This could be done in no other way than by a practical knowledge of the scriptures. Hence the gospel was not handed down to us in order that we might have a mental or speculative knowledge of its contents, but that it should, when understood and believed, become a principle of action in us, moving us to an observance of all its precepts and lessons. It was proclaimed for the "obedience of faith" among all nations: that is, all that believe it should obey it. This is to prove its goodness, acceptableness, and perfection among men.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, tells us plainly what it is to be "a perfect man," and the means ordained of God to make us such. Jesus Christ the Son of God "has ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things; he has according to prophecy led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” “And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers. The object for which this was done, was, "the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry-for the edifying of the body of Christ-till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him, in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying itself in love."

I have given above the words of the Spirit, spoken by the Apostle,. to show that perfect men in Jesus Christ were those that had arrived to a knowledge and practice of the gospel of Christ, united together in love, as the members of the human body, and having the same care, every member for each other. This was the design of Jesus Christ in giving gifts unto men. The Apostles laid the foundation of unionJESUS IS THE CHRIST;" the Prophets explained the prophecies concerning him, and foretold future events under his reign; the Evangelists were those sent out by the Apostles and churches to plant and set in order churches wherever they were successful in the proclamation of the gospel; the Pastors or Elders and Teachers were stationary over their respective congregations. Thus when sinners believed that Jesus was the Christ, upon the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, when proclaimed by the Evangelist, and obeyed the gospel, they became members of the ONE BODY, animated by that ONE SPIRIT, having ONE HOPE of their calling, ONE LORD to rule this ONE BODY, that sent this ONE SPIRIT to dwell in this ONE BODY, to consummate this ONE HOPE, Confirm this ONE FAITH, ONE GOSPEL, or belief in ONE JESUS, whose promises to the obedient are Yea and Amen to his glory, ONE BAPTISM that will put us into the full enjoyment and make us partakers of this one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, and one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. This is what the Apostle calls "keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," (love:) that is, the Spirit's testimony respecting the salvation of sinners is kept united when we observe the order as delivered by him on the day of Pentecost. But more of this hereafter.

THOMAS M. HENLEY.

News from the Churches.

Centreville, Bourbon county, Kentucky, June 21, 1838. THE gospel of Christ, exhibited in its original simplicity and beauty, still continues to prove itself the power of God unto salvation to those who believe it here. Hundreds recently in this part of Kentucky have been made to rejoice with unutterable joy. But as you have doubtless been informed of much of the good achieved here lately, I will only say to you at present, that on the 9th inst. I commenced with the brethren and sisters at Republican (some five miles south of Lexington) a protracted meeting. Next day brother Curtis Smith joined us, and the day following brother Thomas Smith, and soon after brother Leonard of Fleming came to our assistance. We endeavored steadily to portray to the Christian's view the beauties, excellencies, and practical bearings of the Christian system, and faithfully to show sinners their transgressions, and affectionately present them the good news, with the plan of salvation devised by infinite wisdom, neither turning to the right or left to debate about speculations or human traditions; nor to revile our revilers, nor to abuse our persecutors; but rather imploring for all the mercy of the Lord. As you may readily suppose, we were greatly blessed: Forty-three in all from the ranks of the aliens obeyed the Lord, our meeting having lasted only five days. I regretted that another appointment at a distance forced me away, as the field all around appeared suddenly very ripe to harvest; and could we have remained, I verily believe one hundred might have been added. As an evidence of the impression left on the public mind, brother J. Creath, Jr. informis me that six more last Lord's day, in the same neighborhood, confess. ed the Lord.

On last Lord's day I addressed the people at Antioch in this county: six came forward to obey the Lord-two of them from the Methodists. The day before I immereed two at the same place; and on yesterday I spoke again about half way between this and Lexington: two more confessed the Lord, and we proceeded to the water (Elkhorn) where I immersed four, three of which confessed at Antioch.

I neglected to state that on Sunday evening last I went on to Lexington, being sent for by express, and there had the pleasure of meeting brethren J. T. Johnson, John Smith, and B. F. Hall. Three confessed that evening; others were added, and we remained with them until next afternoon. One more confessed, and the meeting closed with fine prospects. As well as I recollect, more than thirty during the meeting were added therebrother J. T. Johnson being the chief laborer for more than ten days. May the kind Lord preserve, sustain, and abundantly bless him! I am happy to inform that the unfortunate breach, or rather hurt. is in the way of being most happily healed.

On to-morrow, the Lord willing, I set out for Clintonville, to attend another protracted meeting.

