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Church in all its beauty and glory, it would of itself be an incontrovertible evidence of the truth of Christianity. It would appear to be so different from all the work of man and all his ability, to produce such a loving, meek, and harmonious association of human beings, that it could be ascribed only to a Divine power. Is it sufficiently considered by professing Christians that on their loving-kindness to each other depends one of the evidences of Christianity?

"Nor can it escape the attention of the most superficial reader of the New Testament how much this is insisted upon by all its inspired writers. It is their constant theme. It is interwoven in Paul's Epistles with all his other topics, and the beloved Apostle wrote a whole Epistle, nearly, to enforce it. Love, love, love is the reiterated theme of these heaven-directed men.

"For an exhibition of this love, read the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Alas, alas! that this should have been as transient a scene as it was beautiful. Had this been perpetuated, or even a resemblance of it, how different a thing would Christianity have appeared in the estimation of the world! The ecclesiastical historian, Eusebius, relates of the early Christians, that when a plague prevailed in Egypt, many of our brethren, neglecting their own health, through an excess of love, have brought upon themselves the misfortunes and maladies of others. After they had held in their arms the dying saints-after they had closed their mouths and their eyes-after they had embraced, kissed, and washed, and adorned them with their best habits, and carried them on their shoulders to the grave, they have been glad themselves to receive the same kind offices from others who have imitated their zeal and love.' This might have been the imprudence of love; but, oh! was it not its manifestation?

"Now let us look into our Churches. How little that bears any resemblance of this do we find there! There may be affection, and kind intercourse, and friendly visiting between certain classes and circles of the members, and even this is well as far as it goes; but it is too often little else than the general friendship which is felt and enjoyed, not so much on the ground of a common relationship to Christ, as on the mere fact of worshipping in the same place and pew, and being members of the same Church. And then there is also the sacramental shilling for the relief of poor and sick members, and which is, if not a mockery of charity, a composition and substitute for it. There may be peace in the Church, where there is very little love. All may be quiescent. No roots of bitterness may be springing up to trouble the Church, and yet there may be little of the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, joy, peace. There may be distance, coldness, estrangements, where there is no hostility. What we want to see more of, is a ministry loving in its spirit, attaching by its instructions, its influence, and its example, all closer to each other, often inculcating and always manifesting brotherly love. Deacons, performing their duties, not perfunctorily, carelessly-grudging their time, stinting their labour, doling out the bounty of the Church with slack hands and heartless speech-but entering the habitations of their sick and poor brethren, as ministering angels, with tender sympathy and melting compassion; who by their fervent supplication and gentle words shall comfort the soul at the very time they are relieving the wants of the body; who shall be the counsellors of the perplexed, and shall, in cases of distress, not to be met by the ordinary distribution of the communion money, endeavour to raise a supplemental fund-men, in short, who shall know and feel that their vocation is compassion and active mercy. To these must be added the richer members of the Church, who shall practically, promptly, and generously seek out the cases of their poorer brethren, visit them in their abodes of sorrow, and feel it a privilege to sympathise with them in their afflictions and

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.

relieve their wants. Nor is it in this way of visiting the sick and relieving the necessitous that love should manifest itself, but in the way of kind recognition and gentle words, of respect and affability, of remembrance that under that garb of poverty there is one whom Christ loves and whom they ought to love for Christ's sake. And the love which makes the rich kind and condescending to the poor, will make the poor respectful to the rich, will repress all undue familiarity, all obtrusive consciousness of spiritual equality, all inordinate expectation of notice and attention, all morbid susceptibility of offence by real or supposed want of attention. In short, what is wanting in our Churches is a fuller, richer, deeper sense of Christ's love to us all, producing in all a fuller, richer, deeper love to each other on that account-a recollection, as we look round at a Church meeting, or at the Lord's Table upon our fellow-communicants, with this thought and an appropriate feeling, all these are professedly the children of God, the redeemed of the Lamb, the subjects of the Spirit's influence. God loves them; Christ loves them; they are my brothers and sisters in the family of God, with whom I am to spend my eternity; they are partakers with me of like precious faith and of the common salvation; they are all one with me in Christ.' Now, brotherly love means the union of spirits with, and the going forth of the heart to, all these; a soul full of such thoughts, such views, and such recognitions, and prompting to all that conduct which such views might be supposed to dictate and ensure. Is not this what is prescribed in the New Testament? Is not this brotherly love?

