in my mind long before the 'Miscellany' existed, and which not all that I have read in that paper has yet been able to mar or displace.

Pray do not regard my request as implying a censure of your conduct in the management of the periodical entrusted to your care. On the contrary I pledge you my sincerity for every word that I write, when I declare that in giving the latitude to opinion and the liberty to expression, which you have done so long as the 'Miscellany' has been in your hands, you have, in my humble opinion, commended this organ of our Northern Province to every Moravian Brother who loves the Truth, and is neither afraid to speak it himself, or averse to hear it spoken by others. And therein you have certainly shown a greater deference to the opinion of others, than a desire to put forth your own. But I think, that he must be a sorry member of such a republican community as the Brethren's church in America is, both civilly and ecclesiastically, who does not desire to have your opinion unreservedly and advisably, and who is not ready from the heart to thank and bless you for exercising all the lawful influence, and employing every authorized expedient which the church has entrusted to your hands, for the preservation of its unity, harmony and peace.

Should the contents of this letter be approved, and its tone be true, you have my permission to insert it as a leader for the forthcoming number of the 'Miscellany,' where it may serve to point the way for many who need to hear a word on Editorial responsibil ity.

Your brother,

ELIHU.

REPLY.

If "Elihu" desires the guiding hand of the Editor, to help him out of his perplexities, occasioned by certain communications in the "Miscellany," respecting the Brethren's Church, he would at once beg leave to remark, that he regrets "Elihu's" disappointment, in not having obtained from them such illumination and direction, respecting the Principles and Practices of Moravianism, as he seems to desire. "Elihu" has unfortunately mistaken the character of the "Miscellany," or he would not have searched it for four years for instruction in the most important and vital points of the Brethren's church. This periodical was established, as stated in the editorial remarks of the first number of 1850, in order "to draw, more especially, the American Brethren's congregations into a closer connection, and to give such accounts of the Church and its Foreign and Home missions, by which the readers should be edified, and encouraged to join the grateful followers of the

Head of the Church in thanks and adoration for the manifold evidences of his grace and mercy, experienced by individuals as well as by congregations, which at all times, more or less, afford instruction, and increase the lively interest in the work of the Lord. Next to this a space is left to free discussions, which are willingly admitted, as long as they are conducted in the genuine spirit of love to truth and to the brethren-feeling it our duty to prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.

"Simple souls," like "Elihu,"-"that would be glad to get out of the clouds," in reference to the true character of the Moravian Church, need no editorial authority,—which in fact we never would wish to claim-to point out errors-they will be satisfied, if we refer them-and this we do with unfeigned pleasure-to the Synodal Results of our Church of 1848, and more especially to chapter 1, 2 and 9-where the sincere inquirer will find sufficient light and insight into the very essence and spirit of the doctrine of the Brethren. As regards practical purposes, our fundamental principle-expressed on page 2nd is "in unity of spirit, and in the bond of faith, hope, and charity, to strive to exhibit a living congregation of Jesus, by faithfully observing all his commandments." This is the object we should keep in view, and this shows, what we ought to be, but what in reality we never may reach. How far it has been obtained-whether we have it still before our eyes, or whether we have lost it, is not for us to decide. Various-yea even contradictory opinions on this subject may be held. The object itself remains grand, sublime, and worthy of the most earnest endeavors of seeing it accomplished.

May the Lord, in his infinite mercy, continue to hold his protecting hand over us, and may each individual in our church daily increase in that heavenly knowledge, which alone perfects and sanctifies the children of God.

This might suffice-but presuming-that the following remarks, made by a clearsighted, upright laborer in the Lord's vineyard, not a member of our church-the results of a long life of calm and close observation and experience-may be acceptable, we add them from a little pamphlet, entitled "Meine Irrgaenge und Missgriffe in dem Weg und dem Werk des Herrn :"-" My mistakes and misconceptions in the way and the work of the Lord"

'Nothing," he says, "I found more difficult, than to renounce the error:

That the Gospel alone was not sufficient to restore man to the image of God-but that the law and gospel-the old and new testament must be combined-else the whole building were resting on a foundation of sand-I even considered preaching the word of redemption alone, dangerous, taking it for granted, that it would make but superficial Christians.

Now I feel deeply ashamed of this error, through which I ob

structed the work of the Lord, not perceiving how plainly and clearly the holy Scriptures point out the true character of the law, inasmuch as they declare, that our salvation rests solely in the death of Jesus, as the central doctrine of the new covenant, by which the old one has been fully superceded. May the Lord forgive me this sin. We need no longer preach first the law, and then the Gospel.

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In our instruction we read nothing of the law,—our Savior says "Preach the Gospel." In vain we look amidst all our anxious trembling on Sinai's mountain for relief from the curse and penalty of the law. To flee to Jesus, who endured the cross, despising the shame, and has fulfilled the law-gives rest to the soul.

The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men-zealous of good works. Tit. 3. 11, 14. If our sufficiency is of God-who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away.

How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? 2 Cor. 3. 5-7.

Why then, beside the ministration of the Spirit and righteousness, also the ministration of death and condemnation? 2 Cor. 3.5-9.

