best method of conducting Christian Missions. We have there stated at large, what were then our views; and they have not since been altered or modified, in any material respect. We are not opposed to all voluntary associations for conducting Christian Missions, or Theological education. In two instances, and we believe in two only, these associations are both lawful and expedient-One of these instances has been adverted to by us in the essays to which we have referred, and the other is stated by Professor M. in one of the foregoing extracts. Let us, for a moment, look at both-We have said

"A principal use of voluntary religious associations is, to awaken the church to a sense of her duty; and by proving the practicability of new plans and energetic measures, to engage eventually her children generally, to unite and co-operate, in carrying these measures into effect. It is a mournful fact, that, in every age, the church has tended to supineness, formality, and a neglect of her duty-In every age, however, it has pleased a gracious God to raise up, and preserve in the church, some men endued at once with enlightened minds and holy zeal; and with them the work of reformation has always commenced. They have seen what good might be done, and what ought to be done, long before the most of their brethren have perceived the demands of duty at all, or were ready to believe in the propriety or expediency of the measures contemplated-even after they had been explained and urged on their attention. But at length a few, and then more, have become enlightened and animated, till at length voluntary associations have been formed, sufficient in strength to put the measures devised to the test of experiment; and the success has, in the issue, roused the church, to awake from her criminal lethargy, and to put forth her strength in the service of her Lord and Master. The extensive missionary operations of the present day have certainly been brought about in this manner, as must be known to all who are acquainted with their origin. "When voluntary societies of a missionary character have roused the church to what was always her sacred duty, and which was committed to her by her glorified Head, they have then had their principal use; and their friends should be willing, and even rejoice, to take their place in the church, and co-operate with her in executing those plans, struck out perhaps by themselves, which she has now adopted as her own."

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We confess that when we penned the passages here quoted, we did not advert to the fact, that if Congregational and Independent churches do not conduct their Missionary and Educational operations by Voluntary Associations, they cannot, to any considerable extent, carry them on at all. Professor M. has supplied our oversight (for which he has our thanks) in the "2d consideration," above stated-and which we hope every reader will carefully re-peruse-showing why the church, "in her appropriate capacity," should engage in the sacred enterprises contemplated.

Now we entirely agree with the professor, that when churches have taken such a form as that they cannot extensively prosecute the unspeakably important concerns of Missions and Education, except by the instrumentality of Voluntary Associations, they may and ought to do it in that way. He also entirely agrees with us, if we do not greatly misunderstand him, in thinking that an Ecclesiastical organization, especially such as that of the Presbyterian church, is far better adapted than any Voluntary Association whatever, for the prosecution of the sacred enterprises now under consideration. Why then does it not follow conclusively, that Congregationalists should confine themselves to their Voluntary Associations, and Presbyterians adhere to their more happily constituted Ecclesiastical Boards? Let this be done, and no complaint shall ever be heard from us. Our complaint is, that this is not done. It is, that after our church-always, as we have shown, a missionary church-has been effectually roused-as we believe Professor M. will agree with us that she is, or at least is beginning to be

there is still a continued, and to a great extent, a successful effort, to manage missions and education, in our very midst, by Voluntary Associations. Why, if we need more zeal, will not these zealous associated Presbyterians bring it to us, by falling into the ranks of their own church. Surely, if Ecclesiastical organization is the better mode of doing this work, we ought not to patronize and promote an inferior method; especially when the better one needs and claims all the patronage we can give it-far more, certainly, that it has hitherto received-Let it be observed that we are not now speaking of what associated Presbyterians can easily be made willing to do, but of what, on Professor M.'s own principles, as seems to us, they would better do.

Herein, then, we differ from Professor M. He dwells, with much interest and earnestness, on the propriety of cherishing Voluntary Associations, fully organized, and in active operation, IN THE BOSOM OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. We say no-that is not the proper place for their organization and operation; for by your own showing, we have, in our church organizations, a decidedly better method of doing this very thing; and why should we encourage the doing of an important work in a worse way, when we have a better, and have it in active and efficient exercise. We would say to the Voluntary Associations-" Your interference enfeebles our hands, and diminishes our resources. Keep in your appropriate region of labour; keep among Congregational churches, or where no churches are organized; and then we will, ex animo, bid you God speed. Nay, we will do more-we will treat you with as much, perhaps with more, favour and countenance, than we do other evangelical corps, who are engaged in supplying the destitute with the precious treasures of the gospel. We will help you in a time of exigency, as we helped the Baptists when their printing establishment at Serampore was consumed by fire; and as the Evangelical part of the Episcopal church in Britain now afford the most important aid to the Moravian missions, by their wealthy men making, annually, very liberal donations to aid the scanty funds of the United Brethren. We have no objection that our men of wealth, after having given liberally to the funds of their own church, should, as individuals, give something to you, and give it annually, if they so please. But be content with this. Let us have no organization of Voluntary Societies among Presbyterian churches-They divide and distract us. Permit us to do our own work in our own way, which, indeed, we think a better way than yours. Do not interfere with us. We cannot consent to it-Leave us to ourselves; cultivate your own fields; and in this way the best feelings will be promoted, and the most good will be done"-Thus we differ, and very widely too, from Professor Miller.

