tell

we appropriately say, "Walk about Zion, go round about her, the towers thereof, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the generation following." Thus may she be transmitted from age to age, shining in the beauty of holiness, protected by the form of her constitution from the corruption of worldly influences.

As we read the history of the Christian church, we see the truth written as with a sunbeam upon its pages, that the purity of her constitution is directly connected with the purity of her doctrines. The tendency of the church of Rome to merge into the world, and to form that unholy alliance with the State, which we behold at this day, was early developed in a disposition to treat the ordinances of Christ lightly to change the modes of those which did exist, and to institute new ones, according to her views of expediency or propriety. When her wealth and power and numbers had increased, her worldly spirit could not brook submission to ordinances so humble and so simple; and thence she sought to give them more inviting forms, and to throw around them the attractions of worldly splendor. And no doubt as vital religion ceased to exert its holy efficacy, a palliative was sought for conscience in the multiplication of ceremonies, and the strictness of religious observance. Thus we perceive that in due time baptism was deemed essential to salvation, that it was thence sedulously dispensed to infants, the sick and the dying, and that the modes of its administration were arbitrarily adapted to the age or strength of the subject. The Lord's supper, too, was considered a necessary preparative for heaven, and thence was often divested of its character as a social ordinance, and administered to a solitary individual on the bed of sickness and of death. In the time of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, in Europe, Asia, and Africa, it was dispensed to infants. The Greek church took the practice from the Roman; and the latter renounced it, when the monstrous doctrine of transubstantiation was received. As according to that dogma it was believed that by the priestly consecration the bread and the wine were transformed into the real body and blood of the Saviour, it was thought that elements so sacred would be dishonoured by imparting them to infants. A considerable portion of the Christian world, as the Greek church, the Armenian, the Maronites, Muscovites, and others, still continue the practice of infant communion, and urge in its behalf the sanction of a high antiquity.

And if now we take a survey of those countries where civil and ecclesiastical interests are by law identified, and where the church has become a mere 'earthly sanctuary," how sad are the perversions of the ordinances of Christ. Their original intent is forgotten, and their moral efficacy is neutralized. In many lands nominally Christian, the participation of the Lord's supper is made the test of civil integrity, the expression of allegiance to an earthly government. It is deemed necessary to evince that a man adheres to the creed of his ancestors, and that he is not an infidel or a pagan. And, oh! how often have we known it to be regarded as a mere act of courtesy towards a Christian society; an expression of kind

and liberal feeling, and a freedom from all bigotry, while its grand and sacred ends have been unheeded,

"new

He

We have been incited to make the above remarks from a conviction of the unutterable importance of "keeping the ordinances as they were first delivered" to the saints. Mr. Fuller, in the work before us, has presented arguments from the Scriptures on this subject that are quite demonstrative. To these might be added a volume of arguments drawn from ecclesiastical history. The dreadful tendency of slight deviation from the apostolic constitution of the church has been developed in every age, from the first century to the present time. But we are especially pleased with the cogent manner in which Mr. Fuller sets forth and urges divine authority upon the consciences of his Baptist brethren. He sounds a loud and solemn warning against any departure from the primitive constitution of the church in deference to human opinions-to forms of error, and new modes of aberration from the truth." shows that in the commission of Christ there is instituted as strict a connection between baptism and church fellowship, as between faith and baptism; and that to admit those to communion whom we consider unbaptized, is to invert the order which our Lord has prescribed. He reduces his reasoning on this topic to the following proposition: "Christian churches are to receive all whom God has received, who are conscientious, and whose peculiarities are not subversive of any existing divine law." He asks, "Does this rule enjoin the reception of pious Pedobaptists? Let us examine. Has God received them? He has. Are they conscientious? They are. Is their peculiarity subversive of any divine law? In the opinion of every Baptist it is. Consequently, their reception into Baptist churches, would be, on the part of the receiving members, a deviation from the principle"

The publication of this book is very seasonable. Mr. Hall's works have recently been issued, in which his treatise in favor of mixed communion has a prominent place. We admire the character of that excellent man, and often bring his name to fond remembrance, yet we cannot but regret that while he so nobly illustrated and defended the doctrines of the church, he was led to depreciate the nature of that constitution which he allowed to be apostolic. As his works will be extensively read, it is well to offer to the public an answer to that portion of them which we consider objectionable. That portion is indeed small, and we have no doubt but that Mr. Hall's works, taken as a whole, will ever be ranked among the finest productions of the present age.