"Again, I ask, is there not a lamentable deficiency of this in our Churches? I am aware that in those which include a large number of members, scattered over the expanse of a large town, it is difficult, if not impossible, to have that knowledge, to manifest that recognition, and to display that affection for each other which could be desired; but even in such cases, much more might be done for this object than is at present realised."

MEETINGS AND TRANSACTIONS.

NEW MEMBERS.-At a Committee Meeting, on the 18th ult., the following new members were admitted: Rev. Samuel Martin, Westminster; and John Middlebrook, Esq., Birstall, near Leeds.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE.—It was announced in our last number, that the Conference this year would probably be held at Belfast. We are happy now. to state, that arrangements have been made by which this expectation will, with Divine permission, be realised. The friends in that city have cordially welcomed the proposal, and there is a general concurrence of opinion that the place has been well selected, both on general grounds and on account of the extraordinary religious awakening by which the North of Ireland is at the present time graciously visited. In a letter received from the Bishop of Down and Connor, his lordship says:

"The local committee of the Evangelical Alliance have unanimously resolved to receive the Alliance at Belfast next month, and I cannot but hope their presence will heal

some of our little differences. Though not a member of the Alliance, I shall be most happy to preside at one of your meetings, and to promote, as far as lieth in my power, brotherly love among all Christian people. I know many of my own clergy will support me, and I only wish to have some of my brethren on the Bench with me.

"The Revivals' are still going doing their work; of course, much evil is mixed up with the movement; but I look forward to the time when the evil will be winnowed out, and the good seed remain, and then the Alliance may do much good; the presence, the counsel, the prayers of cautious and sober-minded men, will soften down the extravagances and help to develope the good.

"There is one feature in the movement most hopeful-many of the most careless are brought under instruction who never before would listen to the Word of God or join in prayer."

The Rev. Dr. Guthrie, of Edinburgh, also remarks: "I am very glad to see that the Evangelical Alliance is to hold its

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sittings at Belfast this year. This is a well- | led to take this view, as by its adoption the considered step, and I hope will be followed proceedings of the Conference will be brought with much good." more into harmony with the present religious awakening in Belfast and its neighbourhood.

"II. That the Rev. Dr. Steane be re

The committee have received other and similar testimonies; and, thus encouraged, they have addressed themselves to the preparation of the order of the Conference, quested to prepare a programme in accordboth as to its devotion and business, under ance with these views, and having suba more than ordinary impression of the mitted it to the committee for their apimportance likely to attach to its proceed-proval, take it to Belfast and confer with ings. They consequently adopted the fol- the brethren there still further in relation lowing resolutions:to it."

:

"I. That, in the judgment of this committee, the interests of the Alliance will be best consulted, and the spirit of love and Christian concord most promoted at the approaching Conference, by such arrangements as will, in the first place, permit a large portion of the time at each meeting to be spent in the exercise of devotion; in the second, by avoiding the discussion of all subjects on which any strong difference of opinion is likely to exist; and, thirdly, by restricting the business to matters intimately connected with the great spiritual interests of the Church of God rather than by the consideration of more mixed and general questions. The committee are all the more

BELFAST

Dr. Steane was also requested to extend his journey to Scotland to obtain the concurrence and cordial co-operation of the brethren there.

The following is the programme, subject, of course, to such alterations as circumstances may afterwards require or suggest. Let us add an earnest hope that the members of the Alliance from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland will gather together on this occasion to encourage each other's hearts and strengthen each other's hands in the Lord; and may He himself, the glorified Head and Saviour of the Church, be present at our meetings and shed the fresh oil of the Comforter upon us all!