But we wish to state a little more particularly why we differ.-We say, then, that these Voluntary Associations are, in their very nature, opposed to strict Presbyterian government. They are the offspring of Congregationalism and Independency, and do, and will forever, possess the disposition and tendency of their parents. While, therefore, they remain organized in our church, we conscientiously believe our government and discipline never will be completely restored and maintained. They constitute what among civilians is called imperium in imperio-a body in the bosom of a community, having a power which the community may not be able to control; but which can and will act independently of, and as often as it pleases, in opposition to the community -nay, which will, when a good opportunity offers, attempt to overrule and direct the community itself. Have we not had proof palpable and

notorious, that such an attempt has been made by these Voluntary Associations, on the Presbyterian church? We do not believe that any candid and well-informed individual, even among those whose system we oppose, will deny, that it was, not long since, the cherished plan and fond expectation of the favourers of Voluntary Associations, to bring under their influence and direction, all missionary operations, both domestic and foreign; and all plans and funds, having for their object the education of youth for the gospel ministry-in the Congregational, Presbyterian, and Dutch churches of the United States. Nor did they, in the Presbyterian church, come far short of their object. They obtained, and till recently held, all foreign missions under their control and direction; and they have used their best endeavours to get the General Assembly of our church to resign the foreign field exclusively to them. As to domestic missions, can any one who was present in the General Assembly of 1828, ever forget the conflict which ensued, when an overture was brought in to reorganize and reanimate the Board of Missions, acting under the Supreme Judicatory of our church? Neither did the conflict end there. It was steadily kept up for several years in succession, till it was found that open opposition to the Assembly's Board was likely to injure the cause which it sought to promote. This form of opposition was then dropped; but who is ignorant that real opposition is still continued? On the comparative merits of the plans pursued by the American Education Society, (a Voluntary Association) and the General Assembly's Board of Education, the best talents of the parties respectively, have been taxed and employed in publishing controversial pamphlets, and in the planning and carrying on of active operations. The very truth is, there is a real opposition of principle and system, between Voluntary Associations and Ecclesiastical Organizations. The former are not, at heart, willing that any church, as such, should have any thing to do in the concerns of missions and education; the latter maintain, with Professor Miller, "that it is plainly the duty of the church, in her ecclesiastical capacity, to undertake and conduct such enterprises; nay, that when she neglects to do so, she is guilty of great injustice to herself, and of direct disobedience to her divine Head and Lord." Now we ask, is it good policy; nay, is it consistent with duty and self-preservation, for the latter of these parties to foster among her own children, an organized body of the former party? It seems to us that all knowledge of human nature, all reason, common sense, and experience, must answer this inquiry in the negative.

We are not to be understood as charging indiscriminately, the friends of Voluntary Associations with bad motives, in their attempts to obtain a paramount influence, in doing good in the way which they think best. We believe they greatly err, and have no small share of the narrow views, which some of them liberally impute to us-narrow views, as it seems to us, when they think that their plans are not only the best in the world, but may lawfully be crowded into the place of any other, when opportunity offers. We are willing to admit that many friends of these Voluntary Associations honestly and deliberately think, they are of such importance, that-as we have been credibly informed one of them saidthey will, and ought, to trample on any thing that obstructs their progress, and will not get out of their way. Now, it so happens, that Ecclesiastical Organizations, and even the Presbyterian church itself, stand in their way. Will they trample on us then? Not exactly so, we would hope; at least, we hope the good men, and many good men there are among

them, would not do this deliberately. But even these good men are willing to unpresbyterianize the Presbyterian church, in favour of Voluntary Associations. They have, for the most part, strong Congregational leanings; and they do not even see-they often seem to be entirely inconscious-that, in certain cases, they are acting in opposition to the principles and government which they have engaged to sustain. Now, the very fact that this is the case with these excellent brethren, only serves to show the more clearly and impressively, how dangerous it is to the Presbyterian church, if she means to maintain her system, in any thing like its integrity and genuine spirit, to have a nursery of Congregationalism, a rallying point for principles and operations hostile to her own, in the very midst of her churches-We have something more to say on this topick, which we must defer till the coming month.

(To be continued.)

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