T

Surely the knowledge of sin comes not from the law alone :the divine Spirit convinces and reproves of sin, when the dying Savior, on the cross, reveals unto the sinner this truth: "thou Hast made me to serve with thy sins. Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities." Jes. 43, 24.

the cross

Moses is not the only one that preaches condemnation; of Christ declares, that we are the children of wrath, and of death and of hell-having deserved shame and confusion of face. Look at Golgatha-see how the Lamb of God beareth the sins of the world and feel it" I, I and my transgressions-these, these have been the reason of all thy bitter season" &c.-this will cause a deeper conviction of our sinfulness, than the thundering voice of the law-and the most minute examination of our actions according to the tables of the law.

Far am 1 from any insinuation that our manifold sins, our foibles and wicked imagination, may be healed, as it were, by a superficial application of that balm of Gilead-I am convinced, that the cure of our sinful heart requires a caustic and pungent, a purifying and cleansing medicine. But is the death of the crucified Savior merely a healing ointment, and his blood only a balm for our wounds? that would be a great mistake The meritorious

sacrifice of the Lamb of God for our sins, affords not only an unspeakable comfort, and is a refreshing, healing, strengthening, and reviving balm to the soul, but it is also a word-piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb.4. 12.

Under the cross of Jesus, the sinner's eyes are opened-there he sees, that he deserves the punishment, which his Lord and Master endured for him; the consequence is the most fervent gratitude, which worketh more real and genuine fruits of righteousness, than all the scourges of the Schoolmaster, and the promises of future crowns and glories. And here I will freely confess to an erroneous impression-resting on my mind in reference to the Moravian brethren. It seemed to me, that they laid too little stress on sin, and deliverance from it, and would enter heaven rather singing triumphal songs than by fighting against the enemy of souls. But my views and my prejudices have changed, after becoming acquainted with the real or true spirit of the Brethren's Church, and now I praise the name of the Lord for the blessings, which, without being a member, I derive at a distance from their light, their grace, their joy in the Redeemer. I praise the Lord, that he has sent, in the 18th century, a man like Zinzendorf, by whose instrumentality, the old Bohemian Moravian Church was renewed -settling first in Herrnhut, but soon spreading its branches near and far-by the assistance of men like Spangenberg and others. Many and different forms and rules for godliness I have seen and examined; but nowhere was Jesus Christ pointed out, as the only perfect pattern, as the way, the truth, and the life, as him, without whom we cannot see God, and in whom the whole Deity is concentrated-nowhere I found the history of his incarnation, of his walk on earth, his sufferings and death, brought so near to the heart. No where I discovered the foundation for that living faith, on which all depends, when a lost, undone sinner seeks grace and peace with God, and assurance of his acceptance and comfort, rest and joy.

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For more than fifteen years I most closely examined the doctrine of the Moravians, compared it in all its bearings, with the Bible, and from this investigation, and from my own practice, I became, thoroughly convinced, that nothing else is required, but to remain under the cross of Jesus. Well may they sing:

In following after holiness, and denying ungodliness, and mortifying the deeds of the body, I found the brethren not behind, even the most zealous men.-But they do not, boast of their, spiritual

warfare, and make no display of their selfdenials; they look upon this as the greatest happiness, more and more to resemble their Firstborn Brother-they rejoice that Christ is made of God unto us, wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, and that this, as well as forgiveness of sin, can be obtained under the cross-as the gift is grace.

I can truly assure any one, who will follow them herein, that, if his heart be upright, he will be on the safe side.

I am not a champion of the Brethren's church, I simply have stated the mistakes I had made, and the Lord's wonderful leadings! -To Him be all the glory!

THE CHOLERA IN ST. THOMAS AND ST. JOHNS.

On Christmas day we received the startling intelligence from our neighboring island St. Thomas, that the cholera had broken out among the inhabitants. At first we doubted the authenticity of the report, but we were, alas! soon compelled to receive it as a veritable fact. In the course of six weeks fifteen hundred human beings have been cut off by this dire pestilence that walketh in darkness, and felled by the destruction that wasteth at noonday, for the most part without warning, in an incredibly short time, and in the very teeth of the utmost exertions of humanity and medical art. A "thousand have fallen at our side" and here, as in all other parts of the world, where this virulent disease has made its appearance, it has baffled all medical skill. But two white persons have fallen victims. Much is spoken of remedies and preventatives, but yet the angel of death has kept his course and carried out his purposes in open defiance of human wisdom and foresight, teaching us that the visitation is one of God's four sore judgements. Ezek. 14. 21. He who smites alone can deliver. On the south west part of St. Johns the malady showed itself soon after its appearance in St. Thomas, probably caused by infection, owing to intercourse with those already infected. Up to this day one hundred and fifty odd have died, but we cherish the hope that its ravages are fast drawing to a close as the cases become more rare and less malignant in their operation upon the patient. On the east, south east and north part of the island of St. Johns there have been but a few cases, the disease having been confined principally to the west and north west. In St. Thomas it has almost entirely disappeared, and St. Johns and Tortola fishing boats are quarantined to prevent a second outbreak. In Tortola it has raged fearfully, and the sanatory regulations of said island not being so well organized as in St. Thomas, reports inform us, that the dead bodies of many are deserted and left unburied, (yea, literally devoured by dogs