1 LETTERS TO ENGLAND-No. X. Beloved Brethren, I AM often so crowded like your coaches, inside and outside, that I cannot find a passage for a letter to my beloved brethren in the isles of the sea. But you have the prophetic word confirmed, illustrated, and interpreted by the apostolic teaching. And are not we Christians a highly favored people? We have the Patriarchal, the Jewish, and the Christian dispensations-history, precepts, and promises before our eyes. We can exchange a thought with Abel, Enoch, Noah, Melchisedek, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, and all the Prophets on all the glorious destiny of a saint. We can sit awhile at the foot of the Mount and listen to the heavenly words of light and love that sweetly fell from the hallowed lips of Him that breathed the softest and the sweetest accents that ever fell on mortal ear. We can follow him to the crowded temple, the thronged city, the humble village, and the lonely mountain, lake, and valley, and amidst the thousands of the promiscuous mass, or at the private hearth of the humble sisters we still behold the same graceful and dignified Teacherthe same condescending and benevolent Chief-the same wonderworking, spirit-stirring, soul-reviving Messenger of God, dispelling darkness, rebuking unbelief, administering comfort, and speaking the quickening and cheering words of life to the humble poor, or to the disconsolate sons of misfortune and of guilt! The prayer of the destitute he does not disregard. The humblest suppliant that has none to help him, who calls upon him for his helping hand, finds him all attentive to his wants a present help in time of need. How much consolation in the assurance that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever! that his heart is still as full of love and pity-that his ears are still as open to our cry, and that his arm is as full of power as when he raised Lazarus from the dead, and rebuked the roaring tempest and the swelling sea! To call him our Lord, our Redeemer, our Saviour-O what a bliss unspeakable and full of glory! "Jesus, I love thy charming name "Tis music to my ear; Fain would I sound it out so loud Yes, thou art precious to my soul, And gold is sordid dust." Dear brethren, the impulsive principle in the Christian religion is the love of Jesus. His yoke is easy and his burthen is light. The frowns of this world are converted into smiles when reflected from his face. If we love him, all things for his sake are easy. Christians in this age need often to meditate upon his grace, his love, his sacrifice for us. This is the victory that overcomes the world—our faith in his love, and our hope in his promises. We need all the power of his truth, and grace, and faithfulness to stem the tide of unbelief, worldly conformity, and hollow-heartedness so often scen amongst his professed friends-to say nothing of our own besetments. Many who pretend to love the Saviour will hate us for doing what he bade us. They denounce us because we honor his word by endeavoring to keep his commands. They revile us on account of our feeble endeavors to reverence him above all teachers whom they profess to admire. Shall we, then, hearken to their flatteries or their frowns? By no means. We know him in whom we have believed; and we shall still "his praises speak" and "his favor seek," though earth and hell oppose. In the present day communion with the Lord and habitual intimacies with the throne of grace are not the distinguishing characters of the Christian profession. Men will talk, debate, contend, fight and die for religion, rather than enjoy it in the peaceful retired devotion of a truly worshipful temper and a rational abstemiousness from a worldly spirit and behaviour. Men cannot have their treasure, joy, and citizenship in heaven, without their affections also. They all go together. Our riches, honor, rank, happiness, conversation, heart, and soul always lodge together, and repose side by side. Two maxims of the Great Teacher communicate all the instruction we can give on this subject. The first is, "Where your treasure is there will your heart be also;" and the second, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." They are as true, and as evidently true as that a whole is more than a half. When added together there sum is the treasure, the heart, and the tongue are indissolubly wedded together. The tongue follows the heart, and the heart follows the treasure, as certainly as the shadow follows the substance, or the moon the earth, and the earth the sun. "The rich man's wealth is a strong city," said the richest king that ever sat on David's throne. If so, how strong the city, how great the confidence, how warm the affections, and how eloquent the tongue of a truly sane and intelligent Christian. The moon waits not more patiently on the earth, nor does this earth move more obsequiously round the sun, than play the affections of the soul, magnetized by the love of Christ, around the throne on which he sits-than ascend the affections to Him that has made our peace and reconciled us to our Father and our God. Prayer, adoration, thanksgiving, blessing are the very breath of that heart whose treasure is in heaven, and whose treasurer is the Son of God. The heart ponders, meditates, terminates on him-the tongue reveals the secrets that burn within him-and his breath is the rapture, the ecstacy, the prayer, and the praise of the truly sane, intelligent, and ardent Christians. There are sane Pardon me, brethren, for this use of the word sane. and insane men: and why not sane and insane Christians? An insane Christian is one who attempts to have his heart in heaven and his treasure on earth; and he is a sane Christian who has his treasure, his heart, his conversation in the skies, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. All this requires time and means. The closet, the retired chamber, the lonely air, the evening walk, the midnight hour, the early dawn, and all the striking incidents of the day-of morning, noon, and night, must hear, and witness, and echo forth the admiration, wonder, love, and praise of