pages. We, therefore, in a respectful and affectionate manner, entreat you not to say, So you reason, and think in so reasoning you are sustained by all the Prophets and Apostles of both Testaments.' This will not produce faith in us upon this topic. We admit no man's or set of men's reasoning, or think so, as testimony in the salvation of sinners. Nothing short of the sanctions of Omnipotence and the weapons of the Holy Spirit will command our belief and obedience. As highly as we hold your talents and character as an able and pious nan of God, we cannot, we will not follow any man any farther than he follows Christ.

Beloved brother, we view the gospel as one perfect consistent system, devised by Infinite Wisdom. When the commission was given to the inspired Apostles they were faithful in executing it. That if immersion (upon a sinner's believing their testimony, repents, and reforms) into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the means ordained of God, through the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; then, to say that a sinner possessing physical ability will receive remission of sins without a conformity to this commission, is, in our judgment, to have two gospels. If there is a son or daughter of Adam by which the strongest ties of nature would lead them to believe your reasonings and think so are true, some of us are placed in this condition. And we do say it will be a cause of joy, through the endless ages of eternity, should it be our happy lot to reach the kingdom of glory and find them verified. But we cannot, we dare not believe and teach any other way than the commission given to the Holy Twelve. We do not, in so doing, limit God; but we do limit ourselves, and all men now, to that which it has pleased him to reveal and have recorded and handed down to us as the means of our salvation.

We know you will appreciate our motives in expressing ourselves freely to you, and that this communication will through the Harbinger see the light, and receive a respectful and affectionate attention.

We do believe that it is all-important that every disciple should be intelligent in the Scriptures; to this end we labor; and that no intelligent believer can, without doing violence to his or her conscience, neglect the exercises of the heart and daily have their conversation in heaven; that their morning and evening sacrifices to God will ascend from the family altar as sweet incense; that their sons, their daughters, and servants may learn their duty to God and each other. To omit or neglect this, is to be an "imperfect Christian." But it appears to us they must be "Christians" before they can he said to be imperfect. A babe, a young man, or fatlier must be such before their imperfection can he

seen.

We ask you, Is there any plain positive language, used by any of the Apostles, recognizing any man or woman, since the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, calling them Christians that were not immersed upon a profession of their faith in Jesus Christ? If so, do point us to the chapter and verse, that we may be put right in this all-important matter.

Your 5th paragraph in your 4th letter to England, to us appears ambiguous. Please say what sort of sinners had the promise of the Spirit to them that ask for it.

In conclusion, we cordially agree with the sentiments in your No. 1. on Opinionism"That it is not the right of any one citizen of the kingdom of Christ to propagate any opinion whatever, either in the public assembly or in private;" and that "opinions in religion can have no authority." "Precepts, promises, and threatenings sanctioned by Omnipotence, are the weapons of the Holy Spirit." "And he that propagates an opinion and seeks to attach persons to it. or to himself on account of it, is a factionist in embryo, in infancy, or in manhood."

Done by order of the Church.

Beloved brother Campbell,

THOMAS M. HENLEY,
TEMPLE WALKER,

Elders.

PHILADELPHIA, 13th mo., 24th, 1837.

"Favor and peace be multiplied to you, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."

VOL. II-N. S.

8*

The Church of Christ meeting in Pear street, (formerly Bank street,) Philadelph having in common with you long mourned over the aberrations and speculative wander ings of the Editor of the Apostolic Advocate, have come to the painful yet imperative conclusion that farther forbearance, or silence, may be construed into a tacit acknowledg ment of those errors which are at once abhorrent to right reason and the testimony of the Living Oracles-as we think you have conclusively shown,

With anxious solicitude have we attended to the progress of this affair; we have desired and hoped that your scriptural admonitions would be heeded by him; that he would stay in his erratic course, nor longer prostitute his fine talents in attempts schismatically to ren i the "body of Christ." We have waited in the fond expectation that those whose more immediate duty it would seem to be to act in his case, would proclaim to the disciples and to the world their non-fellowship with such an incorrigible factionist. We have waited in vain! and therefore conclude that the congregation with whom he associates justifies and sustains him in his wayward propensities. It becomes, then, the duty of the other congregations in this reformation, which repudiate those abominable and subversive speculations, and that bitter spirit with which the Apostolic Advocate, (or which has at least pervaded the numbers that have fallen under our notice,) pubiicly to disclaim ail connexion with him and those who hold fellowship with him in his pernicious views. It is for this purpose we write, by the unanimous appointment of the church in Philadelphia, to make known to the brethren and to the world, through the "Millennial Ilarhinger"

1st. That we disapprove and disallow all the speculations of Dr. John Thomas of the Apostolic Advocate.

