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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor. YOLO MU XII. TERMS PER ANNUM. B9 r The Christian Index, published on Friday in each week, (except two in the year), will be furnished to each subscriber at $2 50 cents, in advance ; or $3 if not paid within the year. HZ7* Post-Masters, where the Index is taken, are requested to forward remittances for subscriber* at their respective offices, according to a decision of the Post-Master General as to their right to do so. All pa trons and agents are requested to notice this. Every Agent (and all Baptist Ministers are particularly solicited to become agents) who procure and pay for live copies of the Index, shall he entitled to a sixth, as a com pensation for his trouble. Letters on business, or communications, must he ad dressed to the Editor, post paid. Advertisements may be inserted on usual terms, at the discretion of the Editor. IMS MISSION IILIUR'DIFXT. Receipts of the Jim. Hap. Hom e Mission Society.from January Is/, to Februa ry Ist, 1844. SOUTH CAROLINA Savannah River Association, per Geo. Rhodes, treas., 17 38. Welsh Neck As sociation, per J. K. Mclver, treas., 45. SO2 38. Collections per Rev. C. M. Fuller, ,‘lgent. Society Hill. —J. J. Wilson. 5. Mr. John Mclver, a legacy by late Miss Jane McCall, 20. Mis. Ann Jane Mclver, in .full of L. M. 20. 845. Clieraiv. —Rev. Richard Furman, in full ■of L. M. 85. Darlington, C. If. — Wiley Kelly, 2. Isham Lemon, llartsvillc P. ()., 5, Han nah Hart, do. 5. Joseph Norwood, do. 5. A colored man, 50 cis, Jesse Hudson, do. 5. $22 50. Camden —M. A. Bullard, 2. (Win, H. Burn. 6 els. A. E. Burn, IBcls., two chil dren.) Cash, I 50. $3 74. Columbia. —Donations after sermon, 27 50. Collection of colored brethren. 10 0) The foregoing lo make Rev. William Curtis, their pastor, a L. M. J. F. Mar shall. 10. $47 05. Lexington, C. //.—Three friends at Lutheran t lunch, 1 00. A. 11. Fort, Esq., 5. Rev. Win. Watkins, Lot P. 0., 5. sll 00. Fdgijield. —Ezekiel Rozor, Abbeville district, per Rev. \V. B. Johnson, 10. Luke Devore, second iusi. for L. M. 10. lion. F. W. Pickens, in full of L. M., 10. Edgefield Association, 47 08. Mrs. lien rietla Johnson, per Rev. W. B. Johnson, in full of L. M. 25. Dr. William Burt, 1. John Lyon, 2. Mr, Abbey, 40 cts. A friend, 1. George L. Penn. 5. Nathan L. Griffin, in full of L. M. 20. John Dobv. sen., L. M. 30. I'homas L. Shaw 2. Johnson Sale, Pliumix P. 0., 5. SIOO 38. Hamburg. — Deacon R. Lanliam, 3. Walker G. Samuel, 2. John 11. Cosby, 10. Mrs. Harriet Curry, in full for L. M. 2J- ir. W. W. Gaigher, 1. Lew is Cur ry, 5. Joel Curry, 5. Seili Butler, 5. Rev. Joseph Morris, pet S. Butler, 5. James Vann, 1. Albert Jefferson, Rambo, 5. M rs. Martha Lions Rambo, 5. SO7 $134 25. GEORGIA. Collections by Rev. C. M. Fuller, .igent. .iugusta. — Thomas W. Freeman, L. M. 30. Jesse Walton, L. M. 30. Al bert Adams, L. M. 30. Dr. Win. 11. Turpin, in lull loco siimte Ins wife, Mary Ann Turpin L. D 50. Davis Bottom, 1. Mr. Carswell, 2. I). K K. Muslin, I. 11. Hickman, 2. Miss Lucy B. Beal, 2. 1). B. Plumb, 1. E. Wimberly, 3. N. K. Bift ler, 5. Eli Muslin, 2. Hon. M. M. Dye, 2. M iss Mary Knight, 1. John M. Tur ner, 2. Mrs. Martha Glover, 1. Win. E. Barnes, 1. J. F. Turpin, 2. Prof. Win. J. Hand, 1. Miss Sarah Carter, 1. Miss Nancy Barrett, 1. John A. Barnes, 2. Mrs. S. E. Kerr, 2. Mrs. Eliza S. Ham lin, 3. Rev. Win. T. Brandy, third insi. tin L. M. of his wife, Mary Ann, 5. Mrs. Charily Maharry, 1. Mrs. Lucy Hitt, 50 cts. Mrs. Farrer, 50cts. ,Vlis Julia Tur pin, 3. Mrs. Louisa Dugas, 5. Colored people. 6 50. Two little boys, 12.) cts. Cash 10 cts. Doctor Hunch, 5. $204 78. Public Square P. 0., Green co. — Rev. Vincent R. Thornton, L. M.s3o. Madison, Morgan co. —Col. John B. Walker, L. M. 30. Witt. S. Stokes, 5. John Peek, 5. Edmund Walker, 5. Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, 5. Mrs. Elizabeth Gard ner, 5. Thomas F. Burney, 5. Mrs. Frances Shields, 2. John Vason. 5. Mrs. Susan Walker, 1. Wm. Y. Stokes, I. T. G. Thomason, I. C. W. Richter, 3. Coloted people, 81 cts. $73 81. Greensboro, Green co. —John E. Jack son, 5; Vincent Sanford, 5; C. A. Davis. 5; William Bicker. 