'mother church,' in performing the sacrament without the knowledge of the parents! A FAMILY MAN.—An old man has just died in Westminster workhouse, who, in the course of nine years acted as sponsor to 1000 children born in the house; the heavy responsibility, however, of being godfather for so many, was lightened every time with a pint of porter! Query, how will the old man perform the vows? or how will the church relieve him of them now that he is dead? Perhaps he is as likely to perform now as when he was alive; quite as much so as the majority who take them do. Thus well does the Church of England approve herself the church of Rome's eldest daughter.' See above. FREEDOM.-The priest of the parish in which Exeter Hall, London, is situated, having put his veto on the preachings held therein by his ecclesiastical superiors, The Times speaks out, and says,-Every religious community must have the free use of its gifts, if it is to obtain influence and win hearts. If it is shackled in the exercise of them, it is so far paralysed. No religious body, the tongue of which is tied, has a fair chance. If the most powerful and awakening gift that a church possesses-the gift of speech,-is so curtailed and restricted by technical rules that it has not natural play,-if the appeal to the human heart, the power of addressing men on the subject of religion, rousing feeling, eliciting instinct, awakening conscience, if this great gift is hemmed in by a whole circle of petty arbitrary distinctions and prohibitions, which just prevent its most effective exercise, it is a sad case for a church to be in. BAPTISMS.-Crossgates. Since 9th June eight brethren have been added to the church here, by the confession of the faith in Christ. --Pathhead. On Nov. 8, the wife of one of the brethren put on Christ in baptism.-Nicolson Street Hall, Edinburgh. A young disciple was buried with her Lord in immersion, Nov. 22. We EDITORIAL POSTSCRIPT.-On looking over our issues we find not more than the average of errata, and as they are chiefly typographical and do not involve the truth, we spare our readers anything so uninteresting and unedifying as a list. We beg cordially to thank the very many brethren who have aided us, and are happy to say that we are aware of numerous instances of the utility of The Advocate,' that the number of approbatory letters we have received is very large, and the number of an opposite kind very small. trust we may reckon on the continued, and in some cases, the increased support of the friends of Jesus, our one object being to serve Him in the diffusion of his truth. Besides miscellaneous and occasional articles, we will, if the Lord permit, introduce in next volume, a series of papers for reprinting as four-page tracts—one also on the Gospel; as well as several shorter series on Apostolic Exhortations''Barbarisms,' 'Order,' and 'Ministry.' The issue of The Sunbeam for children will supersede the occasion for the 'Page for the Young.' We commend The Sunbeam, and the one-page tracts from the cover, and the summary composed of them, entitled 'Christianity at a Glance,' for the support of brethren. Printed by J. Taylor, Edinburgh. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE: A MONTHLY MAGAZINE TO PLEAD FOR AN UNQUALIFIED RETURN TO THE FAITH ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS. EDITED BY THOMAS HUGHES MILNER, AUTHOR OF 'THE GOSPEL GUIDE,' *INQUIRY RESPECTING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST,' &C., "According to the Scriptures." w VOLUME II.—1858. EDINBURGH: J. MENZIES. LONDON: HOULSTON & WRIGHT. GLASGOW: G. GALLIE AND J. BROWN. MANCHESTER: W. BREMNER. |