The Rev. T. JAMES having seconded the motion, it was carried unanimously. BENJAMIN HANBURY, Esq., presented the statement of the finances of the Union. The Rev. W. CHAPLIN, of Bishops Stortford, delegate from the Essex Association, said, I have great pleasure in proposing the following resolution : “That the Report of the Committee, now read, be adopted and printed. And this assembly, anxious to promote the stability and efficiency of the Union, strongly recommends to all the brethren, the purchase and distribution of its publications, as one principal means of both its pecuniary resources, and its beneficial influence." I am sure, we must all have felt great delight in listening to the Report which has just been read. Ten years ago I had the honour of proposing from that chair the thrilling question, "That this Union be formed." It was not without considerable anxiety that I rose on that occasion. Not that I doubted the solidity of the principle upon which we proceeded,—not that I questioned that providence would smile upon the effort, but I felt that as a body, we were scarcely ripe for such a procedure. I anticipated difficulties and objections. Difficulties have occurred, and objections have been made; we, however, have reason to be thankful, that both are giving way, and that the Union has acquired strength, and is strengthening every year. I have carefully and anxiously watched its progress, I have rejoiced in its success; but still there is a defect, which I hope we shall exert ourselves to remedy, and entirely remove. I refer to the want of interest excited in our congregations themselves. It is called a Congregational Union, a Union of Unions. That is a very important principle; I rejoiced when it was adopted, and when we resolved to act upon it; but there has been an evil connected with it. We are a union of associa tions; those associations are chiefly associations of ministers; and there are many counties in which the congregations have not yet evinced a proper feeling on behalf of this important object. I do hope, Christian brethren, that we shall feel the importance, not only of moving ourselves, but of moving our people on behalf of a Union founded upon Congregational principles. The resolution which I hold in my hand, adverts to your publications. I have great pleasure in recommending to your notice that particular part of the resolution, because I am persuaded that if acted upon, it will greatly tend to abate the defect to which I have now referred. Circulate knowledge, propagate your principles, let the congregations be richly furnished with these publications, and by the blessing of God, we may anticipate the most happy and blessed results. Sir J. B. WILLIAMS, of Wem Hall, Treasurer of the Salop Association, in seconding the resolution, said, it should be his endeavour more than ever to assist in carrying out the resolution, not only by himself aiding the circulation of the publications which had issued and might issue from the Union, but also by exciting others to a similar effort. The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, and it was carried unanimously. The Secretaries of the associated Societies for British Missions then presented their respective statements, the Rev. T. Binney that of the Colonial Missionary Society, the Rev. Dr. Matheson that of the Home Missionary Society, and the Rev. George Rose that of the Irish Evangelical Society.* The Rev. T. STRATTEN, of Hull, said, I rise to move the following resolution:— "That this Assembly has received, with mingled feelings, the statements now presented, and those contained in the Report of the Committee of the Union, on the * As these will be published with the Report of the Union, it is not necessary to insert them here.-EDITOR. affairs of the Societies for British Missions, connected with this Union. The assembly approves the plans and efforts of the committees of those Societies, sympathises in their difficulties, and rejoices in the measure of success they have obtained. But the assembly is constrained to express the conviction that these institutions are not appreciated and sustained by the churches as the vital importance of their objects demands, and that their funds ought to be forthwith increased, their agency strengthened, and their operations extended, if the Congregational churches would be true to their principles, their country, and their opportunities." If a speech were required that should touch every point in this resolution, that should combine, harmonise, and enforce the whole, I want to know what time would be allowed for it; I want to know how long you are prepared to listen; I want to know also what time an individual should have had to prepare such a speech. It is, however, one delightful feature of this meeting, that we all come to it unprepared with speeches; and I apprehend, therefore, that whatever is said on such an occasion comes out of the heart. We here lay aside all formalities, and I hope that will ever remain the feature and character of this assembly. I hardly know, however, whether on any occasion a lengthened speech would have been required to support this resolution. The eye of the brother who drew it up, must have been prophetic; he saw clearly not only who would be in this assembly, but what the individuals composing it would think and feel; and he has expressed in the best and the strongest language the thoughts and feelings which must pervade this meeting. From my heart I respond to the resolution; and if there be any part of it to which I would especially refer, it is that which relates to the finances. It says, that the feelings are mingled. I believe we all come to this assembly with the expectation of enjoying very pleasureable feelings; but there is no pleasure without an alloy, and we have the alloy to our pleasure this morning in the financial statements which have been made to us in reference to the three important Societies which have been brought before us by their respective secretaries. I had the honour to deliver an address in reference to one of these societies at the late meeting at Nottingham; and it occurred to me this morning that there were some misprints in that address, as it appeared in the Congregational Magazine, which rather annoyed me at the time when I discovered them. I said, for instance, that "when the Home Missionary Society was faithful to its work, it would receive a seasonable supply." The Editor of the Congregational thought it ought to be a reasonable supply. Now, that is one among several things in which the writer and the editor happened to have different views; and I am this morning confirmed in the conviction that I was right. The Home Missionary Society has received a "seasonable supply," for it has received the legacy just as I said. But while I am right, and the editor is wrong so far as we have hitherto gone, I do not want to be right in future; I