atonement and the divinity of Christ, and the doctrine of the Spirit's influence, spring up spontaneously in the renewed heart. They are all the branches of one plant faith the seed of which is love produced by the Spirit of God, and this is the germ of all true religious doctrine, and prepares the way for the reception of all needful truth. Second, the belief of positive error is more dangerous than a deficiency of belief of even important truth. Third, in drawing the line between errors which must lead to shipwreck of faith, and those which are less dangerous, it should be remembered, that although as a general rule, a man's belief shapes his character and his life, yet experience proves that particular forms of error are much less dangerous to some persons than to others.

No reason can be given why exact conformity in doctrine should be required in all the members of a church, any more than uniformity of health, stature, intellectual ability, or of attainments in piety. We are sometimes asked by those who seem to think that heaven and earth should pass away sooner than that one jot or tittle of their creed should fail to be believed," can two walk together except they be agreed?" Certainly not; if that want of agreement necessarily includes hating each other. But we ask, in the name of christian charity, must a want of similarity in opinion be attended with hatred? And if we are to admit none to our fellowship but such as agree with us in opinion, where is the place for charity, that crowning grace in the church of Christ? Is it the part of charity to make every difference of opinion an evidence of a corrupt heart?

So we may allow among brethren differences of opinion, arising from early prejudice or peculiarity of character. We may even allow private brethren to entertain opinions which we should be unwilling to have them teach. If a brother persists in attempts to spread abroad a doctrine which is grievous to the church, he should be called to account, with the distinct understanding that it is not for holding, but for propagating errors, which though comparatively harmless to him, may be injurious to others, and

destructive to the peace of the church. A schismatic spirit is far more reprehensible and dangerous than a quiet belief of error.

Let it never be said of Baptist principles, that they put a strait jacket on the soul. They admit the freest range over the wide field of truth, assured that fruits rich and fair remain yet to be gathered; only forbiding those who enjoy this privilege to bring home bitter and poisonous berries. Making the widest and most equal distribution of power, they give the many every needed protection against the few, while by defining and limiting the power of majorities, they protect the rights of the humblest individual. May these principles be preserved inviolate, and transmitted untrammeled to posterity.

Although the term officer, is applied to those who are chosen to places of labor and trust in the churches, and although office implies authority, yet every church officer is the servant of Christ, to obey his will implicitly, and of the church, to labor for its welfare. The officers have no right to rule the church, nor the church the officers; but both are to rule and to serve together, with pure conscience under Christ. Church officers are chosen to their places because they are believed to be those whom Christ has chosen; as such they should be honored and obeyed. the servants of Christ, they are bound to obey him in all things; as the servants of the church, they are bound to labor for its good, but not to obey it nor yield to its wishes in any thing contrary to the will of Christ. Church members are individually bound by the law of Christ to set an example of obedience and submission to their officers, as his servants, to esteem them very highly in love, to guard their reputation, and promote their influence and usefulness

As

by every proper means in their power. The reputation of a faithful minister is the Lord's property; to tarnish and weaken it, is robbing God.

haster? The duty of a church officer is to discharge the duties of

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his station in the church, according to the will of Christ. His power is simply to teach religion, and administer its ordinances. He possesses no mysterious power. His outstretched hand is the conductor of no sanctity; his uplifted hand has no special power to bless. The gospel has no priesthood to act as the almoners of the Divine favor. We have one only Mediator and High Priest, even "Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God," and Christians are all "a holy priesthood," having the same means of access 66 to the holiest of all." The prayers of a minister have no special influence or saving efficacy by reason of his office, nor give any nearer access to the mercy seat than those of any other Christian of equal piety. The authority of his preaching does not consist in any sacredness about his person, but in the fact that it is a message from God.

The obligation of every church to have officers and to seek a minister, who has been divinely called to the work, is plain, from the examples recorded in the New Testament, and from experience. Although a church may exist, yet it cannot prosper, nor fulfil its trust, without officers. In selecting them, personal feelings, preferences, and prejudices, should be laid aside; and regard to the will of Christ should be supreme. All party feeling and party measures should be carefully avoided. Churches should remember that their business is very different from that of a political caucus, or town meeting. Everything should be done in the spirit of prayer, and of humble dependence on God.

When officers are chosen, churches should beware of the too common error of considering them as responsible for the spiritual condition and the prosperity of the church. That responsibility is shared by all the members in common, and the officers are responsible only for the discharge of their duties. When church members depend on their offi

cers to stir them up, and cause them to feel pious, to be active in duty, the church is in a sad state. It is the duty of every private member to be as holy, as devoted, and as active as the pastor or the deacons. Yet inasmuch as all

are not so, the men who are chosen to these offices, should full of faith and of the Holy Ghost."

be men ""

SECT. 1. Choice and Ordination of a Pastor.

In the early churches it appears that teachers, pastors, and deacons, were usually selected from their own number. Such as were endowed with talents for public speaking, oined with knowledge of the Gospel, strong faith, zeal, and love, united to prudence and sound sense, were chosen, in obedience to the directions of the Apostle. 1 Tim. 3: 1

13; Tit. 1: 6—9. The same principles are to be observed and the same qualifications required still. But as churches have increased in intelligence and wealth, higher intellectual qualifications are demanded, and adequate support is given, so that ministers are more frequently trained up in schools of learning. One consequence of this change is, that churches are oftener called upon to choose a pastor with whom they have had little or no previous acquaintance. This should be done with great caution, deliberation, and prayer.

Let it be understood that the candidate is one who has been baptized into the fellowship of some regular church of Christ, on giving to them satisfactory evidence of true piety, that he believes himself called by God to the ministry, that he has commenced a course of preparation by the approval of the church, has completed it, has preached and otherwise conducted so far to the satisfaction of the church to which he belongs, that he has been approved and licensed by them to preach the gospel; yet to the church who contemplate electing him to be their pastor, he is comparatively a stranger. He should be with them several months at least, before any decisive steps are taken, that all may be able to form a deliberate judgment. Should it appear that

there is not a good degree of unanimity, it is better not to proceed to a vote. If a large majority is found to be in favor of a particular candidate, the minority should yield to their preferences, unless they have reason to fear that the candidate is an unregenerate man, or is unsound in doctrine. Meetings for special prayer for Divine guidance should be held, and all the members should cherish the tenderest regard for each other's feelings and opinions respecting the candidate.

When sufficient time has elapsed for both the candidate and the church to form a prayerful, deliberate judgment, if there is a prospect of a vote nearly unanimous, the church may proceed to a choice. The society, or congregation is then invited to concur, and the call is communicated to the pastor- elect by a joint committee. If he accepts, a 'council is called, and a day is fixed upon for a public ordination. The scriptural authority for ordination, and the principles involved in it, have been before given. All that remains is, to point out the most approved practice which has grown out of those principles.

For this purpose, a council of pastors and delegates is assembled by letters missive to the neighboring churches, with a deputation from the church itself, before whom are laid the proceedings of the church in calling the candidate, with his answer, his original license to preach, and the vote of the church admitting him as a member. The candidate then gives an account of his religious experience, states the evidence of his call to the ministry, and presents his views of christian doctrine and church order. All the members of the council are at liberty to question him freely. The council, if satisfied, declare by vote that they find all the proceedings in accordance with approved usages of the churches, and proceed to recognize him publicly as a minister of the gospel, and as the pastor of that church.

It is always to be borne in mind, however, that the duties of the council are not limited to the mere preservation of regularity in the forms of proceeding. They have come together to discharge a solemn duty to the church that con