ITEMS OF NEWS.

Nottingham, August 26, 1844.

THE Congregation in this place are enjoying a good degree of peace, unity, and love in the truth. Within the last six weeks some eight or ten have been immersed into Jesus and added to the saved of the Lord. One or two have been restored to the fellowship of the church. It is true some of our brethren are neither cold nor hot in their profession. This, it should be remembered is, in the estimation of the Redeemer, a most obnoxious state to be in; and such are exhorted by Him immediately to reform, or the consequences will be most fearful. J. W. Kilmarnock, August 7, 1844.

DURING the last fortnight we have had three restored to our fellowship, and two added by baptism. Prospects are still encouraging. Oh! that we were active and zealous in the work of the Lord, that we may insure his blessing. "Mormonism" has been much talked of in this place for some time. There have been two lectures and two public discussions, in which the hollow claims of that absurd and wicked imposition have been exposed, I think, to the complete satisfaction of all, except the miserable and deluded fanatics, who have been entrapped by the emissaries of the martial prophet. H. LAUDER.

Lincoln, August 19, 1844,

WE have been much refreshed by brother Greenwell's visit amongst us. He is indeed valiant for the truth; oh, that his labours may be crowned with abundant success, by leading many to Jesus as the only Saviour. One has confessed the Lord by a baptism into his death; and we are not without the hope of some others following her example. M. HARVEY.

Sunderland, August, 1844.

I HAVE much pleasure to inform you and the brethren of the Reformation in England and Scotland, of the existence of a few disciples in this place. The Church here was first gathered together in December last. At its commencement it numbered ten members; since which time we have been assisted by our, brother Joseph Bor mond, principally, and brother Francis Hill, of Hartlepool; both of whom have taken up their residence here. Our congregations have gradually increased; and I am happy to add the number of the saved has also augmented to twenty-four. Indeed from such lucid and powerful appeals as those contained in their proclamation and teaching with which we have been favoured, good results were sure to follow. We are now witnessing these good things. Let God have all the praise! We are now trying to set the church in order; this will require the exercise of both patience and prudence on the part of the disciples. We have much reason to pray for an increase of both. Brother Bormond, in his abundant labours, has proclaimed the gospel of Jesus once at North Shields, and once at Howdon, a place about two miles from the former. The results have been the immersion of eight believers into the name of Christ. They met at a

sister's house last Lord's day, and broke the loaf, with this untiring and affectionate evangelist at their head. They intend, by the blessing of God and the assistance of brother Bormond and their friends from Newcastle, to break bread from house to house. May it continue as it began, with gladness and singleness of heart. I will only add that in this vast district the fields are white unto harvest. Oh, for more labourers! The disciples meet in Dunning-street, Bishop Wearmouth, every first-day, and shall be glad to see any of the brethren sojourning this way. J. DOUGLAS. Grangemouth, August 20, 1844.

I HOPE the brethren everywhere will take the hint given in the Messenger, and prevent what I should call a great loss to the cause of reformation in Britain-the death of the Messenger. I will do what I can amongst the brethren here to support it. We have had six. additions to our number since I last wrote you, with prospects of more J. WALKER.

soon.

WE have to acknowledge the receipt of the following anonymous letter, containing a post-office order for two pounds, which have been handed over to the Evangelists' Fund. We are quite convinced that both the Messenger and the evangelists could be amply supported were the brethren only to be determined, and each, according to his ability, devise liberal things in these and every other department of the kingdom of Christ.-ED.

"DEAR SIR, Viewing with anxiety and deep interest the progress of the Reformation in this country, and approving in general of the steps which have been taken for the furtherance of that great and important object, especially the sending out of evangelists, and the publication of the Christian Messenger, which I consider to be of great value in disseminating more scriptural views of Messiah's kingdom, uprooting sectarianism, and exhibiting the simplicity of the gospel institutions; for these reasons I have read with regret the position in which you are placed, after the efforts you have made to uphold it. I hope the brethren will come forward and warmly support you in your labours, the Christian Messenger being the only medium through which the churches can hear of each other's welfare, and learn the prosperity of that cause which lies nearest their hearts; namely, the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom. May all who love the truth be stirred up to spread the savour of his name who has redeemed them with his blood; not to be the children of this world, but sons of God. May we all be imitators of Him. Wishing the continuance of the Messenger, and the prosperity of the Reformation, I enclose a post-office order for two pounds.

A CONSTANT READER. Carlisle, August 17, 1844.

A FEW weeks ago the son of one of our brethren was baptized and added to our number. The daughter of another will be united with us next first day. It is evident we are slowly but securely making progress. J. COCKBURN.

Louth, August 6, 1844. HEREWITH You will receive an order for our quarterly subscription for the support of the evangelists, which we purpose to continue. During the past week we have had a visit from our beloved brother Greenwell. He certainly is an able speaker, and calculated to do much good. His visit, which has tended greatly to confirm the brethren and encourage us in the onward course, will long be remembered by us. As a Church, we have lately had many painful circumstances to contend with, still there are a number amongst us who are determined to follow on and to do the whole will of God, earnestly expecting our reward at the coming of the "Just One." Being sincerely desirous that the Messenger should be continued the brethren have doubled their number; some who read those taken by others have decided to take one independently; others, who could not afford a whole one have joined. This, I think, would be a good plan for the brethren generally to adopt. W. JACKSON. Camden Town, August 2, 1844.

