368 Ꭺ ᎠᎡᎬᎪᎷ . By one of the Missionaries lately gone to Burmah 9 "From the deep shades which cover Burmah's sky, See'st thou yon ray Heaven has decreed that Gaudma soon shall fall, Go then, ye Heralds of salvation, go Around their shores proclaim that wondrous grace Your gain is sure. For in that awful day, Thus spake th' angelic Messenger, and fled, I wak'd from sleep, believ'd the heavenly word, Sweet dream, said I, you'll vanish ere 'tis morn ; 8 But the Eternal by himself hath sworn, "My Royal Son shall reign from shore to shore, Upon his throne for ever shall he sit,. And heathens kneel and worship at his feet: While every tongue, through the whole earth shall sing [Amer. Bap. Mag. * Judson's Tract. THE CHRISTIAN HERALD. VOL. IV.] Saturday, March 7, 1818. De bi [No. 24. We are indebted to a friend at Natchez for the following account of a Religious Convention, as interesting as it is novel. It savours much of that enlarged and catholic spirit of the religion of Jesus, which appears to be increasing throughout the Christian world, and is daily exhibiting itself under various forms of united exertion for the advancement of the common cause, as well as by mutual expressions of brotherly love, and by intercommunion and fellowship among ministers and brethren of various denominations, partakers of the "like precious faith" of the Gospel of our common Saviour. While we admit the propriety and the importance of earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints,' and acknowledge that every section of the Christian church possesses the right, and without inconsistence cannot relinquish the practice. of maintaining, on all proper occasions, those distinctive principles and views in doctrine, and that order of God's house, which each may consider most scriptural, still we cannot but rejoice to see various denominations stepping out of their respective enclosures, to meet each other on the great highway of Cnristianity, for the purpose of proming those important objects, in which they have a common interest. Such union of counsel and of exertion, seems to bring us nearer to the predicted era of concord and brotherly love, when the watchmen on the walls of Zion shall see eye to eye, when there shall be one Lord and his name one throughout the earth. RELIGIOUS CONVENTION OF CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS. At a meeting of Ministers of the Gospel and Christian brethren. of different denominations, convened on the 18th of December, 1817, at Clear Creek Church, near Washington, in the state of Mississippi, pursuant to information publicly given, for the purpose of mutually reciprocating the expressions of Christian friendship, and endeavouring unitedly to promote the common interests of the Redeemer's Kingdom; the following Ministers were pre sent: Rev. David Cooper, Rev. William Montgomery, Rev. James A. Ranaldson, Rev. Daniel Smith, Rev. Laurence Scarborough, Rev. John M. Menefee, Rev. Benjamin Davis, and Rev. Elias Cornelius, Missionary, Rev. William McMahon. The Rev. David Cooper was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Elias Cornelius, Secretary. The Meeting having been opened with divine worship, it was moved and seconded, that all officers of any Christian Church who might be present, be considered as forming a part of this Religious Convention: when it appeared that the following officers of churches were present Messrs. John Henderson, Abraham Galtney, Joel Pate, Wm Foster, Wm. Snodgrass. At request, the Rev. Mr. Montgomery rose to explain the obects of the meeting as originally contemplated by the Rev. Joseph 2 A 370 Proceedings of the Religious Convention Bullen and other ministers of the gospel at whose request the appointment had been made. These objects it appeared were in a high degree benevolent, and such as every real friend of Christ, of whatever name, could not but regard with equal concern. It was conceived that in all countries, and particularly in this, where the harvest is great and the labourers few, there should be as strong a bond of union among the different denominations of Christians as possible. As the grand object is one, so their efforts to obtain it should not be weakened by unnecessary divisions. It had long been a desideratum among the good, that practical demonstration should be given to the unbelieving and the ungodly, that however much the followers of Christ might differ upon subjects of smaller moment, they have in fact, a common interest—a common cause the cause of virtue and of God. With the view of unitedly and effectually promoting this cause the present meeting had been called; and it was hoped by the help of God it would soon appear that it had not been called in vain. These sentiments were followed by the most cordial and animated expressions of mutual approbation by the brethren present, who all seemed to partake of the same spirit of love, and to be governed by the same purpose of united efforts for the promotion of true piety and Christian morality. The Rev. Mr. Bullen having arrived, united in expressing his congratulations on the occasion of the meeting, and explained still further the subjects originally contemplated for discussion, particularly the expediency of an annual meeting of the different denominations of Christians in this country for the purpose of increasing and perpetuating those happy results, which he believed could not fail to be produced by such an extensive concentration of Christian, influence and Christian action. With the design of carrying into execution the important objects of the meeting, it was moved and seconded, that a committee of four persons be appointed, to draw up a number of resolutions expressive of the views and feelings of this meeting, with an address to the disciples of Christ of every denomination; and that they report tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock. Messrs. Montgomery, Ranaldson, Smith, and Cornelius, were appointed the committee. Moved and seconded, that divine worship be opened in this place and a sermon delivered to-morrow at 12 o'clock. After prayer adjourned. FRIDAY, Dec. 19th. Met according to adjournment.