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Un des symboles suivants apparaTtra sur la dernlAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le ces: le symbols — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ", le symbols V signifie "FIN". iVIaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included In one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les csrtes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film6s A des taux de reduction diftdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich6, ii est film6 A partir de Tangle sup6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 i "•;« 1 1) 1) !( E S S A, TO THE FEMALE MEMBERS OP THE •<* CHURCH OF CHRIST IV T O It C> ^ T O. SToronto • PRIJ^TED HY W. J. COATF.S, KIN« STREET. 1837. . ..fei f TTi^y' j ra g >/•:» •^.',''#.•*^■■*^■' 1 1 - - '. p Kf :i,<; i^Vf >» ■^^ Vs* ^-'^TiCffM '(..■A.^^. *'*^m- ADDRESS, &c. " Now 1 boacech you, brolhron, mark Ihcm which cause divisions ami offon- cos, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned ; and avoid them. For they that are such servo not the Lord Jesus Christ, but — — by good words and fair speeches deceive the heart of the simple." — liom. 16. It was my earnest desire, on my return to this place a few months ago, to have requested a meeting with you, for the, purpose of addressing to you the word of exhortation and warning, as He should vouchsafe to help me, who hath pro- mised to " bring all things to remembrance." As I have been disappointed in an opportunity of so doing, I avail myself of this method, as the next best I can devise, of acquitting my conscience of my duty to you, and of relieving my heart, in some measure, of its sorrowful anxieties on the subject ; for although you have pastors and teachers much better qualified to address you on the subject, and who no doubt have frequent- ly done so, yet do I not feel myself thereby exempted from contributing my mite of evidence on the occasion. The subject I refer to, is the ministration of those follow- ing in the late Mr. Edward Irving's track. You believe, that " the children of God are led by the Spirit of God," — and con- sequently that the experience of any member of " the household of faith," demands respectful and dcvoit attention ; my expe- rience in the matter I will accordingly give you. I had oc- casionally attended Mr. Irving's preaching in England with much pleasure, as opportunity offered, from about 1822, and was personally acquainted with Mr. I. In about 1830, residing about 50 miles from London, and hearing of the profession made by himself and his church, of a remarkable measure of the gift of the Holy Ghost being vouchsafed to them, manifest- ed even in miraculous endowments, I felt much inclined to believe it was truly so ; for I had long and deeply lamented that so little of the Spirit of Christ seemed to dwell in those who by membership with the church of Christ, declared that their bodies were the temples of the Holy Ghost. One thing seemed very certain, either that it was, as they said, a very great work of God, or that they were uttering a very solemn lie, and that instead it was a very great work if the adversary. That what they said was true, (and it might be so,) or that " the enemy had again done great things," and had seduced many tj^tJ speak as in the name of the Lord," saying with the false -^miinigfsaamm^ PP^9 / ,.t*^ntr .^5^^' ***^^ prophets of old : " thus snith the Lord, when tho Lord liad neitlier sent them, nor had spoken hy them." As I had not then heard of any false doctrines preached^ nor false juorah exhibited by them, I considered it my duty, in accordance with tlic wislKJS of my friends, to embrace tlio leisure and other fa- cilities, witli whicli providence had at that time favoured me, for ijeari»g, seeing, feeling for myself; and also that 1 might» to the best of my ability, bring a true, faithful and lionest re- port for those around me, wlio could oidy hear and judge at second hand, I accordingly took convenient lodgings* in Lon- don and attended Mr. Irving's Lectures, &c. especially at every morning for about a week, when ho closed his lectures on " the Unknown Tongues." His reasoning to prove that the unknown tongue spoken in the apostolic times as well as by themselves, was in many instances a language not spoken or understood by any people of the earth, and only to be compre- hended by immediate revelation, was to my mind quite unsa- tisfactory and inconclusive : and his addresses on Baptism ex- tremely confused and contradictory ; his illustrations of typical scripture however then, as well as on former occasions, seemed to me correct and true as well as highly interesting. This was the report of my understanding ; and the inward sense bore a similar testimony. We believe in the « communion of saii..,s ;" one part of which is, that when " we sit together in heavenly places," especially when convened in the sanctuary of the Most High, and the King of Glory in the midst of us by the Spirit of the Lord, " as a spirit of love and peace and of a sound mind," we feel, sometimes very sensibly, that we arc members one of another in Christ our Head and source of spi- ritual influence and