day: the seed sown by David Clarkson, Richard Byfield, Edmund Moore, Dr. Jacob, and others, whose names are familiar to those acquainted with our denominational history, has not altogether perished; some fruits of their labour yet remain, and most cordially shall we rejoice to learn, that ere long a luxurious harvest will be reaped.

A brief History of the Church, &c. with historical and biographical notices of some of its pastors, has been recently printed by the Rev. C. Riggs, which will not only prove interesting to the members of his charge, but will engage the sympathies and prayers of neighbouring churches." We are not aware whether the pamphlet is for private circulation only or for sale: in either case, it is a gratifying document, as illustrative of the vitality of our principles amidst the most discouraging circumstances.

ORDINATION.

The ordination of the Rev. J. Jones, late of the North Wales Academy, as pastor of the united Independent congregations of Abbot's Bromley and Hixon (Staffordshire), took place on Tuesday, the 19th of April last. The Rev. D. A. Owen, of Sarney, Montgomeryshire, commenced the solemn services of the day, by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. J. Cooke, of Uttoxeter, faithfully delineated the nature of a Christian church, and gave an able and explicit statement of our reasons for nonconformity the Rev. J. Shaw, of Tutbury, asked the usual questions, which were answered by the young minister in a manner at once so simple, so impressive, and in detail so interesting, as to afford much sacred pleasure and satisfaction; the Rev. J. Chalmers, of Stafford, offered the ordination prayer, with imposition of hands; the Rev. Thomas W. Jenkins, of Stafford, delivered an impressive and affectionate charge to the minister; and the Rev. J. Chalmers delivered an important address to the church and congregation. The interesting services of the day were closed by a sermon in the evening by the Rev. D. A. Owen; the Rev. H. Ault engaged in the devotional part of the service.

Abbotts Bromley is an interesting and promising sphere of labour. Since Mr. Jones commenced his ministrations, the blessing of God has evidently rested upon them. A Christian church has been formed, and the congregation has considerably increased. We trust and pray that the little one will soon become a strong people.

REMOVAL.

The Rev. J. Barfitt, of Launceston, has accepted the unanimous invitation of the church and congregation assembling in Endless Street Chapel, Salisbury, and purposes entering upon his stated labours in that city about the first Sabbath in July.

NOTICES.

Claylands Independent Chapel, Clapham Road, Surrey - This place of worship, erected under peculiar circumstances, which have already awakened the generous sympathies of the religious public, and still needs their liberal aid, will be opened on Wednesnesday, the 29th of June (instant) when two sermons will be preached; in the morning by the Rev. Andrew Reed, D.D.; in the evening by the Rev. John Leifchild. Services to begin at 11 and half-past 6.--The Rev. Dr. Styles (D.V.) will enter upon his stated labours in this place on the following Sabbath.

The Monthly Lecture will be preached at Barbican Chapel, on Tuesday evening, June 14, by the Rev. Dr. Halley; subject, "The reasonableness of experimental Religion." Service to commence at half-past six.

The Anniversary of the Western Academy, Exeter, will take place (D. v.) on the 29th of June, at ten o'clock in the morning. The examination of the students will take place at the Academy house on the preceding day, commencing at eleven o'clock, A. M. On both days, the Committee urgently invite the attendance of Congregational Ministers, and all the subscribers and friends of the Institution.

The annual examination of the students of Homerton College will take place at the College on Thursday, June 30, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon.

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OF THE UNITARIAN SECEDERS FROM THE THREE

DENOMINATIONS.

Ar an extraordinary meeting of the Body of Presbyterian Ministers, residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, specially convened to take into consideration certain resolutions, relating to the withdrawment of the Presbyterian Body, purporting to have been passed by the General Body of the Three Denominations, held by adjournment at Dr. Williams's Library, Red Cross Street, on May 2d, 1836.

