuration had not actually taken place, it inevitably would do so; while the erysipelas of the skin had extended up nearly to the shoulder, having made rapid progress since the morning, on his setting out from Rotherham. There was great excitement in the system, with much fever, the pulse being upwards of 120, with very little corresponding power. There was also some tendency to incoherence. The first exclamation on seeing me was- My dear friend, I am so thankful to get home to you again; I was so anxious to see you;-but I think I have come home to die, have I not?" A feeling which the condition of things rendered natural enough.

"The more alarming of the symptoms were, however, speedily subdued. The erysipelas was at once checked, suppuration was established, the matter and sloughs evacuated, and the palm of the hand and arm became nearly well. The extensive surface had healed up without any loss of the integuments. During this time a boil had formed on the outer side of the back of the hand, which required a free opening; as this healed, another formed at the opposite side of the hand near the thumb, which also required to be opened, but which also became well. appetite was good, the strength increased; he was enabled not only to see a few of his more intimate friends, but to sit up several hours, to walk about the house, and, on two or three days, to dine with his family. He felt, as he said, returning health and more life.

The

"He now had lost the impression that he should die. Arrangements were being made for his going to the sea-side; and he talked of what he should do when he got to work again, and even said what his first text should be, and that he would give his people his experience during his illness. A third inflamed spot had formed on the back of the second finger, which had given rise to rather a considerable formation of matter both on the back and in the palm of the hand; but which, having been freely evacuated by means of three openings, the strong disposition to the formation of pus appeared to have subsided, the inflammation had ceased, the skin looked healthy, reparation of the mischief in the hand was going on well, and the general and constitutional symptoms had so far improved, as to inspire considerable hope and confidence that he would soon be able to get from home. When the hot weather set in it produced a great feeling of languor. The perspiration became considerable, and the appetite was not so good, but there was nothing alarming; and, on Tuesday, it had been arranged, that, in case he passed a good night, the following day he should take a short drive in a close carriage, which he thought he should quite enjoy. In the evening and during the night the heat became quite oppressive, so much so that he could not sleep from it. In the morning he was much more languid, and unfit to get out. The suppu

ration, which had most materially lessened, was somewhat increased, while there was no enjoyment of food, and the stomach was disordered; yet he passed some hours on a sofa in the library. The following night, though not quite so restless, was by no means refreshing; there was but little sleep, though, he said, it had not been without enjoyment, as he passed it in repeating the penitential psalms. He felt less inclination to get up, and wished all the windows to be set open. In the afternoon he got out of bed and walked to another room, which, having a different aspect, the sun had not been shining upon it. Before reaching the bed, he became quite exhausted, and fainted.

"From this time he never effectually rallied; for, though revived somewhat on the Friday from some more comfortable sleep during the night, he was very weak, and the discharge suddenly became much more copious. The arm which had been healed for at least three weeks, all at once opened again; and the palm of the hand, which had been nearly well, became as suddenly again extensively involved. He could take little or no solid food, and that which he did take was more a matter of duty than pleasure, and produced but little effect on the system. Still he went into his library, and on the Saturday walked down stairs twice.

"On the Sunday morning he had evidently lost strength. During the day he still more rapidly lost ground; and though food and stimulants were rather more freely taken, they produced but little visible effect. In the evening, feeling restless and hot in his own bed, he attempted to walk to one in an adjoining room; but, in so doing, he would have fallen on the ground had he not been supported, and almost dragged to the bed, by the great exertion of Mrs. Hamilton, into whose arms he had fallen. After this the exhaustion was still greater, and it became evident that there was little hope of any effectual rally being made.

"His condition was plainly told him by his medical attendants. He received the intimation not only with calmness, but joy and thankfulness. On the succeeding morning he was still weaker, but had not so rapidly sunk as during the previous day. During this day the exhaustion gradually and progressively increased, but he retained almost complete possession of his mind until the middle of the day, when he asked of his medical friend particularly how long his death would be postponed, and how, and in what mode, he would die-whether from his brain, or the heart, or the lungs ceasing to act? and he fully comprehended the explanation given to him. When told there were no symptoms which indicated an immediate dissolution, and that life might very possibly be prolonged for some hours, he said he had hoped to depart at once, but that he must wait with patience and resignation. He now began to doze more, wished not to be disturbed, but frequently woke up, and took freely of fluids. When not spoken to, his talk was incoherent and unconnected; but, when recalled, his mind maintained much of its character. At one o'clock on the Tuesday morning, after having dozed for some time, he awoke, became rather restless; dark, carbonaceous matter was freely ejected from the stomach; and he ceased to breathe almost before those who were in other rooms could be informed of the event that was taking place."

