gelic or human, cannot be happy, must we not conclude that if human spirits, when absent from the body are present with the Lord, they must, in order to happiness, be employed? This being admitted, as we presume it will be, by all who with Paul believe that our spirits after death are present with the Lord, may we not then, with all safety, most rationally conclude that all the happy spirits of the dead are employed in useful services in other parts of God's universe! Hence the strong probability that multitudes of pure and noble spirits are being constantly drafted from earth to minister to the increasing wants, or to the accumulating pleasures, of a universe more rapidly increasing in its tenantry than we can form any idea of from all the ratios of increasing population registered in the annals of our own little world. If any one can give a better reason for this chapter of the mysteries of Divine Providence than we have here given, we shall most gratefully and thankfully receive it and report it. A. C. OBITUARIES. (From the "American Millennial Harbinger.") WICKLIFFE EWING CAMPBELL, whose sudden and much lamented death was announced in our October number, as then intimated, was a child of much more than ordinary promise. Possessed of a beautiful countenance and person,of a good understan ing, and of a most amiable disposition, he was universally admired and beloved by all that knew him. Conscientious, truthful, and honorable in his whole deportmentpious and devotional for his years-fond of learning and of his books, he was a child not only beloved by all his relatives and acquaintance, and dear to his parents, but one on whom clustered many a hope of eminent usefulness to society in coming years. After his father left for Europe, he commenced with still greater earnestness and diligence than ever before, to treasure up in his memory and heart the oracles of God. He frequently carried his Bible under his arm into the fields, and, besides his regular studies and the reading of several volumes, in a few weeks, in addition to his former acquisitions, committed to memory four chapters of John's Testimony, twelve chapters of the book of Proverbs, and fifteen hymns. His taste was fairly represented in those hymns which he · memorized and frequently sung with a mellifluous voice, in the softest and sweetest strains. Amongst these were the following:- Rock of ages, cleft for me;' And is the gospel peace and love;' 'Not all the nobles of the earth; Time is winging us away; The and shall it ever be;' Lord, in thy presence here we meet;' O! Jesus, the glory, the wonder, and love;' The world can never give;' Come, every pious heart;' through another week, God has brought us : Saviour! O what endless charms;" Jesus, Safely on our way;' Lo, the stone is rolled away;' Rise, O my soul;' Prayer is the soul's sincere desire: Father of mercies, in thy word.' Wickliffe had always been taught God; because it is written, " Children, obey that in obeying his parents he was obeying your parents in the Lord, for this is right." He was, therefore, conscientiously obedient. -Before his father left home, he asked and obtained from him leave to swim in the creek -an art which he had practised for three years, and in which he much excelled. Though fond of the practice, and also of skating on the ice, he would not presume to indulge in either without permission. His parents have never urged any of their children to be baptized. They have always been fearful and cautious lest they should be induced simply by their authority to make a understood and realized the solemnity and public profession of their faith before they meaning of it. They have rather retarded than hastened such a profession on the part of their children, until they were satisfied it was solicited by them, not through some sudden impulse, nor of any gratification they might suppose it to afford their parents; but from a fixed and confirmed purpose and desire of obeying the Lord. There appeared during the summer a remarkable enlarge. ment of mind on his part, vigorously indicated, especially in his love of prayer. Daily he would fall upon his knees beside his mother, and often request her to teach him to pray, or to unite with him in prayer-a practice in which she often engages with her children, and by means of which she is enabled to appreciate their growth in knowledge and in piety. The very day preceding his death he declared to his sister's son, Henry Ewing, his determination to be baptized, with whom and another sister's son, Thomas Henley, he was swimming at the time the Lord took bim home. He was in truth, both in heart and life, a Christian-much more consistent than the great majority of the adult family of the faithful. No son, we presume to say, ever loved a mother more than he, and no mother could have been more devoted to a son. The trial, therefore, has been one of superlative severity. May the good Lord, who does not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men, make it an enduring blessing to his relatives and all his youthful acquaintances! And may those on whom this affliction has fallen with peculiar force, in the letter and in the spirit of the last hymn which he committed to memory and repeated the day before his death, say with all their hearts "O! may these heavenly pages be And still new beauties may we see, Teach us to love thy sacred word, And view our Saviour there!"