I AM glad to inform you that our numbers are increasing: four have been immersed during the month, and others are on the way.

D. KING. ROMANISM.-Were we to judge from the appearance of the Catholics, or from the fears and anxieties expressed by some of our Episcopal neighbours, or from the down-cast looks of many of the dissenters, this morning, we might suppose the Roman Catholic religion, with all its idolatry and ignorant superstition, was about to be imposed upon the whole population of this large and populous town. This, however, will not be the case at present. The intelligence of the great majority of dissenters, as well as Episcopalians, although it may not be very great as it respects pure primitive Christianity, is nevertheless of such a character as to prove a guarantee against such a consummation. The new Catholic Church, dedicated to St. Barnabasthe largest it is said, that has been erected in this country since the Reformation-is now being consecrated. We have just seen from our own dwelling something of the imposing ceremony. Thirty-two devotees, with Bishop Wiseman at their head, all clothed in white, except the bishop who was adorned in scarlet bearing the cross, the holy water, the golden consecrated brush—we know not what else to call it -to sprinkle withal; each with a book repeating Latin, bowing the knee, and sprinkling, as they solemnly and slowly move round the sacred edifice. This is the outside performance; what is to take place within is not for us to say, as it is not our intention to be seen in this idol temple, least by example we offend, or embolden the weak consciences of some of our brethren. To-morrow (the 28th) is to be the grand day, when noblemen, by special trains from all parts of the country, are expected to be present, to behold, what is called by them and the deluded multitude, an exhibition of that religion established by the meek and lowly Jesus, eighteen hundred years ago!!

Nottingham, August 27, 1844.

CONTRIBUTIONS for the Evangelists' Fund have been received during the month from Nottingham, Louth, Kilmarnock, Old Mills, Huddersfield, Carlton, Banbury, and the Editor.

A. CAMPBELL'S OPENING ADDRESS ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Monday, November 27th, 1843. MR. PRESIDENT.-The proposition to be discussed to-day, is admitted on all hands to be of transcendent importance to the Christian. It is expressed in the following words:-"In conversion and sanctification, the Spirit of God operates on persons only through the Word."

Most controversies are mere logomachies; wars of words about words, and not about things. Perspicuity and precision in the definition of the terms of a proposition at the commencement, would have prevented more than half of all the debates in the world, and would have reduced the other half to less than half their size. Indeed, we yet need for daily use a much more simple and scriptural vocabulary, on the great subject of religion, as well as in some other departments of literature and science. The cumbrous, unwieldly, and badly assorted nomenclature of certain sciences, has, for centuries, retarded their progress. This is most unfortunately true in the intellectual and moral departments. Scholastic theology is greatly behind the age. The stale divinity of other times refuses to reconsider its sense or its symbols. Hence the superabundance of the barbarous gibberish and

miserable jargon, yet extant in our creeds and systems of theoretic divinity. Some samples of these quaint vocables may be given in the discussion of the creed question.

Meantime, we have yet to learn how much perversion, not of language only, but of the mind also, has grown out of sectarian animosities and bickerings. The periodical hobbies of religious parties generate, like our political feuds, hosts of new terms; and often change and modify the old ones, that even a well practiced politician, with Johnson, and Webster, and Richardson by his side, cannot now-a-days define either whig or tory, democrat or republican.

It is truly an interesting study to learn the new phraseology of religion, not only of religion in general, but of the different leading parties of the present church militant. An adept in this study could almost swear to a Romanist or a Highchurchman, a Presbyterian or a Methodist, in the dark, if he only heard him speak for a single hour; and that, too, without stating one of his peculiar dogmata. Certain words, like the shibboleth of the Ephraimites, invariably identify the religious tribe to which the speaker belongs.

In the midst of this babelism there is one fact, which it behooves me to state. I scarcely know how, indeed, to introduce it in this place; and yet it is essential to a proper understanding of the whole subject before us. This fact is, that, in the strife of partyism, some Bible terms have been so appropriated to represent peculiar tenets and views which never occurred to their inspired authors, that, were Paul now living amongst us, he could not understand much of his own language. To this class belong the words regeneration, sanctification, and conversion.

With special reference to the discussion, and to the words of my proposition, I must, therefore, notice one capital blunder, which, if not now detected, might involve the subject before us in great obscurity. I cannot, however, much as I regret it, distinctly unfold my meaning in a single sentence. Allow me, then, to open it gradually to the apprehension of all.

The various conditions of man, as he was, as he now is, and as he shall hereafter be, as connected with Adam the first, and Adam the second, are set forth in Sacred Scripture under various images and metaphors, each of which belongs exclusively to its own class, and is independent of every