24. We approve the course pursued by our brother Campbell towards the Doctor, and think it has savored much of the meekness and love that ought ever to adorn the Christian character.

3d We think no further argument or discussion ought to be held with such a dogmatic and vindictive spirit as Dr. Thomas has evinced towards brother Campbell while mildly endeavoring to reclaim him.

4th. We hence forth separate and withdraw from all intercourse of Christian fellowship with Dr. Thomas and those who sustain him, until he and they shall publicly renounee and abjure all speculations, and take the Word of God, the Living Oracles, as their only guide; and we pray they may speedily come to reformation and a real knowledge of the truth.

In the December Extra Harbinger there is some reference made to me, which I do not know how to appreciate. I do not think it may be properly said, "Mr. Flippo appeared on disembodied spirits."

After Dr. Thomas had published his thirty-four interrogatories, I waited patiently for the next advocate, hoping that some corespondent would reply to them in such a manner as to satisfy the Editor and give a quietus to his novel speculations. The Advocate came to hand, and nobody had affirmed or denied. Feeling a deep interest in the success of the Reformation, and believing Dr. Thomas to be unable to prove the affirmative of his pro. positions, I determined to put my negative upon them. This I did by calling his attention to several portions of scripture, which I thought were entirely at variance with the pretensions of Materialism. The Doctor replied in such style and at such length, as to convince me of the vanity of any farther effort against the ingenuity of his pen.

If you infer from the facts stated that it was my intention to aid "the Doctor in obtaining a commencement on his thirty-four speculations," you are mistaken. Though I could not expect the injurious consequences which have followed, I did than think them pro

ductive of much harm to the Christian community, and was anxious to see the Advocate devote his time and talent to the conversion of sinners, and to the encouragement and welfare of the disciples.

The Harbinger took the subject into his able hands, and my youth and inexperience admonished me to retire from the discussion. No one regrets more than I do the course of the Advocate for the last two years; and though I am not fully convinced of the propriety of your whole course towards him, I do not hesitate to say you have sustained yourself, and the noble cause you have espoused, against the bold assumptions of Materialism and Annihilation. I think the Advocate has nearly exhausted himself on his favorite topics, and may I not hope he will yet see the fallacy of his reasonings, retrace his course, and co-operate with his brethren in advancing the interest of Messiah, whom I have charity enough to believe he will still delight to honor In making these remarks, I fear neither the odium of "Campbellism" nor the censure of flattering those who have devoted their lives and talents in "contending for the faith once delivered to the saints."→ I also believe that the disciples in Eastern Virginia will not suffer their partiality for any man to bias their minds in favor of speculations opposed to the principles and progress of the Reformation, in which, maugre all opposition and reproach, they have embarked with their heads and hearts. Yours in the hope of immortality,

ALBERT R. FLIPPO.

I am sorry that a single word in any of my strictures should appear to reflect any censure upon the course of our brother Flippo, now that his intentions are fully developed. I was, I confess, laboring under some unfavorable impression, of which I cannot now give a full account It is entirely removed, and I now appreciate what formerly seemed to me somewhat doubtful, his early attention to the batch of sceptical interrogatories of the Apostolic Advocate. The letters from Elder Henley and the church of Smyrna may have been called for by the insinuations of the Apostolic Advocate, and on that account they are published. In my unpublished letter to that church, as well as in my late Extra, I think enough has been said on these topics. We had to displace the "Reformed Clergyman," "Opinionism," the "Power of Keligion," &c. &c. to make room for these explanations.