-A.C. On Friday, the 10th December, William Reynoldson Scott, aged 22 years, eldest son of William Scott, of Lincoln, late of Asterby. Previous to his affliction, which was protracted and severe, he had been robust and healthy. In his trouble he was led to look unto the Lord Jehovah, and ready pardon found. On the 18th of October he was, by brother Greenwell, then on a visit to Lincoln, baptized into Christ for the remission of sins, and from that time until his death he held fast his confidence, and the rejoicing of his hope in Christ. As his end drew near, all fear of death was entirely destroyed; and he earnestly prayed that his heavenly Father, for Christ's sake, would speedily take him unto himself. Truly his end was peace; and although we deeply feel the loss of such a son, yet we do not sorrow as those who have no hope. Brother Gainsley, aged 63, and Sister Dexter, aged 55, members of the Church in Nottingham, have, during the last month, been removed by death. 1 Thess. iv. 13, 18. ONE BY ONE LOVE'S LINKS ARE BROKEN. One by one Love's links are broken, One by one our friends depart, Voices that have kindly spoken, Heart that throb'd to kindred heart. Some are resting in the ocean, Hidden 'mid the secrets deep, Heedless of its wild commotion, Sleeping there a dreamless sleep. Some have wander'd o'er the billows, Prayers nor tears their lives could save; Deep their rest beneath the willows, In some distant churchyard grave. And some are near us lonely lying, No love-words e'er can break their sleep; No answer comes; wild winds are sighing Through the grass o'er which we weep. List we for the heart's warm greeting, Loved and prized in days gone by; Look we for fond glances meeting Ours from out the soul-lit eye? Ask we for the joyous beaming Of the smiles that radiant shone Round us in our youthful dreaming Ask for these, Where are they gone? AT length we have the pleasure to announce this work in the printer's hands, and trust it will shortly be out. Our anxious desire is, that it may prove so acceptable to all our brethren and sisters in the three kingdoms as to be generally adopted. We can truly say no pains have been spared to make it all that could be desired a book scripturally and pleasingly expressive of our thanksgiving, confidence, trust, hope, love, and joy;-of adoration of our heavenly Father-his attributes, his pity, grace, bounty, and care;-of remembrances of Christ Jesus-his life, love, excellencies, sorrows, death, resurrection, ascension, reign, gifts, priesthood, and second coming;-of our blessedness, privileges, motives, delights, mutual affection, brotherly kindness, devotedness to the words and ways of the Lord, &c. &c. Nor have less pains been taken to make the obscure clear, the harsh and stiff easy and flowing, and the erroneous scriptural ;—to omit the bombastic and otherwise exceptionable;-to avoid bitter words, hell-dooming denunciations, and party asperities; to give decided preference to hymns in the first person, containing individual and collective praises and rejoicings in the Lord; and, by avoiding puerility on the one hand, words and phrases. May we entreat and extravagance on the other, to give utterance to steady and warm gratitude in beauteousness of imagery, strength and elegance of style, and scriptural accuracy of expression. The book will contain many most sublime themes from the sweet singers in ancient Israel, when, in plaintive or in delighted strains, they anticipated the sufferings of Jesus and the succeeding glory. But the great object has been to enable the "holy priesthood" to offer, in New Testament terms, and through the One Mediator, "the sacrifice of praise to God continually-the fruit (calves) of lips confessing and giving thanks to his name." And the heavenly model we have taken is the "NEW SONG" presented before the throne of God and the Lamb, declarative of Jesus' worthiness, because he had done all things for us, to receive all honor, and glory, and blessing. Gladly would we have brought every hymn to this divine standard ! that so common a defect may, as far as possible, be exchanged for an ardent desire to rise higher and higher, and become more and more perfect in the overflowings of gratitude to our heavenly Father and our exalted Redeemer, in thoughts and language so chastened, accurate, and heavenly, as to be suitable when we stand in the very presence and amidst the innumerable company. ARRANGEMENT OF SUBJECTS. 1 Love of God to mau ... 2 Creation & Providence of God 1.. 7 8.. 29 30.. 43 44.. 56 57.. 69 70.. 75 76.. 94 8 Immersion into Christ 9 Salvation in Christ alone..... 101..117 10 Forgiveness of Sins and Adoption.. 11 Christian Hope and Security 130..141 12 Jesus reigns. 13 Priesthood and intercession of 15 Lord's Supper. 118..129 142..148 149..163 164..180 181..203 204..229 230-236 PART SECOND. 237..262 263..269 270..274 275..295 19 Jesus All in Al......... 20 Jesus Worthy. 18 Name of Jesus Precious... 21 Devotedness to Jesus Our endeavour has, indeed, been to supply the best and most appropriate Hymn-book ever published; one which Jesus' disciples may open at any page, and find suitable expression for praise, without fear of error or impropriety. This we have faith-26 Christian Love and Union 952..368 27 Church Triumphant on Earth 369..383 fully and prayerfully done as in the presence and fear of God. It is not in human nature to have entirely succeeded; but we earnestly hope our brethren and sisters will regard our efforts with affectionate indulgence, even should any thing appear fanciful or unnecessary. We are so much "creatures of habit," that sometimes even nearer approaches to perfection are disliked if they differ or depart from long-used and favorite 332..336 22 Praise to God and the Lamb.. 296..331 23 Walking by Faith... 