10; Mrs. Edna E. Martin, 50 cts ; Hon. Thomas Stocks, L. M. 30; Mrs. Cinthia Sanford, 50 cts ; W. W. Brooks, 2. SSB. PoweUon, Hancock co. —John Veazey, 10 . Mrs. J ane Veazey, 1; Rev. D. G. Daniel, 1 : R. T. Battle, 1 ; Rev. W. I. Harley, 50 cts-; J. M. Jones, 1 ; Mrs. M. E. Jones, 1. sls 50. Penfield, Green co. —Col. Ab’m. Janes, Treasurer of Slate Convention, lirst and se cond inst. of Prof. Benjamin Osgood Pierce, for his father, Benjamin Pierce, L. M. 10; Slate Convention, 41 60; first inst. Col. Absalom Janes, to constitute himself L. D. 50 ; Rev. B. M. Sanders, first inst. to make himself L. D. 50; Benjamin Brantley, 5; Prof. S. P. Sanford, second, third, and # THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. fourth inst., on L. M. of himself, 15 ; Mein uel Green, 5; J. I). Martin, 5 ; Michael Barry, 5 ; Mr. McNortou, 50 cts; P. B. Chandler, 1; Mis. T. I). Martin, 5 ; Na than Hobbs, 50 cts; Miss Mary Meli, 1 ; Dr. R. Q. Dick inson of Crawfordvitle, 5 ; Thomas P. Janes, 2; Mrs. Dr. Baker, 1. $202 00. ~ $584 69. Total receipts for January, $2087 60. J{. W. Martin, Treasurer. Honations to the Mission Rooms. By N. C. Platt, Esq., New York, Bax ter’s elegant print of the ordinance of Bap tism in oil colors. By Rev. S. 11. Cone, D. D., New Map of New Jersey. Donations to the Library. By Dr. S. J. Wheeler, Murfreesboro. N. C., a package of valuable pamphlets. By Rev. S. H. Cone, D. D., Memoir of Luther Rice. our receipts. It may be observed by our friends that the receipts into our treasury recently have been more liberal than lor some time past. W e thank God and lake courage. We’ have passed through many’ a month of gloom arid-darkness, and now we hope that brighter ones are before us. that the liberal feelings recently evinced will continue and that our treasury will he so .constantly and effectually replenished, that the cry of the needy lor the bread of life may not come up into our eats in vain. To show the necessity for continued ef fort in our behalf, we would slate that there are now before us applications well recom mended and tieserving of favorable replies, for appropriations exceeding the amount of receipts reported above, and maitv others from important places are expected soon. But we shall have it in our power to make many a heart sing for joy if, throughout the churches, the spirit exists which dictated the following: CORRESPONDENCE. FROM A FEMALE FRIEND IN CONNECTICUT. The enclosed sum is sent you in conse quence of mv having read the letter front Rev. Mr. Seeley of lowa, published in the papers. Mv heart inquired. Lord, what will thou have me to do ? and 1 trust this small .offering will he acceptable to 11 itn and to you. Would that I could make il-more. FROM A STEADFAST FRIEND IN MASSACHU SETTS. “ Knowing the destitute situation of our Western Valley anil the little support our Home Mission Society receives, even from those who profess tiiat they are not their own—that all they have belongs to God, and they themselves are lint his stewards— I have been thinking for some time that, as soon as my .means would enable me, I would send something to help the cause ; and I pray God that I may be always influ enced bv his command to send the gospel to every creature, rather titan by what oth ers do. ** I saw in the papers, a few weeks.since, a communication ftotn Rev. William Tay lor, and J. A. B. Stone, relative to the des titution of Michigan. I was formerly ac quainted with” brother Taylor, and 1 wish the enclosed amount applied to the object lor which they Wrote, unless there are oth er demands on your Society of greater ur gency.” The donation accompanying the above letter was a very liberal one, sufficient to sustain a missionary in the field alluded lo for more than a year ; and although there are other important demands on our treas ury, without doubt.it will he applied as de signated. May God bless the generous donor. Who will givens the sum neces sary, ($300,) to send a missionary, as a companion of Rev. Mr. Fisher, to Oregon? Benjamin M. HilL. Gor. See. From the London Dualist Magazine. Attachment of Ihc Briptist to Civil and Re ligious Liberty. Two hundred years ago, Bailie, the pres hytefian, said, ‘’the Baptists were very fond of