312 EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. allow me to recite some of the words of its, able and highly-esteemed author on Mat. xxviii. 19, &c. to which he has given particular attention: "The commission teaches that immersion was necessary to discipleship. The construction of the sentence fairly indicates that no person can be a disciple, according to the commission, who has not been immersed; for the active participle, in connection with an imperative, either declares the manner in which the command shall be obeyed, or explains the meaning of the command. To this I have not found an exception: for example, cleanse the house, sweeping it; cleanse the garment, washing it; convert or disciple the nations, immersing them. The New Testament and all antiquity teach that, so long as the Apostles lived, no one was regarded as a disciple of Christ who had not confessed his faith and was immersed" (Christian System, pp. 210-211.) When, therefore, our author speaks of "the immersion of disciples," he does so as the man who speaks of having found a wife, or married a wife; but a woman is not a wife until she has been married, nor a disciple until she has been discipled. The ceremony is required in both cases. I have no wish to occupy your space unnecessarily, or it would be easy to quote other authors to the same effect. It is admitted that "the disciples at Antioch were those who were known as the church at Antioch." Will it be said that there was another class of disciples of Jesus at Antioch or elsewhere? And is there such a class in our day? If I go to Bath, Bristol, or Birmingham, and desire Bro. A. or B. to introduce me to those disciples of Jesus or those believers in Jesus who have not yet been immersed into him, shall I find such? Luke says that the disciples at Antioch were called Christians. You say that they were more than disciples-that they were Harbinger, Sept. 1, 64. brethren, saints, &c. I say they were more than learners-that (as Cruden and others say) they were followers, Christians, &c. If it can be shewn that there are disciples of Jesus without the church, it would be well to abandon the name to such. But I submit that in no passage are any called disciples of Jesus but Christians-i.e. by the Apostles. You say that Acts xix. 1, &c. makes it "certain that it is in accordance with apostolic style to designate by the term disciples learners who have not been baptized." But your remarks on this passage, upon which such a conclusion is founded, are, I believe, erroneous; for these disciples of John had been baptized " into John's baptism," and on being baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus lost their discipleship to John and became disciples of Jesus. Granted that the "lexicons and common usage" answer the question, What is a believer? by "One who believes." But the question at issue is as to the apostolic style, and not as to the common acceptation of the term. If we speak—as the Apostles nowhere do-of baptized believers, we thus admit by fair inference that there are believers in (on or into) Jesus unbaptized! If it be insisted that such is the fact, the question arises, whether we shall speak of those as believers whom the Apostles did not? A Christian is indeed "more than a disciple," if the term signifies no more than a learner; but if, as I believe, it is used to represent a learner and follower of the Christ, then in the scriptural sense a disciple is a believer, a Christian, &c. and a Christian is a believer, a disciple, &c. If it is still thought that with this view I ought to "show how I can limit the commission so as to exclude infants and Infidels," I will cheerfully respond. W. D. H. REVIEWS, NOTES ON PASSING EVENTS, CORRESPONDENCE, &c. THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. THIS Alliance held its eighteenth signed to the Hon. Baptist Noel, who Annual Conference in Edinburgh, from rebuked alike the Bishop of Oxford and July 5th to the 8th. The time was Mr. Spurgeon- the one for classing largely occupied by gentlemen who had Dissenters with evil and reprobate men, been entrusted with the delivery of ad- and the other for attributing dishonesty dresses. The subjects were those con- to the Evangelical clergy. The AIsidered proper to the Alliance-Chris- liance seems to recognize the inconsistian Union, Infidelity, Popery, Foreign tency of its position. It claims for the and Domestic Missions, &c. Christian members of the Society of Friends the Union, by which the Alliance means right to be received as Christians, and denominational co-operation, was as-yet while pleading for the union of 3 Harbinger, Sept. 1, '64. ANNUAL MEETING. Christians refuses them membership in the Alliance. This inconsistency has been rendered necessary by the creed adopted as the basis of the association, and which, according to the essential nature of a creed, stands as a barrier to the union sought by those who gave it birth. After consultation it was resolved to hand the matter to