24 Christian Pilgrim 25 Christian Soldier. ... 337..345 346..351 and Evening-Life and Death-may be committed to memory, and sung in the social circle, or Sabbath-school, with the greatest propriety. Every sentiment is worthy of being remembered throngh life, and perhaps for ever. The book, when completed, will be duly announced. ELIHU BURRITT. I wish to introduce Mr. Burritt to the ac quaintance of my readers. He is being one of the most distinguished men of the present century. He is the Howard of the age. His name ought to be familiar with all the lovers of freedom, peace, and benevolence. He is a native of Connecticut--the land of steady habits. At the usual age he was apprenticed to learn the art and mystery of a blacksmith. He resolved to prove by actual experiment, how much may be learned by properly improving odd moments and hours. Ireland, and that too at a time when suffering was at its height. Through his influence a large proportion of the most liberal contributions of New England have been sent to Ireland. It was in consequence of his appeal to Lord John Russell, that an order was issued by British government to transmit, at its own expense, all the benevolent contributions of Americans. But his great central thought is Peace--the formation of a league of the universal brotherhood of the whole human family. He has succeeded in banding together most of the choice spirits of Britain and America in a pledge of perpetual peace, and an earthly hostility to war and oppression of every kind. Having nearly completed the preparatory work in Britain for the general diffu ion of already, cross the English channel to begin peace principles, he will soon, if he has not the work in France. And now he will make his knowledge of the modern languages available in the circulation of peace principles in all the languages of modern Europe. May many of our readers imitate his persevering industry in every good cause, that the work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus, may be the first principles of the gospel of Christ. as apparent as our zeal in the advocacy of W. W. E. ITEMS OF NEWS. He placed his Greek grammar in his hat, at the side of the chimney, near the forge, and studied the conjugation of the verbs while he blew the bellows. He soon be. came a Greek and Latin scholar. The moderu languages he studied with native teachers. He first made himself acquainted with the heads of a family of languages, and he was PERTH, January 5, 1848. Beloved brothen soon introduced to all its members. ther: As good news is refreshing and pleaThus a familiarity with Hebrew soon gave sant, I would communicate to you, and him not only a taste for Oriental literature, but through the Harbinger to the public geneenabled him to gain a knowledge of Syriac rally, that the cause of original Christianity Chaldaic, Ethiopic, Arabic, &c. By the is making some progress amongst us in the time he had attained the age of thirty, he North of Scotland. Since writing to you a had mastered FIFTY languages! During statement of our numbers last month, we have all this time he labored as a blacksmith eight had the pleasure of adding four to our church, hours per day. The reader must not sup- three of them by immersion; and our future pose that Mr. Burritt is only a linguist: that progress is brightening. So far as I can he is one of those excelling in one depart-judge, our little congregation is now securely ment merely. Phrenologically speaking his organ of language is one of the lesser developments. Mathematics and the sciences are his favorite studies. What constitutes Mr. Burritt a great man in our estimation, is: he consecrates all his literature and science, all his income and talents, to the promotion of “ peace on earth and good will among men." "For this purpose he has written and travelled, and lectured, quite extensively in the United States; and though in a poor state of health peregrinating England, Ireland, and Scotland, much of the time on foot, during the last year. He has visited and examined personally the most distressed hovels, cabins, and districts in fixed on the proper foundation; and although in consequence of the want of solid building, and other things, arising from ignorance, some stones broke off from the house, leaving an unpleasant breach, yet we find that the good and lively stones are all finding their way back to their own places, while the others are making for themselves dark and solitary abodes in the mines of sectarianism from which they were dug. I have also the pleasure to inform you, that a church of Baptist believers in Auchterarder, 14 miles from this place, formerly in connection with the Baptists, have renounced all human bonds of union, and from a letter I have received this morning, it appears they have determined to be united to their brethren of the Reformation. Let us, dear brother, rejoice at every advance made on the part of our Baptist friends to the ancient order of things, and hope that the