the solemn admonition of the Saviour, Judge not, that ye be not judged; condemn not, that

By these remarks I would not be understood to censure any particular class or description of christians. I would censure only the bigotted, illiberal, censorious, persecuting, to whatever class or description of christians they may belong. I would censure those who take more delight in uttering invectives, than in teaching the mild and gentle precepts of the Prince of peace; who, obtaining the control of some religious journal, instead of inculcating the lessons of charity and goodwill, pervert it to the purpose of promoting divisions, of stirring up strife, of aspersing the characters, and attempting to impair the usefulness of many of their breth

ren.

This opposition must be met by the friends of "christian knowledge, piety, and charity,"

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with meekness and forbearance, but, at the same time, with firmness and decision. We have heard, alas, the sound of the trumpet and the alarm of war. We must gird on the harness. We must prepare to contend for the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.

It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing. There is a zeal of GOD which is according to knowledge. There is a resentment which it is proper and becoming to feel. Not the zeal which actuated Saul, when, concerning zeal, he persecuted the church, but the zeal which animated the apostle Paul, when he withstood Peter face to face; not the resentment which filled the breasts of the disciples, when they would call down fire from heaven upon a city of the Samaritans, but the resentment which prompted the rebuke of their blessed Master, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

If our principles are worth possessing, they are worth contending for. If our rights, the rights of conscience, are invaded, it is our duty to defend them. We may fight, not indeed with the carnal weapons of invective and abuse, but with the sword of the spirit which is the word of GOD; not by returning railing for railing, but, by opposing reason to passion, and the doctrines of Christ to the traditions of men. In such a warfare, so conducted, we may humbly hope, that the Lord our God, who goeth before us, will fight for us. Let us not then be discouraged. scious of our integrity, we have nothing to fear. They who oppose us may be greater and taller than we. They may have cities, walled up to heaven, but, blessed be God, they cannot draw a wall around heaven itself, nor prevent the humble christian, who takes his bible for his guide, from finding admission there. Many a poor Ephraimite, I doubt not, who cannot frame the organs of speech

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to sound the aspirate in Shibboleth, will be allowed to go over the passages of Jordan and to find a rest from warfare in the heavenly Canaan.

It is a very small thing to be judged of men's judgment. They may call us heretics, but so called they the apostles that were before us. St. Paul himself was called a heretic, and he does not disown the charge, he acknowledges the truth of the accusation; After the manner which they call heresy, says he, so worship I the God of my fathers.

It is sad indeed, that a religion which has its origin in love, and which was intended to promote peace and goodwill among men, should ever be the source of division and discord. It is sad indeed, that "the seamless coat of Christ" should be rent by the hands of his disciples. It is sad indeed, that they, who have but one faith, one Lord, one bap

tism, cannot, amidst unavoidable differences, preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We have enemies enough to combat, without contending with each other. Why should we not meet on some common ground, that we may unite our forces against the common enemy? Why should we not agree to wear the badge of our profession which was worn by the early christians, that

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may be said of us, as it was said of them, "Behold how they love one another.”

It is in the power of this society to do something, perhaps to do much, towards effecting this important end. Vice and immorality abound; the love of many waxes cold; a spirit of bigotry and intolerance has gone forth, and threatens to destroy the peace and union of our churches. We must be We must be up and doing. We must renew and increase our exertions. Our Master has work for us to

perform, and we should not be idle. Having