They never use them as such. 'Come unto ME,' and 'Look unto ME,' they maintain can only be addressed to those who have feet given them to walk, and sight bestowed to see the object presented. They are rigid Predestinarians. Their apprehension of personal and eternal election is such that they admit of no doubting or fear of their own individual salvation, and their prayers are more properly thanksgivings than petitions.

They

The Bereans meet in the Lower Room of the Trades' Hall, Glassford Street, and have done so for these twenty-five years past. They have a forenoon and afternoon service. They attend to the Lord's Supper' on the first Sunday of each month. They have two elders or pastors, Messrs James Thomson, lately one of the magistrates of Gorbals in the city, and Thomas Caird. Their first pastor was Mr Robert Jamison, appointed in 1780 by Mr John Barclay, the second. Mr William Aird, and the next Mr John Thomson, father of the present pastor, and appointed by Mr James Donaldson, the successor in Edinburgh to Mr Barclay. The Bereans cultivate mutual exhortations from their male members in their church meetings, though they depend chiefly on their elders for public instruction. have two collections of money, the one at the door of the meetinghouse, and the other from the members. They almost exclusively use the Psalms of David as metred by the Church of Scotland in their singing. The presiding brother is careful to explain the Psalm which is proposed to be sung, and generally applies the words and figures as given by the prophet to the Lord Jesus, he being considered the alone subject of prophecy. The claim which the Bereans make to this interpretation of the Psalms does not in the least obviate the objection to the practice of using them in New Testament worship, as the word of the Lord can never be transferred to the lips of erring man; and besides, the major part of the Psalms consists of prayers for a future and eternal good, and which 'good' thing has been given to the joy and rejoicing of believers, and to them as recipients it becomes a matter of song. Redemption through the blood of the Lamb is the theme-the subject of praise. This is the 'PRAISE' which waiteth for God in Zion,' and when the vow was performed by that Blessed and Chosen One who approached the altar 'for a sweet-smelling savour,' sung it was in all its force and melody. This song can have no substitute. It is the song of the Lamb,' and the song to the Lamb. 'Thou art worthy.' This new song, this union song, and this heavenly song, is sung in time and in eternity. John Barclay, who first brought the Berean principles into notice and approval in Glasgow, was born May 14, 1733, in the parish of Muthill, four miles south of Crieff, Perthshire. At the University of St Andrews he was qualified by literary and philosophical study to take the degree A.M., and under that distinguished and profound lecturer, Dr Alexander Campbell, in St Mary's College, he received those impressions on religious subjects which influenced his whole life. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Auchterarder in connection with the Church of Scotland, in September 27, 1759. As an assistant minister to Mr Jobson of Errol he remained four years, and then with Mr Anthony Dow of Fettercairn, fourteen miles north of Montrose, he remained ten years. His boldness of speech against prevailing errors, aud his clear views of many parts of

evelation, so astonished and instructed the hearers, that multitudes om the surrounding parishes flocked to hear him, and every corner the house was filled. The presbytery of Fordoun determined to ect him from his charge, and at the death of Mr Dow an oppornity occurred. He was accused of heresy; and finally, by a sennce of the General Assembly, cast out of the communion of the ottish Church in May 1773. During these fourteen years in which was engaged in preaching in the several parishes in Mearns, erth, and other places, he visited Glasgow in 1768, and was introced to Mr David Dale, then fighting a similar battle. Mr Barclay d many interviews with Mr Dale. His visits to Glasgow were peated, and Mr Archibald Paterson, Mr Matthew Alexander, and hers who afterwards became associated with Mr Dale, were introced to Mr Barclay, and such was the effect of his advocacy of the ord of God as the only standard of faith and practice, that these dividuals, by a more thorough searching of scripture for light and idance, embraced New Testament principles, and abandoned the urch of Scotland. Mr Barclay thus became a leading instrument the formation of the Old Scotch Independents in Glasgow, and the nder is that he did not with them at once leave that church which acknowledged to be so corrupt in doctrine, and so obtuse to learn. is a noted commandment, Touch not the unclean,' and for any fessed believer to cling to it till forced from his grasp is not at in keeping with christian character.

