vinced of their supineness and errors in former times in relation to their teachers, and now they are making great efforts to educate and support their clergy as they ought always to have done. Let us, then, advance in the tenor of our way, stimulated, as we ought to be, by the exertions of those who have felt the force of our example, and feel it to be their duty to go and do likewise." So pleads a Pædobaptist; and what Baptist of the Old School would not blush in his presence? For my part, I feel no anxiety for the result. The children of the flesh will manifest themselves, and it is right that they that are of the world should speak of, and like, the world. But those who believe the good confession which the King of Martyrs made to Pontius Pilate, will delight to know and to teach that "Christ's kingdom is not of this world.” And they do know that no carnal crowd of worshippers will be owned by him as a church of his. But some there are who would rather commune with orthodox Presbyterians and Episcopalians in building colleges, making clergy men, issuing tracts, raising funds for theological schools, and in the Lord's supper also, than with such heretics as those who contend for carrying out the above good confession into practice. A. C.

THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE. To the Readers of the Christian Baptist.

MY PATRONS AND FRIENDS,-It is full time that I should address you on the past, the present, and the future, as respects you, myself, and posterity.

With the exception of comparatively a few witnesses in the mountains and vallies of Europe, all Christendom slept for one thousand years. Kings and priests made a golden goblet-filled it with medicated wine, of the most inebriating qualities-handed it to each other and when they had freely indulged themselves, they handed it to their subjects, who all became intoxicated, and, like drunken sots, fell fast asleep! Luther arose and washed himself; and, like the angel that liberated Peter, he smote his brethren on the side until a number of them awoke. He led them out into the city, and left them in one of its streets. They were not as sagacious as Peter; for, instead of marching

out, they took up a permanent abode in the great city, in whose prisons they had so long lain. This reformation was too soon completed; and now for three centuries their descendants have done little else in the religious way than quarrel about it. We were born in the suburbs of the great city, and lived in its smoke during our non-age. But we have been awaked, and wish to awake our contemporaries.

For this purpose we blew the trumpet a few years ago. We feared and hoped. More were then awake, and many more have since awaked, than we dared at that time to have hoped. Thousands are now examining and searching into the foundations of all the present religious establishments. We have fared much better than we ever did anticipate. I expected to be honoured with the appellation of heretic, schismatic, Arian, or some such title, from those who have the power of conferring honorary degrees. I can say that I set out with a single eye, and I have found the promised blessing. But more than I expected: for I have found able coadjutors, powerful friends, and a candid hearing. I have, as all who have read this work with candour will testify, given both sides. My ablest opponents have been permitted to speak all that they had to say in our pages. I have kept nothing back. We have allowed and invited them to occupy our pages. The result has been that they have, to a man, declined the contest, and confirmed us more and more in the invincibility of truth. I knew their strength before they engaged in the conflict. They did not know mine. I do not speak of physical, or intellectual, or literary strength. In these respects many of them may be, and some of them, I know, are, my superiors. But I have studied the whole Bible, both Testaments, in a way which, I think, none of them have done. I studied their systems too. And I know there are two ways of studying the Oracles: one with, and one without, spectacles. There is a studying of them with no other design than to know, believe, teach, and practise them.

The present is a momentous crisis. All sects are shaking. The religious world is convulsed. Atheism has opened her batteries and unsheathed her sword. Scepticism is big with hopes. Catholic and Protestant Popery are plodding

and plotting for the supremacy. The little and the great Popes are on tiptoe. Saints are praying for the millennium ; myriads are labouring for its introduction. The Bible and the Creeds are at war. There is no truce. Such is the present, and such has been the past. From the Christian Baptist, Vol. VI., p. 212.

ANCIENT GOSPEL.-A NARRATIVE OF FACTS.*

My father was a Scotch Presbyterian, and my mother was a regular Baptist-I was religiously brought up, and, being taught the system of doctrine laid down in the confession of faith, I became a speculative Calvinist. My mother's views of baptism appeared the most scriptural, and although I always helped my father, when he and mother, of a winter evening, had their good-natured fire-side debates, yet still I gradually leaned more and more to my mother's side in my real sentiments. I finally became as firmly convinced of baptism as of Calvinism, and was a speculative calvinistic baptist of the supralapsarian school. But as yet I had no real devotion, nor practical views of the Gospel. I went to meeting, sat as a judge upon every preacher who came amongst us, and when sermon was over, I had a little crowd around me listening to my criticism and censures. I was very severe, and valued myself no little upon my quick discernment in all the doctrines of the day. So acute was my religious scent, that I could almost tell a man's whole system before he had spoken half a dozen of sentences. During these days of my vain and foolish behaviour, a very practical calvinistic preacher came to our congregation, and so engagingly addressed us on justification by faith in the imputed righteousness of Christ, that I saw a fitness and beauty in this scheme which wonderfully charmed me. I became quite religious, prayed twice each day in secret, and attended meeting with views and designs quite different from those which formerly ac

