acknowledge affusion, though received by them in infancy, as valid baptism. This of course they could not do, and hence a separation took place in many of these churches; the baptized members withdrawing and forming separate organizations, which soon assumed the exclusive character and standing of Baptist churches. Thus God in his providence was separating the wheat from the chaff, the truth from falsehood, the ordinances of his church from the traditions and commandments of men. Still, however, the leaven of error was not entirely purged out. The light, though shining somewhat more clearly than it had done, was nevertheless intercepted by much of prejudice and passion, and not as yet fully apprehended. So strong were the ties of former associations, that many at first could not separate themselves at the Lord's table, from those with whom they had been accustomed to walk in fellowship; and though they seem to have been fully aware of the inconsistency of this course, yet relative attachments triumphed at times over principle, and the truth was sacrificed, as it often is, at the shrine of human passion and friendship.

Still this was a point of peculiar tenderness, and was regarded and treated by the churches, with a degree of mildness and lenity somewhat remarkable, it is true, but not unbecoming, perhaps, the circumstances in which they were placed. The ministry of this period seem to have been endued with a remarkable degree of wisdom, prudence, and piety. They were men, evidently, whom God had selected and fitted for the weighty responsibilities and arduous work to which they were called; men who were able and willing to take the oversight of the church of God; to guide her amid the perils through which she was passing; to lead her up from the darkness in which she had long been wandering, into the full light and liberty of the gospel. Theirs was the responsible work of combining elements; of separating the precious from the vile; of discriminating between the true and the false, both in doctrine and practice; of collecting, arranging, fitting, and harmonizing materials for the establishment of the church of God, as the pillar and ground of the truth, upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief

They were called upon, not only to preserve the ordinance of baptism, which they had received in special trust, in its primitive relation to the church, but also to cast a mass of mind, just emerging from the darkness of a false theology, into the peculiar mould of gospel truth, into the form of sound evangelical sentiment, and of equally sound evangelical practice; and of the manner in which, under God, they met this responsibility; of the consummate wisdom, prudence, and fidelity, with which they discharged their high and sacred duties; of the correctness of their decisions in most matters of faith, practice, and discipline; the present condition of the denomination, is perhaps the best criterion. For it has advanced to its present state, guided and guarded by those simple principles of ecclesiastical economy, in which they so faithfully instructed the churches committed to their charge. And in no way, perhaps, has the wisdom of their successors in the ministry, been more happily exhibited, than in attempting no innovations concerning these important points of order in the church. Wherever an improvement has been attempted, it has most signally

failed; both individuals and churches have found themselves constrained to return, and retire within the prescribed limits of an ecclesiastical fellowship, based upon union in the truth as it is in Jesus. The reason of this is obvious. The light which guided our early ministry in the formation and discipline of the church, was the New Testament. This was their law, their canon, their rule of faith and action. They did not study the fathers, or the decrees of councils, or the decisions of synods, but the TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. Here they found the grand model of the christian church, or rather the christian church itself, as constituted and regulated under the immediate teachings of the Holy Ghost; and to this they strove in all things to conform the spiritual temple which they were called to rear. Hence under their hand the building rose with something of the simplicity and beauty of the apostolic church. It stood out before the world reflecting in all its prominent features of doctrines, ordinances, and discipline, the light of a pure, primitive. christianity. Let it not be supposed, that our veneration for our fathers in the ministry is

excessive; we venerate them, because they venerated the New Testament; we follow them because they followed Christ. We speak of their religious principles because they were drawn fresh from the fountain of truth, the living oracles of God; we speak of their acts because they were conformable to the precepts of the gospel, and as such are worthy of our perpetual imitation. We admire their spirit, the elevated tone of their piety, their unwavering fidelity to truth, their strict and undeviating conscientiousness, their patient endurance of suffering, and their manly resistance of religious despotism. They were indeed extraordinary men, but were made so by the grace of God; by the peculiar circumstances into the midst of which they were thrown; by the responsibilities they were called to sustain ; and above all by the sufferings, privations, and persecutions, which they were called to endure. That they were great men we do not claim, at least in the ordinary acceptation of this phrase; and yet, if purity of mind and character, deep and ardent piety, strong attachment to truth, correct and comprehensive views of the gospel, a thorough acquaintance with the