religious liberty, and vety unwill ing to be brought under the bondage of the judgement of any other.” This is no mean eulogy, drawn from the rigid presby ter by many well established facts, tie meant itas a reproach; we view it in the light of praise. In all ages the baptists have made a noble stand in favor of civil and religious liberty; around whose altars they have rallied with indomitable energy, and for the preservation of which many have sacrificed property and life itself. On this subject. Robinson of Cambridge made the following remarks: “When itfany age bap tists appear in clespotical governments, they are seen struggling for liberty: and the end of the struggle is burning, banishment, or freedom. They cannot live in tyrannical states: and free countries are the only places to seek for them, for their whole public re ligion is impracticable without freedom.— They differ, as other do, a bout the best means of obtaining and pre serving liberty. The old German baptists fought-for liberty: so did many in Oliver’s time: and the only principle in which they all agree is. that the civil magistrate hath no right to give or enforce law in matters of re ligion and conscience. Whether this lie an anabaplistical error, or a first principle in good government, must be left with the Miltons, and the Lockes,(and Montesquieus FOR THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA. PENFIELD, GA,FEBRUARY 23, 1844. to determine.”* Buityan eiiduicd tweh e years’ imprisonment in Bedford jail; Keach stood in lite pillory both at Aylesbury and Winslow; DeLuunc.nnd Bamfield died in Newgate, rather than bow before the idol of religious uniformity, or submit to eccle siastical domination. All die facts of his tory piove, that in the early part of the seventeenth century no men understood the rights of conscience so well and so general ly as the baptists; lor in the year 1615, in a book entitled “Persecution for Religion Judged and Condemned,” they pleaded for liberty of .conscience as the right of all men. denied that Christ had appointed the sword as a remedy for false teachers, and contended that the duty of man to examine for himself die principles ol religion was anterior to all magisterial authority, or even to human governincsts. “The enlarged and accurate veiws which this pamphlet broached, evince an astonish ing progress in the knowledge of religious freedom, and fully entitle its authors to he regarded as die first expounders anif most enlightened advocates of ibis best inheri tance ol man. Other writers, of more ills li guishetl name, succeeded, ami robbed them of their honor; hut their title is so good, and the .amount of service they per l formed on behalf o( the common interests of humanity is so incalculable, tiiat an nil partial posterity must assign to diem due meed of praise. It belonged ni the mem bers of a calumniated ami despised sect, few in number ami poor in circumstances, ■to bring forth to the public view, in their simplicity and omnipotence, those immortal principles which are now universally re cognis and as of divine authority and univer sal obligation.”f Mr. It anbury, in his “Historical Memo rials relating to Independents,” disputes the claim of the baptists to he regarded as the first expounders of the principles of civil and religions liberty. The following are his words:—“lt is admitted by us that Ja cob did not, on bis side, dissert upon or ar gue for religious liberty in the entire breadth of ill the plea which lie set up courageously is, however, the ground on which all that has ever followed is tested; and the limitation against the papal suprem acy over free countries nnd kingdoms, is but a consistent restraining of that sinful dorninancy which would debar all else from the exercise of their privileges under the gospel dispensation. Puimum uui meruit ferat,"X To this argument against the baptists we reply, as early as the year 1015, they did argue for religious liberty in the entire breadth of it, and courageously asserted the right of men to worship God in accor dance wilh’their religious convictions, with out exposing themselves to civil penalties, dr to the tender mercies of spiritual courts. Mr. Ilauhtiry. acknowledges