intelligence ; we feel as well as know that the Lord is with us of a truth, and that He is breathing over us and around us an atmosphere very different from that which surrounds us at other times, and even when the divine life may run very low among us, we are still sensible of some spiritual pulse, indicating, however, that " the whole head is sick and the whole heart faint."TB But attending Mr. I- — 's I was sit.r- prised to feel an entire want of sympathy with the worshipping assembly, and the only moment in which I was enabled to realise communion even witli " the Father of Spirits," was during a few minutes in which I besought Him to fulfil his promise of manifesting himself to his people as He does not unto the world, to myself individually and separately from the 'assembly ; and on leaving the church it was some minutes again before I could feel, as I always wish and endeavour to do, that the living and life-giving Jehovah was with me, and 1 tl a b «*r.l, '''*S(|^ "ItLi '^lO'*'^ \ <( was il his Is not the liiites |ur to and in mo, and around mc, according to his promise by the prophet : They shall say my Fatlior and I will say : Here I am !" and this sense of distance from my God encrcased till I thought it wrong to go again. Such were my feelings^ and I may truly say impartial and unprejudiced feelings ; — and ought we en- tirely to disregard testimony from this (juarter ? God forbid ! and I apprehend that were we more cxeicised in spiritual things in "feeling after God if haply we might find Him," as the apostle expresses it, we should not be so liable to be deceived by false impressions and suggestions from the enemy ; — " hav- ing thus our senses exercised to discern between good and evil." But while I state these circumstances as what must very properly influence my own mind, I am fully aware that only the soul and spirit acted upon cm judge of this internal kind ©f evidence. If it contradicts the Truth, the written word, certainly it cannot be any part of the truth of God ; but if it does not, it either may or may not be, and who can tell " but he that receiveth it :" — yet, the testimony of a Christian in this matter should weigh with others according to his acknow- ledged character for tj-uo spirituality of mina, a sound judg- ment, good common sense, and veracity.* 1 will now mention, Secondly f One or two things of a moral and religious char- acter, of which all may judge, and which seemed to me to indi- cate that the whole ministration was pervaded by a spirit of error and falsehood — that they had received a spirit " giving ef- ficacy to error." These instances may seem, perhaps, trivial ; but a small key sometimes opens a large room, and a little fruit will satisfactorily indicate the tree from which it ^vas ga- thered. A few days previous to Mr. Irving's trial by the London Presbytery, a paper was produced in his church and presented for the signature of persons present, intended in vindication of Mr. Irving as a Minister of the Church of Scotland at his ap- proaching trial. One of the> items in this paper was, that no- thing had been introduced in the services of the church while under Mr. Irving's charge contrary to the standards of the •While giving this weight to the religious feeling of every true christian, T most readily admit, that " we cannot be too sensiblcof the danger of an impli- " cit reliance on frames and feelings, or of regarding them aa constituting an " infallible tost by which to juf'ge of our state before God. Upon the broad " and grand principle of the gospel., let ua repose on God's purposes of grace " and mercy towards us through life, conceived before the foundation of tho: " world, and extending from the beginning ofliir.c to the consumnjation of all •'things.*' ... • •.«lf*- ,•»' .r-%'.«...;»^'^r^'#^ Church of Scotland. Some gentlemen rose to say thnf they tlid not consider tliemsclvcs quahfietl to sign the pupcr, as tlicy were not acquainted with the standards of the Church of Scot- hind ; upon which Mr. Irving rose, I expected to say, lliat tliey were not so voluminous but that gentlemen might easily con- vince themselves on this matter in time, — but instead of this, alter remarking that he had no personal concern whatever in such a document, as his standing in the church of God rested not on any human testimony, — Yiq said that if gentlemen wen desirous of putting their names to that paper they need not bo prevented by the difTiculiy mentioned, as " thei/ may take my word and that of my elders here (pointing to gentlemen on his right and left) that it is so"! ! and that seemed quite satisfactory to these disciples of Mr. Irving, as some of them immediately signed it ! ! ! I was astonished, and could scarcely believe my senses, that a man of Mr Irving's intelligence and high moral character could lead his people into so egregious a fallacy and on so solemn an occasion ; and that his people could be so blinded as to permit themselves to be thus led to act so de- ceptively. I asked one of these gentlemen, a lawyer, how ho came to do so ? He really did not perceive, at the limct the in- consistency. When Mr. I. appeared before the London Pres- bytery shortly after, I could not but be struck with the