cess of the gospel, the downfall of the kingdom of darkness, the expulsion of superstition, the ruin of antichrist, and the increase of brotherly love; for Religious liberty, though a most invaluable blessing, can be of no service either to us, or to the world, unless it be improved to the glory of God, and the good of souls.

Have noblemen exerted their influence and abilities in our behalf, in a court to which we had no access, and shall we not by uniting together, use every effort in carrying on the great Redeemer's interest in the world? We all know that when a multitude, urged by the same motives, stimulated by the same designs, encouraged by the same prospects, and animated, as it were, by the same soul, co-operate and strive togeher, they can accomplish what would be in vain for the most zealous individuals to attempt separately.

Though it is a truth, which we all embrace, that prosperity cometh from the Lord only, and that Paul can but plant, and Apollos do no more than water, yet it is equally true that Paul must plant, and Apollos must water, before it can be either reasonably or scripturally expected that the Lord will give the increase. If we wish to prosper in our religious undertakings, we must attend to the most likely means of succeeding, otherwise we may neglect the use of all means, under pretence that we can do nothing of ourselves, and so in order to be consistent, leave off preaching entirely. The apostle Paul, however, exhorted his brethren to be always abounding in the work of the Lord, for no other reason than that they knew that prosperity belonged to God, or that their labour was not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. xiv. 58. And it is certain that no means are more likely to succeed thau the joint efforts of true believers, whilst relying on the grace of God.

The destructive spirit of too much independency has raged too long among us, and has done us much more real injury than all the combined legions of earth and hell without its assistance could accomplish. It has a tendency to take away the attention of the messengers of peace from the good of the church universally, and to confine it to one particular spot, and if its dictates were strictly regarded, ministers might be tempted to neglect every opportunity of watering the trees of righteousness, except those that have been planted by their own instrumentality in the little vineyards which are peculiarly under their own care. Yea, we have seen weak churches suffered to fall into decay, for the want of proper means, whilst surrounded by many opu

lent congregations possessing great talents and riches. It is true, that we are in some respects united, but not to much greater purposes than if the tardy ass were coupled with the sprightly horse, in order to convey some precious articles from one city to another, when great dispatch is required. One Baptist association burns with zeal for the accomplishment of some great end, whilst other associations, owing partly to the want of information, are quite indifferent respecting that object--and because the general body of our denomination suffer themselves to be disunited, we have seen the same spirit of indifference manifesting itself, now and then, in some of the churches belonging to the same asosciation--and is it not a fact, that has caused many of you my brethren, to mourn in secret places, that this evil spirit has spread its baneful influence over indi vidual members of particular churches, to such a degree, that sometimes a private member has considered himself as independent of the church to which he belonged, and of all his brethren in the world?

You must have observed that the evil which we are combating has rent many churches,-murdered many of the most gifted and useful ministers of the gospel-and has retarded the rapid movements of the chariot of salvation. These mischiefs and many more it easily accomplishes, because the strength of the whole body is not opposed to its progress. How long shall we endure this monster among us? Shall we not rise up as one man against it? and in the strength of the Lord execute vengeance on the guilty head of this murderer of our brethren-this disturber of our peace-and this implacable enemy of our sovereign Messiah! Or in other words, shall we not do our utmost to expel disunion from the world, and to promote general union among brethren, by which many of the above evils, through the grace of God, might be prevented; as they have, in a great measure, been kept at a distance from other religious bodies who are more united than we are.

The Baptists are very numerous in England and Wales; but they know little of their own strength. In their disunited state their importance dwindles almost into nothing. In this situa tion put them in a balance, and then ask, what is their weight? I answer "almost nothing.". Set them on the performance of some important undertaking, and what will they effect? Next to nothing. Cause them to put their shoulders under the ark of the God of Israel, or to draw the chariot of the gospel with vigour, and what will their efforts amount to? Nearly nothing.

I do not mean, by so saying, that our denomination has not performed any thing of importance, but that it has succeeded, through God's blessing, only in proportion to the degree of union subsisting among its members, which calls aloud on us to promote general unanimity among ourselves; which, if once effected, would enable us, through the grace of God, to accomplish our desires, and to see our most sanguine expectations realized. Yes, brethren, we should be possessed of almost creative power-we might say, "Let there be light," and there would be light. Let the light of the gospel shine in the remotest corners of India, and it would soon spread its benign influence there. We might call aloud on the worshippers of wooden gods to forsake their vain ways, and our voice, through God, would be heard by the idolatrous millions of the East-Brahmins would still present themselves, saying, "We are ready to publish the triumphs of the cross, send us to evangelize our heathen countrymen," and we should cheerfully reply, “go and prosper in the name of the Lord."-We might command the inhabitants of the unenlightened corners of our own land to break forth into singing, saying, The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places, yea we have a goodly heritage. We might confer greater honour upon, and convey more strength into our academical institutions and encouraging the general circulation of that useful miscellany, the Baptist Magazine, it would become the medium of our communication with each other, and the faithful depository of our views and proceedings. In short, we might add fresh strength and vigor to all the concerns of the Baptists in particular, and to the Redeemer's interest in general. Thus it appears that every consideration of importance calls on us in the most impressive manner, to cry out, till all our brethren hear, UNION, UNION, yes Union of the most extensive, firm, and durable nature.

