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for us, and is doing daily. The first persons our brother Forward* immersed were a lawyer and two young ladies. This fall he has immersed another young lawyer, the most promising young man in town. He took a part in our meeting as soon as he was called on. He has

the humility of a disciple, and promises to be a useful member of the church. This fall there have been twenty-seven persons baptized into the faith, and another last Lord's day. Brother C. Forward exhibits the humility and zeal of a real follower of him who humbled himself and made himself of no reputation for our sakes." [In answer to the request of the brethren there, I will try and visit them in May or June next.]

-EDITOR.

NEW YORK,

AUBURN, NEW YORK.-"Brother Campbell-1 can truly say I wish you success in your labors to reform mankind and restore the ancient order of things to the saints. I would inform you that notwithstanding the united exertions of all the clergy of all denominations, the light of divine truth is making progress in the different sections of this country. In Butler, Wayne county, there is a church formed of 14 members, intelligent brethren. Brother Dratt has been appointed their Bishop. Brother Wilkinson and myself went out to visit them the 18th of February (instant) and found them travelling in the order of the gospel as we understand it. Several of the brethren and sisters of the old society said they should join them soon. The church which I belong to is progressing in the cause of truth, and our meetings, as to numbers, increase. We have forty-five members belonging to the church. Our opponents defame us; we, however, are desirous to possess the spirit of the gospel, and to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints."

cause.

GOOD OMENS IN SCOTLAND.

PERTH, SCOTLAND, March 29, 1831. Dear brother Campbell-IT is with great pleasure that I have read several numbers of the Christian Baptist, and should feel happy to receive the Millennial Harbinger, if an easy and regular plan could be adopted. I think the principles you defend are true, and a restoration of the ancient order of things most desirable, and rejoice at the great success of your efforts, together with those engaged in the same It is now nearly two years since I understood that a church was formed in Edinburg under the simple name of Christian; that no subscription to articles, creeds, confessions, or catechisms would be required; that all who held the fundamentals of religious doctrine should associate together; that the Scriptures should be the only rule of faith and conduct; and that the preachers supported by the churches should constantly devote their whole time in visiting the sick, preaching in the open air, and laboring in the word. The above principle was first adopted by a few persons and one minister, and the cause *Late member of Congress

met with great support by the respectable members of various denominations; insomuch that £70 in donations were received in one year to assist the work. Passing through Edinburg I had some conversation with that minister, and, approving heartily of the design, I resigned my charge in London, and immediately united with them. The cause has rapidly advanced. There are now six ministers fully employed, viz.-In Edinburgh, Leith, Kulkoldy, Dundee, Perth, and Newburgh; we also expect another daily to itinerate in the neighborhood of Perth.

That you may form a more general notion of us, I have sent you three numbers of our magazines, and one of each of our tracts; and though we do not go quite so far as you may see requisite, yet I conceive you will be pleased to see any advances towards the order of apostolic times.

Pagans, Infidels, and Mahometans have done much to stop the progress of christianity; but Popes, Priests, and Clergymen much more. They have mixed the muddy streams of human inventions with the water of life, and thus have prevented the spread of vital godliness. Men have contended for creeds and systems more than for the faith of the gospel. They have held forth from the pulpit and issued from the press long harangues in defence of their peculiar views, instead of imitating the Saviour in doing good to the souls and bodies of their fellow-men; and that charity, which is the essence of religion, has merely had a name, without its nature being evidenced or its benevolent influence observed. The Episcopalian has occupied his time and talents in defending the peculiarities of Episcopacy; the Presbyterian, Independent, Methodist, and Baptist, in like manner, in contending for the peculiarities of their own system. This I say they have been doing, instead of striving who could display most of the spirit of christianity and who would do most good in diffusing the knowledge of Christ among their fellow-men. I hope the time is near when all that is antichristian in Protestant as well as in the Popish system, will be expelled by the light of truth, as the rising sun disperses the mists of the morning. It is high time for the church to awake from her slumbers. We are near the close of the last dispensation, and yet the world resembles the valley of dry bones exhibited to the vision of the Prophet. Surely every christian ought to pray, "O Lord, revive thy work."

