individual, or a church, find a scriptural command to sustain the Sabbath school, erect a house for worship, or even to make preaching, praying, and singing, to constitute the worship of the Lord's day? And what pious, consistent Christian would desire it?

Does any one ask, What usages, or practices, not enjoined in the Scriptures, may be safely and profitably adopted by churches? The answer is, First, They must not be contrary to Scriptural precept or precedent. Second, They must be in accordance with the spirit of Christianity, and the design of churches. Third, They must have been proved, and found to work well, by experience.

SECT. 1. Relations of the Church to the Society.

It is usually the case, that persons who are not members of the church desire to attend public worship, and to contribute for its support. In connection with such male members of the church as choose to do so, they frequently form a society for sustaining the public institutions of religion. When a pastor is to be chosen, or when money is to be raised for the purposes of the society, it is proper that they should be consulted.

In some cases, the society is composed of the pew-holders, more or less of whom, perhaps a majority, are members of the church; in others, all who subscribe a certain amount for the pastor's salary are members of the society; in others, still, those who in any way assist in sustaining the expenses, either by submitting to be taxed, or by contribution, and yet are not members of the church, constitute the society. In all cases, it is proper that the church act first in the choice of a pastor, and the society be invited to concur. they unreasonably refuse to do so, the church has the right to make its action final. The greater responsibility of the church renders this condition proper and necessary; yet the church should, as far as they conscientiously can, regard the wishes of the society.

If

When a house for worship is to be erected, a common

mode of proceeding is, after the object and plan are sufficiently understood, to form a joint-stock company, on specified conditions, by opening a subscription for shares, the holders of which organize, choose a building committee, and authorize them, under certain regulations, to build the house. When it is completed, it is, of course, the undivided property of the stockholders, as a body, who are responsible for whatever debt, authorized by them, may remain unpaid. The pews are then appraised at a rate sufficient to cover the expenses of the building, and an annual sum is assessed on each pew, to be paid quarterly, sufficient to meet the probable expenses of maintaining worship. A plan of the house is now made out, exhibiting the situation of each pew, with its appraised value, and the annual tax; and then the choice of the pews is disposed of to the highest bidder among the stockholders, who thus transfer their joint ownership of an undivided house, to a special ownership of a pew or pews, by each; the ownership of a pew being simply the right to occupy it for the purposes of worship. A deed of the house and land is given to the deacons of the church, ex officio, to hold the property in trust for the uses of the church and society, the latter, in cases of this kind, being composed entirely of the pew-holders. The proprietors of the house of worship constitute a body corporate, if they choose to avail themselves of the provisions of the statute, and apply to the Legislature for the privilege.

In some parts of the country the practice has prevailed of erecting houses for worship by donations, the house being secured, by a deed of trust, to the church, through its deacons, as before, the seats being free. This way may be preferable in places where a very few persons are willing to assist, but it is attended with inconveniences and evils.

The methods of raising the salaries of pastors are various. Some societies do it by an assessment on the pews, as above described, making up any deficiency by subscription; others, by each member of the society agreeing to be taxed according to his property; some, by voluntary subscription, year by year; in some instances, by a weekly contribution

from the congregation, or by voluntary contributions of provisions, fuel, &c. Very few Baptist churches have fixed funds sufficient to support their pastors- a circumstance for which they have cause to be thankful. Churches are at liberty to take that method for raising the pastor's salary which they judge best adapted to their circumstances. But they should, in all cases, see that his salary be sufficient, and that it be promptly paid at the end of each quarter, or at the time agreed upon.

Baptists have ever refused the aid of civil power to sustain religious institutions. They have not allowed their ministers to be supported by a public tax. This course they have taken from deeply settled, conscientious principle. They believe it is the natural right of every man to support that form of religion which he believes to be true. Besides, the history of the world shows that the civil power is more likely to aid false, than true religion. And true religion needs no support but that of its own native energy, and the promised efficiency of Almighty God. It has in itself the undying principle of universal dissemination, and the sooner it is loosed from the grave-clothes of secular power, in all parts of the world, the better will it be for the cause of piety and of humanity.

SECT. 2. Licensing Candidates for the Ministry.

When a member of a church thinks it his duty to become a preacher of the gospel, he makes known his feelings to his pastor, or to such brethren as he deems qualified to give advice in so important a matter. Or, if the pastor and brethren perceive evidences of ministerial gifts in any one of their number, they converse with him, and encourage him to improve his powers, and opportunities, with a view to the work. No one should be thus encouraged, who is known to be heterodox in doctrine, worldly in spirit, deficient in piety, eccentric in manners, or wanting in prudence, sound common sense, and practical judgment.

When a license is properly applied for, the church appoint

a time for the candidate to address them from a passage of Scripture, and if, after having heard him several times, they are satisfied that the Saviour is designing him for the work, they give him a license to preach as he may have opportunity. If the candidate be a young man, deficient in knowledge of the Scriptures, yet possessing promising talents, it is his duty to prepare to preach, rather than to enter at once on the work. It is usual, in such cases, for the church to give him a testimonial, expressing its conviction that the Saviour designs him for the ministry, and recommending him to prosecute a course of preparatory studies. It is soon enough to give him full license, when he is prepared to preach profitably. While in his novitiate, he may be useful as a Sabbath school teacher, in conference and prayer meetings, conversing, and distributing tracts; and, if he continues to grow in piety and knowledge, he may be licensed with more safety. There is no need of haste in this matter, for it is safer that five suitable candidates be delayed, than that one improper person be licensed; and until a young man has nearly completed his preparatory studies, he may be quite as useful without a license to preach.

The exercise of the right of licensing to preach, devolves on the churches a high responsibility. They should, in all cases, require a candidate to speak before them several times, and never give a license, till fully satisfied of the propriety of so doing. If a licentiate manifests unfitness for the work of the ministry, the church may, and ought, to revoke his license.

SECT. 3. Installation.

When an ordained minister is to be publicly introduced to the pastoral care of a church, a council is called, and the same proceedings take place as in the case of ordination, except that there is no laying on of hands, and an installing, instead of an ordaining prayer is offered. The object is, not to introduce a candidate into the ministry, but to

publicly recognize him as the pastor of that church. It is suitable that some public religious services should be held on so important and solemn an occasion. Neighboring churches and their pastors have a deep interest in the event; they should feel a proper confidence in the pastor elect, and it is highly desirable that they should give him some public pledge of their approval, fellowship, and coöperation. To enable them to do this, they must be satisfied respecting his ministerial character and doctrines, by an examination, which is done most conveniently by a council.

Baptists agree in the belief that installation services are not indispensable; hence their practice is not uniform respecting them. The advantages of installation services are, to promote a good understanding and harmony between churches and ministers, to check the career of improper men who have intruded into the pastoral office, to deepen the public estimation of the importance and solemnity of that office, and thus to contribute to render the pastoral relation more permanent. A relation lightly assumed is apt to be lightly dissolved; and the permanence of that pastoral relation which is formed without special, solemn, public prayer, may well be doubted. The occasion is a suitable one to impress on pastor and people a deep sense of their mutual duties.

If it be said that a church has a right to call and settle a pastor without the aid and sympathies of other churches, no Baptist will dispute the point. But it must be recollected, on the other hand, that every pastor has a right, also, to know what sort of a man he is to invite to his pulpit, and to cooperate with, and so has every church. Rights and duties are always coëqual and coëxtensive. If any objection be made to the term installation, the word recognition, if preferred, may be substituted.

SECT. 4. Councils.

Councils are called to aid in organizing churches, in ordaining, installing, or dismissing pastors, to assist in adjusting difficulties between churches, and to depose and