himself a sacrifice for his enemies, dying 'the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,' and who, before his ascension to his mediatorial throne, gave commandment to his disciples, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.' Remember that, with the stupendous facts of his own death and resurrection, the Saviour has associated the universal preaching of the Gospel, as not less necessary to the accomplishing of Divine purposes in the salvation of men. To the disciples at Emmaus, he said, 'Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name, among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and ye are witnesses of these things.'

"We wish you, dear brethren, to come under the full influence of these principles. Let the mind of God be your mind; let the great maxim of your life be, 'None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.' Recur to the period when you also were children of darkness, disobedience, and wrath, even as others. Taught by the mercy which has pitied you, learn to pity your fellow sinners; and let the love of Christ, and the love of men alike urge you freely to bestow the blessings which you have so freely received.

"With gratitude to the God of all grace, by whose spirit we trust you have been influenced, we acknowledge the zeal and liberality in behalf of missions to the heathen, by which you have been honourably distinguished among the churches in Britain; and in reference to these, we express at once our heart's desire, our earnest prayer, and our confident anticipation, that, led by the same Spirit, you will abound more and more. But at the same time, we must entreat you not to overlook the condition and claims of those, who, dwelling in your own neighbourhood, make a more direct appeal to your benevolence, and may be more readily brought within the influence of your efforts. Think of the large proportion of the vast population immediately around us, who are living in utter disregard of all religion; the thousands of immortal beings, at our own doors, perishing for lack of that knowledge which you possess, and which it is in your power so easily to convey. Enquire what efforts have been made, what means employed for their reformation and relief? What religious advantages have been afforded them? And then ask, have not the Christians of this town cause for humiliation before God, on account of past indifference and neglect; selfishly enjoying their own privileges, while criminally negligent of surrounding destitution?

"With shame and contrition for past neglect, let us unite a holy determination, by the grace of God, to rise to a state of feeling, of purpose, and of effort corresponding with our privileges, our responsibilities, and our opportunities. In pursuance of this determination, let measures be immediately and vigorously adopted for erecting, in various districts of the town, additional places in which the worship of God may be conducted, and the Gospel of salvation faithfully and constantly proclaimed.

"For this purpose let there a concentration of strength, a combination of effort. Let the churches, which have too long stood alone, and feebly exerted their separate influence, be united in the common cause, and by combining their counsel and their energies there is reason to hope that the augmention of power will be immense. While one may chase a thousand, two shall put ten thousand to flight. Combinations for manufacturing or mercantile, for scientific or political ends, awaken intensity of interest. Let trial be made of the efficacy of a holy confederation for moral and religious purposes, in the service of that Redeemer, who prayed for his disciples,' that they all may be one, that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.'

"In the efforts and successes of other Christian denominations, we unfeignedly rejoice, cordially desiring that grace may be with all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' No man, we think, can be truly said to love the cause of Christ, who does not behold with delight the increase of his subjects, and the extension of his empire, although the glorious work may be carried on by those whose forms of worship or rules of ecclesiastical discipline differ from his own. Nevertheless, a preference for our own particular denomination, a predominant wish to promulgate the views of truth which we deem most agreeable to the Divine mind, and the modes of worship and church government which appear to us most consistent with the New Testament, is not only justifiable, but commendable; and we hesitate not to adduce, as a powerful reason for our attachment to

the principles and practices of Congregational Nonconformity, their correspondence with the purposes of Infinite mercy, in the peculiar facilities for propagation and universal extension by which they are obviously and pre-eminently distinguished

"If, by the combined efforts of our churches, chapels be erected in well-chosen situations, and measures judiciously adopted to give them sanction and support, we believe it will not be found difficult to gather numbers under the sound of the Gospel. But we must be allowed to remind you that, having taken this first step which duty evidently requires, additional obligations will be thereby involved, obligations which, in regard for consistency, and in order to the success of the attempt, must not be overlooked. When chapels are reared and opened, those Christians, now connected with our churches, on whom by reason of proximity of residence, or otherwise, the duty may be deemed especially to devolve, will, we trust, consent to sacrifice their present associations and attachments, and be willing, by personal attendance and persevering effort, to encourage and aid the new interests. The congregations should comprise, from the onset, some persons of well-tried piety, and established Christian reputation; they should be assisted to procure the services of holy and devoted ministers, adapted, in character and talent, to the duties of such stations; and they should, in every practicable way, be countenanced and sustained by the older churches.