that Jacob held the principles of religious liberty “-tin der a certain limitation, or consistent re straint” (is any constraint consistent with those.principles?) but the baptists did no such Thing- They were exceedingly jeal ous of die papal supremacy, and determin ed enemies of antichrist, whether found in the Romish <ir in the English church; yet they advocated liberty of conscience with out any limitation, as the inalienable right of men, and the privilege of Englishmen, irrespective of their religious opinions or modes ol worship. Let him hear the palrn who deserves it. Charles Butler, a Roman catholic writer, had the candor to acknowledge that “the baptists first propagated the principles of religious liberty,” ami other authors have .confessed that since the rise of antichrist, the first human government which gave e qttal and entire liberty to all therein, was established by a baptist minister, the perse cuted but immortal Roger Williams. The ancient worthies of our denomination were among the first to understand ami revere the claims of conscience, and, through hon or and dishonor, amid evil report and good report, their descendants have maintained the great principles of freedom with a firm ness and heroism which many have equal ed hut none have surpassed. There is a bundant evidence to prove that during the civil wars, and under the protectorate of Cromwell, the opinions of the baptists re specting civil and religious liberty were sub stantially the same as our churches hold in the present day. In a confession of faith published by seven of the London churches, so long ago as the year 1646, the follow! g passage is found, which does equal’ credit to the writer and to the churches which sent it forth to the world; “There is but one Lawgiver, which is Jesus Christ, who hath given laws and rules Sufficient in his word for his worship: and for any jiian to make more were lo charge Christ with want of wisdom, or faithfulness, or both, in not making laws enough, or not good n nough, for his house: surely it is our wis dom, duty and privilege to observe Christ’s laws only. So it is the magistrate’s duly to tender the liberty of men’s consciences, and to protect all under them from all wiong, injury, oppression, and molestation; so it is our ditty not to lie wanting in any thing which is for their honor ami comfort, and whatever is for the well being of the commonwealth wherein we live. And as we cannot do any thing contrary to onr un derstandings and consciences, so neither ‘History of Baptism, page 470. tPrice, vol. i. pp. 520, 523. “Historical Memorials, vol. i. p, 225. can we forbear doing that which our under standings anti consciences bind us to do.— And if the magistrate should require us to do otherwise we are to yield our persons in a passive way to their power as the saints of old have done. And thrice happy shall he be that shall lose his life for witnessing of the liuth of the Lord Jesus Christ,”§ Great numbers of men who liad entbiaced these noble sentiments took an active part in the patriotic cause in which Hamden and thousands beside hint lost their lives,, and while they fought for their civil rights they valued still more dearly tlieii religions liberties. It is almost certain that John Bunyt*ivas engaged at the battle of Nase by, which proved a death blow to the cause ol “King Charles of blessed memory!”— Captain Deane , writing to the bishop of Lincoln, said, “I confess to your lordship, I never heard of any anabaptists in the king’s army during the contest between his majesty and the parliament; and perhaps, because there were some in the parliament's and none in the king’s army, some persons ‘ have Iront thence taken occasion lo all'll in that the opinion ufauabaptism in the church is opposed to monarchy in the state.” Baptists in the army of Charles I. truly! How could the friends of liberty fight un der the banners of tyiaimy? now could Hie enemies of persecution conlederate with men who had shed the blood of die saints like water? $o strongly weie they attached to liberty, that when Cromwell made hiiliscil protector, and, intimated his intention Os removing all the baptists fiuiu his army, one of the officers, a baptist, said