the council for consideration. Upon the whole, the Alliance is doing a really useful 313 work, though its knowledge of what Christian Union consists in is most limited. Some things which, in this sectarian age, want doing, it does, and does well, but even in this it mourns over obstructions arising from denominationalism. It arose to grapple with a monster evil-the want of Christian union-and as the Bishop of Adelaide says, "It betrays a sense of want without satisfying the craving." THE ANNUAL MEETING. of Glasgow, was appointed to preside over the business meetings and Brethren Hay and Dawson, of Wigan, secretaries. The programme of last year having been adopted the secretaries presented the statistical information, contained in the schedules, conveniently tabulated, thus— THE annual gathering of messengers and other brethren from churches in Great Britain took place in the chapel Rodney-street, Wigan, August 9, 10, 11. At 7 P.M. Brother James Wallis, of Nottingham, inaugurated the proceedings by calling the assembly to prayer and praise, after which Bro. A. Paton, (1, Immersed during the year; 2, Received from Sister Churches; 3, Received, having been formerly immersed; 4, Restored to fellowship; 5, Departed this life; 6, Withdrawn or expelled; 7, Transferred to Sister Churches; 8, Removed to where there are not Churches; 9, Emigrated; 10, Present Number of Members; 11, Number of Teachers; 12, Number of Scholars.) Harbinger.Sept. 1, '64. Letters and propositions from churches were next presented, the reading of which occupied some hours. The Resolutions of the last Annual Meeting were next read, after which Brother M'Dougall read the Report of the Evangelist Committee and Bro. Coop presented the Treasurer's Account. REPORT OF THE EVANGELIST COMMITTEE. To the Delegates and Brethren assembled in Rodney-street Christian Meeting-house, Wigan. Dear Brethren,-In closing this the third year of our service, we are happy to appear before you once more with renewed evidences of the faithfulness of our gra cious Lord to those promises of care and help upon which he has led his servants in the gospel to fix their trust. Through the liberality of his people we have been enabled freely, and with less solicitude than on former occasions, to supply the wants of the evangelists, and to meet all other expenses connected with their labor and that of your committee. We have special pleasure in adding that although those expenses have exceeded those of the past year by £17, our balance also exceeds that of the same year by more than £42. We feel bound to acknowledge with grateful appreciation the kind liberality of Scottish brethren-the more so, as they also are engaged in a similar work; and also the continuation during the past year of the very liberal aid of brethren in AdeInide and Warrambool, Australia, and of brethren in our own country-aid which has so largely contributed to render our treasury more than equal to our expenditure Nor can we omit to mention that these funds have been received without any general appeal, beyond the circular which accompanied the Treasurer's Account at the commencement of the year. We have received from 74 32 120 2 elders 6 141 3 presidents, 4 deacons These monies have been expended as fol lows:-1st, On the application of the three Northern churches of Sanquhar, Dumfries, and Carlisle for monetary aid to maintain the preaching of the gospel in their respective localities for three months, a grant Bro. Alexander Hutchinson, of Dumfries. of £15 was agreed upon and forwarded to 2nd, In the maintenance of the four evangelists, Bros. D. King and E. Evans during the whole year, Bro. H. Exley nine months, and Bro H. Earl three months. 3rd. In detraying expenses connected with the labors of evangelists, and also those of your committee. The whole of the expenditure amounts to £351 18s. 43d. the balance in the hands of the treasurer to confession, hitherto hath God helped £53 11s. 11d. Gratitude compels the us!" A help which during over seven years' work has increased, although earearnest local efforts and the chapel building zeal has in most instances-not in of no mean value. In 1861-2 our receipts all-withdrawn from our list contributions were, £359 10s. 4d.; in 1862-3, £359 17s. 103d.; in 1863-4 are £394 14s. 43d. May it please God to continue the increase them to His glory. of means, and men, good and true, to use During the year several applications for help, beside those introduced to the con. sideration of the last Annual Meeting, have been made to us. We mention Bradford, Huddersfield for a prolongation of aid, Piltdown, Southport, Brighton, Barrowin Furness, Howden, North Shields and Banbury. To help all these, or any one of them, to the extent desired by the applicants, or equal to their undoubted need, has been a very manifest and, in some instances, a very painful impossibility. Of these Barrow and Howden have had no help. Brighton, Bradford, and Banbury Pilt an occasional visit of a few days. down and