respected friend Mr. Bickersteth my approbation of the object proposed, whilst at the same time I felt constrained to add, after much consideration and prayer, that my taking an active share in so momentous a work would require, at my advanced period of life, more of my time and mental exertion, than in justice to my ministerial and other duties I could conscientiously devote. Declining thus, from an honest sense of my own insufficiency, the offer of becoming a member of the Provisional Committee, I added, however, the sincere promise that I would unite with many other fellow-Christians, both in Great Britain and on the Continent, in fervent and persevering prayer, that the Father of mercies and the God of all grace might be pleased to prosper this and every other honest attempt of promoting the cause of a truly Christian union, and bring us back to the spirit manifested in the primitive age of Christianity, of which it is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles,' The multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul;' so that even heathens were constrained to exclaim, See how these Christians love one another!' "Entertaining as I do such views and desires, I could not but feel grieved to behold the Christian Observer, which I have perused for a long series of years with such heartfelt interest and satisfaction, and often admired its noble stand in defence of the truth as it is in Jesus, expressing himself in so decisive a manner against the proposed union. I cherish, however, the pleasing hope, that when the subject shall have undergone the fullest and freest discussion, this very open statement of the objections may ultimately be overruled for the advancement of the sacred cause.I am, my dear friend, yours affectionately, "C. F. A. STEINKOPFF." The following was Dr. Steinkopff's letter to Mr. Bickersteth last month: "Savoy, Nov. 13, 1845. "MY VERY DEAR FRIEND,-I have received your brotherly lines, kindly conveying to me the renewed wish of your Committee to have my name associated with its other honoured members; and I have made it the subject of much consideration and prayer. I am with you in heart and spirit-I wish you prosperity in the name of the Lord. I have often prayed, and shall continue earnestly to pray, for the success of the Christian Alliance Society; but I cannot prevail upon myself to accept the honour of a place in the Committee without a conscientious discharge of its duties, which, situated as I now am. I feel unable adequately to fulfil. My memory begins to fail; and when a great variety of important matters occupies my attention, I am not free from a degree of confusion. Blessed be God, He knoweth our frame-He remembereth that we are dust. It is also a consoling reflection to my mind that our Divine Lord and Master requires different services from His differently constituted and differently situated servants. Whilst Joshua, with his brave companions in arms, was engaged in active warfare with the enemies of Israel, Moses stood on the top of the hill, fervently praying for his people, and supported by Aaron and Hur. I rejoice to see in our days so noble a band of Christian warriors coming forward to collect the scattered forces of the Christian camp, and to unite them for one mighty effort against the hosts of superstition and infidelity. I hail their active exertions-I still more hail their united and fervent prayers for a blessing from above; but they will, I am confident, not disregard the co-operation of their humbler Christian brethren in the retirement of the closet. Let me be one of those silent supporters wrestling with God on behalf of their younger and more vigorous brethren. nobly did David act towards the two hundred men who were so faint that they could no longer follow him in the pursuit of the enemy! Instead of excluding them from a share in the spoil recovered from the four hundred, he laid it down as a permanent rule-' As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth with the stuff-they shall be just alike.' I used to delight in active life; nor do I now desire to shrink from those exertions which my ministerial duties require. But the further I advance in life, the more I feel my need of frequent retirement, of a closer walk with God, of a How more constant and intimate connexion with the Father of spirits, and with His Son Jesus Christ. I long for a greater measure of the spirit of repentance, of grace and supplication; for more of that mind which was also in Christ Jesus. Oh! for enabling grace from my inmost soul to adopt the declaration of the Apostle, I live, yet not I. but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me!' May the Lord make me to increase and to abound in love towards my fellow-Christians of every denomination and nation, and towards all men, that I may never be weary in offering up my supplications, prayers, and intercessions for them "And may the very God of peace sanctify all His servants and all His people wholly, that our whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.-I am, with the truest affection, my dear friend, yours in Christ, "C. F. A. STEINKOPFF." There is but one consideration which we will submit to our venerable friend; namely, the way in which the new Alliance is likely to affect that invaluable institution, in which it has been from the first his honour and his happiness so zealously to labour. Much has been said and written, especially in Scotland, against the Earl Street Bible Alliance, with a view to show that it is anunholy alliance, and ought to be dissolved, and an Evangelical alliance substituted for it; and no persons have spoken with more severity upon the subject, than many of the members of the Liverpool Conference. The founders of the Bible Society considered that it was due to the position of the Church of England, that half of the Committee (exclusive of foreigners) should be members of that communion; and its conductors have always considered that the aid of Bishops, and others in stations of influence, who are favourable to its objects, may be lawfully made use of for promoting so blessed a design. The English authorised version of the Holy Scriptures is also the only vernacular translation allowed to be circulated by the Society. Candid Churchmen find in these provisions an ample guarantee that the institution will not be perverted to any sectarian purpose; and the Dissenting officers have been quite as watchful