icmark- able constrast exhibited between this scene and that in which our adorable Redeemer stood before his judges : between the character, conduct, feelings, and whole bearing of the accused, the court, and the accusers, on these two occasions. Especially between him who " in all things came to set us an example that we should tread in his steps ;" who, when he was reviled re- viled not again," — and Mr. Irving exclaiming, in the pomp of highly tlicatrical intonation, look and gesture, " I denounce you as a court of Anti-Christ !" And this high and haughty bearing was evidently no burst of impassioned leeling which the Christ- tian spectator might hope would speedily give place to the com- punctious relentings of godly sorrow ; but it was just the acting «ut 0^^ principle, and in strict accordance with the arrogant pretensions to a something so much like Popish infallibility, that it is difficult to draw any line of distinction, if indeed any real diflerence exists — a high assumption of such divine authority, presence, and power, as forbids and repels enquiry and inves- tigation. Mr. I.'s first plea was, that nothing had been sanc- tioned in that place of worship, while under his pastoral care, contrary to the standards of the Church of Scotland : in this he was palpably disproved by one article in these standards, which expressly prohibited any part of the service being in any but "■'»•*- ♦•• t»- ■-" <^ « i.s^»ronn;i, arfi rc- 1? the vulgar trnguc. Mr. Irving then shifted his fused to be tried by lliose, or any human creeds wluitcver; and appealed to scripture, insisting on substantiating the truiii of all liie doctrines and practices ofliis church on sc/iptural authority alone. This was exceedingly specious, and took niightly wiih the people, but such a j)r(>cecding was as fal!>e as it was specious ; and really as anti'scriptural an its pretence was that of a pe(;u- liar regard for scripture : it was doiiig what the wliole of these ministrations are doing, viz. acting contrary to the life and spijit of (iod's word, under a hollow pretence of honouring the Ictlrr of the law. Now the scripture tells us : " not to lie one to an- another ;" not to defraud one another ; to be men of honor, whose yea and nay may bona fide be depended on ; yet, Mr. Irving having received liis ministerial appointments from the church of Scotland under a sacred pledge to administer for her in ecclesi- astical affairs according to what she believed the truth of God's word exhibited in her written standards^ now refuses to be tried as a minister of that church by those standards. The Mode- rator, however, very properly refused to permit such a defence, alleging that as Mr. I. had accepted his ministerial office upon the conditions of the observance of these standards, by these standards they as a court of that church must examine and judge. If Mr. I. had after his ministerial ordination in this church found, or fancied he had found, such discrepancies be- tween her standards and the aloiie and supreme law to which every christian must conform all his thoughts, words, and ac- tions, both private and public, that he could not conscientiously abide by them ; his path was quite clear ; the church of Scot- land assumed no infallibility ; supposed errors might be brought before her courts for re-consideration, and if there considered anti-8CTiiptur&\ would be corrected, and if not, and the com- plainant remained still dissatisfied, he was quite free to leave the church and follow in some other way the dictates of his conscience ; but to take up his defence as he required would be quite unsuitable and out of place, and would be opening the door to a theological controversy which might not terminate before that day when all error ai)d falsehood should have pass- ed away for ever. Upon this Mr. I., with his arm extended and his face averted, denounced them as a court of Anti-Christ, and soon left the church, nor would he return to attend the continuance of his trial, which lasted from 9 A. M. to halt- past 9 P. M., when he was condemned. The Moderator summed up the judgment of the court by sayingy they considered Mr. I. as a pious and holy man, endowed with talents and attainments of uncommon eminence ; to many of them the object of high ^"" .-^' ; «#■''" ■■* 8 esteem and parkicular friendship, to whi«;h feelings they did much violence in the discharge of their present responsible duty ; they had no doubt that tic had been the honored instru- ment of turning many from darkness to light — but that at ])r(isent — why ? they presumed not to suy — he was under a very " strong delusion,'* from which they hoped and prayed the Lord would yet deliver him, when the dark and ploomy cloud which for a timo had eclipsed his brightness and prevented his usefulness, would be dispelled, and his sun of glory again break forth with more than its former splendor, imparting its salutary influences in a still larger sphere than it had ever before done. Such was the conduct of the court by whom Mr. I. was tried ; being in perfect consistency with the well-known clutracters of the individuals composing it, and such was the conduct of him who stood before them for judg- ment ; both forming a