A more marvellous work perhaps never was performed than the first missionary efforts of our brethren in behalf of the heathen. When the Christian world had apparently forgotten its high mission to preach the Gospel to every creature, and only here and there a few straggling missionaries were plying the work of salvation in heathen lands, unaided by the contributions, the sympathies, and the prayers of their brethren at home; our forefathers girded up their loins, took their staves into hand, and went forth to attack. and drive the destroyer from his prey. They were persuaded that the Lord had sent them, that he would show them the way, assist them in their work, and crown it with success. They successfully. invaded almost every heathen country at all within their reach..

Nor was this all. Even in their own fatherland, though hermetically sealed against every endeavor of any denomination, saving only those allowed and established by law, they found means to labor through the Diaspora work. This work confined itself altogether to endeavors for the spiritual building up of the people in the most holy faith of the scriptures, while it entirely avoided everything calculated to draw the subjects of this work into ecclesiastical connection with us. The members of the national churches, who thus came into connection with us, were always faithfully warned not to leave the communion of their own. churches, but punctually to attend upon their ministrations, and strictly to obey their behests. This work the Lord has likewise crowned with sucgess. Nor can we find many more christian efforts of a similar character in the history of the Church. It seems almost to stand alone, exhibiting a sublime spectacle of the most disinterested labors, in the midst of a generation almost universally bound down < by the degrading fetters of a heartless selfishness. In it we may see what the spirit of Christ may do, and how signally it triumphs over the spirit of party.

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Although this activity was going on, the Church in christian lands, as a distinct separate body, continued to her own detriment to maintain an exclusive character.. It has always been thought necessary to copy the plan of the original German congregations, even when we were founding churches in England and America. Whether circumstances demanded the engrafting of this character upon our new churches or not, it was nevertheless done. Men are always partial to the institutions with which they have heretofore stood in connection, and this must be the excuse of our good fathers, who first planted our Church on the free shores of America. The principle of the Church in Europe, that we are not a distinct Church organization,, but merely a society in the Church,. and as such, are not meant for the masses, was thus unhappily engrafted upon our young Zion here. Her activity has thereby been limited, her energies crippled, and her spiritual life well nigh exsinguished; for we deem it a principle deeply grounded in the

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eternal truth of God, that Christ's people can only flourish, in proportion as they work for the salvation of others. Thus while other denominations have filled our young country with churches and preachers, we have for the last fifty years, scarcely retained our own. Yes, and while our Church in Germany, through the Diaspora work, and in England, by awakening an interest in our extensive missionary efforts, has existed to some purpose, it appears to us that it will be difficult for any one, to point to the great good we have done in this country. In our opinion, and this opinion we declare freely, though with sadness, the Brethren's Church in America, has been comparatively speaking, aimless, pointless, and fruitless. We therefore protest against that view of our Church so often put forth, that it is not a distinct and independent Church, but rather a society in the Church. Political necessity has caused the assumption of that character in Europe; no such necessity exists here. And we do not deem it in principle, correct at all, that such can be the true character of any Church, in any country whatsoever, but rather think that every ecclesiastical body, having its own instituted ministry, is a separate and distinct Church body, and independent branch of the great Church universal, bound by the explicit command of the Lord Jesus Christ, uttered in that solemn moment, when he was about to part with his disciples, and return to his father's immediate presence in heaven: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

Some may regret, that the Church universal, is divided into so many distinct branches, but as such seemeth best in the providence of God, we assume that all these branches should have the same general character, exercise the same lofty functions, and perform the same great duties.

Though the old view is still maintained among our churches in Europe generally, and in America partially, it is evident that our fellow Christians every where ascribe unto us that same character which they attach unto themselves, and which rightfully belongs to all.

We have dwelt so long upon this subject, because we believethat it has had an important influence on the practice and progress of the Church. We wish to see the principle of our independent position, as a distinct branch of the Christian Church universally obtaining, and unanimously acknowledged. We wish to see the Church not only proclaiming, but ever and everywhere practically carrying out the principle: "our field is the world;" and where that field has not yet been occupied, we deem it not only our privilege, but our duty to enter and possess the land in our Immanuel's

name.

These our views, as we hold them, and as we wish them understood, bear no sectarian character whatsoever. They are and ever

have been the views of all christians outside of our fold, and it must appear strange to others that they should ever have been denied among us; indeed we think that not even the most intelligent members of other denominations can at all comprehend that other view, which has in former times so generally prevailed, and which we cannot allow to be a sound one.

We desire it therefore to be distinctly understood, that the character which has heretofore been applied to our Church, and which would make her a mere society in the Church, and not a Church proper, is in our view, at the present day, and in our country at least, inapplicable and unintelligible. We think we see the unavoidable and fatal consequences of this principle in the prostrate and delapidated condition of our body, and we decidedly deprecate all endeavors through our Church Miscellany, to re-engraft it upon

us.

But we proceed to a few remarks upon the peculiar mission of the Church to which we belong. "What is its mission?" has been asked, and answers come from every side. Now we think that the answer to this question may be profitable or unprofitable, in accordance with the spirit and object with which we investigate. Such a subject is always an interesting one, but it necessarily demands of us much prudence and impartiality in our inquiry, otherwise though our reasoning may be plausible, and our ideas ingenious, they will be neither sound nor profitable.

The question should be asked not with a view to escape from duty, but rather with the purpose of fully exploring, and faithfully performing it; nor with the object of vain self adulation, but in order strictly to inquire into our shortcomings, and with God's grace to amend our ways.