day is not far distant when every one who has been immersed into Jesus, will cease their peculiar war-cries, and unite in one holy and concentrated army for the destruction and downfall of the kingdom of Satan. I may mention, that I preached in the above place on Lord's day eight days, in the afternoon on Christian Union, and in the evening on the same subject, in connection with the Ancient Gospel, the result being an application on the part of three for immersion, and 1 for restoration. I shall (our Father being willing) be there again shortly. Perhaps you know that Auchterarder was the birth-place, if not the cradle also of "The Free Church of Scotland." It cannot boast as much of the "Free Church of Christ." Jerusalem alone can claim that honor. I am happy to say that we have succeeded in more than doubling the number of subscribers to our periodical. Have not yet seen the January Harbinger. Wishing you strength from the Lord to conduct it, I am, your brother in Jesus, ROBERT ANDERSON. LEITH, December 16, 1847.--Reloved brother: Although little among the thousands of the Reformation, we are not willing to be altogether overlooked, and do hereby intimate to you, that with the consent and approbation of the church in Edinburgh, we formed ourselves into a church in Leith, on the 3rd day of October last, numbering 14 members. On the 31st of the same month another was added to the church from the Scotch Baptists; and on the morning of the 7th of November, three put on Christ by immersion, and were added the same day to the congregation, making a total of 18 members. Our little company are enjoying and exhibiting spiritual mindedness, with its happy results, life and peace in no ordinary degree; and being thus blessed by our beloved Lord, we anticipate that He will make us a blessing. Any communication may be addressed to me, Shrub-place, Leith Walk. Yours in the best of bonds, WM. NICOLSON. one added to our Church since brother Campbell's visit, who promises much usefulness to us. We have taken six additional numbers of the Messenger. We are living in peace. May the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, be with all the congregations of the Lord Jesus in this our native land, and throughout the world, is the prayer of yours in faith, R. GRAHAM. WIGAN, January 5, 1848.-We are happy to inform you, that we have added 2 to our number during the last month; one upon a confession of faith in Jesus Christ, who having obeyed from the heart that form of sound doctrine delivered to the Apostles, she is now filled with peace and joy in believing. Having died to sin, been buried with Jesus in baptism, and now risen to walk in newness of life. What a glorious and heart-cheering thought, that all the Christian's duties are real privileges, and the more obedient to Christ, the more peace and satisfaction of mind ensue. What a blessed system is the Christian system. The other having made a public confession of sin, was restored to the fellowship of the saints. We are going on in peace and harmony, and, I believe, increasing in Christian virtues, and aspiring after holiness. We should be most happy to see you in Wigan; we remember that you greatly encouraged us when here, and we were stimulated to more zeal and devotion. My prayer is, that we may be excited to more diligence and usefulness--time is short. GRANGEMOUTH, December 22, 1847.Respected brother: I have to accuse myself for not sending the statistics of the Church sooner. I had entirely forgotten your request in the Messenger for November, until reminded of it by your remarks in the last," which was only received the 19th instant. I now inform you that our present number of members is twenty-seven-seventeen of whom have their residence here; six of that number do business on the great waters, another in the service of Customs--all of whom are frequently absent. The other ten reside from three to four miles distant, which is much to our disadvantage. At one time we numbered forty; but from various causes, three having died, some having removed to other places to follow their calling, and others who, I am sorry to say, have gone back to the world, have thus reduced us. We have had T. Coop. [Nothing would afford us greater pleasure than to visit Wigan, and all other places. where we could be useful, and our services acceptable to the brethren. At present, however, we cannot leave home for any length of time. Let but the brethren he faithful to the Lord, to each other, and to the world, and their success and prosperity are certain in the cause of truth and righteousness. Be not conformed to this world --but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of good.-Ed.] WAKEFIEI D, January 1, 1848.-I have received this day the first number of the British Millennial Harbinger," and am well pleased with its contents. I find in your notices to correspondents that you have in hand a manuscript of 450 hymns. I hope you will arrange for their speedy publication, and send me 25 copies without delay. During 1847, we have admitted four members by immersion into the Lord's death. We are now holding a meeting almost every night in the week, and hope that much more fruit will be realized in 1848 than in 1847. Our prospects are cheering. energy, zeal, fidelity, and perseverance on the part of all the brotherhood, and prosperity must follow. Yours, &c. J. HODGSON. It only wants |