Mr Barclay, on leaving Fettercairn, came to Edinburgh, and col· ted a numerous congregation. Till the close of his life he continued active, zealous, and earnest preacher of the truths he believed. Cowgate Head stands the chapel, and also the desk in which he ke, as a valued memento of him. He retained the garb of a clergyin, and with powdered wig and long queue, a fresh lively counte ace, and a commanding voice, every one of his hearers was struck th his appearance and manner. He was married, but left no family. briety, kindness, and integrity characterised his every act. He s particularly fond of children, and soon gained their love. He frequently heard to say regarding his decease, 'He would go to Father as the shot of a gun; and so it happened on the morning the first day of the week; when walking to the meeting-house, felt unwell, and was able to call at the house of one of his mem$; he no sooner got within, than kneeling in prayer, he expired thout a struggle or a groan, July 29, 1786. His remains were inred near his dwelling-house in the Old Calton burying-ground, at top of the steps leading from the street, Waterloo Bridge. A it stone from Craigleith quarry, marks his grave. While in Edingh, Mr Barclay published a new edition of his works in three umes, including a treatise on the Sin against the Holy Spirit.' ese volumes contain a 'Paraphrase on the Psalms,' and Rejoice rmore,' 1766. 'The Eternal Sonship of Christ,' and Without th without God,' 1769. 'Assurance of faith vindicated,' and ' a ter on Prayer,' 1771. To these he added in 1783, The Epistle to Hebrews paraphrased,' and 'a collection of Psalms and Songs.' highly have these works been esteemed by his surviving friends, it a late Deacon of the congregation in Glasgow, Mr James Carsell, left funds, at his decease, for printing a new edition of a part

for gratuitous circulation. To this reprint is appended a lucid admirable statement by David Thom, D.D., minister of an inde dent congregation, Liverpool. The Doctor enters largely into intrinsic beauties and invaluable exposition of the late Mr Barc The two most prized works, Without faith, without God,' and ' assurance of faith vindicated,' he unhesitatingly classes among rarest productions of the human mind. Dr David Thom was bor Glasgow, February 19, 1795, educated at the University of his na city-licensed to preach in connection with the Church of Scotlar settled in Liverpool-expelled from that body by sentence of Glasgow Presbytery, 22d September 1825, and which was confir by the General Assembly, June 1828. Dr Thom's father was al chant of Glasgow, and his son has always been esteemed for his lity and uprightness, even by those who differed from him. University of Heidelberg conferred on him the degree of Ph. D 1848, and that of Jena, Ď.D. in 1849; and the recommendatory n of such a gentleman to the works of Mr Barclay, add considerab their weight and consequence. Dr Thom was expelled from Church of Scotland for heresy. He early adopted the principle Mr Barclay, and to the present day advocates them, both from pulpit and the press.

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In 1769, Mr Barclay wrote a critique against the views of Me Smith and Ferrier, on what he named The Eternal Sonship, The Eternal Generation of the Son of God.' Mr Ferrier was co-pa with Mr Dale in Glasgow, and Mr Smith a fellow-labourer, and i the severe terms of expression by the writer, all fellowship or s pathy with the Old Scotch Independents was foreclosed. About time. Dr Dalgleish of Peebles published a new theory on the F nal Sonship,' in which he maintained the untenableness of sut doctrine as deducible from Scripture, and, with few exceptions, several denominations lately formed, adopted his views on the ject. Mr Barclay refused the doctrine. He boldly inveighed aga it. and against those friends who countenanced it, he was faithft his convictions, yet far from convincing them. He laboured to p what never can be proved, that there was 'Generation' in heaver that the unchangeable One changeth. No revealed truth is n

consoling, more consistent, or more true, than that one in these foundly majestic words, 'I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT.' By knowledge and belief of this significant and gracious deliveranc what God is, every thought is brought unto subjection to Him, f is strengthened, and love abounds. THE SON BORN, AND THE CE GIVEN, WAS THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING Father, and PRINCE OF PEACE.' No change in the All-glorious One manifeste except this-a more full, and a more complete manifestation of Divine and Eternal love towards the wretched and lost children

men.

Mr Barclay, in his lifetime, witnessed the fruit of his own lab in England and many parts of Scotland. He spent nearly two ye in London and Bristol, where he collected numerous congregati In Dundee, Crieff, Arbroath, Brechin, Fettercairn, Stirling, Pais Edinburgh, and Glasgow, societies were raised, and for many y prospered. The Dundee and Edinburgh congregations, though the most numerous in the body, are now only known as having b

he Glasgow congregation is almost stationary in number and in prinle. Many have been the schisms from them, and many have been e trials by them, yet the aged members retain all the original sennents, and they unitedly cling to the adopted name-Berean. They call and elect their pastors, but neither fasting,' northe ring on of hands,' is attended to on this appointment. The service asked and received as a labour of love.

