scoffers, and injured the minds of many of a very different character. The following are the principal topics which the author discusses, and which are highly worthy the perusal of those who wish to have their minds set at rest on the subject; or to see the arguments which may have occurred to their own thoughts, embodied in a lucid form;—these pretensions to the gift of tongues come without credentials-they come in opposition to the voice of scripture, sustained by acknowledged fact-they come without a text to show that the loss of the divine favour, of which they are assumed to intimate the return, ever occasioned their withdrawment-they come, assuming that the Gospel has never been believed since the days of miracles, and that there is no faith now upon the earth-they come in a character not recognized by scripture; they are unknown tongues - they come without serving, and without adaptation to serve, the end for which the scripture states the gift of tongues was communicated, namely, to be a sign to unbelievers; they come with an apparent libel upon the New Testament, accusing it of deficiency, involving an impeachment of the providence of God, and an extenuation of the sin of unbelief for the last 1700 years-they come with concomitants alien from the plain, simple, and quiet spirit of the Gospel-they come in connexion with tender care-they come unassociated with the gifts of healing, and of working miracles. The appendix contains some interesting facts respecting the similar delusions of the Camisards in the 17th century, of the French prophets in England, in 1708, and of some pretenders in America. We recommend this pamphlet as calculated to subserve the cause of truth; and we cannot but congratulate our churches on their happy freedom from the delusions it so well exposes. Objections to the Church of England Catechism as a School Book; or, Manual of Elementary Christian Instruction, par ticularly in the existing circumstances of the Church; by a Presbyter of the Church of Christ in England, 12mo. 68. pages. Higham. Ir is no small evil, we conceive, on the part of pious parents, whether Churchmen or Dissenters, to permit their children to learn" the catechism' of the national Church, as in the former case, we doubt not, in numberless instances, it has led young people to imagine that until their confirmation, they are free from moral accountability, that resting, as they suppose, on the shoulders of their sponsors. While in the latter it not only involves a gross inconsistency, but a positive untruth; for how can a child that has received baptism at the hand of a Dissenting Minister answer the second question in the terms prescribed. These and many other points are ably exhibited in the clever tract before us, which we earnestly recommend to the notice of all serious parents who, for the sake, perhaps, of some literary advantages, are trifling with the consciences of their children in such momentous matters. The Aged Christian, ripe for Glory. A Sermon preached in the Independent Meeting House, Stoke Newington, on Lord's day, April 29, 1832, occasioned by the Death of Mr. John Scott. By John Jefferson, 8vo. pp. 36. 1s. 6d. THIS is a valuable and appropriate memorial of an aged Christian gentleman, long known and honoured by a large circle of the followers of Christ of different communions. We have often had occasion to regret, in consulting the funeral discourses preached for the eminent lay members of our churches of former biographical information is preserved years, that scarcely a fragment of in them. Mr. Jefferson has, however, done justice to his venerated friend and the public in this particular, and we cordially recommend this Discourse to our readers. Sermons intended for the Use of Families, or to be read in Villages, (Second Series.) By W. Garthwaite. 8vo. pp. 360 Holdsworth and Co. Mr. Garthwaite's former volume, we To those of our readers who know are sure the present will be most acceptable, and we recommend the second series as well adapted for the exercises contemplated by their esteemed Author. TRANSACTIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL DISSENTERS. CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENG LAND AND WALES. MINUTES of the general meeting, held by appointment at the Congregational Library, Blomfield Street, Finsbury Circus, London, on Tuesday morning, May 8th, and by adjournment on Friday morning, May 11th, 1832. The Rev. WILLIAM CHAPLIN, of PRESENT. Rev. H. L. Adams, Burnham, Norfolk. Robert Ainslie, Lavenham. John Alexander, Norwich. Thomas Palmer Bull, Newport Pag- Josiah Bull, M.A. Ditto. Thomas Binney, London. James Bennett, D.D. London. John Burnet, Camberwell. John Clayton, Jun. A.M. London. S. A. Davies, Enfield. Richard Fairbrother, East Dereham. William Harris, Wallingford. John Angell James, Birmingham. John Jefferson, Stoke Newington. N. S. NO. 90. Rev. George Legg, Bristol. William Sadd, Elsham. Joseph Sexton, Westbury. Thomas Stenner, Dartmouth. Herbert Tayler, Sawbridgeworth. Henry Townley, London. Thos. Timpson, Lewisham. Joseph Turnbull, A.M., Bromley, W. Temple, Manningtree. J. Vine, Bushey. D. Washbourn, Hammersmith. Algernon Wells, Coggeshall. LAY GENTLEMEN. Richard Ash, Esq. Bristol. J. B. Brown, Esq. LL.D. London. John Day, Hammersmith. Samuel Newell, Bristol. R. Robinson. J. Reeve, Marlborough. Richard Smith. 3 C Stephen Unwin, Esq. Coggeshall. VISITORS. Rev. A. Nettleton, New England. Theodore Fliedner, Prussia. The Rev. Mr. Luke, of Taunton, commenced the business of the meet ing with prayer; after which the Secretaries were called upon to read the Report of the Provisional Committee. Report.