The Congregational Church in Portobello, Scotland, to the Congregational Church assembling in Headgate Chapel, Colchester.

DEAR BRETHREN,-Though we are unknown by face to you, we are sure ye will receive and reciprocate our fraternal salutation. We have often heard of you, as, we doubt not, you also have of us; for, besides the common bond which unites all "the churches of the saints" into one blessed brotherhood, there is a peculiar link of connection between us which cannot fail to make us more acquainted with one another than many churches so widely separated by distance are.

Your esteemed pastor was once our pastor; and we are persuaded he has not so forgotten us as never to have spoken of us to you. We have grateful remembrance of his labours among us, and cherish an affection towards him which makes us feel a peculiar affection towards you, for his sake. May the Lord bless him in his present sphere, and honour him to be useful among you as he has been among us!

This consideration it is which has made us think of writing the present letter, and of expressing in this manner our cordial love to you, and our sincere interest in your welfare.

It

And we are persuaded, brethren, that such correspondence, extensively carried on amongst the churches, would tend greatly to bring them into closer connection one with another, and would prove useful to them in many ways. We feel that it would be cheering to ourselves to receive the direct expression of brotherly love from churches far and near throughout the length and breadth of the land. It would make us realise more vividly the fact, that we have many brethren, though we ourselves are few. It would make us "thank God and take courage," when, at any time, circumstances in our own immediate neighbourhood were unfavourable, and appearances discouraging. would enlarge the circle of our affections, or, rather, it would give greater definiteness to their exercise, and help us to cherish more fervently the spirit enjoined by the apostle, when he says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others:" obedience to which command, we think, is closely connected with an increase of our own spiritual grace. It would make our prayers more explicit when we drew near to the throne of God in behalf of his people. It would facilitate all acts of intercommunion, such as "giving and receiving" transference of members; asking of counsel in cases of difficulty; comforting under peculiar afflictions or bereavements; pointing out, affectionately and faithfully, error in doctrine or inconsistencies in practice, should these at any time occur; stirring up to the discharge

of particular duties appropriate to the times in which we live, or to the circumstances of that spiritual kingdom of which we are the subjects; and in a thousand ways that might be mentioned, we are persuaded it would be exceed. ingly beneficial to the churches.

Nor could it, in the slightest degree, infringe upon their perfect independency; for which we would ever feel a godly jealousy. It would, we think, rather bring prominently out, and greatly cherish, that distinctness, yet unity-that perfect freedom, yet subjection one to another in love, which we look upon as the special glory of our Divinely-appointed system of Christian fellowship.

Believing that such advantages would result from the extensive adoption of such a practice, and cherishing a common feeling with yourselves towards your pastor, we are sure you will not look upon us as doing "some strange thing," when we express a wish and a hope that such correspondence may be established between us. It would be pleasant to us, brethren, to hear from you a word of exhortation, through him who has so often spoken to us and admonished us in the Lord. We should rejoice to receive at your hands an additional stimulus to the cherishing of faith and love, and to the production of all the good fruits which naturally flow from their lively and vigorous exercise.

In the mean time, we briefly mention a few things regarding the Congregational churches in Scotland generally, and regarding ourselves in particular, "that ye may know our state," and wherein to sympathise with us, or wherein to rejoice with us; and especially (for this above all things we wish) that ye may intelligently bear us upon your spirit at the throne of Divine grace.

The present, so far as we can judge, is a time of great weakness and stagnation throughout the churches of our land. We look around upon our brethren, and we see much depression and many fears for the cause of God among us. From every part of the land we hear the cry that there is little life, little power, almost no progress made in subduing the world to the Saviour, few conversions unto God, and, consequently, few added to the churches, to cheer our hearts and enlarge our fellowship in the Gospel. Indeed, those who are added seem barely enough to fill the places of such as are always passing by death to join the church in heaven, or who, from various causes, are called to remove to other parts of the world. Of these a number from our poorer churches were last year compelled to emigrate, owing to the want of employment, and consequent inability to obtain the necessaries of life in their own country. In that trying time we all resolved to do what we could to assist our poorer brethren in the High

lands and other districts where the scarcity was most felt; and we can never forget the generous and noble manner in which many of our brethren throughout England came forward, without 80licitation or appeal on our part, to aid in this work of Christian love; not waiting to be applied to, but asking through whom they might bestow their liberality; and "praying us to receive the gift, and take upon ourselves the ministering to the saints:" so that we had enough and to spare, and were enabled to keep our brethren from being under the necessity of applying to the parochial authorities for relief, or of receiving any portion of the large fund which was raised by public subscription, to which we also contributed our share.