The Berean congregation in Glasgow is of a mixed communion. le majority in Glasgow are Podobaptists, yet a small minority of ptists worship with them. On baptism—its mode and subjects— y mutually agree to forbear. They treat the inquiry as one on ich two opinions can warrantably be held, forgetting the clear, tinct, and faithful words, One Lord, one faith, and one baptism' eir union in one body was recently much disturbed by the introction of a widely entertained topic-the future reign of the Lord sas-Whether it would be a personal one on earth, or a continued iritual one in heaven; and the friends who could forbear on baptism arated on a question of opinion on the nature of the Divine Reign. e schism was complete to the reproach of both, and its baneful conquences still remain.

The validity of truth can neither be judged of by the number of its berents, nor by the popularity of its reception. In general, truth slow in its progress, and uninviting in its attractions, and its adnces are retarded by the impatience of its professed friends. Untainty, instability, and movableness, are written on all things re below; and many, from whom better things might be expected, come unstable as water. Yet, change what will, The word of the RÐ endureth for ever. The gates of hell shall not prevail against 'No uncertainty or doubtfulness there; it is firm, secure, and iding.

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The foundation of God standeth sure. It is founded on a rock. rms and tempests move it not. Untempered mortar shall fall ay and leave its place, but the rock remains-the foundation reing the word of our God shall stand for ever.' Principles and inions may, and do shift, and change their position, and some men understanding shall fall to try them, and to purge, and to make em white, even to the time of the end,' but the people who do ow their God shall be strong,' and give glory to the God of Israel. The fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is;' and we need be overconcerned to preserve that which is consumable by it, t rather let us aid the work of destruction, and rejoice in thatd that alone, which has stood the test, and is rendered more bright d more pure by the powerful refiner-the word of the Lord. O, at the redeemed and sanctified of the Lord would enter into a comed, a holy alliance, and would, with one heart and one soul, strive gether to understand what the will of the Lord is, and obey it as e man, and present to the world lying in wickedness, one body in irist-abundantly satisfied with the goodness and mercy of the rd, and increasingly satisfied with one another as fellow-heirs the hope of eternal life.

Glasgow.

J. B.

HALT!-The correspondent of The Freeman, a Baptist missionary India, writes thus:-'It would have been better, in the opinion

of the writer, if our societies had waited a while to see what the Lord will do, for he is at work here. To wait his developments would seem to be good christian policy, and not to go before him. In the meantime, more seeking unto him in prayer, as in America, would become us in this great affliction; and then, perhaps, it would not be amiss to devote a portion of the interval to a review of mission work in India from the beginning, but especially for the last thirty years. The hand of God has fallen heavily upon missionaries and their works in this rebellion. Is that no sign of displeasure towards them? It may not be; but it is worthy of inquiry. All that is human is liable to deterioration. Is the spirit with which missions are conducted what it should be? Are the means in operation truly of the Lord's appointing? The investigation should embrace also what is done at home as well as what is going on abroad. We may learn from the world lessons of practical wisdom. They have their committees to collect information on colonisation, etc., and why should not the church at this important crisis have its committees on missionary matters-taking evidence from all who can impart it. On the mode of evangelising the heathen in India there is much to inquire about. One subject, i. e., of schools and colleges, demands the most serious attention. To collegiate education a very large number of missionaries are devoted both in Calcutta and in the provinces. In respect to this, several things strike one as deserving of consideration and decision. 1. It is foreign to apostolic practice and injunction. 2. It commixes two things in ministerial labour for the conversion of the heathen-science and the gospel-a thing unknown in the New Testament. 3. It embraces but one portion, and that very small one, of those included in the Saviour's commission, i. eg boys and young men only. 4. It is a very expensive mode of disseminating the truth, the cost of college buildings being great, and the salaries of the college staff very considerable. 5. The converts that have been gathered by this means are invariably dependent for a time on missions for support, and stand from the time of conversion isolated from their families and heathen connexions. Now, on these points and the whole subject of collegiate education as conducted in India as a mode of propagating the gospel, it is very desirable to have a disinterested judgment.' (This observant writer seems to perceive the necessity of calling a halt, and giving heed to Jer. vi, 14, 'Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.'-Ed.)

BAPTISMS.-Glasgow. Two young persons have since last notice been added to the church in Brown Street, by baptism into Christ one the daughter of Brother Clark, and the other, a son of Brother Brown. Pathhead, Fife.-Since last report another believer has been added to the church here by immersion. Edinburgh.-During last month four persons, having believed with the heart, and confessed with the mouth, the Lord Jesus, were baptized into his name.

J. Taylor, Printer, Edinburgh.