The Rev. Robert Apsland, in the chair. (1.) It was resolved unanimouslyThat this Body of Presbyterian Ministers, residing in and about the cities of London and Westminster, by its constitution entire and independent, and entitled and empowered to determine its own measures, at a special meeting held 4th of March, 1836, did by a deliberate vote, passed agreeably to the forms and usages which have been observed by the Body from the period of its incorporation, withdrew itself from the two other Bodies of Congregational and AntiPadobaptist Ministers; and that the resolutions declaring and affecting this withdrawment, were officially communicated to the respective secretaries of the two other Bodies, and were in various ways laid before the public; and that therefore, we have seen with a stronger feeling than surprise, that those two Bodies have associated with themselves Three Dissentients from the resolutions of this Body, who are Members of the Scottish Secession Church and connected in discipline with an Ecclesiastical synod in Scotland, and were never considered as English Presbyterians but by courtesy, and pronouncing these individuals to be the Presbyterian Body, have assumed that the two Bodies aforesaid, with the individuals above described, constitute "The General Body of the Three Denominations of Protestant Dissenting Ministers," and under this character have issued a series of resolutions, bearing the date of April 18, 1836, relating to our withdrawment.

(2.) That while we do not dispute the right of the Congregational and AntiPædobaptist Bodies to unite with one ano ther, and to add to their united Body any

individuals whom they choose, and to denominate such union by any name or title which shall truly designate it, we feel ourselves bound, by a regard to our rights and privileges to resist and expose an attempt to extinguish this Body, and to put in its place three individuals who in strictness of speech, are not English Protestant Dissenting Ministers; and that we do again declare in the face of the world, that the union of the Three Denominations of Protestant Dissenting Ministers is dissolved from the period of our withdrawment.

"for

(3) That we adhere to the former resolutions of the date of the 4th of March, which we are fully prepared to substantiate and defend. That having carefully examined the resolutions of the two Denominations and others, we do not hesitate to pronounce, that in so far as they purport to be an answer to the resolutions of this Body, they are irrelevant, inconsistent, and evasive-that they are besides historically incorrect; and farther that they completely justify the charge preferred by this Body, of the violation, on the part of the majority of the General Body of the first principles of the late Union, viz. that the theological opinions of the separate Bodies and their individual members should never be called in question, or brought into discussion-inasmuch as they assert that "the great majority" were many years." watchful as to the "doctrinal principles" of the minority,-as they admit, although cautiously, that the new election of the late secretary was owing to the religious sentiments not being in accordance with those of the majority, as they declare cordial approbation of the protest of the three individuals dissenting from the resolutions of this Body, amongst which reasons is an appeal to a late decision in a Court of Law, supposed (as we believe very erroneously) to adjudge the English Presbyterians to beno Presbyterians" on account of their religious faith, and, moreover as they uniformly studiously designate this Body a merely doctrinal term, which term is not and never was assumed by the Body, and could not have been used in the General Body except in breach of order, and is not a fair representation of this Body in its collective capacity, since whatever ma be the theological senti

ments of individual members, into which no inquiry is allowed, all Ministers otherwise duly qualified, are admitted into the Body, who hold the fundamental Protestant Dissenting principle, (the fundamental principle at least, of the English Presbyterians from the time they were recognised by law), of the right of the free and unlimited exercise of private judgment in matters of religion, together with the corresponding right to full christian communion on the acknowledgment of the Divine Mission of our Lord, and of subjection to his authority as the head of his Church.

(4.) That we are willing to give credit to the declaration of the Two Denominations; disclaiming for themselves as Bodies, the purpose or wish to revive and put in force the penal statutes against any of their Dissenting brethren; and that we leave it to the individuals in those Bodies who have taken part in, or expressed approbation of the recent legal proceedings against some of the English Presbyterians, to vindicate their consistency in making such use, or seeing without remonstrance such use made, of the penal statues as tends to deprive the English Presbyterians of trusts committed to their hands from their foundation, and of ecclesiastical endowments established by and inherited from their fathers.

(5) That in this trying exigency, we have been encouraged and confirmed in our deliberate and conscientious determination of withdrawment by the sympathy of our lay brethren, the English Prebyterian Deputies of the metropolis, as declared in their recently published resolutions, and also by the general assurance of the approbation and concurrence of the English Presbyterians, both ministers and laymen throughout the country.

mittee, now to be appointed to draw up (6.) That it be referred to a comand publish without delay, a statement in justification of such of the foregoing resolutions as relate to the resolutions of the Two Denominations, and the individuals associated with them

THOMAS REES, Secretary.

We defer our remarks upon this subject, until the statement, &c. shall be published.-Editor.

RECENT DEATH.

Died, on Saturday, the 30th of April, the Rev. JOHN HONEYWILL, of Melksham. He was the Father of the Wilts Association, having laboured 59 years in the cause of his Lord and Master, in that county.