The volume of which we have been speaking, is rendered more valuable by an Appendix of Professor Ripley's Review of Dr. Griffin's Letter on Communion. It is concise, comprehensive, and forcible, and worthy of the particular attention of those denominations of Christians who are interested in the discussion of this subject. It is dictated by a spirit of fraternal kindness, under the influence of which, controversy loses all its evils, and becomes a source of inestimable good.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

SUBSCRIPTIONS and donations to the Northern Baptist Education Society, should be transmitted to John B. Jones, Treasurer, No. 123, Washington-Street, Boston. Communications to the Board should be addressed to E. Thresher, Cor. Sec. or left at the Society's Rooin, No. 52, Washington-Street.

QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE BOARD.

THE Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting at the Society's Room, No. 52 Washington-St. on the 14th ult. At this meeting eleven new applicants were received upon the funds of the Society, increasing the number reported at the last quarterly meeting, to seventy-two. Since the last quarterly meeting, the Board have been duly informed of the settlement and ordination of three of their beneficiaries, which reduces the number upon the funds of the parent Society to sixty-nine.

On the 9th ult. the Baptist Education Society of Connecticut, at their annual meeting, united, by a unanimous voice, with the Northern Baptist Education Society. This Society has six beneficiaries: so that the whole number of young men upon the funds of the parent Society and its Branches is now eighty-two.

The Baptist Education Society of Connecticut was formed in 1818, but, owing to its limited means, its operations for a number of years were circumscribed to very narrow limits. For several years past, their usual number of beneficiaries has been four. They have now six, three of whom were received at the late annual meeting of the Society. It is ascertained, also, that there are in this state several other individuals, who ought to be encouraged to obtain an education for the christian ministry. And it is gratifying to know that in consequence of the recent connection formed between the Education Society of Connecticut and the Northern Baptist Education Society, that Society can proceed unhesitatingly to encourage as many young men as may be found to possess the necessary qualifications. Should the Education Society of Connecticut find more young men than their means will enable them to sustain, they will recommend them to the patronage of the parent Society.

It was gratifying to observe among those who presented themselves for patronage, at the late meeting of the Board in Boston, individuals from the most extreme sections of our country. The homes of some of them were more than a thousand miles distant. This circumstance was peculiarly gratifying to the Board, because it evinces that the interest felt by our churches upon the subject of education, is by no means local.

We were permitted, also, to recognize among these young men a descendant of Abraham, who, but a few months since, did not believe that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh.

The Board view with intense interest, the increasing number of young men, who from quarter to quarter are coming forward under a conviction of duty to preach the gospel. Since June, 1830, the number of applicants has been gradually increasing at each meeting of the Board. The number of new applicants at the meeting in June, 1830, was but four. But knowing as we do the character of these

young men, we cannot but rejoice in this fact, while, at the same time, we are overwhelmed with feelings of deep solicitude for their pecuniary support. We are permitted, however, to say to our friends and patrons, "hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Our treasury, after paying the appropriations made at the last meeting, the amount of which was considerably greater than was previously ever made, at any one time, shows a deficit of only $120, which we trust will be made up in a very short time.

Account of Moneys received by the Treasurer of the Northern Baptist Education Society, from March 8, to June 14, 1831.

594,25

Ladies in Federal-St. Congregation, Boston, one scholarship,

75,00

Ladies in Charles-Street Congregation, do. one scholarship,
Rev. Stephen S. Nelson,

75,00

1,00

-151,00

Refunded by a former beneficiary,

12,50

MISSIONARY REGISTER.

FOR JULY, 1831.

SUBSCRIPTIONs and donations to the General Convention of the Baptist Denomination in the United States, for Foreign Missions, &c. should be transmitted to Heman Lincoln, Esq. Treasurer, at the Baptist Missionary Rooms, No. 52, Washington Street, Boston. The communications for the Corresponding Secretary should be directed to the same place.