We may readily recognize the peculiar mission of our Church a century ago, but we think it impossible for any man to give it for the century to come. We may watch the "signs of the times," look deeply into the state of the Church in general, as well as into the peculiar condition of our own branch of it, we may weigh probabilities, and possibilities, and closely compare the present with the past, the experience of yesterday with that of to-day, and withal our anticipations with regard to the morrow may be most erroneous. Even the statesman may investigate, and analize, and compare, and form a reasonable judgement with regard to things to come, so far as they are connected with his own department of labor, and in a vast majority of cases, his prophecy is not borne out in the fulfilment. The poet said it, and though said by a mere uninspired man it is true; "There is a divinity which shapes our ends," and from his decisions and appointments, most frequently unexpected, there is no appeal. For a very wise purpose, God has veiled the future from our eyes. Still he has given us a sufficient knowledge of our duty as an evangelical Church, and it is contained

in the words already quoted: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature." Depend upon it, the most ingenious speculations of man will always partake of his frailties. They may sometimes coincide with the will of God, especially when we ask light and knowledge of the Lord, and look for it in his book, but, alas, they too often commit us to a mistaken and fatal policy. Our duty therefore, is plain-and no man need ask: "What is it?" Nor should he stand in the way of its performance. We believe that whenever our zeal is checked by any engagements with mammon, the Lord will retire, and his blessing will be withheld.

Several points have been given as distinctive and peculiar features of our Brethren's Church. It was the declaration of some great man that "words are things," and so they are, not only in high wrought and passionate appeals, but likewise, and especially in all discussions upon political, legal, philosophical, social, or religious subjects. Now we find the words "distinctive and peculiar," defined by lexicographers as referring to something belonging to one party, with exclusion of others, forming a distinct and separate feature, borne by one, and not by the other. When we therefore say, it is our distinctive and peculiar mission to proclaim the Lord's death, to preach the atonement, to be a living congregation of Jesus, to labor in the missionary field, we think that we are not only grossly culpable, in exhibiting a great want of charity, but are vainly arrogating a character of high excellence, which we at the same time deny to all others. And long disquisitions on German rationalism, and the general decay of vital godliness at the beginning of the 18th century, will not save us from the just imputation of having made an ungenerous and uncharitable attack upon all christendom. Is not this the old spirit of sectarianism which we so much censure in others, and which we like they, are so much tempted to exhibit ourselves? If others do not resent these most complacent opinions of ours, it will be because they apprehend no very fatal results. They may read them with not a little surprise, but will let them pass, as it is quite evident, they can do no harm. And with this almost Japanese exclusiveness, what will become of that other favorite idea, so often dwelt upon, that it is our peculiar mission to offer the hand of kindness to true believers of all other .-denominations?

That the beautiful idea of an Evangelical Alliance has not only been held, but practically carried out in the Brethren's Church, for more than 100 years, we cannot believe, because we see not the fact. That this opinion is based upon our character of a mere society in the Church, we may readily understand, but as we cannot find that character actually in existence, we dare not make the above assertion even in theory. Our practice is still more against it, because of our great exclusiveness, and almost entire separation from the world. The peculiarities of the Church have been much discussed.

Every Church will have some marked peculiarities, but they are not always easily described.

When we speak of peculiarities we have reference, not so much to externals, as to the spirit of the Church, distinguishing it from others. That we preach Christ crucified, is certainly a matter for much thankfulness, but we are still more grateful unto God that this is not peculiar to the Brethren's Church. We praise the Lord, that other evangelical Churches do the same. And here let us be distinctly understood that we deem it not only most important, but absolutely indispensible in the preaching of the Gospel, "that we determine not to know any thing, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

But what constitutes "preaching the cross?" Merely to speak much of it, does not. Frequently to dwell upon the details of the Savior's crucifixion, does not. No, and the mere explanation of the connection between Christ's death and the sinner's hope, does "not.

"The preaching of Christ crucified;" who is sufficient for this work? It is a savor of life unto life, whenever faithfully done. Though what we are about to say, may seem a most presumptuous and unwarranted assertion, an assertion which has already been made, but most emphatically denied, truth compels us nevertheless to make it. We believe that "the word of the Cross," has been proclaimed among us in a one-sided manner, and not "according to the proportion of faith." How can we otherwise explain the circumstance, that our preaching is so little awakening? Old John Wesley accused our ancient brethren of being rhapsodical, (if we may coin a word, his own we do not remember) in their discourses. It is sometimes said that we are not in the habit of being systematic in our discourses. True, very true, and may not the remark be extended? Are we always plain, clear, decided and intelligible? Are we not in the habit of confounding one great subject too much with another? in one breath, speaking to our audiences as sinners, in such terms as involve actual impenitence, and in another addressing them as children of grace, who have made the most happy experience. And this is done not only in our public preaching, but in our more private meetings, when we only meet communicant brethren in the Lord's house. Do we not soothe where we ought to expose the awful and damnation-bringing corruption of the human heart? Oh proclaim it, proclaim it from the house tops, cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins," we have been nurturing the poisonous serpent Antimonianism in our midst, and the deadly virus already affects us in every limb. Oh! let self adulation go to the winds, let airy and fanciful speculation be entirely discarded; stop, oh stop all unprofitable discourse, and let us go earnestly to work, for we are on the brink of the precipice, and before us is the yawning gulf of perdition.. And is this mere