on this point as the Churchmen. There has been the most blessed harmony. But now we are told that all this ought to be changed; and the Radicalism of English political Dis senterism, has united with Scottish now evinced by some of the most zealous members of the Liverpool Conference had been displayed forty years ago, the Bible Society could not have been formed; and if it spread, the Church of England members will be driven out of it. We have before mentioned that Dr. Cox has reprinted a review from his pen, which appeared in the Eclectic last June, entitled "Christian Union: a brief inquiry into the causes of disunion among Christians;" and his object in reprinting it is to shew "the practicability and propriety" of the proposed Evangelical Alliance. Contrasting the co-operation in the with that of the Liverpool UnionBible Society for a specific object, ists, he says, in the miserable spirit of discontented levelling Radicalism: has been visible (in the Bible Society) "How has the kind of union which been maintained? Has the union of effort really produced any union of heart? We regret to be compelled to admit that, with a union on the platform, and perhaps in committee-rooms, all has the union there? and what is it now? for the most part ended. But what has been and why has not an efficient, real, Christian union grown-as we affirm it has not, and the present sighs and pleadings of this outward, visible, and celebrated of men disposed to union prove it-out association? The reason is what we have hinted; it is not the Christian, so the platform and the council table. We much as the sectary, that has frequented allow for exceptions; but we fearlessly take our stand upon the general fact. During all these years, there has been combination upon unequal and galling terms. Men of rank and mitred prelates midst, and without end,' at the great have almost always been first, last, anniversaries, assuming the air and uttering the language of condescension, lauding the excellent Establishment, and condescending readiness to take part often applauding themselves for their with their Dissenting friends in circulating the Scriptures; but always, be it observed, with the understanding, that speakers or no speakers, religious or irreligious, they should be pre-eminent, and their princely and clerical claims be well and duly marked. The streams of this influence have run down to every city, town, and district in the kingdom; till, at length, sated perhaps with annual celebrations, and dissatisfied with nonconformist energy and eloquence, the platform has become thinned of their attendance and the subscription list of their names. But who does not see in all this the elements of disunion in the very forms of union ?" How differently were pious Dissenters wont to speak of those Right Reverend persons, and of others in stations of influence, who cheerfully co-operated with them in carrying forward this great work! Mr. Owen, in his History of the Society, speaks with much gratitude and respect of the conduct of the Dissenters, who, he says, (Vol. i., p. 79), "Resigning the foreground of the Society to those whom they thought most likely to advance its general interests, contentedly occupied less conspicuous stations;" so that "To their generous forbearance and liberal policy it is to be ascribed that the institution put on, from its earliest appearance before the public, an aspect which favoured the pre-eminence of the Established Church." Seven twelfths of the Committee were of the Church of England, or of foreign churches; and the President, and Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer, were all Churchmen; and when the Churchmen requested their brethren to choose some Dissenting Vice-Presidents, the Wesleyans, says Mr. Owen, replied that "they considered themselves represented by the bishops;" the Quakers pleaded their averseness to distinction; and the other classes of Dissenters "expressed their unwillingness to interfere, in a manner equally creditable to their humility and their candour." There was nothing crouching in this; they wished well to the object, and rejoiced to see it espoused by persons whose influence would best promote it. How different this to the spirit now displayed. Open the "Christian Witness" for last June, and mark the grudging jealous spirit in which the labours of Episcopalians in the Society are spoken of. The "Christian Witness" is the organ of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, which deputed Sir Culling Smith, and his colleagues, to the Liverpool Conference. Its circulation in its first year was 31,000 copies monthly; and a still more popular small periodical is now forthcoming, the issue of which, it is stated, will be nearly a quarter of a million. The un-Christian Witness, which calls the Church of England Catechism "an empoisoned Popish manual," vented its anger against that Church, its bitterness against dignitaries, its restless impatience at those subordinations of society. which God has ordained for the good of all, by carping against several of the speakers at the last Bible Society Anniversary, because, being Dissenters, they had expressed themselves in a candid and Christian manner, and with the modesty which evinces true dignity of spirit, while the contrary is evinced by ill-bred impertinence. The Committee had, as usual, placed the Resolutions in the hands of those whose advocacy they considered would benefit the Society; among whom were two English Bishops, an Irish Bishop, and a lay Peer. Unfortunately for the lovers of Radicalism and mischief, these patrician speakers said nothing which could be objected to by the most prejudiced demagogue; the Witness was therefore obliged to acknowledge that "the addresses of the Bishops, the Lord, and the commoner were marked by a severe propriety, not attained by some of the other speakers, whose respect for dignities" caused the proceedings of this meeting to be not altogether satisfactory to generous and independent minds." The head culprit was Dr.Cumming, a Presbyterian, and a minister of the Church of Scotland, who was so mean-spirited as not to rail at black prelacy. "The first offender against propriety, as well as principle," said the Witness, "was the Rev. Dr. Cumming, who assured the assembly that every mitre receives its greatest lustre from the Bible." We should have thought that a Non-conformist would have considered this a very good remark; and