striking contrast with that by whom Christ was condemned. As to the doctrines of these religion- ists, perhaps the secret root of bitterness whence all this mis- chief has sprung may be found, by him who only can clearly trace all the lamented efTects of sin and folly up to the spring and source which originated them, to be the old heresy re- specting the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, asserting that ♦♦ the King of Glory," who was ever " holy, harmless, unde- fjled, and separate from sinners," did, notwithstanding, as- sume not man's holy and unfallerif but his fallen natui c ; so that instead of viewing the incarnate and adorable Redeemer as pure and spotless in body, soul, and spirit ; his whole man* hood and Godhead in unjarring and profound harmony, loving all righteousness and hating all iniquity ; suflering in no way in consequence of his own sin whether original or actual, but only suffering for the sins of others ; we see in his person the most liQrrible tempest ever exhibited as arising'-from the vio- lence of contest between natural propensities, stronger than mere human nature ever experienced, or was capable of expe- riencing ; to every vice that ever germinated in the pollution of a human heart, and the principle of grace (or, as they would rather express it, the Holy Spirit) imparted in such measure as effectually to prevent the oUt-breakings of such propensities, or the yielding to any such sinful desires in any i'»dividual in- stance. Mr. Meux of London told me that when Mr. L, to whom he was personally known and sincerely attached, began to preach this foul stain on immaculate purity, he said to him, " Irving you must leave this, or the Lord will leave you." This was no prophesy, after the sad sequel of Mr. Irving's closing career. He mentioned it to me before Mr. I h-^"i incurred the its rel ovidel vital obedil luxurf the re donh'l and ..T-A 9 sdl^imn sriit.'iK v' l>y \\lii«h llif» (^'liiurli ul i hrist. in tfir innv; oi" liini wild hits said : " Wliatsocvin* yo sIjmII MikI on cjirfli sliall ho l)(»iniil in li(»aveii, and \vhaf.s(K»vcr ye .shall loose on earth siiall ho loosed in Iksivoii," jnit him out from hcv com- munion. It will not \)o snj)i>()scd tha!, ihr; writm- of" tlicsd few im|)('rle(;t remarks is ofoplnion, that however unjust and trivial liie jndirinciit of a Court of ('hrist may bo, that ihc Divine; Wciid will honor such jud[^nnent with the hroad seal ofhcavcni. I) fV) ! hut, that when the jud;^nnent ofhis ehureh i,s iluly given (irrorduv^ In his iri'i, ho will then indeed make it to npj)ear thai th(! censure ofhis church is not a thiu'/to he set atnouf^ht. Tiie lendeiKry of the t(!achings of this sect in some oilier im- ]) )rtant parlic\ilars seem to he, to sap the foundations of christian fuith, and to lay the nxe to the root of christian nioniis. ;\s to the formcu', in reference to the work o'i tho Holy »Spirit in the human soul. The (lisn(Misation under whic^li W(! Iiv(3 (comprising the interval between the rejection and rtvstoration of \\\o, .Jewish |);H)pie) is pccnll,/r/f/ a spirihid/ (iisp(!nsation. The first, or .lovvish (lisj)ensation, was one of chic./lt/ f?j-//^rnrt/ instruction, in which the ehurcii in her infancy was tauirht through the external senses. The. sncond, the pre- sent, or christian dispensation, chiefly t'lat o\' spirllual nr intermil instruction. Now, therefore, during this dispensation (rapidly drawing to its close) in which tlie Divine Sjiirit, the only sen- sible manifestation of the living and life-giving .Tchovah, is, in a very [)eculiar and special measure and manner, the teacher and guide of the (lock in " the word, sacraments, and prayer," '* until the Lord come ;" ',\ny faba assumption of Iiis presence and pow(M', and every cllcct to weaken the faith of his crea- tures in his true, great and gracious work in the hearts and minds, and consciences of men, is, in a very ]>eculiar and spe- cial manner, anti-christian ; for who or what is the Holy Ghost but the spirit of Christ himself? Nor will the admixture of other matter, [lowcvcr true, interesting and important, free a ministration, marked by such characteristics, from the appalling and fearful denomination of an anti-christian ministration; nor those who attend such a ministry after ^umciEVT evidence of its real character, whether received persoiialiy or tinough the evidence of others, of fearfully tampering with their soul's vital health ; nay, must wc not say of presumption and dis- obedience. The tender plant may be putting forth the most luxuriant foliage and the brightest blossoms, while a worm at the root may be destroying the minute germ of life, till sud- denlyit '.vithers, droops and dies, ro revive no more; it is gone and/orcD^r/ So may the doctrine gainsaycd appear but a ■,i^;/ ■ >*6 «»^ V 'It' ^■'«*»- *■■ i"* 10 U ,i vet'}/ lltlh malliir ; it may ]ioi'}uij»s \*i^ cxpivsriod ii^ one or two litllo words, and vet it may Ix; llio very mn'xw of onr rnn.si lioly thilli, whicli once clcstroyod, what will avail all those other minor trulhs, Iiowover inlorestinir, under lii(M;ovcr ol* wliose redundant verdure the secret work oi" dcstnielion has been working its insidious way I False Christs and ialse