desire that the editor's version in future be the true one, and that henceforth it should not be a seasonable supply, coming in the exigency and extremity of the case, but that it should be a reasonable supply, proportionate to the claims of the Society. Let that be the watchword, not only of that Society, but of each of the others whose operations have been described. Let there be a reasonable supply. I am sure that those societies will commend themselves to a Christian and enlightened reason; let that reason operate as it ought to do, practically, and then we shall have no more complaints of deficient funds. Mr. Alderman BULLEY, of Liverpool, in seconding the resolution, said: I thank you for your kindness and your courtesy in permitting me to be present in this assembly, as it affords me an opportunity of expressing my entire concurrence in this Union of Congregational churches, and my sincere wishes for its prosperity and success. would be entirely out of place in me to occupy your time when there are so many gentlemen to follow, to whom we are all anxious to listen; but I may here say, that It I anticipate with great pleasure the autumnal meeting which is to be held in Liverpool, and I trust that the friends of the Congregational Union will meet with a cordial welcome from the Christian friends in that town. The Rev. Dr. H. F. UHDEN, of Berlin, being requested to address the meeting, spoke nearly as follows :-An unprepared speaker has to sue for your kind indulgence. I have to thank you in my own name, and in the name of my friend near me, for being permitted to attend this meeting, and to thank you for your kind reception of us. We feel that this kind reception is not only grounded on common hospitality, it is not only grounded in common feelings of social interest, but that it is grounded in Christian love. We have been here to see you at work, and to learn the state of this country. You know that there are many important and interesting matters for any one who comes to see the religious state of this country to consider. There are different things to which we have paid attention, but I may say in one word, that to a German, who is a child of the glorious Reformation, the great question is, What exertions are making to bring men to Christ? If that is our main question, you may think what an interest we take in such an assembly as this. I thank you for the attention you have paid to my remarks. The Rev. Dr. RUSSELL, of Dundee, then spokę as follows:-Mr. Chairman and brethren, I feel it a great privilege to be permitted to appear among you on this occasion, and, as the delegate of the Congregational Union of Scotland, I am instructed to tender to you their cordial, fraternal congratulation, and to express the hope which they entertain that the formation and progress of this Union will be of essential service to the cause of religion in general, as well as to our own denomination. I am instructed also particularly to express their gratitude to you for having delegated to their late meeting the Rev. Thomas Smith, of Rotherham, and to state that the ability, the feeling, and the kindness with which he addressed us on the different occasions on which we met, called forth our highest regard, and led us to feel deeply interested in your prosperity, and, at the same time, to sympathise with you in your trials and difficulties. The account he gave of the progress of religion in your churches, and of its progress in your academical institutions, could not but gratify and delight all who heard it. I am instructed further to convey to you our congratulations in regard to the way in which you have met the controversy which has arisen from the publication of the "Tracts for the Times." We feel deeply interested in that controversy; regarding it as a controversy which involves the very foundation of a sinner's hope in the sight of God. The great, the cardinal doctrine of justification by faith in the atonement of Christ, is attacked and held up as a fanatical delusion, and the souls of men are thus destroyed while they bear the name of Christian. The great doctrine, too, of the indispensable necessity of a radical change of heart, a personal change, a change of principle, that doctrine also is attacked; and the validity of our ministry is equally assailed. But when I consider these different points, I remember that the same things occurred in the apostolic age. When I look to the writings of the apostle of the Gentiles, particularly his epistle to the Galatians and his epistle to the Colossians, I see that the doctrine of justification by faith was then covertly and sometimes even openly attacked. I perceive in the epistle to the Galatians, that the doctrine concerning a change of heart had been attacked: "In Christ Jesus there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." In the very epistle where the doctrine of justification by faith is so strikingly and so powerfully advocated, we have also a view given of the indispensa ble necessity of that change which meetens for the enjoyment of eternal life, presenting in delightful union the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ as the moral means by which the Spirit of God renews the heart. I perceive too, in the epistle to the Corinthians, that the apostolic authority of Paul was denied, that the validity of his ministry was questioned. We need not be surprised, then, that ours should be questioned. I observe, too, that the same arts were employed then which are employed now. When I read the description which he gives of his enemies, he speaks of their cowardly plans, of their "creeping into houses,” of their leading captive "silly women," but allow me to add, more silly men,-I see an exact counterpart to what is going on at present. The word of God is, in fact, so constructed, that while it meets errors which existed at the time when it was written, it meets errors as they appear in all ages, however Protean the shapes may be which the various kinds of error may assume. The student of the word will find there what is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished to every good work. I rejoice that endeavours are being made amongst you to raise the standard of ministerial education. I am quite aware that different fields of labour require different kinds of agents, and that the same qualifications are not requisite in every place; but I do hope that you will continue your endeavours to raise the character of ministerial education, so that you may send forth a band of champions properly trained and equipped for the combat which has commenced. That combat will not be a short one. If the battle of the Reformation is to be fought again, it must be with the principles of dissent; no other principles will meet it; no other principles will ever secure the desired result; and we may adopt the words which were addressed to an ancient