CONFERENCE.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1859.

MORNING, 1 P.M.-Meeting of the Council.
EVENING.

Sermons in three or four Churches and Chapels.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21.

MORNING, 10A.M.-Devotional Exercises.-The Bishop of Down and Connor to preside, and deliver the Opening Address. Three prayers, with reading of the Word of God, and praise.

Interval of a quarter of an hour.

12.-Business.-Sir C. E. Eardley to preside.

1. Prayer.

2. Appointment of Secretaries of Conference.

3. Usual Resolution on the order of business.

4. Report of Council to be presented, and adopted with Treasurer's Account.

5. Resolutions (if any) arising out of Report.

6. Finance Committee of Conference to be appointed.

7. Chairman to nominate Committee to prepare the names of next
year's Council.

8. Report on Scheme for distributing Berlin Address to the Diaspora,
and calling for Prayer all over the World.
Resolution thereon.

6 P.M.-Soirée.-Free social intercourse, with refreshments. Meeting to be concluded with short Addresses, praise, and prayer.

The Mayor of Belfast to preside.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.

MORNING, 10 A.M.-Devotional Exercises.-Rev. Professor Gibson to preside, and deliver a short Address or Exposition. Praise and prayer. Rev. Dr. Urwick to read and enforce the Practical Resolutions. Praise and prayer.

Interval of a quarter of an hour.

12.-Business.-Prayer.

I. Reports or communications from Foreign Branches.
1. France.

2. Germany (with especial reference to the Gustavus Adolphus
Society, and the Roman Catholic Priesthood.)

3. Sweden.

4. Turkey.

II. Proposal from Geneva to hold a Conference of Christians of all nations in that city in 1861.

Resolutions thereon.

III. Italy: Is there any Sphere of Labour for the Alliance, and what is it?

IV. Letters of Introduction to Brethren going abroad.

6 P.M.-Ireland.-Prayer.

Its Present Religious Condition and Prospects. Subject to be introduced in a short paper, to be prepared by Rev. G. Scott, Banagher.

Questions-1. What Spiritual Benefit can Irish brethren confer on Britain as the Result of the great Revival?

2. In what way may British Christians best Co-operate with their Irish brethren in Promoting the Advancement of Evangelical Truth and Godliness in Ireland?

3. Can any measure be adopted by the Alliance, and what, to Promote the Closer Fellowship of Christians of all Sections of the Protestant Church in Ireland?

4. Would it be Possible to hold Four General Meetings of Protestant Christians of all Denominations, convened by the Alliance in four Central places in Ireland during the ensuing year, for Conference and United Devotion?

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23.

MORNING, 10, A.M.-Devotional Exercises.-Rev.

to preside, and give a short Address or Exposition. Praise and Prayer.-Rev. Dr. Blackwood to read a Paper, or deliver an Address on the Duty and Blessedness of obeying Christ's New Commandment for its own sake. Praise and prayer.

Interval of a quarter of an hour.

MORNING, 10 P.M.-Meeting of New Council to elect Officers and Committee for ensuing year, and the transaction of any other necessary business.

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PRAYER BY THE CHURCH OF GOD IN ALL NATIONS.

The Committee have received a generous proposal from R. A. Macfie, Esq., to place 1,000l. in their hands, in order to enable them to print and circulate in different countries and languages the Address of the Berlin Conference to the brethren in Jesus Christ who are scattered abroad. Conceiving that this proposal afforded an opportunity for stirring up not these scattered brethren alone, but the whole Church of God, to united prayer, the Committee, with the concurrence of Mr. Macfie, have adopted the following Letter, which will be translated into many languages, and sent with the "Address." In laying it before the public, they commend it to the attention of all their fellow-Christians, and request them, and especially those among them who are in any way connected with the press, to give it the widest possible circulation.