Oh! what a pity that Mr. Stiles should be regarded by any as identified with Christianity! He is now going the rounds after our happy meetings, endeavoring to get up the spirit of debate and war, by abusing and misrepresenting us Brother Raines is now standing up in our defence in Paris. I think, however, your expose in the last number of the M. H. will about place him in his real and proper attitude before the people of Kentucky. There is yet room for him to repent-turn round and preach Christ.

J. ALLEN GANO.

Nottingham, England, May 20, 1838.

On the 27th of April I wrote you a few lines, in which I stated that Miss H. Bakewell had been baptized into Jesus. Before she left Nottingham her sister Emma followed in the same steps; and since then several others, both men and women, have been buried with Christ by baptism unto death.

From the June number of the Christian Messenger you will learn a little of our state as a church. Last Lord's day our number was increased to one hundred and twenty; and if we continue "with one accord to meet in the same place" on every first day of the week as we have hitherto done, I have no doubt we shall, before May, 1839, be greatly increased. We have some most promising young men among us, real students of the best of books, very diligent and apt to teach as well as to prove facts to the conviction of many. There are differences of opinion among us, still our union and love continue to be unbroken. The one Lord, one faith, one baptisin, one Spirit, one God and Father, &c. in connexion with the institutions on the first day of the week, prove quite sufficient as so many arteries and ligaments to bind and cement us together upon the one foundation, even Christ Jesus our Lord.

Since I last wrote I have received from Bethany the whole volume of the Harbinger for Jast year; also, the January and March numbers for the current year: the February number has missed its way at present, nor is the April yet conie to hand. Please accept my most grateful acknowledgment for them and for all your kindness to me and the brethren in general. You and the brethren in America are often remembered by us in our approaches to the Father of lights; and although you need not our help, yet we sympathise with you in all your combats and rejoice with you in all your joys; and may the Lord abundantly bless and prosper you in all things for his name's sake.

Brother Davies of Chester has sent me the Harbinger for 1836, as well as your letter to brother Jones on the Moral Law. It has often been inquired for by different brethren who

ook Mr. Jones' Millennial Harbinger; I have therefore, as you will see in the Christian Messenger, introduced it immediately. The church at Huddersfieid, which commenced Jast August with six members, have continued to meet on every first day to break the loaf, &c. have increased to fourteen in number, and I am informed this day that their prospects are very encouraging. JAMES WALLIS. Georgetown, Kentucky, July 6, 1838. I believe I gave you an account of the meeting I held at Lexington, where thirty-five were added to the congregation; as also a meeting at Republican, held by brother Gano and others, at the same time, where forty-three were added.

I returned home and met our talented and much beloved brother Gano at Clintonville, & miles south of Paris. We labored hard for six days and obtained forty additions. The prospects were still very good, but we were obliged to return home and meet our engagement at Leesburg, 10 miles from this place. We labored hard for seven days, including the 4th of July, and obtained fifty-nine additions. Oh! the times were most joyous! On the 4th of July sixteen bowed to the Lord

We received a few fine accessions from the ranks of the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians. We immersed Mrs. Hutchcraft at Clintonville. She is one of the most estima. ble ladies in the state.

Oh! that you could be with us while the field is so white for the sickle! You would do more good in Kentucky at this time than at any former, and perhaps after period of your life. J. T. JOHNSON. Charlotteville, Louisa county, Virginia, August 10, 1838.

My last to you was full of lamentation on account of the cause in these parts. I am happy to be able to change my tone in this. Two weeks ago I went down to Hickory Neck, in James City County, and held a three days' meeting, which was attended with great good. Much prejudice existed in this neighborhood, but still the people turned out to hear in crowds beyond our expectation. We succeeded in six discourses in breaking down and rooting out this baneful weed from the minds of all who heard, so far as we were informed, and in persuading four persons to obey the Lord-two gentlemen and two ladies. Our beloved brother T. M. Henley was with me, and had the pleasure of seeing me bury his brother. Richardson Henley, in baptism, much to the rejoicing of his soul. I then returned to Richmond, and ou last Friday set out for Louisa, and preached at Ground Squirrel on my way, where I met with brother James Bagby, who conducted me the next day to Bethany, where we held a four days' meeting. We had expected brother Goss at this meeting, but were disappointed; of course the labor chiefly fell on me. 1 preached twice each day during the meeting, brother Bagby generally following with an appropriate exhortation or an application of the previous discourse. The result of our labors was cheering. Eight persons determined to leave the ranks of Satan, and the disciples were edified and strengthened in the Lord. We preached the Word, and have reason to hope from the attention of any intelligeut persons from day to day, that the good seed of the kingdom will be manifest shortly.