Yet, though the exuberance of health and spirits may not at present be seen among us, we trust there is much of calm, manly piety, and steady action, through the accustomed channels of Christian effort, to be seen in our churches; and we look upon it as a sign for good, that there is everywhere a feeling of dissatisfaction and distress on account of our present condition, and a disposition to make it the subject of selfexamination and earnest prayer.

There is another general matter which we would mention, because we look upon it as a great thing in itself, and likely to be of great importance to the churches here. We mean the scheme adopted some time ago for paying off all our chapel debts by three years of vigorous and self-denying effort. We are now at the close of the three years, and have been successful beyond our most sanguine expectations; for, save some trifling sums yet to be realised, and some minor arrangements yet to be made, the whole may be said to be completed, and upwards of twenty thousand pounds paid in the course of these three years. For this result we feel grateful to God, who has thus enabled us to throw off a burden which was crushing many of the churches to the dust; and we do look upon it as one part of the preparatory process for a season of great and permanent prosperity, which we fondly anticipate-a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord-a time of conquest and of triumph -a time when the word of the Lord shall have free course among us, and be glorified!

As to ourselves, we can only say that our own state corresponds very much to that which we have mentioned as generally prevailing: we have taken our part in the general exertion; we have shared in the success which has attended it; and we have also felt the general depression which seems, like some heavy atmosphere, to hang over us. We entered with all our heart into the chapel-debt scheme, and were enabled to pay off every shilling of our own debt, and, in some measure, to assist others in paying off theirs. So that now, being entirely free, we feel called upon to direct our undivided efforts to the support and extension of the Gospel both at home and abroad.

Brethren, there is great need for this. When we look at those in our own immediate neighbourhood; when we look at the abounding iniquity in our cities and towns; and when we behold the ignorance, or, at least, the absence of the fear of God, which prevails among our countrymen; for though they have the form of religion, and are by courtesy called a Christian people in conformity with the law of the land, yet they cannot be made Christians in any such

way; and we are sure that those who know the blessed Gospel in its power, can never rest satisfied with such a state of things as this, but must labour for their conversion, and pray for the Spirit of God to quicken them the same as in those lands where the name of Jesus has not been heard. Further; when we look away from home, and turn our gaze abroad upon the many nations, and the countless millions of our fellowmen, that sit in the very region and shadow of death; and when we think that all these have souls as precious as our own are felt to be-as capable of the noblest pleasures and richest joys of salvation-as capable of being set like sparkling gems in the Redeemer's crown, or, like the countless dew-drops in the field, of reflecting the beams of the Sun of Righteousness ;-and above all, when we think that the Saviour we love and serve died for these, and has given them in charge to his people, that they may bring his blessings to them, and them to him, as the travail of his soul, that He may be satisfied,--Oh! brethren, when we think of these things, we feel we have a great work to do, and that we are bound by weighty obligations to do it. We have the world to conquer; we have all mankind to bless; and we feel called upon to gird ourselves anew and go forth to the help of the Lord, "to the help of the Lord against the mighty." We feel, in some measure-but, oh! how inadequately the force of these moving words of the apostle's: "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 made rich;" and we hold ourselves debtors to the Jew and to the Gentile, to the wise and to the unwise, and to all the objects upon whom that grace is to be repaid, yet leaving us for ourselves eternal debtors to Him who gave himself for us. We trust, brethren, we are only giving utterance to the feelings which have often glowed in your own breasts, when we thus pour into your ears our heartfelt sense of duty to our Lord, and our firm resolve, in his strength, to do our part in this important work.

We might, brethren, say much more, for our hearts are full. We might speak of God's goodness to us as a church. We might speak of what we do, and of what we intend to do, as also of our encouragements and discouragements in this place where our lot is cast; but we forbear. We have said enough to guide your prayers on our behalf; of which we again express our most earnest desire. Brethren, pray for us. We cherish a high sense of the value and efficacy of believing prayer; and are convinced, that were we all praying for one another with that definiteness and earnestness which a distinct knowledge of each other's circumstances would help us to feel, the windows of heaven would be opened to us; our hearts should be filled, and the blessedness overflow to others; the beauty of the Lord our God should be upon us, and the work of our hands should be established upon us.

And now, dear brethren in Christ Jesus, fare ye well! May the Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you! The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace! Signed in behalf of the Congregational Church, Portobello, Scotland, ROBERT LANG, Pastor.

6th February, 1848

REPLY TO THE FOREGOING.

The Congregational Church assembling in Headgate Chapel, Colchester, to the Congregational Church in Portobello, Scotland.