Pro])liets the Lord forwarned ns sliould arise, and should "deeeive manv hv sii^ns and lyinij; wonders, so that if it were possible th(iy should decei"(; even tlie elect ;" but what was the advice of the o-ood shepherd^ Was it, go after them ; don't be satisfied with the evidence even of credible witnesses to the falsity of their doctriufis, to their heretical anf sparks of our own kindling ;" and on the other from a slavish tear of the same, leading to " hardness of heart, and blind- ness of mind." In both of these important particulars, I mean in assum- ing to themselves a measure of the Holy Spirit auiounting to infallibilily, and in gainsaying, denying, and deriding the work of the J?lesscd Spirit in the hearts and souls of believers, 1 hardly think that any unprejudiced chiistian who has hcai'd ihem a few times will hesitate to say, that ihey are fai" goni; from "the simplicity that is in ("hrisl." l\\\\ Irving in his last letter to his people makes a solemn '* conies^;ion ol(as he says) my sins, by which I think 1 shall but serve my CJod and the dock, and the (juiet of my own soul, and t ha lirallk of my hotly nho^ This sin he states to be, assuirunij to himself or thern- selves an undue measure of the Holy SjMjit, which says be, " was no less than exalting the angel of the church into the place of Christ." Since writing these remarks I was favoured with this letter of Mr. Irvinfr's, which has much relicned mv ieelings in respect of this otherwise great and good man, who, after this important concession, would, in all probability, had he been spared, have returned to the paths of sobriety and sound doctrine. They do not consider, said Mr. Caird, that " when the minister stretches out his hand it is God who is stretching out his hand, and when the minister speaks it is God's voice that is heard !" Dear friends where is the diflfcr- ence between such pretensions, and those of the Pope ? I can see none ; and tell me what is blasphemy if this is not. The dogmatical mode of their instructions also, so diifcrent from our Lord's manner, who was ever anxious to follow up the more; solemn and public, exhibitions of divine truth by familiar col- loquial explanations in the house and by the way, docs not, 1 think, bespeak them the possessors of an unusual measure fif liis spirit. Their pastor was requested by one of his steady followers to explain a doctrine that, as delivered publicly, had appeared very confused. The applicant was put off in a very harsh and dictatorial manner, with the reply, that " that doc- trine could only bp taught in the church." Surely this savours more of si/pcrsiilious da?'kncss and musticisnu than of benign super, f -.>>' \\2 iv.id li(^-iivciily ii TiuliiiLion in {hi ^i-onpcl tnyalorij k}{ ;i (Jod iricar- n;iio, bringing ligiit, lilicrly, ajul iiniiiurtalily to ligi)!,. And us to the gainsaying tho [rue work oi' the IriK!. Ha'i/ Ghost : those who know any thing of (.experimental rehgion, do know, that to give that childlike nnsuspecting credence to tlie work of the ever-blessed Spirit in their souls, which is comj>rehcnd- ed in " receiving the kingdom of God as a little child," is of very diiricult attainment, and seldom ai'rivcd at in any very comfortable and satisfactory manner wilhont some mighty ex- orcise of mind. " Ye believe the witness of men but the wit- ness of Goil is greater ;" and yet that witness v*'e are indeed slow of heart to believe. Now, M''. Caird's teachings have a strong tendency to harden the heart against this small, still voice, and to induce those who have rc(ieived the s(.'al of the spirit again and again, in many ways, to renounce their ihidi in the work of God in their souls ; to call " the truth of God a lie," while they giv6 heed to this spurious kind of spirituality, as subtle and fallacious as it is dangerous. Had iMr. Caird confined his observations on this subject, to a warning against imputing every impression, however strong, to the Divine Spirit, his remarks had been wise and seasonable ; but with the same solicitude and prayerful watchfulness that wc should shun receiving as divine what may not be so, should we take heed to receive and hold fast the teachings of Him "who teachetli as no man teacheth." Is it difficult to discern at all times the voice of the shepherd from that of the stranger ? It is ; to our minds and hearts as yet imperfectly enlightened and sanctified: Jesus draws nc-r to us in the midst of the stormy and dark night to bring us speedily to our desired haven, and because he approaches in a way to which we are unaccustomed, wc " cry out for fear, and would lain (lee, supposing we have seen a spirit :" but what then ? shall we give up the lesson because it is a difficult one that often puzzles us ? Shall we determine that, however we may be inwardly moved, in accordance with the lorittcn word, we will not yield to such a movement upon our minds? God forbid ! If we do, can we ever expect to attain to the happy experience of the word in Prov. 22nd. " That thy trust may be in the Lord^ I have made to thee this day, even to thee ; that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send ynto thee." Doing so, many have been convinced too late of thO truth of that " small, still voice," against which they have determinate- ly stopped their ear " as the deaf adder, who will not listen to the voice of the charmer, charming never so wisely," until, by "i-H > i:? their stiir-iii'tkcdiicss, ib.cv luivc "not oiilv woaiiufl mrnv but weuriod my God also;" who has at longtli said, "let liliVi alone," " niy spirit shall not always strive with man !" i have \mcn alarmed at seeing some of our friends so in-' cautinus in holicviiigtjvery ititernal suggestion, and f>on)e aghin, of whom 1 had hojjf.'d bettor things, denying the Holy Ghost in one very imporlaiil branch of his worl; in man, and "iimit- n>g tlie iioly One of Israel," as he has nc^ limlited himself, and this in direct cciitiadiction to the express and solemn testimony of some of the Lord's faithful witnesses. Is there any thing in sci'ipture, either pr>sitive or inferential againsit the important doctrine that the Holy Ghost may now say to any one, as ho did to Philip, "go" to this or that placv. ? And as there is not, but, on the contrary, as we are told that " the children of God are led by the spirit of God ;" and many of his servants have declared, that by an impulse which they are assured was (iivinc, ihey have been thus guided in a matter, the issue whereoi' lias also been unquestionably good and highly bene- ficial ; ought we not to cultivate this kind of spirituality and docility of mind, and carefully guard against that " leaning to oiflr own understanding," against the movtimcnts of God's .•^:pirit, which must issue in darkness and coldness of heart and soul in the things of God. " Trust to the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding." You will, dear friends, excuse my dwelling more on this subject than the particular object of this address might seem to call for ; but as it is a sul>ject on which it has pleased the wisdom of God to exercise my mind particularly, I am satisfied to embrace every fair opportunity of beaiing my testimony to what I believe important inUk on this subject. And now, as to the practical bearing and tendencies of this church ; I have said that by their teachings they appear to me to lay the axe to the root of the fair tree of christian mora/s, and " by their fruits ye shall know them." I don't know that they make use of the words, " passive obedience^* that badge of the dark ages, both of civil and eccleciastical despotism! that daring contradiction of the word of God as well as of all natural religion, feeling, common sense, and in- tellectual light and liberty 1 "Call no man master upon earth," says Christ, nor " flither." O no ! for if master, or father, or husband require an act contraiy to "the mind and will of Christ," there is but one answer for them: " whether it be )f God to hearken ui igi you right in th God — ^judge ye." But I will submit to those who have heard them, whether they do not teach it in the most palpable and it unequivocal manner. Tlicy say IJu- law of (ioti is alisolnio : "Obey them that are set over you." "(Jliililreii ohey your parents." "Wives submit yourselves unto yom- own hus- bands," &c. And will not permit that tiioso prccejjts sliall ho qualiiied by such as demand, that such ohodieMce slinl! bo " only in the Lord" They teach that it' such pei-,sons command you to break the law of God you must obey ; you arc exone- rated and that all the guilt and sin passes over U) those who gave the command ; but that if you disobey, you are guilty of disobedience to God's authority. They teai^h, moreover, tliat if you pray to God he will so change the hearts ofyour lulcrs, that they will not persist in sinful rcHjuirernents. Now we know that God does, indeed, often wonderfully change th(; benrts of rulers in answer to the prayer of faith ; but we also know that often he does not see fit to do so; and the fire aiul the sorviUK'(! of (iiiniiy \v')rs-lii|> in her Imiisc. " Pour out tliv \vr;ith upon th(» li .••iilicii, nnd upon all iho families vvho «;nll not upon lliy name;" and was very seriously lliinliing of lakinGT ui) this duty herself, as her husband would not. ol)je(;t to h(.r en^irni^ini;- in it. She went to hear Mr. Caird at this time, and he sueeeeded in lullino; her eonseicnce to sleep on tins point, for she was there taught that it was licr huiihand's business, wliich it was sinful lor her to med- die. witli, as for her to sto)) into his line of duty would be to interrupt their beautiful system of order ! But let me ••isk you. dear iVlcnds, which order would be most beautiful in the ev'{.' of him wiio has tnven us manv brilliant exam])lcs, that to bi'o i!i in upon a bad and vicious order and rule is the best order. Which liouse in the sight of God exhibits the l)est and truest order ; that in which while the husband is loitering in the public streets in the ujorning, and at the bihiard table in the eveniriir, and the second head of the fa- niily is vainly endeavouring, without the 7nvj,hty sitpport of an EsT/viiLisiuiH) Ui:ligion in her family, to keep the idle and vngrant minds of the young to any i-egular or orderly habits, whore no family altar concentrates the piety and devotion of the household, or sends u]) to heaven the morning anthem, or the evening hymn ; and where