The operators in sectarian machinery for manufacturing proselytes were at work during the whole of our meeting within four miles of Bethany; and Mr James Fife, a chief operator, has had the felicity, as we are told, of preaching in the last month the following consistent inconsistencies: "That faith alone was for justification, or remission of sins," and also that "unless the people kept the commandments of God they could have no assurance of remission of sins"!!

To-day we start for Charlottesville. We are rather broken down from the heat and much speaking; but may the Lord help us!

JAMES HENSHALL. Warren, Ohio, July 12, 1838.

Our yearly meeting at Chardon, commencing the 8th of June, was indeed an interesting one. The preachers and people appeared to be inspired by a true spirit of devotion, which I am happy to perceive is becoming much more general than it was some years since. There were sixteen persons buried to the world in the Lord during the meeting. Since then there were three added at Willoughby, and seven at Burton have renounced all "foreign powers and potentates" and avowed their allegiance to the Lord, to continue to obey him in all things Since my arrival here, to day, I have learned that eleven were added to the congregation at Garretsville, on Lord's day, July 1.

A. P. JONES. Cincinnati, July, 1838.

Brother Pinkerton and myself have just returned from the protracted meetings which were held at Connersville and Flat Rock, at which places we labored, in conjunction with our esteemed brother O'Kane, for eleven days, and had the pleasure of seeing many of our dear friends turn to the Lord. Forty-three made the good confession, and twelve or fif. teen were added by letter. Prospects in that region are very good, the fields are ready for harvest but the laborers are few. May the good Lord of the harvest send more laborers, that many sheaves may be gathered into eternal life! L. H. JAMESON.

During our last protracted meeting in this place, ten made the good confession. Two nade the confession yesterday. Our beloved brothers Challen and O'Kane were in attendance during the meeting. L. H. J.

Indiana, 1838. By these lines you may learn something of the gospel in these parts: during the last fifteen months I have been laboring in Owen, Monroe, Morgan and Clay counties, Indiana. About 270 persons have been immersed. The prospect of further success is still flattering. May the Lord prosper his good cause. JAMES M. MATTHEWS. Georgetown, Kentucky, July 26, 1838. We have a meeting in progress in this place, which commenced last Friday night. Thus far the prospects are encouraging. We have had ten confessions. Of those who have submitted, one is a most exemplary College student, and seven pupils from the Female Institution. We appointed the meeting without knowing that the Theatre was to commence the same night. Thank the Lord, the people were so disposed to hear the gospel, that they have failed to get an audience for several nights. I hope they are effectually silenced.

A few days past I had a meeting 8 miles off, in this county, where eleven were added to the congregation, and three have been added since.

The Baptists took a bold stand there, and had commenced a week before, and have obtained from eighty to one hundred. They took them as fast as they could get them. They have learnt one lesson-that it is not safe for them to let the people mourn long. I hope they will yet leave them to love us as well as themselves. J. T. JOHNSON. Rocheport, Missouri, July, 1838. We must acquaint you with the fact that we had a very interesting meeting on the 29th of June in our town. Brother Thomas A. Allen and old brother B. W. Stone preached to an attentive audience; after which brother Allen gave an invitation to any that wished to confess the Lord, or to unite with our church; when ten persons approached him and took their seats. Three of the number confessed their faith in the Saviour of the world and were baptized-one of the three was a young daughter of mine. The other two, a young man and a Mrs. Preston. Those ten added to our number of members at Rocheport make it something like seventy-five. THOMAS HART.

[News omitted shall appear in our next.]

HYMN-BOOKS, TESTAMENTS, &c.

HAVING commenced the Book and Stationary Business in the city of Pittsburg, wholesale and retail, we have undertaken to supply the community with the works of Alexander Campbell in the cheapest and best style. We have got the Hymn-Book in the most correct form in which it has yet appeared, neatly stereoty ped, and are printing a very handsome edition of it, which we propose selling at 25 cents per single copy in good common binding. The 4th edition of the Pocket Testament, stereotyped, bound in the same style, we shall sell at the same price; or both bound in one volume, at 50 cents. Morocco and fancy binding according to order, and according to the style in which they are done up. "Christianity Restored" is almost out of print; so is the Family Testament and Owen Debate. We can furnish but a very few copies of these. Small orders for the M'Calla and Walker Debates on Baptism; also, the Catholic Debate, and Christian Preacher's Companion can be supplied. According to the demand for these works, almost sold off, we shall go on to prepare them with all despatch.