-In compliance with the instructions of the General Meeting in May, 1831, as expressed in third of their final resolutions-the Committee drew up a report of the proceedings of the General Meeting, together with a circular letter addressed to the officers of the various Unions and Associations throughout England, requesting them to make known officially the proceedings of the meeting in their several connections, and also to transmit to the Provisional Committee any observations and suggestions on the proposed plan, together with statistical or other intelligence which might be thought interesting, with a view of laying the whole before this Adjourned General Meeting. These circulars were addressed officially to the following parties, in addition to those before mentioned, viz. 1. The editor of the Congregational Magazine. 2. The editor of the Evangelical Magazine. 3. The Board of Congregational Ministers of London and its vicinity. 4. The Secretary of the Congregational Union of Scotland. 5. The Secretary of the Congregational Union for Ireland. 6. The officers of the Congregational Unions and Associations in New England. 7. The Missionaries connected with our body at Calcutta, Madras, South Africa, and the Windward and Leeward Islands in the South Seas. In addition to the foregoing, the Committee distributed generally 500 copies of the Report of the last meet ing. They have also from time to time reminded the official persons connected with Associations of the importance of communicating with their respective brethren and churches, and of transmitting the result to be laid before this adjourned meeting. They have, moreover, caused some addresses on the subject to be inserted in the periodicals connected with the denomination. The Committee have now to lay before this meeting the letters which they have received from various quarters in reply to their communications. [From these communications it appeared that of the 34 counties in England, in which there are Associations (six counties having none), 26 were most favourably disposed to the object; four had declined for the present, and from the remaining four, no answers had been received. The following interesting and important communication from the Rev. Dr. Snell, Secretary of the General Association of Massachusetts, addressed to the Secretaries, formed part of the Report.] "North Brookfield, Feb. 10, 1832. "Gentlemen. - Your very acceptable communication, containing an account of the doings of a meeting for the purpose of forming a Congregational Union in England and Wales, was received on the 25th ult. and will be laid before the General Association of Massachusetts, at their next meeting. It is highly gratifying to me, on this side the Atlantic, to know that respectable bodies of Christians, in distant countries, entertain the same views with ourselves respecting the privileges and independence of the churches. And it is a circumstance that affords additional pleasure to be assured, that they are associating in a manner which will combine and increase their influence, and furnish facilities and new opportunities to encourage each other's hearts, and to strengthen each other's hands in every good work. "I have carefully examined your plan of union, and the objects it contemplates. The objects are important and desireable, and I discover nothing but what I approve, provided that, upon experiment, you should find no inconvenience. Provision is made that each Association may appoint such a num as ber of representatives as it may deem necessary." This may possibly be an evil, and you may find it necessary in some way to limit the representation of County and District Associations. Though you do not in any case sume legislative authority, or become a court of appeal," still many important subjects may come up for discussion, and important questions for decision, on which there may be a diversity of opinion, and which may affect the interests of the whole denomination. "The plan we have adopted is this, that each Association shall be represented in the general and annual meeting by two delegates. Two others are appointed as their substitutes, who are to attend on the failure of the primaries, so that we can generally calculate upon a full representation. This prevents the body from becoming too unwieldy for the dispatch of business, and also a disproportionate representation when our meetings are holden in the midst of a dense population. These remarks I should not have made, but in compliance with your request; and such may be the difference between your circumstances and ours, that they may be wholly unnecessary. "I am persuaded that the general union you contemplate, will contribute largely to your strength, peace, and enjoyment. Such has been the case with the union of the Evangelical Congregational Ministers in Massachusetts. It has increased our acquaintance with each other and our brotherly love, harmonized our views and measures, given us a more correct knowledge of the state of the churches; while it has contributed in no inconsiderable degree to the revival of true religion in various parts of the State, and increased and invigorated our measure of reform and plans of general benevolence. One considerable portion of time during each meeting is occupied in giving an account of the state of religion within our limits, its declensions and revivals--the trials and prospects of the churches. We find that this is happily calculated to excite the sympathies of the ministers and churches for each other on the one hand, and to encourage and animate them on the other. From these narratives a condensed report is drawn up and sent forth with our printed minutes to the churches, which is followed with beneficial effects. It presents the increase of piety in one section and the decline of it in another, and leads to an investigation of the probable causes of each, and the adoption of measures to remedy evils where they exist. The cause of truth and evangelical religion has been rising ever since we have combined our influence and counsels by general association. Before, we operated as so many individual corps-since, as a united and marshalled host, against error, ungodliness, and vice. All this, and still more, we anticipate from your contemplated union, and hope soon to hear of the most pleasing and animating results of the measures you are adopting, especially the abundant increase of evangelical religion, and the enlargement of the civil rights of Protestant Dissenters. 