object is the translation of our fellow creatures from his hateful power and dominion, and their transition into the family of the blessed household of their Redeemer. With the sword of the Spirit we wish to combat the old serpent the devil. In this large and populous town he has maintained his seat, he has reigned and triumphed: we long to see him fall, like lightning from heaven; and hence we preach that glorious gospel, which opposes his works, which rescues from his power, which gives us to expect a final triumph over him and his followers.

Here we expect that the preaching of the cross will be heard that self-righteousness will in no shape meet with encouragement--that man will be represented as nothing, and Christ as all in all. We erect no altar to an unknown God, but are boldly confessing, that we wish every day to approach the Father of Spirits, through the mediation of God our Savior, and all this by the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit. And are any of us so hardened, through the deceitfulness of sin, as not to wish that here many souls may be born to God

may be trained up for heaven: or shall we not, at the last great day rejoice to see a goodly company of men, who on this spot shall have met with the Savior Jesus, and commonced an honorable path to heaven. We rejoice in the thought, that the cause is God's and must prevail, and with pleasure we celebrate the growing empire of our King. His church must flourish, because it is purchased with his blood, and preserved by his grace. The names of the several denominations among which it is scattered may be lost and forgotten, but its numbers shall increase, and its honors spread to the end of time.

The Episcopalian church may totter to the ground; the Presbyterian church may be known no more; the Independent church may no longer exist as a separate body; but the true church, made up of many of all these, and confined to no one of them, shall increase yet more and more, and ever be acknowledged the Zion of the Lord, the city of the Holy One of Israel.

This morning have we cause for gratitude, that amidst the spread of infidelity, and a vain philosophy the work of God is not forgotten, that still his churches rise and flourish; that still souls are born to God, and the saints shout aloud for

joy. In the sanctuaries where we worship, we have the so lace of our cares, a kind refreshment afforded us in our journey to heaven, and new light and joy bestowed. May all this be known amongst us--be known by posterity when we are cold in death..

I cannot lose sight of the opportunity which this morning affords me, of assuring this large and mixed assembly, that real religion is a personal thing; that the gospel we preach must be believed, and its consolations enjoyed, or there remains for us no hope of pardon or of peace. My fellow immortals you have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God: but we exhibit to you a blessed and perfect Redeemer! Believe in him, and you shall not be confounded world without end. And when I meet you in an assembly, 'far larger and more solemn than this, I mean at the judgment day, you shall be accepted of him; yea, believing in him, you shall then enter a temple, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and forever adore the hand that formed it, the grace that conducted us to it, and the Savior who fills it with his glory. Amen.*

On Wednesday, May 29, 1912, the Chapel was solemnly dedicated to God. On this interesting occasion, the Rev. P. S. Charrier, of Bethesda chapel, Liverpool, commenced the morning service by reading a suitable portion of scripture, and offering up a solemn and appropriate prayer. The Rev. William Jay, of Bath, delivered a sermon from Psalm cxxii, 6, 'They shall prosper that love thee.' The Rev. Mr. Lister, of Lime-street chapel, concluded by prayer. In the evening, the service was opened by reading of the scriptures and prayer, By the Rav. Joshua Fletcher, A M. of Blackburn. The Rev. Dr. Collyer, of Peckham, preached from 1 John iv, 8. God is love'. The Rev. Mr. Kershaw, of Edinburgh, concluded by prayer.

* This is evidently but a rude outline of what was delivered on that interesting occasion. The effect produced upon the immense auditory which he addressed was remarkably strong—and every effect must have an adequate

cause.

No. VI.

MR. SPENCER'S ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS PROPOSED TO HIM AT HIS ORDINATION.

What motives have induced you to enter upon the important work of the Christian Ministry?

As the religion of the Bible appears in my estimation the best blessing Jehovah has bestowed upon the world, I, from the humble hope that it has shed its influence on my own heart, am impressed with an earnest wish to be the instru ment of conveying its holy advantages to my fellow-immortals! I say from the hope that I am interested in its blessings; for in no one sentiment am I more fully established than that the ministers of God should be men of God; that personal religion is a most indispensable requisite ia all who grasp at the honor of being the servants of Christ and his churches. That it has pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, to call me by his grace, and reveal his Son in me, I am led to hope or I dare not think of the Christian ministry! From my earliest infancy, having been blessed with a religious education, my mind was powerfully impressed with the solemnities of death and judgment; and often have such im. pressions been the means of drawing me to earnest secret prayer, at a very early period of my existence. Yet did I, as I advanced in age and stature, give proofs, awfully evident, frequently since distressing to my mind, of the dreadful depravity of my nature, and of the necessity of that great change, which I then accurately judged had not really passed on my soul. But God remembered me in mercy: The Holy Spirit made use of the preaching of the gospel at Hertford by various ministers of our own denomination, as also by several in the connexion of the late Countess of Huntingdon, to enlighten my mind in the knowledge of him, gradually he drew me to himself; and, I trust, imparted to me, for my best treasure, his love in my heart, the salvation of Christ, with its attendant blessings. Viewing myself, then, as a young sinner, blest with special favors, I determined I would not live to myself, but to Him who I believed Irad loved me, and given himself for me. I cast myself upon