our souls. Such a man is a sane, healthy, thriving, prosperous Christian; and every other Christian has an unequal pulse, a varied countenance-the head-ache, the heart-ache-a dyspeptic soula weak, and frail, and mortal constitution. Politics are a The air of this world is unwholesome to a Christian. moral pestilence. The strifes of the forum and the fierce debates about meum and tuum-thiney and miney-are the scorching wind, the sirocco, the Syrian blast to the soul. So is the love of wealth, of political power, and a worldly temper. Christians, keep yourselves from IDOLS! Affectionately and forever yours, In the brightening hope of immortality, A. CAMPBELL. CUNNING AND DISCRETION. CUNNING has only private, selfish aims, and sticks at nothing which may make them succeed. Discretion bas large and extended views, and, like a well-formed eye, commands a whole horizon. Cunning is a kind of short-sightedness, that discovers the minutest objects which are near at hand, but is not able to discern things at a distance. Discretion, the more it is discovered, gives a greater authority to the person who possesses it. Cunning, when it is once detected, loses its force, and makes a man incapable of bringing about ven those events which he might have done, had he passed only for a plain man. Dis cretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life. Cunning is a kind of ins inct, that only looks out after our immediate interest and welfare. Discretion is only found in men of strong sense and good understandings. Cunning is often to be met with in brutes themselves, and in persons who are but the fewest removes from them. In short, cunning is only the mimic of discretion, and may pass upon weak men in the same manner as vivacity is often mistaken for wit, and gravity for wisdom.-Addison. News from the Churches. Fayette County, Indiana, August 16, 1838. I HAVE the pleasure of informing you that a very interesting meeting has just closed at Flat Rock, about four miles from my house. Brother Coombs, from Crawfordsville, in this state, came here on a visit to preach the gospel, in conjunction with brother O'Kane. They commenced preaching on Saturday last, and continued the meeting four days; in which time there were added to the church about fifty persons-a large majority of them young men and young women. But the progress of the gospel has not been confined to this place alone: thank the Lord that in every place where these brethren preach precious souls embrace the truth and enter into the kingdom of the Lord Messiah! With the Prophet we may sing, "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose!" It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God. The labor principally devolved upon brother Coombs, brother O'Kane being the baptist on the occasion. There has been added to Flat Rock Church, since the second Lord's day in July, upwards of one hundred souls. Praised be our Lord! I have recently immersed five persons-among them were my son-in-law, and son (II years old,) the last of my children old enough intelligently to embrace the truth. What hath not God wrought! The church does not increase in number in the ratio of the migration West and elsewhere. It appears that we just introduce men and women into the kingdom to send them away to distant parts. JOHN THOMAS, Junior. Maury County, Tennessee, August 6, 1838. We commenced a meeting on Saturday, July 28th, at Lasea, (in this county-my neighhorhood,) which continued five days. Our speakers were our excellent brothers A. Craig and J. C. Anderson-(brother Mack on Lord's day.) Eleven "confessed with their mouth the Lord Jesus." and five who had been immersed before, were added to the congregation during the meeting. Yesterday we had "a joyful day:" at the same place three more made the good confession. The Lord be praised! After commencing the above good news I was called by my wife to go after her Physician. I went-he came-her disease baffled his skill, and the next day (August 7th) she died in the triumph of faith. She lived in the kingdom of heaven here a little over fifteen years, and in her last hours expressed the highest confidence in the power, goodness, and faithfulness of the Redeemer. After bidding a long farewell to all around her, with a sweetness of countenance expressive of more than language can describe she fell asleep in Jesus. Brother, pray for me, that I may raise her children in the correction and instruction of the Lord. JOSHUA K. SPEER. [May the good Lord, who does not afflict willingly nor grieve the sons of men, hear the prayers of our much esteemed and faithful brother Speer!--A. C.] Banton's Ferry, Tennessee, August 13, 1838. Now, brother Campbell, I will tell you something pleasing: We closed a meeting of several days' continuance on Wednesday last, at Philippi, (our meeting house,) brother Anderson P. Craig laboring. The result was, eighteen made the good confession: among the number was my daughter 14 years old, and a son 12. They are young, but I can assure you they are believers, and 1 believe they have received the seed in honest and understanding hearts. Our meeting was interesting, and a draught was never made during the meet ng without some making the good confession. The waters were troubled every day during our meeting: this was refreshing to us, for some of our brethren had began to despond and to beat the servants, saying, "The Lord delayeth his coming," for we had not made an addition for near twelve months. But we are refreshed and much encouraged, and I hope that our brethren here will not worship that idol Covetausness any longer; for if that idol were demolished I feel confident we would see a great increase. Tell Justus to lay too and spare not, for he writes like a man, and I am well pleased with the boldness of his style, notwithstanding I am not certain but that he wrests some scriptures. G. W. BANTON. Russellville, Putnam County, Indiana, August 20, 1838. The cause of truth is gaining in this country. Within a few weeks some fifty or sixty persons have confessed the Lord of glory within the bounds where I travel. JOHN M. HARRIS. New