It has been proposed in the Baptist Magazine, "That an annual assembly be held either in London, or at some other convenient place, composed of the Ministers and Messengers from the neighbouring churches, and of two deputies from every association in the united kingdom." And as I have been requested to set the matter before you, I wish you would now express your sentiments on the subject. At the proposed yearly meeting, it is expected that a report will be made of the increase of religion at home, the state of our mission in India, and of many other matters in which the Baptists are interested; ani whilst those topics are under review, we may reasonably

hope that a divine zeal for the welfare of souls will be kindled in the breast of those present, and that the deputies from the associations will carry the same holy fire in their bosoms, and communicate it to their associated brethren in their own associations; then the ministers of the different churches, returning from their respective annual assemblies, to their own charges, will be enabled to spread the feeling throughout the land; yes, my brethren, it might be hoped, that we should, through the divine blessing, be able to extend its influence to the remotest regions.

I have the pleasure to add that the association heartily approved of the plan, without one dissentient voice, and signified their desire of inserting their approval in the Baptisi Magazine. Thus, Mr. Editor, we are only waiting for our English brethren to erect the standard of general Union, which we are ready to join. Yours, &c.

Swansea, Sep. 4, 1811.

Mr. Editor,

ADELPHOS CYMRAEG.

Zebaj defended.

IN your Magazine a few months since, there was a Letter addressed to "Zebaj" on some observations of his, contained in a former number, on the nature and abuse of the pri vilege of prayer; the object of whom seems to have been to caution his readers against considering prayer as a duty, the performance of which must necessarily be acceptable to God, from whatsoever motives it may proceed, or in whatsoever manner performed; and to point out a few circumstances which transform it from a privilege of the highest value to man, and well pleasing in the sight of God, to a dangerous stumblingblock to the former, and "an abomination" in the sight of the latter.

As one of the strong tendencies of our nature is to set an improper value on our own performances, and as this error is of more dangerous importance when it respects our religious performances than any other; we are under some obligations to any one who takes the character of a Christian monitor upon him, and raises his voice to caution us against it. This seems to be the character "Zebaj" has assumed, and there does not

The general meeting should be held in April, or early in May, that the deputies may have time to return to their respective associations.

appear to me any thing so unsound in christian principles, or defective in christian charity, in his observations, as to draw forth the animadversions of any who do not set "Candour higher than Truth," much less justly to excite that spirit of sarcastic vituperation which is manifest in the strictures of the "Friend to the Baptist Magazine" upon them. It is always unpleasant to discover such a spirit, excited by trifling causes, between disciples of the same meek and lowly Master, because it is subversive of that harmony and Christian fellowship which should universally subsist among them; but it is not only unpleasant, but surprizing, to perceive it in a letter complaining of the want of christian candour, and a forgetfulness of our divine Master's precepts in the person to whom it is addressed. It is to be lamented, I think, that your "friend," when referring Zebaj to the divine counsel contained in the first verse of 7th chapter of Matthew, did not proceed as far as the third verse of the same chapter, for his own benefit likewise; or that he had remembered the advice of an apostle to those who find themselves obliged to admonish their brethren, namely, that they do so with all meekness and gentleness and long suffering. He would then perhaps have diluted some of those bitter expressions contained in his letter with the milk of charity and brotherly kindness. I am led to suppose from the alarm he expresses, and the acrid matter with which most of his observations are tinged, that it may not be improbable that his remarks have arisen from the pain of some ill-cured mental wound, which conscience has kindly made use of some observations of "Zebaj's" again to probe that it may radically heal-if such be the supposition "Zebaj" has formed of your "friend,” it may account for no reply having appeared to his letter, as he may not think it necessary to dispute with him the venial hallucinations of phraseology which he has pointed out, for these appear to be all he would have to dispute; the truth of the general principles contained in Zebaj's observations being too strongly proved by things around us, and by the experience of our own hearts, to admit of much controversy. And if your "friend" were at all concerned for the growth of that true religion whose root is properly only in the heart, one would wonder that he should not have perceived "Zebaj's" object, and cordially have united with him in the more laudable employment of detecting and exposing those evils in the soil which threaten its destruction, rather than fretting himself with mere verbal