* Should the reader of this Narrative' be disposed to indulge in conjecture as to who this said "Biblicus " is, and should he fix upon Alexander Campbell of Bethany, Brooke County, Virginia, he will probably be not very wide of the mark! He need not "guess again."

W. J.

tuated me. I had heard much upon faith, and was very precise in my definitions and disquisitions upon true and saving faith. I at length fancied I had obtained it, and had serious thoughts of joining the church. Baptism came up to my consideration again, and I concluded I ought to be baptized, for I perceived it to be a very plain duty, and a very commendable way of making a profession. I had fixed the day for making my profession, and had given in my experience to a baptist church. I was approved by the whole congrégation, but the intended administrator taking sick, it was put off for another month. In the meantime a Mr. J. S. came round, who was accused of not being very orthodox, for he preached a gospel which some of his friends called the ancient gospel, and his enemies the water gospel. I went to hear him without any other object than to gratify my curiosity, and to be able to oppose this new heresy. But, to my utter astonishment, in one hour and twenty minutes I was completely and entirely converted to this ancient gospel, or, as some of the wits, who cared for no gospel, called it the water gospel. My whole views of God's character, philanthropy, and scheme of salvation were as radically changed as if I had heard nothing worthy of the name of gospel ever before. And, strange as it may appear, I was immersed for the remission of my sins before I left the ground. I now saw, for the first time in my life, that sinners were called to act upon the Divine testimony alone--that they were not to wait for any change for the better to be discovered in themselves, nor any secret drawings, remarkable or sensible impressions before they obeyed the commandment "to be baptized for the remission of sins." This command I saw to be binding upon all who feel any interest in the question, "what shall I do to obtain pardon and peace with God?" The blood of Jesus I well knew was the only sacrifice for sin, and was the only thing in the universe which could take away sin from the conscience and present us without fault to God: but now I found that by this gracious institution we came to the blood of Jesus in God's own appointed way, and thus washed our robes and made them white, not red, in the blood of the Lamb. But my mind, as the needle touched with the load

stone, always terminated upon the divine testimony and veracity, and the command, "to-day if you will obey his voice, harden not your hearts," compelled me to take God upon his word. I went to the river edge, believing the promise of God, and that he could do this thing, even wash away my sins in the very act of immersion. Down into the water I went, and was immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of my sins-and you may rest assured, for it is a fact, that I felt myself as fully relieved from the burthen of my former transgressions, as ever did a man to whom the Lord said, thy sins are forgiven thee: go and sin no more. I had read about peace and joy before. I had thought I once understood these terms, and felt something worthy of the name; but I can assure you that all I ever knew of the import of these words before, was as unlike to my present feelings, as a marble statue is to a living man. Most assuredly, said I, and felt I, God is as good as his word, and I have found his promise yes and amen in Christ Jesus my Lord. But in all probability I should not have derived so much happiness from being buried with Christ by immersion into his name, had I not previously understood from the many declarations found in sacred testimonies that God's philanthropy embraced all those who were pleased to come to him in the appointed way, and had I not also been assured of two things, first, that the scriptures mean just what they say, and, secondly, that they say, Be immersed for the remission of your sins. I went down to the very water just for this very purpose, in the honesty and sincerity of my heart, believing it would be as God said, and according to my faith so has it been to me. And one thing more I will tell you, that "whereas I was blind now I see." With regard to the Holy Spirit which is also promised, I will tell you what I have since that time experienced and you will please inform me whether you think I have received that promise. While I thought about religion before, and determined to act some day, I felt a considerable attachment to the distinctions found in society, growing out of wealth and popularity. I was strongly disposed to have as good a share of these as I could honestly obtain. I felt, moreover, a good deal of