The letter from the church in Philadelphia, because Dr. Thomas was so long a member of it, demanded the publicity which we have given it. We will forestall our correspondents on this subject, by informing them, that, except from the church of Richmond, of which Dr. Thomas is yet a member, we do not intend to publish any farther communications concerning his case. The unpleasant subject has already received too much attention. In the pending discussion with Mr. Skinner, and in a review which I have promised of the comments of brother Walthal on Christ's refutation of Sadduceeism, some matters on which several brethren have solicited my views, shall receive full attention. Various popular errors, Sadduceean and others, will come in my way in my letters to Mr. Skinner. An important question on the parable of Dives and Lazarus, and upon the philosophy of all parables, is under consideration. Our files are groaning under the pressure of many queries and valuable documents, to which we yet hope to attend, A. C.

4

EDUCATION AND THE WESTERN ACADEMICIAN.

Tuis, of all earthly objects, is the chief concern. ""Tis education makes the man"-intellectually, morally, religiously, eternally: I mean education in its true, and proper, and allcomprehensive import. The world has been, till lately, asleep upon this mightiest of living interests. It is awaking, and only yet awaking, to the reality of the thing. It is a sovereign antidote against many moral evils, an effectual preventive of many of the natural, and a cure for most of the mixed evils of human kind. With the general diffusion of its influences, families, states, nations, and empires, rise in genius, character, prosperity, power, and social happiness. Those who plead its cause, elevate its character, and practically diffuse its blessings among society, are the best benefactors of mankind. They are worthy of a people's gratitude-of a nation's honor, who distinguish themselves in this practical philanthropy.

I have had for a considerable time a volume of matter upon my mind upon this subject, laboring for utterance; but I cannot find time to be delivered of it. Meanwhile, I would most earnestly recommend to those who feel any interest in promoting this vital interest of humanity, the careful reading of the Western Academician and Journal of Education and Science, edited by John W. Picket, and aided by the College of Teachers, published by James R. Allbach, Cincinnati. The Proceedings, Lectures, Reports, &c. of the last session of said College are now in progress of publication; price, $2,50 per annum, in advance. It is a large Magazine, neatly executed. A. C.

TYNDAL'S TESTAMENT.

1 HAVE now in my hand, "The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-by William Tyndale, THE MARTYR, The original edition.-1526.—BEING THE FIRST VERNACULAR TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK. With a Memoir of his Life and Writings. To which are annexed the essential variations of Coverdale's, Thomas Matthews', Cranmer's, the Genevan, and the Bishops' Bibles, as marginal readings-by J. P. Dabney. Andover. Printed and published by Gould & Newman. From the London edition of Bagster. New York. Corner of Fulton and Nassau streets. 1837."

Never, since my first edition of the New Version, have I given a heartier welcome to any volume from the American press, than to the volume above described. I think it will do much to expand the too contracted minds of many of the leaders of the

people on the subject of New and Old Versions. It will correct much of that blind and implicit homage paid to the King's translators and translation, and cannot fail to convince the most prejudiced eulogists of the piety and eminent proficiency in ancient and sacred literature of the authors of the common version, that they have been rendering honor where it was not due, and ignorantly withholding it from the real author of the common version, to whom it was justly due: for certainly there is no man of good sense and of ordinary candor, who, after examining and comparing William Tyndal's Testament with the common, that will not acknowledge that William Tyndal is the real author of the King's version; or, in other words, that the King's translators were no, translators at all, but simply copyists of Tyndal and collators of ather Protestant versions. My edition of Campbell, Macknight, and Doddridge's version, is fully as much my version as the common version is that of King James' "forty-seven eminent Divines."

This version is printed in the same style as our first edition of the Family Testament-the lines running across the page. It has the chapter divisions, but no verses marked; for in Tyndal's time verses were not come in fashion. We shall occasionally treat our readers to some specimens of it for their comparison with the common version, that they may see how far King James' men made a translation of the New Testament. Meantime, we have room for only 12 verses from the 2d chapter of Matthew:

"When Jesus was born in Bethlehem a town of Jury, in the time of king Herod. Behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

"Herod the king, after he had heard this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, and he sent for all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and demanded of them where Christ should be born. They said unto him: In Bethlehem a town of Jury. For thus it is written by the Prophet: And thou Bethlehem in the land of Jury, shall not be the least as pertaining to the princes of Juda. For out of thee shall come a Captain, which shall govern my people Israel.

"Then Herod privily called the wise men, and diligently inquired of them, the time of the star that appeared. And sent them to Bethlehem saying: When ye be come thither search diligently for the child. And when ye have found him bring me word, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed, and lo the star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were marvellously glad, And entered into the house, and found the child