During the year 1842, Mr. Randall being absent, the pulpit was chiefly supplied by Rev. William Flint. Under his ministry, thirty-five were admitted to the church by baptism. * June 17th, of this year, 1843, Mr. Randall returned and resumed the pastoral charge.

We have thus taken a hasty glance at the history of this church. Commencing with its rise, one hundred years ago, we have followed it in its progress down to the present time. We have seen it small at first, struggling with popular prejudice, proscribed by the civil law; yet rising and gaining strength, under the pressure of all this opposition.

We have marked its steady, onward course, as we have travelled down through succeeding generations, till at length we find, that the leaven of truth, hid a century since, in a few faithful hearts, has widely diffused itself throughout community, and is still on every side extending. How marked the difference between that period and this. Then the church sought the protection of the state, and the state assumed to be the guardian of chris

* See Appendix, letter L.

tianity. But now the church claims alliance alone with her great SPIRITUAL HEAD, lives, advances, triumphs, not by might nor by power,' but by the indwelling Spirit of God.' Then christian baptism was scarcely known in these parts, or known only to meet with persecution from the prevailing church. Now it prevails to a great extent in all denominations, and multitudes are buried every year in the likeness of the Savior's death. Then there was but one Baptist church in this town, two in this county, and but three or four in this state. Now there are in this town, five Baptist churches, and in the state, one hundred and eight. Then Pædobaptism everywhere prevailed; now it is rapidly passing away. Then a few scattered churches of our faith, were found in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Now they are everywhere found embracing the largest population of either of the prevailing denominations in the United States. We speak not of this boastingly; as a denomination we have nothing whereof to glory.

Our fathers simply preached and practiced the truth, and left it to work its own way and

win its own triumphs; and in proportion as men have ventured to read and think for themselves; in proportion as the authority of the New Testament has prevailed over the authority of the church and the ministry; in that proportion have the distinctive sentiments of the Baptist church been embraced.

The great question now to be settled, is the same which has ever been pending: whether God, or man, shall be supreme; whether human, or divine authority shall be regarded; whether the word of God, or the word of man, shall be authoritative; whether GoD shall legislate for the church, or the church legislate for herself.

This question has all along agitated the world; and will continue to do so, till christians, casting off all alliance with vain traditions. received from the fathers, come fully to the Bible and bow to its authority. The light which a portion of the evangelical church has refused to receive, because reflected from a point repulsive to its sectional prejudices, it will nevertheless be constrained to follow, or strike hands with those who deny the exclusive authority of the Bible in points of faith

and practice, and wander back amid the labyrinths of human traditions to Rome itself.

God hasten the day, when we shall all come to the unity of the faith, 'having one LORD, one FAITH, One BAPTISM, one God and Father of all, who is above all and in all.'

In view of the past, we are led to exclaim, 'what hath God wrought!' Surely he that is mighty, hath done marvellous things. His mercy is on them that fear him, from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud, in the imagination of their hearts; he hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

The history of this church illustrates the efficiency of our peculiar form of government. That government is strictly congregational strictly independent. Each church controls itself, administers its own discipline, receives and excludes its own members, chooses and calls to ordination its own pastors; disciplines, dismisses, and deposcs them by its own independent authority. It may ask the advice of other churches, but is not bound to do so. It may convoke a council, for counsel, but for noth

ing further. The executive power is in the church; the discipline must be its own, and from its decisions, there can be no legitimate appeal. The voice of a majority of the male members of a Baptist church, must, in all cases of discipline, be decisive.

Such, at least, are the principles, by which this church, in its government, has ever been controlled; and few churches, it is believed, during the same number of years, have enjoyed more internal quietness and harmony.

answer no.

In closing, we can but remark, that we are forcibly reminded of the extreme brevity of life; of the transitory nature of all earthly relations, religious, as well as social and domestic. The fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?' The peculiar services and associations of this day The children and the children's children are here; but the fathers with their whitened locks, and the prophets with their hoary heads, where are they? Alas, with but a few exceptions, they are gone, all gone. But a few years since they were here, meeting the high responsibilities, and discharging the important duties which we this morning have been reviewing.