sovereign "Lord of heaven and earth hath hidden from the wise and prudent, and hath revealed to babes;" and that those theological and philosophical studies which are generally thought necessary, rather tend to increase the natural enmity of man's heart against "the preaching of the cross," which was "a stumbling block to the Jews, who required a sign, and foolishness to the Greeks, who sought after wisdom.”

They cannot add to the qualifications of a Christian teacher, laid down in the word of God; and they deny that a liberal education is essential to his character and office; while they reckon it absolutely necessary, that he should, with great diligence study the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works."

The discipline and government of the Scottish Baptist Churches are strictly congregational. Members are received, after making a public profession of their faith, with the consent of the whole church, expressed, when the body is numerous, by the show of hands; and every case of discipline is determined in the same manner. They esteem a conscientious regard to the law of discipline, instistuted by the great Head of the Church, Mat. xviii. absolutely necessary for the safety of the whole body, and for maintaining purity of communion, and the due exercise of brotherly love.

It would exceed our limits to narrate all the par

ticulars which, although not entirely peculiar to them, are yet distinguishable from the faith and practice of the great majority of professing Christians. But it would be improper to omit stating their views with respect to subjection to civil governors.-They consider all existing powers as "ordained of God," Rom. xiii. 2. When equal protection is afforded to all good subjects, whatever their religious creed may be,-a privilege fully enjoyed in this country, they are thankful to God for so great a blessing, and are cheerfully "subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors, as to them that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well," 1 Pet. ii. 13, 14. And when rulers are guilty of oppression, they still reckon it the duty of Christians to be subject to their authority in all lawful things, to honour them on account of the offices which they sustain, to avoid speaking evil of dignities, to pay them tribute or taxes in a fair and honourable way, and "to offer up for them, and for all men, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks." In no case whatever, do they feel themselves warranted to resist those in authority over them; for "whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist, shall receive to themselves damnation," or judgment. Were any thing enjoined upon them which they conceived to be opposite to the will of God, after trying the effect of a peaceable and manly remonstrance, without obtaining redress,

they should then have no alternative but to suffer patiently or to flee from their

oppressors.

Besides the tracts mentioned above, many others have been published by Mr. M'Lean, of which, his Illustration of the Commission given by Jesus Christ to his Apostles, is the most comprehensive and important; and an edition of his whole works is now in the press, consisting of seven or eight volumes. Of those published by other elders in this connexion, the following are the most worthy of notice.-Two Letters to the Public on the Grace of God, occasioned by the conversion of William Mills, a condemned Felon, by Henry David Inglis;-Parental Duties;-Purity of Christian Communion, recommended as an antidote against the perils of the latter days; and Letters on a variety of Subjects, relating chiefly to Christian Fellowship and Church Order, in which the Author has discussed some of the points of difference between them and other Independents and Baptists, by William Braidwood.

There are fifteen Baptist Churches in Scotland of the class above described, and some small societies, and scattered individuals, amounting in all to about 1000 members. And although in some places they have been stationary, or on the decline, yet, upon the whole, their members of late years have considerably increased.-In England and Wales there are a few churches, and smaller societies, who are of the same faith and order, conse

quently distinct from the two great bodies, known by the names of General and Particular Baptists.*

The persons who belong to the churches here described, assume no particular denomination. They wish only, in some measure, to deserve that name by which the disciples of Christ were called first at Antioch.

On the other hand, there are at least two congregations in Scotland, that are in communion with the Particular Baptists in England; and, of course, are wholly distinct from the Society which has formed the subject of this article.

THE

BEREANS.*

NAME.-Bereans, in modern church history, are a sect of Protestant dissenters from the Church of Scotland, who take this title, not from choice but necessity, as they foresaw, that if they did not distinguish themselves by some name, they would be distinguished by others, by applying to them the name of the founder of the sect. On this account, Mr. Barclay, whose modesty was such, that he did not wish his friends to be called by his name, thought, with them, the name Bereans as expressive and suited to the Christian character as any other, seeing the believers of the gospel at Berea were highly commended for their Christian con

The following account of the Bereans was sent the author for insertion here, by one of their ministers. k k

VOL. III.