to him, “I pray do not deceive yourself, nor let the priests deceive you, for the bap tists are men that will not lie shuffled out of their birthright as freeborn people of Eng land.” Their well known opponent, Dr. Featlev, accused them of holding the fol lowing opinions: “that liberty of conscience should be granted lo all men in all coun tries; that persecution in case of conscience is guilty of all the blood of the saints cry ing for vengeance under the altar;- hence they beseeehed parlidment lo review and to repeal the laws against separatists, to permit freedom of the press to any man who writes nothing scandalous or danger ous lo the state, to prove u.emselves loving fathers of all good men, and to invite equal assistance and affection from all.” Bap tists (if the present day have no reason to be ashamed of sucli iioble-iniiided antes tors, whose writings and apologies in favor of toleration and freedom have scarcely been surpassed by any in the English lan guage, excepting those of Milton and Locke. In their letter to Charles 11.; dated A. D. 1055, and presented to him at Bruges, they call upon him to pledge his “word that he will never erect, nor allow to be erected, any such tyrannical, popish, and aiiti-christiaii hierarchy (episcopalian, preshy lerian, or by what name soever call- 1 ed) as-shall assutite powei over, or impose ‘ a yoke upon, the consciences of others; : hut that every one of his subjects should be I at liberty, to worship God in such a way as i shall appear to them agreeable lo the mind i and will of Christ.”|| ; The restoration, which brought back to i our land the iron age of episcopacy and the < divine right of kings, severely uied the i principles of nonconformity; and, like oth- t er friends of liberty, the baptists had to I choose between the loss of their dearest i rights and the vengeance of a licentious .’ inonaich. backed by an iutolehint church. | With them there was no indecision, no lent- t porizing policy, no idea of compromise, no | consulting with llesli and blood: unmoved < by tiireats, unseduced by promises, they I stood firm as a lock, though lines, prisons, * and death stared them in the face: they re- t solved to be free at any price, they refused ; to be slaves under any circumstances, and < by thus acting they have left an example I lor mankind to admire and imitate. lieli ‘ gious liberty was dearer to them than I riches, honors, or life itself: hence they ‘ determined to preserve its saeted altars or i lo’perish in their ijefence. The year after | the unhappy restoration, noncomformists j us every denomination were grievously persecuted by the civil and spiritual author- i ities. Fearless of consequences, the bap- 1 lists had the coinage to publish a protest a- i gainst “those unchristian principles of per secuiioti for conscience, which trouble the world, the guilt whereof is able to sink the 1 most flourishing kingdom inlo an ocean of misery and calamity.” After this avowal nf their design they bring forward argu ments to “prove how contrary to the gos pel of our Lord Jesus, and to gootl reason, it is for any magistrate, by outward force, to impose any thing in the worship ol'Gud, on the consciences of those whom they govern; hut that liberty ought to be given to till such as disturb not the civil peace, th.nigh of different persuasions in matters of religion. And all tiiat, we desire, which is dearer to us than our lives, is that our spirits anil,consciences may be left free to serve the eternal God; which ought to he granted us, seeing we shall every one of us give an account of himself to God.”