But you, perhaps, would desire to know the state of religion in Scotland. My opinion is, that there is the most of it amongst the Baptists, Independents, and Methodists. There are, however, many pious souls in the "establishment" and amongst the Seceders. But I fear most of the ministers in the last named preach in a style too high for the generality of their hearers to be profited by their labors. They display more of what they have learned in the University, than what they have learned in the volume of truth and the school of the Saviour. There wants a general arousing to duty-a general exertion against the common enemy.

Hoping you will excuse these remarks, hastily scribbled, and embrace an early opportunity in sending me word of the success of pure christianity in your borders, I remain yours affectionately in the bonds of christian unity. J. BURNS,

EXTRA DEFENDED.

AMONGST a goodly number of the doubting and wavering who have been fully established in the import and meaning of christian immersion, and have come out boldly and decidedly in the cause of the restoration of the ancient order of things, we are happy to find some talented and influential preachers; one of whom, from Maury county, Tennessee, under date of January 12, thus writes:

"Brother Campbell-Since you left Tennessee I have read much, reflected much, and often found myself laboring under conflicting feelings and views. But after reading the last Extra, being your reply to brother Broaddus, I saw and understood things as I never had before. I now go for reform in toto."

In the same letter he adds, "The ranting of sectarianism is more intolerabie in our country than ever." And from a letter received from him, dated the 18th of same month, we learn that he had from the middle of September till that time immersed about forty persons, and that the prospects of continued additions were flattering. Not only have some of his old Presbyterian and Methodistic neighbors buried their sectarianism in the water and risen to a new life; but what must afford him still greater joy, and on account of which we would rejoice with him, all his children, grown up to the age of discrimination, have also been translated into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour. Would that all who preach the gospel to their fellowcitizens were equally happy in introducing into the family of God their own offspring! Preachers who toil for the conversion of their contemporaries, ought not to forget that their own children have the strongest claims upon their attention. Some who spiritualize the Song of Solomon, had better take verse 6, chap, i. for a text-"They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have 1 not kept." EDITOR.

QUERY.

A MUCH esteemed brother and fellow-laborer in the kingdom of our Lord, has asked the question-

"How is it that when the ancient gospel is fairly presented to a people, and the work of conversion progresses most joyfully for a time, after it arrives at a certain point it ceases; and afterwards in that place for some time conversions are rather rare?”

An answer to this question is requested from some of our corespondents who have been engaged in proclaiming the word. We will reserve our remarks until we hear from some who have been more in the field than we.

EDITOR

A DOZEN OF APOLOGIES IN ONE,

A DOZEN apologies, principal and interest, are due to our correspondents for delaying some of their communications to the next number. But circumstances required that I should write nearly all this number myself, and give the next chiefly to correspondents. Few can enter into the feelings and labors of one who has to write on a dozen of distinct subjects in the rapidity necessary to keep pace with the calls of the public and the daily calls of a periodical press. By the time we have got ourselves up to the writing point upon any subject, and have got the oil melted on the wheels of the mind, the fastidious taste of the times whispers in our ear, 'This is as much as we can bear, at one sitting, on this subject: let us have something else. One says, "This is too long;' another, 'It is too short;' and a third, 'It is out of place.' Thus is the mind impeded in its career, and half the time lost in taking off one set of harness and in geering it anew for another car. However, none but authors know the pangs of our travails, and therefore we can expect no sympathy from readers. All we ask is forgiveness when they think we sin against their wishes and taste. EDITOR.

9

FRIENDLY ADMONITION.

ANDREW BROADDUS has, as one of "the keepers of the faith,” as he terms himself and the Baptist ministry, given "an admonition to the Baptist churches in Virginia," to guard against any proposition to reform, no matter how plead, by whom, or in what manner. We have not room for it at this time, but will attend to it in our next. EDITOR.