no voice expressive of that ojnm acknowie'lgmcnt an lica.l thoreof is sharnoAiUy squandering his litno and ])ropcrly in sin and folly, hisliimily is assembled together hy the wife and mother to hear the word of God, to sing his praise, and to supplicate the throne of mercy ? But so profound, so ahjoct is the passive obedience preached, that the wife of a drunkard may not presume in the most private and gentle^ manner, to expostulate with her husband on the sin that is ruining him, and involving herself and family in helpless, hnjK less povertv. and all those moral evils that follow thi(;k in its train. Woman ! know your place and privilege, and maintain them, by acting them out to the uttermost of tiie opportuni- ties that He may open to you, " who openoth and no ma a shutteth." Suffer them not to be subtilely withdrawn Ikjui you by an unsound application of scripture texts. 1 shouM have written in a very ditlerent strain had not the late bane- ful effort to cramp, letter, and confine your excn'tions to do good, as the Lord may call and enable you, constrained me to write entirely on one side of the question. Look to the beginning, and there, seeing the ollice for which you win'c originally destined, endeavour to come up to it as far as present circumstances admit ; it was to be an help-meet for man, that thus for him and with him, you might have the dominion over all lower things on earth. Now, an help- meet for man is not a slave, nor a mute ; no, it is one who, with all the energy which a quick perception, lively feel- ings, generous and noble principles, elevated morals, and tender sympathies create, will promptly unbosom her soul's deepest feelings to him, and with all the eloquence which eye and gesture can give, would dare to s^Qak and say^ while her hand rested on the dcadlv bowl, " O do not I do not ! touch the fatal draught, and sink your soul to hell, and mine to broken-heartedness." To be an help-meet for him, she must be one who will not only well fill up her own sphere of domestic duties, and this, as w^tiio him, next to Christ ; but one who can, in some considerable measure, fill up his place when he is either iinahle or unwilling. And now do you ask, what is the line of duty ? The a])ostolic precept, obey in the Lord. Submission, or even apparent ac- quiescence, must ever be decidedly witnheld from every thing that is positively sinful; and in judging as to what is so, I. e. in applying the general laws of the ten commandments to the various minutia3 of daily life your own conscience can be, and must be, your supreme guide. Endeavour to en- lighten your conscience by all possible means, for it may s. li<';i.l ^^A^ • iH: J^^ 17 sometimes bo in error: i'C cundhl un **^' c^.^mit'^' IS Sol (Jross and tin is sulliciently i"(Miiov<'(,1. lh^' ne own ve our t '• th(j h luiu : lis lllut iij) f;,j' 'i'*, lliul, <- i^pirif it Ulhl 10/ r po. it thaf. il/ also •sponk one, — (^liosf, 'iio arc raj'er" IS, and ou ihiil 3Jod in ed ojio t is a(;- hum- md in ' pro- •A, 13. ' want after ntinu- inder- ito us they : and oyod and just have s nd. 19 *u.-S- .'id.nlltud :inv of liis lo.i ;hiu'.,' followers even into our liouses, (sue yd hpistJc; olMulia, vtjrse loUi.) inn'.'h Ic-is into our j)ul- pits, until, if, afior the mast soloiun examination, wo were of)- ligLid to eouvkMna the ac-t of our Sister Cliurcii in Ure;it iiri- I rji - - - - Tain us beiu' eontrarv to the mind and will ofour Great Head and Lavv;:(ivcr. Let us for this and these, and all our other manifold provocations, private, uomestie and public, " humble ourselves under the mighty hand of (Jod and he will exalt Uisi, in duo time." Fear not, dear friends, all ye who are ti'uc of heart, and willing to live or die in joy or sorrow for and by Christ and his (Jhurch, f >r that is all one as Christ and ids ('a use ; " tor vour work" and your witness " shall be rewarded." hot our eyes be up unto him who hath said, and oh ! may ho s])eak it again, and again, and again, and apply it by his ow!i spirit to the heart and miiul of his faidiful servants as the mat- ter shall rcfiuire. ♦' I will work and Wi;IO shall let it." " / will speak and will not kee]) silence." And O then shall all discern — yes, both saint and sinner, -"the voice oftI»eLord, which is full majesty," Irom all viiin and counterfeit proton- sions. Not wrobllo with God in prayer I If wo do not, if wo know not what it is to do so and eifectually ; wiiat claim have we to be the seed of Jacob, whose distinguishing character it was, as also his most honoi'able encomium : " As a pi-inco hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." What was our Blessed Teacher's jueaning when he spoke a parable ex- pressly to this end, " that men ought always to pray and nut to faint?" The expression itself, implies a degree of earnest- ness and importunity that if ibr some time apparently fruitless, might load the suppliant to grow weary and to give over his suit ; and the parable itself is to shew that reiterated entreaties for the same thing, agreeable to his will, shall prevail. And if we look to our groat exemijlar, who in all things hnitable came to set us an example, that wo should tread in his steps. " lie pouroil out his prayer with strong crying and tears, and was lioard in that he learcd," This is what we mean by the })hraseology, " wrestling in prayer ;" and this is our authority, and we doubt not it shall vet and a^i^ain bo found, "mightv through God to tlie [)ulliag down of the strongnolds, casting down imafjinations, and everv hi;j:h thing that exalteth itscit aganist the knowledge ot God.' It is another false accusation which I have myself heard them utter in public addresses, that the churches teach, " we may worship God any how it don't matter." On the contrary, the Protestant Churci teaches that " great fear in meeiing of the saints is duo unto the Lord," and the guides of the flock mWIK-''' .