Southport have had a few weeks' labour But, the very limited aid which our little band could supply to these ap. peals has not been fruitless. We speak advisedly when we say, by the breadth and depth of its aim, the prudence, kindliness, and energy of its application, and the blamelessness of character by which it has been enforced, churches have been strengthened amid crushing trials, others awakened to renewed life, sinners converted, wanderers restored, unexpected doors of usefulness thrown wide open, and not the least of good fruits, a greatly increased interest in the preaching of the Gospel awakened. The answer which the churches have given to help received is a cry for more help, which has deepened and widened as the year has rolled onward. They have told us in substance that the help given by its very success, internally and externally, has revealed more deeply their need of its continuance, and intensified their desire for it; in some instances, a desire awakened by the revival of life and hope which had well nigh expired. Brethren, if God has thus increased the consciousness of need, and inspired the cry of want-if this outcry be genuine, not for mere numeral advancement, but for accessions of regenerate men-ought we not to conclude that He means to satisfy it? Is it not God's method to turn His face from those who sit at ease, and to open his ears to those who cry day and night to Him? to close his hand on the self-satisfied, the rich and increased in goods, who want nothing, and to open it wide and well-filled according to the largehearted desire of those who delight in Him? It is true, as yet we do not clearly see whence this needed help can come. We have not men to send to all who ask. What then? Why, bear the cry upward. So the Lord taught, when whitened fields and few labourers met His view; but let us also, like him, look around and see whether there be not already in our churches those who, if not already meet ly designated "able and acceptable preach ers of the word," yet are such as under your fostering care may in due time beTo the twelve, whom the Lord counted as the "few," he added seventy to be kept in training for weightier work in a coming day. May we not, now that Bro. Earl is gone, add to our three remaining in like manner? It is for you to say. With fervent prayer that the year before us may yield a large increase in agencies, means, and success, we are, dear brethren, your servants in the gospel, come so. WM. TURNER, T. COOP, G. Y. TICKLE, WM. MCDOUGALL. In accordance with a resolution of last Annual Meeting, calling for manuscripts containing an epitome of the principles pleaded by the churches (for the purpose of selecting one for the use of Baptists, Independents, and other ministers in the United Kingdom) it was reported that three papers had been received, whereupon it was re Harbinger, Sept. 1, '64. solved that they be handed to a committee for examination in order that one or more might be read to the meeting. Applications from churches for Evangelistic labor were next considered at length. Of these there were some twenty, shewing most pressing need for the constant services of a considerable number of Evangelists. To aid the meeting in arriving at conclusions as to the best division of labor for the ensuing year, Brethren King, Evans, and Exley were invited to give an outline of their labours and to state their views as to the next twelve months. Bro. King intimated that his attention had been given to a wide field, but as particulars had been printed monthly in the B. M. H., any lengthened statement would be out of place. Shortly after the last Annual Meeting he devoted a few days to Leicester, having, however, previously spoken in Wortly, Manchester, and Birmingham. From Leicester he returned to Birmingham for one week, and then, in answer to pressing need, spent about three weeks in Piltdown. Manchester, as recommended by the last Meeting had his services over eight Lord's-days, during which time a meeting was held, within a few miles, nearly every evening, including Manchester, Stockport, Whaley Bridge, Liverpool, &c. From Manchester, in answer to urgent solicitation and in connection with the opening of a new meeting house, he paid å short visit to Dundee. Birmingham then claimed attention and Walsall, eight miles distant, demanded special effort. His next journey was to Liverpool. Some two months' preaching each Lord's day in Hope Hall was not without manifest results. Discourses were also delivered during the period in St. Helens, Wigan, Golborne, Blackrod, Chester, Mollington, and Saughall. Oldham was also visited, but only for private conference with the church. In Southport he delivered a series of discourses on baptism. Preston was visited with a view to public effort, but not being able to find a suitable room the object was not realised. Having returned to Birmingham, Walsall received further attention, both on Lord's days and week-nights. Lincoln invited evangelistic help in order |