"As it will be expedient to reserve, for free sittings, a considerable proportion of the space in the buildings, which may in this manner be erected, it can scarcely be anticipated that the current expenditure will, for perhaps a series of years, be adequately met without pecuniary aid from the associated churches; and to provide means for the certain and constant supply of that assistance, arrangements should at once be made.

"Moreover, it is not to be concealed that, in the present state of society here, more is required to meet the exigencies of the case than building houses of prayer, forming Christian Churches, and providing gratuitous accommodation. Such is the natural aversion of man to the truth and ordinances of God, and such is the influence of the long-formed habit of utter neglect, that it becomes necessary to search out the ignorant and the careless, to visit the hiding-places of vice and ungodliness, to go out into the highways and hedges,' and by reiterated invitations aud entreaties, moral persuasion and holy influence, compel them to come in.' On these accounts you will see it to be indispensable, not only to sustain with augmented vigour and diligence the CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION SOCIETIES already established in our several communities, and, if possible, to widen their spheres of beneficial labour, but likewise to institute a similar association in connexion with every one of the congregations which may be gathered in the proposed buildings, in order that from them may sound out the word of the Lord throughout the districts in which they may be situated. In sustaining such a system of operations, every member of our churches should feel that the obligation rests personally on himself. Every Christian has a part to act in the common cause. Every one has a sphere of power and influence, within which he should labour with zeal, judgment, fidelity, and prayer. Let every one, then, enquire, what are the demands of duty upon me at the present crisis? And let him hasten, in a spirit of self-denial, and self-consecration, to meet and answer those demands.

"It must also be remembered, that an addition to the number of places of worship will render necessary a corresponding increase in the number of ministers ; and it will, therefore, become more than ever incumbent on you to search out, encourage, and assist those who possess qualifications for the ministry, to support, with augmented zeal and liberality, our collegiate institutions for training such men for the sacred work, and especially, to pray to the Lord of the harvest, to send forth labourers into the harvest.'

"Need we exhort you, Christian Friends, to connect prayer, importunate and persevering prayer, with all your purposes and all your efforts for advancing the kingdom of our Lord. In private and in public, individually and unitedly, pray that it may please God to impart His wisdom to direct, and His blessing to prosper; and let a profound consciousness of utter insufficiency, without His omnipotent agency, pervade all your deliberations, plans, and labours.

"We have now, in conclusion, only to intimate, that Meetings in relation to the subject which we have thus brought before you, are intended to be convened on

Friday, March 24th, (usually called Good Friday,) that day having been selected as affording leisure and facilities for attendance to many persons, to whom, at other times, it would be inconvenient or impracticable. We request your presence in Grosvenor Street Chapel, Piccadilly, at half-past ten o'clock in the forenoon for United Prayer, and we invite you to attend a Public Meeting in the same place, at half-past six o'clock in the evening, for considering the measures which will then be submitted for approval and adoption.

Finally, brethren, we address you in the words of an Apostle: Do all things without murmurings and disputings; That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life, that we may rejoice in the day of Christ, that we have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.'

This faithful and heart-stirring letter could not fail to produce a powerful effect on the minds of the devoted Christians to whom it was addressed, and it led to the formation of the Manchester and Salford Congregational Association in March last. The commercial embarrassments which visited all our northern manufacturing and commercial towns in the spring of the present year, naturally affected Manchester, and delayed for some months these benevolent projects. We are happy to learn, however, that the Association has so far succeeded as to propose the erection of six new chapels in that locality. The following article, from The Manchester Guardian, records the first public service connected with these erections. Most sincerely do we wish that the liberal and zealous designs of our honoured brethren may be fully realized.