DEAR BRETHREN,-Your kind fraternal epistle of date 6th February, was received by us with much pleasure. We feel that we are deeply indebted to you for suggesting and commencing a correspondence, which, we trust and believe, will be the means of provoking to love and to good works; and most cordially do we reciprocate the expression of brotherly affection which your letter conveys. We desire ever to realize our oneness with "all who, in every place, call upon the name" of our common Lord; and especially do we rejoice to recognize our Christian fellowship with you, brethren, connected as you and we are by the peculiar tie to which you have so feelingly alluded. We anticipate much good from the free interchange of feeling and sentiment to which you invite us; indeed, the very fact of having our attention directed to the state and circumstances of brethren in a distant part of the country, in order that we may mingle our prayers with theirs before the throne of Divine grace, must of itself be productive of good. Whatever has a tendency to extend the recognition of our Christian brotherhood, and to enlarge the sphere of our Christian sympathies, cannot fail to draw us nearer to Him who is the centre of union; whose love and sympathy extend to all the members of his body; and who, in the days of his flesh, offered up, on behalf of his disciples, that memorable prayer: "That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

Like yourselves, we have no fear that such fraternal intercourse can ever lead to any infringement on the independency of our churches. That independency we highly value: it is a sacred inheritance which we have received from our fathers, and we desire to transmit it unimpaired to our descendants. He would regard with extreme jealousy whatever might even seem to interfere with it. But it would be strange, indeed, if the interchange of Christian salutations, the mutual expression of brotherly affection, the intermingling of common supplications at the throne of grace, should, by any possibility, become the occasion of one church assuming authority over another, or the means of inducing or enabling any body of men to "lord it over God's heritage." Rather should we expect that such intercourse would excite the churches to an increased sense of their separate responsibility to their Divine Head, to whom alone they profess spiritual subjection; and we are persuaded, that, in proportion as they realize their responsibility to him, they will be prompt to repel every attempt which may be made to impose upon them any yoke which he hath not imposed. Realizing the inestimable value of that price with which His love has "bought" them, they will not easily become "the servants of men."

But while we value the independency of our churches, we would also value the intercommunion of our churches. Independency is not disunion, nor does it necessarily lead to disunion. We have no love for a constrained, external, uniformity: we would not seek to

bind men together with the sapless withs of worn-out formulas;-what we prize above all price, is a living, internal unity. Such a unity already exists among us in both divisions of our common country. We have "one Lord, one faith, one baptism." We are one in polity, one in feeling, one in aim. Our exertions are directed to one common object; even our modes of exertion are, in most cases, identical: what we desiderate is, that this actually existing unity should be fully realized and clearly manifested. Being one we would feel our oneness, and show to others that we are one-one, as the primitive colours of the heavenly arch, which, though dissimilar in their hues, yet, united, form one resplendent bow, the bow of beauty and of promise-one, as the seven stars in the Saviour's right hand, which, being diverse from each other, one star differing from another star in glory, yet form one constellation of light!

On this subject we would adopt the language of the venerated Chairman of the last Annual Assembly of our Congregational Union, the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, of Leeds. In his introductory address on that occasion he said: "Our regimen is not self-terminating, though self-inherent. It encourages, as well as admits, the largest fellowship in the Gospel.' We maintain that this intercommunity is as native to our churches, and as characteristic of them as their individuality. We know of no dissocialized, fragmentary churches ;-they are one; they are confessedly and formally one, where their faith and economy are one. The great zeal' of Epaphras was not only for the Colossians as one of them,' but for them that were in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis." "

Most cordially, brethren, do we congratulate you, and the other sister churches of Scotland, on your having thrown off the incubus of your chapel debts. You have acted nobly. These pecuniary burdens restrain the energies of a Christian church, and discourage the minds of the brethren. The removal of them cannot but be followed by beneficial results. The mere consciousness of being free from such a burden will give strength. The success which has attended this effort will embolden you to devise and execute future plans of beneficence, not for your own immediate fellowship only, but for the world. And, devising liberal things, you have the Divine assurance that by liberal things you shall stand. The blessing of the Lord, which maketh rich, will rest upon you; "so that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may be ready to every good work." And the same grace which enables you to work in the Lord's vineyard will also prosper the work of your hands; and those who had "gone forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall return again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them."