have construed it rather as an admonition than an idle compliment. "Every mitre on this platform," remarked Dr. Cumming, "receives its lustre from the Bible; every coronet on this platform its honour from the Bible;" that is to say, "Whatever may be your Lordships' ecclesiastical or civil honours, there are honours infinitely higher, the privileges of the sons of God, in comparison with which all earthly distinctions are worthless. In receiving the Bible as the word of God, in living upon its blessed truths, and circulating it throughout the world, you adorn your high station; for it is not your mitres or coronets that grace the Bible, but the Bible that adds lustre to them." After this fashion might a candid Dissenter have interpreted the words of Dr. Cumming. But what said the Witness? "We comprehend enough of the sentiment, combined with the occasion, to denounce it on the ground of its unscriptural character and pernicious tendency." The Witness then continued: "The second offender was the worthy and respected Republican Dr. Codman, (the representative of the American Bible Society), the last man there who might have been expected to talk of the highest dignitary of the Church with the humblest Dissenter.'" It is gall and worm CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 97. wood to Dissenting Radicals, to hear an honest independent American Republican speak courteously and with good feeling and good sense, and not affecting rude bluster, in order to prove that he is not servile. The "Christian Witness" next attacked their friend Mr. Smith. "Having finished," said the Witness, "the glorification of the Bishops, he gracefully turns to the Commit tee and rapturously exclaims, How did my heart rejoice to hear that henceforth this great Society, cheapening the bread of life, and bringing it down to the wants of the community, will give a Bible for 10d., and a copy of the Testament for 4d."Upon this the Witness exclaims, "Marvellous absurdity!"' And what was it poor Mr. Smith had said? "My Lord, I feel that there is nothing inappropriate in a humble Dissenting teacher's appearing on the platform, along with the nobles and prelates of the land, in the advocacy of this great Society. It is proper that the Congregational pastor, as well as the diocesan Bishop, should be united, hand in hand, and heart with heart, in promoting the great object to which it is devoted." There is nothing mean or cringing in this. Mr. Smith did not fall into the absurd pomposity of supposing that in the eyes of the people of England he occupied, however much and justly esteemed and beloved, the same social position, the same power and influence, as "The nobles and prelates of the land;" but he very properly expresses his satisfaction, that in promoting the circulation of the Bible, they might co-operate heart and hand. was a very good and proper sentiment; but it sadly irritated the Congregational Unionists. "This language," said the Witness, "will sound harshly in the ears of the enlightened portion of the present generation of Englishmen. H It It a belongs to the age of Doddridge, as holy orders. The Baptists have five of their strongest men on this Committee. The Second Division, for Wales and the Northern counties, has only two clergymen, a Mr. J. Cooper, and a Mr. D. Morgan, in a committee of fortyThe Third Divinine members. presion, for Scotland, does not contain a single member of the Established Church of Scotland; but is composed of sectaries of strange names, "United Secession,' "Relief," "Original Secession," and "Reformed Presbyterian;" together with "Congregationalists," "Baptist Church," and "Free Church.' The Fourth Division, for Ireland, contains only three members of the Established Church of that island, against nine colleagues opposed to Episcopacy and the Irish We have Church establishment. collated the names under some doubt as to a few of them; but the above is the substance.* With scores of such sayings and doings in our recollection, ought we not to entreat our beloved friend Dr. Steinkopff to take heed into what company he falls in the proposed Alliance, lest he should unintentionally aid the levelling Radical spirit which is being directed against the Bible Society; and this at a moment when God is so marvellously blessing its labours. We have read with breathless delight and astonishment the Monthly Extracts appended to our present Number; and we entreat the Episcopal and Clerical members not to allow themselves to be insulted away from the ranks of this blessed institution by Dr. Cox and his levelling colleagues. Let our venerable friend compare the list of his own Vice-Presidents and Committee with that of the Liverpool Provisional Committees, and say whether we, as Churchmen, can give our confidence to the latter, as we cheerfully do to the former. The Alliance Committee Division for London, the Midland and Southern counties, and foreign lands, comprises only three London clergymen, Mr. Bickersteth, Mr. B. Noel, and Mr. Thelwall; with two country clergymen, Mr. Jordan, and Mr. A. D. Campbell, who is appointed the business Secretary to the Alliance; and of whom we know nothing but that he states he has been nearly six years in Ought dear Dr. Steinkopff, with * We mentioned in our last Number (p. 746) the heavy preponderance of Anabaptists (we must call them so, or repudiate the validity of our own baptism) upon the list of the Loudon Provisional Committee. We copied from the Liverpool official pamphlet ; but in the Committee's circular, just issued for extensive circulation by post, this list is omitted, though there was room to in sert it. Were our friends fearful of the names of Cox, Hinton, Steane, and Hoby being kept too prominently before the public? If they were, they are very ungrateful; for the Baptists were among the earliest movers and most efficient members. The revised London document gives, in the words of the Liverpool account, the resolution, "That a Provisional Committee, in four divisions, be appointed" (specifying their districts, &c.); but it drops the words, "And that the following ministers and gentlemen compose the Committee "-with the list. It may be thought prudent to wait till the catalogue can be strengthened, and rendered less partial, by new accessions; but still it was and is the Provisional List; and the practical test by which the public judge of the spirit of a design not fully matured, is the names of the ori |