queen, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" The formation of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, took place about the time when this controversy began to assume a prominent aspect, and I hail the formation of this Union, in connexion with the combat which has begun, as a token of good from a gracious Providence. If this be your position, you will, I hope, perceive your duty, and, I doubt not, that by the blessing of God, you will faithfully discharge it. I will now refer, as I am instructed to do, to the progress which is being made among our churches in Scotland. It is now about thirty years ago since the Congregational Union was formed in Scotland. Before that period we were much disjointed. You know that a heavy storm passed over us previous to that time. Our churches were convulsed; we felt as if we were tossed about by a tremendous hurricane. Societies which appeared prospering, declined, and some of them were extinguished. The Union has been of essential service in reviving the cause. The hearts of the brethren were cheered at its formation, and they have continued to be cheered in its progress. Fears were entertained by some, that the Union would interfere with the independence of the churches; but experience has proved, that those fears were entirely unfounded. Not a single instance of interference with an individual church has occurred: accordingly, the fears at first entertained, have vanished, and there is now but one mind among the Congregational churches of Scotland, in reference to Union. Surely while the independence of individual churches is maintained, as it ought to be maintained, inviolate, those churches may combine for common objects. Look to a street for which there is no paving act, there is a number of families occupying each side of it, but no one family has a right to interfere with the affairs of another, nor to intrude itself on any other dwelling in that street, but surely these families may combine to get the street paved, they may combine to get the street lighted, and no one would suppose, that this was interfering with the independence of each family. The truth is, that Independency, like some other good things, may run to seed. Experience, as I have already said, has tended in Scotland to dissipate all apprehensions of danger from union. I have been informed, that fears of a similar nature have been entertained by certain churches in England and Wales; I hope that, by and bye, experience will have shown them, that their fears too have been groundless, and that the time will soon come, when all the Congregational churches in England and Wales shall be united as they are in Scotland. You are aware that it is one object of our Union to assist the weaker churches. We have been the means thus of preserving societies in existence, which, humanly speaking, must otherwise have been extinct long ago. Some of the churches are small; they are generally poor; but still they are as lights in dark places. The pastors are men devoted to their work-men who go forth with the Bible in their hands, and with the love of Christ and of souls in their hearts, to declare the things which belong to the everlasting peace of man. They have, in order to support Missionary societies, Tract societies, and Bible societies, to make great efforts. Their usefulness is not to be measured either by the number of members or the number of hearers. We look upon them as honourable parts of the body. They show a degree of principle which larger churches may not always have the opportunity of exhibiting. Large churches in our towns and cities, though they do indeed meet with difficulties which are by no means slight, yet their numbers and position in society enable them to cope with the enemy; but in sequestered spots the opposition is more formidable, and it requires great strength of principle to maintain the contest. The voluntary principle does not require that each church should maintain itself without any aid from another. If a church can do that, it certainly ought to do so; but, after doing that, every church ought to do what it can to assist every other church. The principle of voluntaryism is, that the strong shall help the weak. On this principle we have in Scotland constantly acted. There are forty or fifty churches that are receiving assistance to enable them to maintain the Divine ordinances for themselves, and to diffuse the word of the Lord around them. Besides the regular pastors, there are several teachers in important stations who are chiefly engaged in instructing the Gaelic portion of the population. There are about 400,000 of our countrymen who speak the Gaelic language, and we are extremely desirous to diffuse amongst them the light of Divine truth, of which they stand peculiarly in need. Without itinerant preaching, it is impossible that the mountains and wilds of Scotland can ever be penetrated by the light of the Gospel. Our agents meet with numbers who have never heard a sermon since their last visit, and the number of the agents is so small, that it is impossible that it should be otherwise. The state of the country is such as to demand our utmost exertions. Too much has been said in England in favour of the religious state of Scotland. There is not so much religion in Scotland as many of our friends in England imagine. There is indeed a general profession of religion; but allow me to say, that the general attention to forms, constitutes one of our chief difficulties. There is indeed a general profession of religion all over the land. But of late there has been in some quarters a great change in this respect, but that is owing to men throwing off the mask. We talk of the advancement of infidelity, but it is only infidelity throwing off the mask of hypocrisy. Is it not better for men to appear what they really are, to throw off the cloak, than to go on deceiving their fellow-men? Let us not be frightened with the cry of "The church is in danger," because infidelity is raising its head. Let the church rouse herself. Let her champions be equipped for the combat: let them go forth in the name of the Lord, and the word of God will certainly be efficient in casting down every high thing, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Talk of the power of infidelity and the power of prejudice-what is the Gospel designed for, but to subdue infidelity, and to overcome and to crush prejudice. I may be expected to say something in allusion to what you have done for us. I am instructed particularly to return the grateful thanks of our Union to the Committee of the Home Missionary Society, for the donation of £50 last year, and also for their gift of a thousand new year's collecting cards. I feel great pleasure in being enabled to add, that the secretary has told me that these cards have been the means of collecting for our funds £200. I am further instructed to say, that after the |