his care; I implored his direction as to my future steps; I longed to be engaged in the holy ministry, yet God is my record that I trembled at the idea of rushing into his service; of assuming, with daring temerity, a character I was so unfit to bear. I resolved that I would wait for the direction of his providence, and then go on in his strength. Christian friends urged me to devote myself to the work of the Lord; my own mind eagerly seconded their proposals; yet the consideration of my youth, and the dread that I was unprepared for the employment, held me back from the attempt, till after a little while my acquaintance with Mr. Thomas Wilson commenced: encouraged by him in the hope that I might be a laborer for God, I commenced preparatory studies for the ministry, under the direction of my honored friend, the Rev. William Hordle, of Harwich, and, recommended by him, entered the - seminary at Hoxton, Thus, Sir, a persuasion of the great importance of the preaching of the gospel, a consciousness that God had imparted to me that tone of mind which seemed adapted to the employment, the earnest wishes of intelligent and useful Christians, the clear and evident direction of divine Providence, and, I hope, the glow of zeal for the honor of our glorious Redeemer and the good of man, united to gether to direct my [coming] to the ministry of the word.

Why do you choose to exercise your Ministry among Protestant Dissenters?

The close alliance of the church [of England] with the state, were there no other argument against it, would be enough to influence my mind in refusing to enter within its pale. But my conscience also objects to many of the terms of communion it imposes, and its acknowledgment of a human head; to several of its prescribed ceremonies, which appear to me unlike the simplicity that is in Christ, and very unnatural characteristics of a kingdom which cannot be of this world. Yet, while these are my decided sentiments, I

*The objections here stated by Mr. Spencer to the Episcopal Church, and which deterred him from entering within its pale, appear on examination either of so little weight in themselves, or so destitute of foundation, as to ren der it obvious that their influence on a mind so distinguished for its piety and love of truth, must have been owing to the early bas of education rather than to their own intrinsic importance. The close alliance of the Church of England

shall always respect and love the zealous followers of the Lamb, whom Heaven acknowledges, as his friends among the members of the established church. May grace, mercy, and peace, ever be with them; may the work of God succeed

with the state, and its acknowledgment of a human head, are circumstances about which different opinions have been entertained. But they appear so consonant to the prediction of the prophet respecting the prosperity of the Christian Church, that Kings should be her nursing fathers, and their Queens her nursing mothers, that it seems not a little surprising that they should in any instance have proved a stone of stumbling and rock of offence even to the most scrupulous conscience. That such an alliance is inconsistent either with the letter or spirit of the gospel, no person of candor and reflection will venture to assert; and that their influence on the established Church of England, far from being injurious, is highly favorable to the maintenance and dif fusion of pure and undefiled religion, is evident from the acknowledged purity of her doctrines and worship, from the lives and writings of thousands who have ministered at her altar, and from her unexampled and increasing liberality and zeal in sending the scriptures of truth, and the messengers of salvation to the ends of the earth. But these objections, whatever weight may be attached to them, cannot be urged against the Episcopal Church in this country, because they do not exist.

Mr. Spencer's conscience, he tells us, also objects to many of the terms of communion, imposed by the Church. What these objectionable terms are he does not specify, nor is it easy to imagine. The only terms she imposes we learn from the rubrick prefixed to her Communion service, and from her catechism, which teaches what is required of those who come to the Lord's table. In the former she directs that "So many as intend to be partakers of the Holy Communion, shall signify their names to the curate, at least some time the day before." In the latter she requires those who come to the Lord's supper "to examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins, stedfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men." Not materially different are the requisitions of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country; and will any unprejudiced person say, can he say, that his conscience objects to any of these terms? Mr. S. further objects to several of the prescribed ceremonies of the Church. Her principal ceremonies are the postures of standing, kneeling, and sitting, during different parts of her service, and the cross in baptism, (the latter of which is not absolutely enjoined by the Church in this country, but may be used or omitted at the discretion of the minister.) So far from being objectionable, these ceremonies are obviously adapted to the nature of man, approve themselves to the judg ment of impartial reason, and manifestly add to the solemnity, and increase the fervor of public devotions. Is it credible then that they should ever have occasioned scruples of conscience, or have been urged as serious objections to the Church by which they are prescribed? These remarks are subjoined solely with a view to obviate in the mind of the reader of this interesting narrative, the erroneous ideas respecting the discipline and worship of the P. E. C. which the objections of Mr. S. seems calculated to convey. His unqualified approbation of her doctrines, expressed in his Address at laying the foundation stone of the new Chapel; and the respect and love he professed for "the