"On Friday, 29th Sept. the corner stone of a new Independent chapel, in Liverpool Street, Oldfield Road, Salford, was laid by the Rev, John Addison Coombs, minister of the Independent chapel, Chapel Street, Salford, assisted by the ministers of the Independent chapels in Manchester, Salford, Chorltonon-Medlock, Hulme, Rusholme, Pendleton, &c.; and a very numerous assemblage of friends. The site of the chapel is on the north side of a street or intended street called Liverpool Street, which is a spacious avenue of great width, and about a thousand yards in length, extending in a line from Oldfield Road to Cross Lane. The religious service was opened by the Rev. J. Gwyther, of Hulme, who gave out a hymn, and afterwards read Psalm cxxxii. The Rev. Richard Fletcher, of Grosvenor Street Chapel, then engaged in prayer; the Rev. James Griffin, of Rusholme Road Chapel, gave out another hymn. Mr. J. H. Hulme then produced the inscription plate, from which he read the inscription as follows

"The foundation stone of this building, situate in Liverpool Street, Oldfield Road, Salford, in the county of Lancaster, intended for the worship of Almighty God, was laid on Friday, the 29th day of September, in the first year of the reign of Victoria, Queen of England, and in the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 1837, by the Rev. J. Addison Coombs, minister of the church and congregation assembling in the Independent Chapel, Chapel Street, Salford. The first of six new chapels intended to be built by the Manchester and Salford Congregational Association.

"Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.'-Isaiah xxviii. 16.

"Architects: Hayley and Brown, Manchester.-Builders: Southern, Salford.

W. and H.

"Mr. William Hayley, architect, then placed the plate within the cavity in the stone prepared for it; and Mr. Hulme presented to the Rev. J. A. Coombs the silver trowel to be used by him in the ceremony, which bore an inscription similar to that on the plate, and stating that it was presented by a few friends

to the Rev. John Addison Coombs, members of his church and congregation. After the masonic usages had been observed, the upper stone was lowered, and Mr. Coombs, ascending it, addressed the assembly. He gave a short history of the circumstances which had led to the commencement of a building in that place. Some time ago, a number of his congregation, who distributed tracts in that district, were induced, by the condition and population of the neighbourhood, to establish the Hope Street Sundayschool, where, in addition to teaching, divine service had been conducted on Sunday evenings and one other evening in the week; and the school-room had been so much crowded, both by adults at the religious services, and by about 300 scholars for instruction, that repeated calls had been made for the erection of a place of worship; and it was determined to erect one, previously to the formation of the Congregational Association in March last. Subsequently it was agreed to unite with that Association; and this was the first of six chapels which it was in the contemplation of the Association to erect in different parts of Manchester and Salford, and their immediate neighbourhood. Mr. Coombs observed, that it was not their object, in or by this religious service, to consecrate the ground, or make it holy; they were rather met for the purpose of thanking God for his goodness in the past, and of supplicating his blessing on their future efforts. He next noticed the leading doctrines that would thereafter be preached and taught in that place, and the mode of ecclesiastical government that would therein be observed and maintained. At the conclusion of this address, the Rev. Dr. Clunie gave out another hymn; and the Rev. George Taylor, of the Independent Chapel, New Windsor, concluded with prayer. The chapel will be a neat, though plain edifice, with stock brick front, and stone door cases: the front to consist of a recessed centre, and the doors are in the wings, the centre being filled with a Venetian window. The external dimensions of the building will be upwards of 64 feet by 57 feet; and by means of side galleries and an end gallery over the vestries for 200 Sunday scholars, it is calculated that it will seat about 950 persons. The building also will contain a vestry and chapel keeper's room; and a spacious school-room in the basement story, capable of holding about 600 scholars, with separate entrances for the boys and girls, and staircases leading up to their galleries. It is expected that it will be completed in the early part of next summer, at a cost of about £2500. We understand that land has already been purchased for another chapel, to be erected by the Congregational Association, in Quay Street, Manchester; and another plot at the top of Northumberland Street, Higher Broughton, near the Zoological Gardens. The other sites at present proposed or contemplated are the neighbourhood of Swan Street, Ancoates, or St. George's road; the vicinity of Red Bank; or at Miles Platting."

REVIVAL OF THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY, AT COLLUMPTON, devon.

