Germans have now taken another step forward. The Society of Gustavus Adolphus has been formed for the purpose of uniting the evangelical Christians of all Germany.

This society, founded for the maintenance of Protestantism, met at Stutgard on the 2d of September. I attended in the name of my friends of Geneva. At six o'clock in the morning, from the towers of the principal church, on which the flag of Wurtemberg was hoisted, the melodious hymns of Luther, announcing the dawn of an evangelical day, resounded all over the town. At eight, an immense crowd rushed into the sacred building, which was adorned with garlands and boughs. Here divine service was to be performed, and its lofty aisles already re-echoed with the Hallelujah of Handel. At ten, a still greater multitude filled another church, where the meeting of the society was to be held. Delegates from many different countries- from Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Transylvania, Portugal, and even from America and the Indies,— were there assembled. There was no doubt that confusion which characterises Germany; there were gathered together, pell-mell, all kinds of opinions, from Pantheism and Rationalism, to the highest doctrines of the faith; nevertheless, the sound doctrines predominated in the meeting.

The report was read by the secretary, Dr. Grossmann of Leipsic, son of the chairman of the meeting. The principles stated by this young

theologian may be considered as the general expression of all parties in Germany. Doubtless they give these principles different interpretations; yet it is nevertheless important to know what are the general ideas under which the Protestant world of Germany is now ranging itself. These, then, are the tones in which the Society of Gustavus Adolphus addressed the Germanic nations :"We shall give an account, gentlemen, of the fidelity with which we hand down to future ages "what we have ourselves received. It is neces

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sary to the development of mankind, that the "moment a new society is founded, certain spiri"tual powers should be bestowed on it. If these "forces are weakened, the whole society will be "affected, just as unwholesome food weakens and "reduces the body. Two of these forces, for which 66 we must now secure a great influence over man"kind (unless we would permit it to be lost for a long series of years), are the grand doctrine of 'justification by faith, and the exclusive authority "of the Holy Scriptures."

These are certainly sound words: the whole of Christianity is comprised in these two points.

But this was not all: another idea, an idea of great importance to our times, was pointed out. One of the greatest theologians of Germany, Dr. Ullmann of Heidelberg rose, and said in the name of the Grand Duchy of Baden,-"At length we "behold the manifestation of that living com"munion which unites us as evangelical Christians.

"Yet the German Evangelical Church, however "important, is but one member of the whole body. Christianity, far from destroying different na"tionalities, consecrates and sanctifies them: at "the same time it hovers over them, and by ele"vating the nations would make of them all one great society of brethren. All nations are called

upon mutually to complete each other on the "common ground of Christianity. There must "therefore exist among them living and personal "relations, and evangelical Christians of all nations "must see, understand, love each other, and join "hands in brotherhood. A church which has

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given to our age a great example of Christian "devotedness and sacrifice - the Free Church of "Scotland-has just called us to this. Let us "therefore invite the other churches of Christen"dom to found societies similar to ours, and to "send their representatives to our General As"semblies."

Immediately after the motion of Dr. Ullmann, we beheld successively ascending the tribune to support it, Elvers, judge of the Supreme Court; Sydow, chaplain of the Court of Potsdam; Dr. Schumann, the superintendent; the pastor, Steffenson from Denmark; Dr. Filther, from Louisville, in the United States; Zimmermann, the Court chaplain; and Dr. Nitzsch, the distinguished theologian of Bonn, superior counsellor of the Consistory; and all spoke warmly in favour of a great evangelical unity.

Let us profit by this: let us remember that there are in reality but two nations on the earth,-the believers and the unbelievers; and let us not allow trifles to separate those who have alike received into their hearts the living faith of the children of God.

I was next called upon to speak. "I am come "from Geneva," I said. "There is here at Stutgard an evangelical meeting to uphold the work of the great Reformation. The town of Calvin cannot "hold back. Geneva also is a member of Christ's body. Yes; from the shores of the Baltic, Gus"tavus Adolphus, the great Protestant warrior, and "from the foot of Mont Blanc, John Calvin, the great Protestant divine, should join hands. "together over all the German people."

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I will not repeat my speech; it has been printed in German, the language in which it was spoken. Though declaring that I respected the individuality of our friends of the Society of Gustavus Adolphus, and honoured their conscientious convictions, I thought it right to exhibit to them in what manner our evangelical society of Geneva differed from theirs. I undertook to point out in a more especial manner three principal features. I first showed that we proposed not only to preserve the ancient Protestant churches, which is the aim of the Society of Gustavus Adolphus, but that we desired to gain over to the Gospel those souls which are still enthralled by the yoke of Rome; thus being aggressives as I added, that our second

well as conservatives.

characteristic was to be, as regards the faith, not only negative but positive; not contenting ourselves with merely rejecting the errors of Rome, but striving to set up in their room Jesus Christ, his eternal Godhead, his expiatory sacrifice, and justification by faith in his blood. Lastly, I remarked, as the third distinction, that we also desired Christian unity; but, that with us internal unity, the unity of faith, took precedence of external unity.

I learnt with pleasure that after my departure, a great number of the most venerable men in Germany united to form a society, which proposed to act on the principles I had pointed out, yet without separating themselves from the Society of Gustavus Adolphus. I could not have had a more satisfactory answer. May God bless this design! I must nevertheless add, that it seems difficult to prevent such conflicting elements, as are to be found in this society, from separating at no very distant day. If the separation does not proceed from the men of faith, the unbelievers will undertake it. Is it not written in the Word of God, that He divided the light from the darkness? When a society, essentially evangelical, is once established in Germany, its action will be much more powerful, and much more blessed.