Albany, Indiana, August 21, 1838. It may not be uninteresting to you and the brethren occasionally to hear from us and to know how we are getting on in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. The good cause is prospering: we have had a meeting of several days, during which time thirty-one became obedient to the faith. Our principal laborers were brethren William Brown and Newton Short. We had some assistance from brethren Gates and Elley. The sects are as opposed as ever, and are all united against the truth-Campbellism,' so called by them; but greater is He who is for us than all who are opposed to us. We are confident that our cause is of God, and if we are faithful and will do honor to the cause, that the Lord will honor us.The church in this place is in gospel order, with her elders and deacous, and meets together on the first day of the week to break the loaf, &c We have a good house of our own, as you have been before apprised of. Our house and lot cost nearly five thousand dollars, and when completed we were about two thousand dollars behind The brethren agreed to meet the debt on the advalorem system, which we think to be a righteous one-according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not-and they came forward cheerfully and made arrangements to meet every dollar of the arrears. If the rich as well as the poor would do their duty, many congregations who have been for years harass e and perplexed with a meeting house debt, would be relieved and the good cause honorN. PRICE. ed. Home, Indiana, August 1, 1838. Brother Fassett and myself have labored together for the last month. Brother W. Brown was with us at Bloomington four days, including the first Lord's day in July.— During the month there were 36 additions at the different points where we proclaimed29 by immersion. Sectarianism is giving way at every point. Babylon must and will tail: her ruin is inevitable! Let us again say, "Halleluia! that the smoke of her torment may ascend up forever and ever!" JAMES M. MATHES. [I would rejoice to see all the brethren in the world, and especially those nigh Blooming. ton, and many in Illinois; but the brethren know I cannot be always from home, nor every where. I will see them as soon as I can.-A.C.} Boon County, Missouri, August 18, 1838. We had four additions at our last meeting in Columbia; among the number were brother Warren Woodson, Jr. and wife, lately from Virginia; I mention him, that his numerous friends in his natal land, who read the Harbinger, may know where he is in the far West, and that he is zealously engaged in proclaiming the gospel, to the delight and edification of the saints and admiration of the public. I regard him as quite an accession to our teaching ranks, and humbly trust he may be greatly useful in this the land of his adoption. On the 5th Lord's day of last month brothers Woodson, J Coons, and I were in Jefferson City, and on that day we planted a church of Christ upon the Holy Scriptures, of 17 members. This was our third visit to that city. The citizens are generally very much in favor of that gospel liberty and truth for which we plead. On last Lord's day brother Woodson and I were in Rocheport: we remained until Monday evening. Seven were added to the congregation during our visit. There have been eight or ten additions recently in the congregation at Millersburg. The good cause is still advancing in our state through strong and bitter opposition. P. S.-19th. Two confessed the Lord to day in Columbia. THOMAS M. ALLEN. Richmond, Virginia, September 8, 1838. After being in Charlottesville a few days, I returned in company with our beloved brother Coleman to Gilbon in Louisa county, where we labored alternately four days. Eight persons confessed the Lord at the meeting. I then preached at Southanna, Tenperance, and Deep Run, on my way to Richmond. Brother Bagby accompanied me to Deep Run, and we had the pleasure on the way to lodge with an aged couple and baptize the matron in her 80th year. After preaching the following Lord's day in Richmond, I rode to Independence in Hanover, where brother Bagby commenced a meeting of three days. After preaching on Monday five confessed, and the next day an old gentleman or 70, as I suppose. Brother Bagby is doing the work of an Evangelist in Louisa and Hanover, and much good has been done during the summer by his ministrations. Nothing is wanting now but a reading and praying people in all the churches, and efficient Evange fists, to make the harvest for the Lord great. JAMES HENSHALL. Nottingham, England, July 28. 1838. Seven individuals, members of the Particular Baptist body, at Newark-on-Trent, 20 Miles from Nottingham, have separated themselves and formed a church on reformed principles. Four of these are men, and well educated, of good report, and two of them are well capable of speaking to others on the subject of the great salvation. We have engaged to render thein assistance every fortnight during the summer months, and I hope That some ad fitions will be made. Your Essay on Remission of Sins has led many to examine the ground of their hope before God, and about five and twenty persons, male and female, on their ret unciation of Sectarianism, Fullerism, Calvinism, Arminianism, and mystic operations, into which they were at first immersed, have now demanded immersion into the faith of Jesus, and are happy in the Lord. This state of things has chiefly been brought about through the essay just mentioned, and the teaching of the simple gospel of Christ as delivered at the first by Peter and his associates. It is now just eighteen months since the church here, with fourteen members, commenced operations on a broader basis than that which is sectarian. The body has now increased to upwards of one hundred and thirty members, and I am happy to know that most of the brethren un derstand much concerning the relationship which ought to subsist between themselves, the Lord, and his institutions; consequently the services on the Lord's day are well attended. The feast of the Lord is celebrated with reverence, love, joy, peace, and union, |