preaching is the crucified and exalted Messiah, and that the only lawful topics of teaching to the brethren are the commandments of the Lord and his apostles. We are informed that there are disciples in Kelso who would join the Church were the preaching more efficient. Let them remember that preaching is for those who believe not, rather than for those who believe; that the Lord expects his disciples to exercise that forbearance and self-denial of which he has set the example-pleasing not himself; and that he will not hold them guiltless should his truth and church suffer through their nonconfession and non-espousal of them.

THE CENTENARY OF CONGREGATIONALISM in Manchester was celebrated in that city by public meeting, at which it was stated that there are now 26 chapels in the town, erected at a cost of £100,000, and that the churches comprise 3500 members, and 17,000 hearers. Thus, in a hundred years, Congregationalism has aggregated to itself about one person in twelve hundred of the population, with the addition to every member' of about five 'hearers. While its membership stands about one twelve hundredth of the populace, its hearership is nearly five times as large as said membership. But hearership is not the right word, for hearers so called participate in all the ordinances observed by the body, one only excepted. Congregationalism, therefore, has succeeded in placing five times the number of its converts in the anomalous, unscriptural, and deceptive position of participancy in sacred things, while they have not received Him through whom all Christian privilege flows. Compare this paragraph with the following:

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THE GERMAN MISSION.-Brother Oncken reports that in 1834 the church in Hamburg was commenced with only seven believers; that now seventy churches, all formed on the model of the congregation at Jerusalem, as recorded Acts ii., have arisen, not only in Germany, but in Denmark, Sweden, Holstein, Switzerland, and France; that some 20,000 precious souls have experienced the divine power of the gospel on their hearts through the labours of these churches; that a large number have already joined the saints in light, whilst between six and seven thousand remain to this day recommending the gospel by lip and life; that among the converts are many from Romanism, and also a few of the descendents of Abraham; that the preaching stations exceed five hundred in number; that eighty brethren are engaged exclusively in missionary labour and colportage; and that a large number of other brethren aid in preaching the word at the stations. Query—What say those Doctors, who tell their people that the scriptural mode of operation will not work now-a-days, to these facts.

BAPTISMS.-Nicolson Street Hall, Edinburgh. Three young disciples put on their Lord by baptism last month.-Brown Street, Glasgow. Since last notice a youthful brother in the Lord confessed the Master in immersion.-Kelso. Brother Aitken baptized a young disciple, previously a Sabbath-school teacher in the Free Church, who, it is hoped, will help the truth much, now that he stands the Lord's freedman.

Printed by J. Taylor, Edinburgh.

ARCHIBALD M‘LEAN.

ARCHIBALD M'LEAN was born of respectable parents, at the village of East Kilbride, near Glasgow, on May 1st, 1733. His education was begun at the country school of Cathcart, and finished in Glasgow, where he settled and was taught the printing business. His mind became early impressed with anxiety about Divine subjects, and he sought relief by uniting himself to the Church of Scotland, under the ministry of Mr M'Laurin. He failed, however, to remain satisfied with such a connection, and leaving, joined that quiet and unobtrusive body of people, named Glasites, for whose principles and practises he cherished unabating respect to his latest days. When the subject of Believer's Baptism was first presented to his mind, it was done in the most disinterested manner imaginable. A mutual friend and fellow-member in the Glasite church, Mr Robert Carmichael, who had been an Anti-Burgher minister at Cupar-Angus, said one day to Mr M'Lean,' What you of the subject of baptism?' This inquiry was made in the year 1763. Mr Carmichael removed from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and Mr M'Lean immediately set himself to examine the Scripture testimony on Baptism, and the happy result was communicated to Mr Carmichael by letter, in which the writer avowed his conviction of Scripture Baptism being applicable only to believing men and women. Mr M'Lean's statements did not, till after a twelvemonth, meet a response from Mr Carmichael. Alone he yielded to the highest authority. Single-handed he fought against the contempt and obloquy everywhere levelled at him. He stood firm. He had counted the cost. He was nothing daunted at the powerful array against his feeble self, and righteous cause. He felt the loneliness of solitude. Numbers were everything then, as now. He was alone in his convictions, and he remained so, till Mr Carmichael also declared himself in the following year.

think

ARISE AND BE BAPTIZED, were new, pressing, and loud words sounding daily in the ears of Archibald M'Lean and Robert Carmichael. They were separated by many a mile, yet their heart was one, their desire was one, and their hope was one. After tarrying for upwards of a year, and knowing of no one in broad Scotland to do the service to them, it was mutually agreed that Mr Carmichael should proceed to London, by sea, from Leith, September 19, and be immersed by Dr Gill,

No. 3, Vol. I.-March 1857.