With much regret and sympathy, brethren, we have learned your estimate of the present state of the churches in Scotland. That state you characterize as one of "weakness and stagnation." You speak of "much depression and many fears," of "little life and little power,”— of "few conversions to God, and consequently few added to the churches." This is indeed cause for lamentation. And, alas! this state of things is not peculiar to Scotland. Your description is too true of England also. At various consultations of the pastors of our churches, on occasion of the meetings of our Congregational

Union, there has been the manifestation of a prevailing conviction that the churches, generally speaking, are not advancing in the same ratio as they have done, or as they might do. Nor is this stagnation confined to the churches of our own denomination. The same lamentations are heard amongst our Baptist brethren, and also amongst the Wesleyan Methodists. Nor is the evil confined even to our country. Similar complaints are wafted to us across the Atlantic. Everywhere the cry is heard, "My leanness! my leanness!"

What shall we say, then, brethren? "Hath God forgotten to be gracious?" "Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?" We cannot suppose it. This were to dishonour the Holy One. He is "the God of all grace." He delighteth to bless. If we are straitened, it is not in him, but in ourselves: "Let us search and try our ways." Let us consider wherein we may have grieved the Spirit. Let us "commune with our own hearts." Have we restrained prayer before God? Have we allowed the world to occupy too large a place in our hearts?

Have

we sought "our own things" more than "the things which are Jesus Christ's?" May the Lord cause us and all his people to see wherein we have come short, wherein we have transgressed, and pour out on us the spirit of repentance and of revival! Thus shall we walk more closely with our God; "the things which are seen" will cease to bring us into bondage; "the things which are unseen" will obtain the mastery over our spirits; we shall be "endued with power from on high;" we shall shed forth around us the sweet savour of the Redeemer's name; men will take knowledge of us that we are Christians indeed; and through the Divine blessing accompanying our example and our labours, sinners shall be turned to God, the Redeemer shall "see of the travail of his soul," and God shall be glorified in the extension of his kingdom, the reign of righteousness, and peace, and love.

But, brethren, though we speak thus, we would not overlook the good that exists, or be unthankful for it. All is not spiritual barrenness and desolation. There are verdant and sunny spots on which the eye can rest with satisfaction and gratitude. Amongst ourselves, as a Christian church, we are not without tokens of the gracious presence of our covenant God; and we rejoice that it is so with you also. Though we pant for greater blessings, let us not " despise the day of small things." God does not. The manifestation of" a little strength" in the church in Philadelphia called forth the approving notice of the blessed Saviour. However discouraging the state of our churches may have appeared for some time past, we cannot doubt that there is amongst us more than "a little strength." There may not be much apparent progress, but there is a steadfast adherence to principle, even where there is much to tempt to its abandonment; there is a growing tendency to throw off humanly-imposed shackles, however time-honoured; there is a multiplying of the means of usefulness, and a vigorous effort to bring these means to bear upon the masses of our countrymen. These things are better than mere external progress, and, by the blessing of God, they cannot fail to issue in an ingathering of many souls to the fold of the good Shepherd. Let us not despond, brethren; God is faithful. The seed is cast into

the ground; it lies there, unseen by mortal eye, during the long dreary months of winter; there is no apparent progress. It seems as if the husbandman had lost his labour. But it is not so; God is at work. There is an occult and mysterious process going on underneath the ground. There is a death, and a quickening into new life and even those elemental influences which seemed to threaten the destruction of that which had been committed to earth's genial care, are made to aid in the development of this new life. The snow, the frost, the rain, the stormy wind, are all God's "ministers," and are all employed by him in preparing the soil for the nourishment and growth of the precious seed. Spring, summer, autumn, advance, each at its appointed time, and rebuke the unbelief of the doubting husbandman. There is "first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear;" and in due time the last sheaf is safely housed, and the joyous song of the reapers celebrates the harvest-home.

Brethren, the God of providence is also the God of grace. We may trust him in reference

to his own cause. His word "shall not return to him void." It is ours to labour; it is his to grant the increase. No one can labour in his vineyard faithfully and yet fruitlessly. Success is certain; the present visibility of that success is not. If it is God's glory we seek, we shall look beyond present appearances. The time of harvest is not yet: "The kingdom of God cometh not with outward show."

We thank you, brethren, for the information your letter furnishes as to your own circumstances as a church. Our prayers have already ascended to God on your behalf, and we will continue to pray for you. You also, we are persuaded, will not cease to pray for us. And that ye may know what to ask on our behalf, we append, as a postscript, a brief sketch of our past history as a church, which has been drawn up by one of our brethren holding the office of deacon.*

And now, brethren, we "commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified." May "the blessing of God Almighty," the "Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation," the "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," rest upon you, and cheer you during the whole course of your earthly pilgrimage; and when that pilgrimage is finished, may ye shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever!

Signed in behalf of the church assembling in Headgate Chapel, Colchester,