MONTHLY RECEIPTS for the MILLENNIAL HARBINGER O. Clapp, Mentor, Ohio, vol. 2 for J Clough and G Hale. P Stout, La Grange, Ala. vols. 1 and 2 for A Jones, vol. 3 for A Ricks and R P Bates, and vols. 2 and 3 for himself. W M'Galliard, Wadsworth, Ohio, vol. 2 for S Green, and 1 dollar for himself. J Trabue, Terre Haute, Ind. vol. 3. J T Johnson, Georgetown, Ky. vol. 3 for J F Johnson, S Elgin, and 1 dollar for R J Ward. JY Plattenburg, Bethany, Va. vols. 1 and 2. D F Newton, Fife's, Va. vols. 1 and 2 for W B Philips. J Stamps, Port Gibson, Mi. vol. 2 for M Hunter, Elizabeth M'Dogal, L Matthews, G Humphreys, and Mr. Singleton. TE Jeter, Jetersville, Va. vols. 2 and 3 and 1 dollar on vol. 4. J Westbrook, Jamestown, N. C. vol. 2 for J Backstrom. E Ogle, Somerset, Pa. vol. 3 for A Morrison and Mrs. M Ogle. HE Degarmo, Aurora, N. Y. 1 dollar on vol, 3. H Baldwin, Aurora, Ohio, vol. 3 for G Sheldon, A Baldwin, and himself. W Bootwright, Richmond, Va. vols. 1 and 2 for E Burton, N M'Curdy, J Redd, A Gathwright, J B Prentis and F W Quarles, and vol. 2 for G Radford, R Wrenn, J Martin, A M Peers. W W Wrenn, L L Montague, and one copy of vol. 1. Ex ra, for himself. J Wheeler Martinsburg, O. vol. 2 for J Hill, W Green, Henderson, K. vol. 2 for J N Hatchett, and vol. 1 and 1 dollar on vol. 2 for himself. C M'Neely, Dublin Hall. Ohio, 2 dollar for vol. 3. F V Sutton, White Chimneys, Va. $20, for whom not stated. N P Goodell, Kirtland, O. vols. 2 and 3. G W Nuckols, Shelbyville, Ky. vol. 2 for W Jarvis, M Redding, and A Chinn, and vols. 2 and 3 for W Standeford. W Hillyard, Prescott, West Canada, vol. 2, and 1 dollar for vol. 3. B S Hendrickson, New York City, vols. 1 and 2 for H Edmonds and J Hatfield, and vol. 2 for W Thompson. [Receipts here omitted shall appear in our next.]

THE MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

No. 4.

BETHANY, VIRGINIA:
MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1832.

Vol. III.

I saw another messenger flying through the midst of heaven, having everlasting good news to proclaim to the inhabitants of the earth, even to every nation and tribe, and tongue, and people-saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgments is come: and worship him who made heaven, and earth, and sea, and the fountains of water.-JOHN. Great is the truth and mighty above all things, and will prevail.

AN APOLOGY FOR MR. BALL.

MR. BALL, Editor of the Religious Herald, Richmond, Va. being the tongue of the body of the opposition to reformation in Virginia, may be justly regarded as uttering the views and feelings of the party of which he is the organ. When he speaks he speaks the suggestions of the head and heart of that body of which he is but the tongue. When he is silent he is as much governed by the head and heart as when he speaks-what he publishes and what he withholds are equally indicative of the views and feelings of those whose publishing organ he is. Some of our brethren grievously complain of his suppressions, omissions, and one-sided views of things. But this is not just. As well might they blame the lever of the press, the type, or the ink, or Mr. Sands who beats and pulls physically in their office, as Mr. Ball who elects and reprobates, who selects and rejects, as the fingers which serve the mouth in obedience to the head and heart.

Mr. Ball is a very faithful and clever little man- faithful to his contract and obedient to his superiors, as every good man ought to be. And why do the brethren of the reformation blame him for not publishing their replies-for only giving his readers a peep into their own side of every matter? It is ungenerous thus to censure him. What! would they have him to starve himself to death, or to go and dig, or teach a school! If the brethren would only reflect a little they would not blame the thorn for not yielding grapes, nor the thistle for not producing figs! Why blame the hand for ministering to the mouth, or the feet for supporting the body? And does not every reformer know that it is ruin to their cause to let both sides be heard? for who so astute in all the ranks of the opposition, as not to see the inexpediency of letting the people hear both sides-as not to see that the ignorance of the people of what is written or spoken against their prejudice, is the only safeguard to their standing-the only rock of their salvation from the reprobation of those on whom they lean for the honors of this life?

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