purpose. Christian churches must be one in order that the world may believe on Christ. We see, then, that the very law of the communion of all churches requires that all shall unite in evangelizing the world. Congregational churches are bound to use their communion with all churches of Christ in the view to unite with all in the work of evangelism.

But certain more special forms of communion can, as we have already seen, take place only amongst churches which have the same church polity. From this fact arises the more definite and concrete obligation of all churches of our church order to unite more definitely among themselves in the evangelizing of the world. From this fact arises, also, the more definite and concrete expression of the end for which they unite. The more definite and concrete end of church communion is, for Congregational churches, the end of planting NewTestament churches far and wide in the world. This is our specific and definite end in our peculiar work of evangelism: this is the special final cause which unites. us as Congregational churches, in the work of missions. I will say again, again protesting against the word, — our denominational missionary work is the planting in foreign lands of churches which shall themselves become self-governed, self-sustaining, and self-propagating churches. To this end we should be, on principle, the most compact, aggressive, and determined denomination upon the face of the earth. To this end we should summon all the resources of our churches, should strive to unite all hearts who feel with us, and employ all hands that can be consecrated to such work.

This view of our specific work will alone serve, on the one hand, to give pith and definiteness to our aims, and, on the other hand, to guard against sectarian big

otry, zeal, and pride. We have no right to summon the holy principle of the communion of Christian churches in order to build up a large denomination, and spread a sounding denominational name abroad throughout the earth. In itself it is a matter of no importance at all whether we are the chiefest or the meanest of the sects, at home or abroad. With regard to sectarianism, the main obligation is that we shall not be a sect at all. But we have just as little right to refrain from the specific work of propagating our principles - the principles of liberty, love, and exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ —as embodied in Congregationally governed churches. And for this specific work we are bound to summon the principle of the communion of the churches. The truth of our case is very much as follows: Many of our leaders, pastors, and churches, have held no intelligent doctrine of the church as a means in the hand of Christ to accomplish his final purpose, the salvation of the world. A shallow and selfish and barren expediency has taken the place of the burning devotion to principles which moved our fathers in propagating their idea of the Christian Church. As the inevitable result, this idea and practice, called Congregationalism, have not been propagated as fast and far as we could wish. And now, therefore, some are apparently proposing, for the twentieth time in the history of our church order, some new machinery of formalism, ecclesiasticism, or so-called centralizing; as though the remedy for indifference to principles were to be found in more sectarian zeal; as though, indeed, the bringing-about of a formal expression of unity would really secure from the community of Christian churches another consecrated dollar, or prayer, or laborer for missionary work. The diffusion of this truth, however, that the very end for which

Congregational churches exist and have communion at all is not only the conversion of men to Christ, but also their establishment in self-controlled, self-sustaining, self-propagating churches, is an indispensable requisite of our most efficient missionary work. The communion of churches is a recognized principle of the true church polity. But to what end, or for what purpose, do Congregational churches commune with one another? The end is twofold: the purpose is divided in thought, to be again united in fact. The communion of Congregational churches exists in order that the existing churches may be edified, and in order that there may be other Congregational churches planted far and wide in the world. The propagation of a denominational name and a system of sectarian appliances is not a worthy end of the communion of churches. The propagation of the principles of the New Testament concerning the Church, and as embodied in particular visible churches, is such a worthy end. To this end, then, must the churches be taught that their communion looks forward.

But how shall they be effectively thus taught? How shall Congregational churches be made to see and feel that Jesus Christ bids them to unite in planting his churches in the whole earth? The answers to this question are easier put upon paper than converted into realized facts. I indicate very briefly a few of the methods at our disposal:

1. The pastors of Congregational churches must be made intelligent converts to the above-mentioned truths. The ministers who do not become missionaries, technically so called, may surely be expected to lead and instruct their people concerning the nature of the kingdom of God upon the earth. They may be expected to

instruct and lead their churches to unite with sisterchurches in multiplying other churches far and wide. For what end are they set as pastors over the churches, if not to make the churches send their light abroad in the earth? No more important question can be asked of a young minister in his examination for ordination than the following: "Do you recognize your solemn responsibility before the Lord Jesus Christ to incite and lead this people in their work of evangelism, and do you before God solemnly pledge yourself bravely and lovingly to be their leader and example in this work?" When the pastors of our churches have the broad and intense spirit of true evangelists, they will lead their churches to unite in the work of evangelism.

2. The particular churches must also be made converts to the same truths. But how shall this be done? I have already said that it should be done through their pastors. I have also already said that every new church, when instituted, should acknowledge in its covenant what is its final cause as a church. It would better far carry a pledge to be a missionary church into its covenant than to retain some other pledges usually found in such covenants. The advising council should solemnly advise the new church that it comes as a Congregational church into a sisterhood of churches, under an implied pledge to join hands with them in missionary work.

3. Churches should incite, encourage, and even reprove and admonish one another with respect to their common missionary enterprises. A Congregational church which is so heretical in doctrine, and unfaithful in practice, as to take no interest or part in missions, should be dealt with in most tender Christian fashion by the neighboring churches. Delegates and visitors

should report from one church to another: they should go from churches interested to churches uninformed and uninterested, for the purpose of enlisting them in evangelistic work.

4. All the more formal means of communion, the conventions and councils, the associations and consociations, should more and more largely acknowledge in their meetings the claims upon them for interest in the missionary work of the churches. They should constantly regard, as one chief reason why they come together, the increase in vigor and effectiveness of the means employed for scattering the churches of the NewTestament order, like seeds over the face of a sown field, as thickly as churches will grow over the face of the earth.

5. The relations of the various kinds and branches of the work of evangelism must be brought into closer and more organic connections, if not of formal organization, at least of interest and life. There is "a vital connection," as Dr. E. K. Alden has declared, "of aggressive missionary energy with the fellowship of churches." 1

From the same source I will quote, in closing, two sentences which comprehensively assert the most important truths concerning the relation of the principle of the communion of Congregational churches to the spread of missions in the world: "The only efficient bond of union for a fellowship of well-organized working churches must be, not only some common imperative work, but a peculiar kind of work; viz., a work which will at the same time develop a church, and promote the communion of churches. . . . We want no

1 See a very interesting and instructive sermon on this subject, delivered before the American Home Missionary Society in 1872.