Admonished by the many losses reported to us by our predecessors in this business, by sending books on commission and scattering them profusely over the United States. as did brother Campbell himself, being most of all desirous to find readers, we must manage this business as we manage our other business-sell cheap for cash, or on a short time. The usual and we will say liberal discounts will be given to those who buy to sell again; but we cannot send books on commission. As Pittsburg is visited once or twice a year by Merchants from almost all the West and South-West, our brethren and friends who want books can send by them and have them forwarded in the regular way with their goods. Country Merchants will purchase from us if they are only often called upon for the books. We will make arrangements to have these books also kept for us in several cities, of which we shall give timely notice. We are desirous to render full satisfaction to the community in this business; and if got into the proper channel, we hope by unremitting assiduity and punctuality, to merit their approbation and support.

FORRESTER & CAMPBELL,
No. 117, Wood street, Pittsburg.

PREJUDICE-An Extract.

We hate some persons because we do not know them, and we will not know them because we hate them. Those friendships that succeed to such aversions are usually firm, for those qualities must be sterling that could not only gain our hearts, but conquer our prejudices But the misfortune is, that we carry these prejudices into things far more serious than our friendship. Thus, there are truths which some men despise, because they have not examined, and which they will not examine, because they despise. There is one single instance on record where this kind of prejudice was overcome by a miracles but the age of miracles is past, while that of prejudice remaine,

FOURTH OF JULY.

A GOOD SPECULATION.

431

THE wise capitalists of this world do not invest all their fortunes in one sort of stocks.— The most prudent and wealthy make many investments. Christians should imitate them. The Bank of Heaven has many and various offices open on earth, in which men can secure some property in heaven. "He that gives to the poor lends to the Lord," and "he that winneth souls is wise." To feed, clothe, and educate the poor are obvious duties. To preach the gospel to the poor is one of the best investments of property, as I think, on earth. To qualify persons for eminent usefulness in the kingdom of Christ is also an excellent work. To come to the point: I know one young man of good parts, of an excellent spirit, desirous of being eminently useful in the kingdom of Christ. He is willing to devote himself wholly to the work of the Lord. He wants a good education. I have advised him to be a scholar, believing he may be a very useful man. He lacks the means at present. Two hundred dollars a year for three years would be necessary to qualify him for the place I think he is designed to fill. I want to take some stock, say one share, in his future usefulness. As I would not be selfish, I will give some others a chance. I therefore propose four shares, of 50 dollars each, for three years. I have taken one share: who will take the others? For particulars inquire at this office. The books will be open only to the 1st of November next. I believe it to be a real good speculation, and those who wish for a good bargain had better apply immediately. A. C.

NEW PUBLICATION.

"A REPLY TO J. T. HENDRICKS, a Pamphlet, entitled, Letters to the self-styled Reformers-by A. RAINES and J. IRWIN.""Because thy rage against me and thy tumult have come up into my ears, therefore will I put a hook into thy nose, and ny buckle into thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way in which thou comest."-"Lexington, Ky. 1838."

Such is the title of a well-printed and well-written pamphlet, clear, rational, argumentative, gentlemanly, and in a good spirit, of 86 large 12mo. pages. It is a very logical and able expose of the sophistry, errors, misrepresentations, and unfriendly accusations and slanders of "the Rev. J. T. Hendricks, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Millersburg and Stoner Mouth, Ky." Brother Raines well sustains his former reputation for lucid and pointdd reasoning and great moral power. The letters furnished by brother Wm. Irwin show him to be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. I feel myself indebted to these brethren for their very able vindication of some of my sentiments and writings, aspersed, perverted, and misrepresented by this too rash, inconsiderate, and ill-informed young man. This pamphlet, in my judgment, is well calulated to disabuse the public of inany prejudices. I trust the brethren will send it round the land. A. C.

FOURTH OF JULY.

IT was forgotten in our last to say, that we had the pleasure of participating in another Christian celebration on the late anniversary of our national birth. The church in Alle ganytown, Pittsburg, with some brethren and citizens from a distance, partook of the Christian hospitalities of our beloved brother Church, in his fine grove in the environs of the city on the 4th ult. The day was fine-the concourse of brethren large-the fare was excellent. Psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs resounded in the grove-all hearts were glad-all countenances cheerful. We all seemed to partake of the feast with glad. ness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. I had the honor of delivering a speech on the occasion. It has already appeared from the politi cal press, but with numerous typographical mistakes, which sometimes obscure the sense and sometimes change it. We intend when we have room to lay it correctly before our readers; but we have not room for it at present. The day was spent most happily, no incident whatever occurred to mar our heartfelt joy. Such celebrations are good for body, soul, and spirit. A. C.

ERRATUM-For "Romanist" read Restorationist, page 413, line 26th from bottom