The Congregational Chapel in the town of Collumpton, was opened for divine worship, August 24, 1831. On the 13th of August, 1832, a church was formed under the pastoral care of the Rev. Jonathan Glyde, Classical Tutor in the Western Academy, and now of Bradford, Yorkshire. Mr. Glyde continued to minister at Collumpton till the commencement of the year 1834; when, finding himself unequal to the performance of the onerous duties devolving upon him, in consequence of his two-fold relation, and considering that the Academy had the prior claim on his attention, he resigned the pastorate at Collumpton.

During the remainder of the year 1834, the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Messrs. Hickman and Quaife. Circumstances of a distressing nature occurred at the commencement of the year 1835, which led, in the month of November, to the dispersion of the church and Sunday-school: and in the following month, the chapel was temporarily closed. Shortly, however, it was again opened, and divine service was resumed and continued, through the kind assistance of

neighbouring ministers, in connexion with local agency, until the close of the year 1836, when Mr. James Richards, of Hackney Theological Institution, (son of the Rev. John Richards, late of Norwood, Surrey, and now of Birmingham,) acceded to an application from the congregation to supply the pulpit. After the lapse of six weeks, he received an unanimous invitation to become the minister of the chapel, which he accepted, and entered upon his stated labours in March 1837. The Sunday-school was re-assembled, and in connexion with this, and the regular ministration of the Gospel, it pleased the Great Head of the church to furnish indications of his sanction and blessing. The church was therefore, in October last, re-organized, and Mr. Richards, having received and accepted an unanimous invitation to become its pastor, was solemnly and publicly set apart to that office on the 19th of the same month. On that occasion, the Rev. J. Bounsall, of Ottery, delivered an interesting and powerful address on the nature of a scriptural church; the minister's father offered the ordination prayer; the Rev. Geo. Payne, LL.D. of Exeter, affec tionately and impressively addressed the minister. The Rev. J. H. Cuff, of Wellington, W. H. Heudebourck, of Tiverton, and N. Hellings, of Exeter, conducted the other parts of the service. On the evening of the following Sabbath, the Rev. John Richards preached to the church and congregation, and administered the Lord's Supper to the church. The services will be long remembered.

The number of children in the Sunday Schools in connexion with the chapel having considerably increased, it is found inconvenient to instruct them in the chapel. It is therefore in contemplation (if, without burdening other churches, adequate funds can be raised) to erect school-rooms for the accommodation of the children, as well as of those persons who attend the prayer meetings and week evening lecture. This, however, in the present very depressed state of the town, is a great undertaking; but it is hoped that those who are acquainted with the neighbourhood, and who feel concerned for its moral and spiritual improvement, will kindly assist in the accomplishment of this good work."

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SMITHWICK, STAFfordshire. A public meeting of the friends of the Redeemer was held at Smithwick, a township of Staffordshire, four miles from Birmingham, on the 13th of April, 1837, for the purpose of forming a christian church, principally of individuals originally members at Carr's Lane, Birmingham, and of recognising the Rev. D. A. Owen, late of Sarney, Montgomeryshire, as their pastor.

In the afternoon, the Rev. J. P. Jones, of Abbot's Bromley, commenced by reading appropriate portions of Scripture and prayer; the Rev. J. C. Galloway, of West Bromwich, delivered a clear and elaborate discourse on the nature of a gospel church; the Rev. J. IIammond, of Handsworth, offered the designation prayer; the Rev. J. A. James, of Birmingham, delivered a concise, affectionate, and pathetic address to the members of his church whom he resigned to the charge of their newly-elected pastor; and who now formed themselves into a distinct society. The usual questions were proposed by the Rev. J. A. James, the answers to which were brief, simple, and appropriate. The scene, during this part of the service, was truly affecting; and one feeling of delight prevailed among all. The Rev. J. Richards, of Birmingham, concluded by prayer.

At six o'clock, the Rev. Mr. Mather, of Bilston, introduced the evening service by reading the Scripture and prayer; the Rev. Thomas W. Jenkyn, of Stafford, delivered an impressive charge to the pastor; and the Rev. J. A. James preached to the church and congregation. The Rev. O. Owen (the Minister's brother) and the Rev. Isaac Newton engaged in the devotional exercises of the day; and those who were present can, with feelings of thankfulness, say, "it was well for us to be there."