*

and which ordinance was administered, October 9, 1765. The stay of the newly baptized Scotsman in London was short. His friends in Edinburgh were anxious for his return. He was charged with a novel and imposing commission, and seven persons were waiting his arrival in Edinburgh, to receive admission into the solemnities of it. These were partly the members of the Old Scotch Independents, with whom Mr Carmichael had been connected, and one or two others; and they formed, when met, THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SCOTLAND. Mr M'Lean did not delay to add himself to their number. With hasty steps he left Glasgow, and was baptized by Mr Carmichael, and about the close of the year 1767, he, with his wife and family, took up his abode in Edinburgh. In the month of June following, Mr M'Lean was chosen copastor with Mr Carmichael, and continued to exercise that office during his life: but Mr Carmichael was called to aid the truth in Dundee; and in May, 1769, he left Edinburgh. The interest raised in Glasgow, did not subside on Mr M'Lean's removal. Many individuals had their attention drawn to the subject. Edinburgh and Glasgow had an equal share in the honour of leading the van. The benefit was mutual. Glasgow gave, and Edinburgh reciprocated. Glasgow a cry was made for help, for in the year 1769, Mr M'Lean was invited to meet a few friends there, and to hear their confession of faith, with a view of professing their union to the Lord Jesus in baptism. Accordingly, when THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE CITY OF GLASGOW was about publicly to assemble on the first day of the week for worship, their avowal of immersion of professed believers, as representing scriptural baptism, was indispensable. On an appointed day, in the river Clyde, opposite to the herd's house in GlasgowGreen, this recognition was made, in the presence of an immense crowd. When the baptizer, Mr M'Lean, made his appearance, the multitude opened a passage for him, and every one saw the novel scene with profound silence, and heard the application of scripture to it with the deepest attention. Among the number of the baptized on this occasion, was the

In

* This was not the first Baptist, rather baptised church in Scotland. Sir Wm. Sinclair, of Dunbeath, Bart., having come to the knowledge of the truth, commenced preaching at Keiss, Caithness, in 1750; formed a church of immersed believers, among whom he taught and presided for about fourteen years, till his removal to Edinburgh in 1764.-ED.

honest and straightforward Neil Stewart, who was then appointed the first pastor of the infant church, and who was remembered by many in Glasgow not many years ago.These were joyful and happy days to Mr M'Lean and his friends. The cause which was dear to them prospered and increased. Churches were formed, set in order, attention was excited in most of the towns of Scotland; and their fame even crossed the border. In the reign of Henry VIII. many of the people named Baptists were burned at the stake, for daring to deny the baptism of infants.' In the reign of Elizabeth individuals of the same faith were imprisoned; yet in the year 1600 they appear to have increased so much in London, that when James I. came to the throne, various edicts were passed against them, and they had to escape for their lives to other countries. A confession of faith from seven churches in London' appeared in 1646, in the reign of Charles II., in which a considerable degree of unity of mind with the doctrines promulgated in Scotland was apparent. The simplicity of 1646, however, had passed away. M'Lean, in the many visits he made to England, revived it in several large towns. His pen was powerful in defending and maintaining the truth, when assailed either in England or Scotland. He seemed alive to every attack, and how to resist it. His opponents were giants clad with all the panoply of ancient and modern lore. Yet he met them like a man of God, with smooth stones chosen from the brook which flows close by the oracle of God. They trembled before him. One declined to reply, and another did so only when his opponent's tongue was silent in the grave.

Mr

Mr M'Lean, throughout his long and laborious life, maintained a very considerable influence, both by his presence and his writings, over the congregations which he had been the means of collecting. He was a most patient, a most persevering, and a most noble-minded individual. He coveted no man's wealth. He was liberal to a fault. He lived contented, and died poor. He was a self-taught scholar, and an able writer. He suffered much disappointment and uneasiness from men of contentious and worldly minds arising in the churches; and had to fight the battle alone with those who entered the field against him, in his noble stand for Scripture principles, yet he never swerved from his convictions of duty, or his firm adherence to it. On one occasion, when an American college requested him to accept an honorary title

for his Theological works, he refused to acknowledge it, and as sorry any reader of them should so far mistake their tendency. The objectionable and presuming titles of 'Rev.' and D.D.,' he justly considered as belonging not to him.

There is a tablet erected on the parapet wall of the southwest corner, West Church Burying-Ground, Edinburgh, near the spot where rests all that was visible of Mr M'Lean. The stone is three feet broad, by six high, unornamented and without attraction. The inscription, however, is at once comprehensive and expressive. It runs thus :

'Died, 21st December 1812, aged 79 years,

ARCHIBALD M'LEAN,

who was one of the original pastors of the first Baptist Church in Edinburgh, and who devoted the great natural endowments of which he was possessed to the work of the Ministry, with unwearied assiduity and zeal, for the period of forty-five years, when he fell asleep in Jesus. His labours were crowned with abundant success, and although dead, yet speaketh in the many valuable writings he has bequeathed to posterity. To his memory this stone is erected, with sentiments of the highest respect and affection, by the members of the Church over which he so long and so faithfully presided.'

Mr M'Lean lost his partner on the 14th December 1790. She died at Edinburgh, a loving member of the church, in the 57th year of her age. She was born at Arran, 1733, and was the daughter of Mr Moore, merchant, Glasgow. Mr M'Lean was attended to by his own child, a Mrs Kerr, who nearly at the same time was deprived of her husband, a deacon of the church in Glasgow. Mrs Kerr removed from Glasgow, and ministered to her sorrowing parent's wants, till his death in 1812.

Although there are very many individuals who admire the faithfulness and truthfulness of the worthy deceased, yet there are others who have long since outstripped him in the investigation of Divine truth, and are consequently less inclined to bestow on him that meed of praise he so justly deserves. This should not be. He was an instrument providentially raised up most wonderfully suited to the times. His memory should be held most dear by every genuine investigator of Divine rule, and it were difficult to surpass him in moral honesty, unflinching integrity, and consistent perseverance.

J. B.