„f^ •-•^' 'm^- Mi* 20 arc <;v('r lunking up lo llu;ir miustcriuid into his word, lliat llicy rniiy bo so tanglU by bim, thut under tboir niiMistralion the peo- ple may "worsliii) the Lord in ibe beauty of holiness." These are a few of the observations which 1 iiave niadc? upon the lallacious, but spceious, doctrines of this sect, and I leave them with you, iJeioved Sisters, in faith and love. 1 am much indebted to the Church of (yhrist in Toronto, for true comfort and spiritual refreshment, and the means by which 1 have been chi.e/li/ benelitted have been, the Communion 'liable ; the Class Meetinii which your heart may bring for this gratification of idle curiosity. 1 rmist " prove all th'ngs ;" yes, dear friends — but th(!r(! are niimy ways of testing a poison, thank God, besides drinking it. We are not called to run after every Johannah Southcote, or Mormon, or Swedenburg, , Tliy Miikor iHrael citcrisli tlioo ; Oil Him to (uloat ynum (ln|)i;ii(l, T}iy ijuido, iJiy («uardi;iij, uud lliy I'liciid I Yes, dear friends ! happy is the man who Irnsfolh in llim, and who " hohlsfasr all the grueions truths vvhi('h iho Heavenly Teacher, sent from Cod, has imparted ; and " I'o- members and forgets not" His mighty work in ids soul : who takes heed to " magnify His work whieh men behold ;" who is continually endeavouring to " separalo tiic precious from the vile:" and sitting loose to the (ihalf'ind dross which ever mixes with human tinuddutc, jui.lovcwi with human experience. May Divine grace preserve and deliver us iVom denying the work of the Holv Ghost in our souls, iusltnid of de(darin;j in the gates of the Daughter of Zion what He hath done for us." If we do so, must we not fear that we shall be given up to strong delusion, and to believe a lie, because we received not the love of the truth, and be bewildered with tiio " signs and lying wonder which Satan oft times makes use of." (iid TIujs. 2.) Blessed Lord! pity, pardon, help, and appear for us, that every error and delusion, though veiled in the garb of an an- gel of light, may be so resisted by the " sword of tiie Spiiit, which is the Word of God ;" and prayer, that it inay take its speedy llight, with all its unearthly circumambient exhalations, and leave tnc hunible worshipper of the one living and true Cod in admiring astonishment, at that grace and power by which ho has in this contest with " the prince of the power oi" the air, been brought oft' more than conqueror," Remember human intellect is no match for 8atan, the fallen arch-angel. Ncaie less than he who has the key of the bottomless pit can cast out Satan, and those to whom he gives the power. And now, dearly beloved, in the unihj of the one Failh, one Hope, and one Baptism of the Protestant Churcii — in the humility of deeply lamented error, division, and (Consequent weakness — in i\io joy of liiith and hope, with patience, that there is "Balm 33 •Ni*%». ill Oilead auti ;i IMivsician tluM'o," aiui thut Iw. ('oinctli '' >ni''lilv tu siUVO, I roiualii ill .>tir Ix-Iovod, Vtinr ('atiiolkts. Am l)ir(l Iroiii towlor'n Hiiiin' not frco, Soiiriiiy Hii)|(M : '• .Swr»'t, liluMt y I" Am tint nio troin Imiitor'tf IiuihJ, ^ ])<'irliii)r, liudtiilH o'or Htro:iiii niid tiiinl ; .So rnmi SttiMtN NJaviMli Itaiid, So tVoiii tiiiH world'H iron liuiid, Our »uul'ti Hct frco! Our spirit brciitlioH its nativo air, 'I'luj vault of licuviMi iiHreiidu in pniynr ; Mindur lier not — iior ("Jod Ih llicri). 'I'lic I'pirit broatlicrt itH iiiiithI fircn, (iivoH iillcriince, Ion, to ilN duHiros, 'I'iio world abiiHlrd, Ixdiolds, adiiiiroH, And SiitMii iVoiii the fKilil rctircH ; Our soul'ti vet frcu ! P. S. — 1 know that tlie best of arguments may l)e gain- suycd. VV^it.ncss the cavils against even the Hctloemer'.s rea- sonings, and iiow much more these liasty and desultory re- marks ; but they are my best, so except them ; and it'tlicy ex- hibit any useful and seasonable truth, may it fall into " honest and good hearts," and then, though " but as a grain of mus- tard seed," it will, with that blessing which maketh effectual, bring forth fcomc fruit to bis glory whose grace and power is magnified in the insignilicance of the agency 1m^ is pleased sometimes to make use of. I ask the witness of his spirit to the truth I liave here endeavoured to vindicate, and 1 ask no more : in his hands I leave it, whose name, as I believe, most assuredly is in these ministrations most falsely assumed. •' He that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed break- cth out into a viper." — Is. 59.