-Opend the meeting with divine worship. The committee appointed to prepare a number of resolutions expressive of the views and feelings of this meeting, with an address to Christian professors of every name, reported the following, which were unanimously approved and adopted. After hearing the report of the committee, public worship was of Christian Denominations in Mississippi. 371 opened and a sermon delivered by Rev, Elias Cornelius, from Joel III, first clause of the 13th verse. After divine worship the business of the meeting was again resumed-The expediency of an annual meeting similar to the present, was discussed: whereupon it was resolved, unanimously, that a meeting be holden the third Thursday in November 1818, at Washington, to be entitled "The Religious Convention of Christian Denominations;" to be composed of ministers of the gospel in good standing, and officers or other official representatives of any Christian church. Rev. Daniel Smith, Rev. John M. Menefee, and Mr. Wm. Snodgrass, were appointed a committee to superintend the printing and distribution of five hundred copies of the minutes, resolutions, and address of this meeting. t Concluded with prayer. RESOLUTIONS. D. COOPER. 1. Resolved unanimously, That a spirit of Christian affection and unanimity be recommended and encouraged among all Christian denominations. 2. Resolved, That it be recommended to Christians of different denominations, to observe the first Monday in every month as a season of united prayer, social or private, for the revival of re ligion in our land, for the success of the gospel among the heathen, and for the establishment of the Redeemer's Kingdom among all nations. 3. Resolved, That the necessity of vital godliness, and of personal and family religion, be generally inculcated and strongly enforced. 4. Resolved, That special care and attention should be paid to the promotion of the religious education of the rising generation; and that the utmost vigilance be recommended to prevent the dif fusion of infidel principles in the instruction of youth. 5. Resolved, That united and vigorous exertions be recom> mended for the melioration of the morals of society; especially as relates to intemperance, gambling, profanity, and the abuse of the Sabbath day. 6. Resolved, That general exertions be encouraged for the promotion of Bible Societies, and the distribution of the sacred scriptures. ADDRESS, To all who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth. DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN, We are assembled at the present time, as the disciples of one Divine Master. We have laid aside (for the moment, and we trust for ever) all narrow sectarian views and feelings. Our prayers and praises have ascended together to the throne of God. Our hearts 372 Address of the Religious Convention have glowed with fervent affection for each other, for our Christian brethren of whatever name, and for our common Lord. Our counsels have been combined for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom. And hitherto we have been of one heart and soul. Blessed be the Lord for what our eyes this day witness, and what our hearts this day feel. all And now, dear brethren in Christ, we wish to make you partakers of our joys, of our counsels, and of our exertions. Therefore we have presented you with the foregoing resolutions. And if we mistake not, every heart, warm with the love of Jesus and with zeal for his cause, will give to each of them its explicit and cordial Amen. And we might perhaps with propriety content ourselves with simply saying, Ponder these resolves in the fear of God; drink in their spirit, so far as it is the spirit of Christ; and let the fruits of that spirit appear in your lives. But, brethren, our feelings will not stop here. We should struggle in vain to repress them. Permit us then to pour into your sympathetic bosoms our whole heart and soul. Too long have the professed disciples of Jesus of different denominations, stood at an awful distance from each other. Cruel jealousies and suspicions have rankled in too many of their bosoms. Bickerings and strifes have marred too much of their social intercourse. And even the sacred desk (tears and blushes should. cover our faces at the confession) even the sacred desk has sounded forth the voice of unchristian recrimination and rebuke. These things ought not so to be. "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Think of the opprobrium infidels have cast upon the gospel, on account of the shameful contentions of its professors. Remember the declaration of Him we all so dearly love" Hereby shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Call to mind the testimony obtained by the primitive disciples even from envious heathen, "Behold how these christians love one another."-Listen to still stronger and more endearing motives. Are we not all children of the same heavenly Father, begotten by the same Divine Spirit; thus made partakers of the same holy nature, and by faith united to the same glorious Redeemer. One spirit animates our bosoms, one exalted hope elevates our affections, and one common cause demands our united exertions. Love to the brethren, therefore, if we are Christians, is at once the inherent temper and natural breathing of our hearts, and is the only effectual bond of union. Disciples of Jesus, we call upon you in the spirit of holy affection, to rally round the standard of the cross. Different denominations of Christians are but different phalanxes of the army of Jehovah of hosts. We call upon you therefore not only to desist from unnatural and doubly destructive warfare among yourselves, but also with holy and united violence to assail the empire of darkness, and with fervent effectual prayer to take the kingdom of heaven by force. United exertion is efficacious exertion. The |