66 Perhaps, in the sequel, I may state facts with which you are already well acquainted; still I will not forbear. "The state of Massachusetts spreads over a territory about 150 miles by 60 as its mean width. This territory is divided into 14 counties and 300 towns. The whole of these towns embrace about 750 religious societies, many of which are exceedingly smallsome but just exist in name, without much religious instruction. "Of these 750 societies of all denominations, 406 are Congregational; leaving of all other denominations 344; 185 Baptists-60 Methodists-36 Universalists-31 Episcopalians-17 Friends -8 Presbyterians-4 Roman Catholics-2 Shakers-21 Swedenborgians. The 406 Congregational Societies are again divided into two sects, Orthodox and Unitarian-350 Orthodox, and the rest 56 Unitarian. Of the 350 Orthodox churches and pastors, 276 are represented by delegates in our general Association-about 60 of the remainder are feeble churches, most of them without pastors and teachers. A few settled ministers, for various reasons, have not associated with their brethren. The churches whose pastors are associated in the general meeting contain about 40,000 members ;5 or 6,000 of these are the fruits of the very extensive revival of religion during the past year. Most of the Unitarian churches and societies in America are in this State-i. e. Massachusetts. Harvard College, at Cambridge, the earliest public literary institution in our country, and the only one till 1700, is the support, life, and bulwark of Unitarianism in this country. It is wholly under Unitarian influence, instruction, and management-completely sectarian in its character. Its popularity, however, is evidently on the wane, judging from the decreasing number of young men who repair to it for an education. Most of these are from Boston and the vicinity-from Unitarian families. A great majority of Unitarian churches and ministers are to be found at no great remove from the college. But notwithstanding all the obstacles lying in the way, the cause of evangelical truth and piety has made great advances in Boston and the vicinity of the college in the course of ten or fifteen years past, and is still in a state of successful progress. While Harvard University, once the hope of the American churches, has received none of the refreshing dews of grace, which have watered the various portions of the vineyard, still the other colleges of the State, Amherst, and William, have been the subject of rich spiritual blessings, and are furnishing many valuable ministers for our own churches and missionaries of the cross, to our new settlements and heathen nations. "And now, dear brethren, pray for our peace and prosperity, and may the God of peace be with you and give you enlargement, with all joy and peace in believing. 66 "I am, dear Sirs, your friend and fellow servant, in the gospel of Christ, THOMAS SNELL. The Rev. Messrs. Arthur Tidman, Joseph Turnbull, and Joshua Wilson, Esq." In conclusion, the Provisional Committee beg to state, that the more the subject has been considered by them in its relation to the interests of the Congregational body, and, through our denomination, in its bearing on the cause of truth in the world, the deeper is their impression that the time is fully come when all who profess Congregational principles, and feel their worth, should 66 come forward with one accord to avow them to the world; and to exhibit, according to the phrase of our American friend, a united and marshalled host against error, ungodliness, and vice." 1. Moved by the Rev. J. A. James; seconded by the Rev. John Burnet, and resolved unanimously, "That the Report of the Provisional Committee, now read, be approved." 11. Moved by J. B. Brown, Esq. LL. D.; seconded by John Brown, Esq. and resolved unanimously, "That in conformity with the following resolutions of the General Meeting held in this Library, in May, 1831, for the purpose of considering the propriety of forming a General Union of Congregational Churches and Ministers throughout England and Wales,-THE UNION BE NOW FORMED." I. That it is highly desirable and important to establish a Union of Congregational Churches and Ministers throughout England and Wales, founded on a full recognition of their own distinctive principles, namely, the scriptural right of every separate church to maintain perfect independence in the government and administration of its own particular affairs; and therefore, that the Union shall not in any case assume legislative authority, or become a court of appeal. [The constitution and objects of the Union, and the machinery by which it was proposed to work it, were then stated from the document issued last year.] II. That such Union consist of County and District Associations, together with any Ministers and Churches of the Congregational order recognized by an Association. III. That the following be the objects contemplated in its formation : 1. To promote evangelical religion in connexion with the Congregational Denomination. 2. To cultivate brotherly affection and sincere co-operation in every thing relating to the interests of the Associated Churches. 3. To establish fraternal correspondence with Congregational churches, and other bodies of Christians throughout the world. 4. To address an annual or occasional letter to the associated churches, |