* This appeal to the monarch was made in vain. These noble sentiments had no good effect upon the. royal debauchee. Ilis ministeis in the state, and his parasites in §Orosby, vol. i. Appendix, p. 24. Art. 48, IjOlarendon, vol. iii. p. 359; Philip’s Life of Banyan, p. 370; Crosby, vol. i. Ap pendix, p. 85. “Crosby, vol. ii- pp- 108, 109, - tlie church, were carrying things with a ■ high hand, ami making desperate efforts to i quench the last spark of civil and religious i liberty. In every quarter the baptists were dragged before magistrates, by means ol spies and informers paid by the bishops and ; superior’ clergy, who cherished unmixed hatred towards these stern and noble-mind ed advocates of Christian liberty. None of these things, however, moved them ftotn the defence of those principles Which they had derived from the word of God, and which they viewed as the birthright ol every man, whatever might be his rank, education, or profession. In vain did the ruling powers pass the Five Mile Act, the Conventicle Act, and the Test Act; in vain did they fill the dungeons of their proles lam inquisition with men who refused con formity to the established church; and in vain did they breathe out their threatenings and slaughter against the ministers atm churches of the baptist denomination; for nothing could move them front their holy Timl unalterable purpose “to obey God rath er than man.” The same ‘Spirit animated them (hiring the succeeding reign ol James IP, who lirst endeavored to crush the dissenters, and al ter failing in this project, offered them h|s royal indulgence. Some of the baptists were deceived by this crafty '-measure, anil seized the opportunity of assembling in public for the worship of God; hut the great majority relused to avail themselves of it, resolving to wait till passing events should place tin ir liberties on a legal and sure foundation. On the sth of Novem ber, 1688, the sun of freedom arose on Great Britain, —the prince of Orange land ed at Torbay as the liberator of England front arbiiary government and from popish domination. James lied from a throne ol which lie was unworthy, and from a peo ple by whom he was despised; while the great hulk of the nation rose up with oite accord, and, clapping their- hands at the last of the Stuarts, hissed him out of the king dom. On this occasion the baptists vied with other friends of constitutional freedom iii expressions of joy, and felt a rapture proportioned to the greatness and duration of their former sufferings. Hear their grateful acknowledgment’ of the divine in terposition: “We do with great thankful ness to God acknowledge his special good ness to these nations iu raising up our pre sent King William, to. he a bless.il instru ment in Ins hand to deliver us from popery and arbitrary power, and shall always lie ready to join our hearts and hands for the pieservation of the proteslant religion and the liberties of the nation.”t The year following the revolution, representatives from upwards of one hundred baptist churches assembled in Lond’oii, and after eight or nine days spent in prayer and de liberation they sent forth to the world a confesssion of their faiih. In the 21st chapter, which treats “of Christian liberty and liberty of conscience.” they avow their belief that “God alone is Lord of die con science, and hath left it free from the com mandments and doctrines of men, which are in any thing contrary to his word or not contained in it. So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands, out of conscience, is to betray , true liberty of con science; and the leqttiring of an implicit faith, and absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and rea son also.” Three years later than the publication of this document, Mr. Piggott, a baptist minister in Loudon,’ preached and published a sermon occasioned by the death of King William, and the following extract from it may be looked upon as a just expo sition of the political opinions of bis breth ren. “Magistracy is an ordinance of God; and we are bound by divine revelation not only to fear God but to honor tlie king.— But if a prince once break his coronation oath, and invade the liberties of his people, he is no longer a prince but a tyrant; for certainly the people have as just a right to the'legal government of the prince, as the prince has to the legal obedience of the people. The baptists of the day have no reason to be ashamed ol these sentiments, taught by one of their leading ministers during the last century, whether they view their accordance with the principles and facts in the New Testament which hear up on tlie duty of Christians to the civil mag istrate, or whether they look at their agree ment with the spirit am) Idler of the Brit ish constitution. At this trine the state ol tilings was alarming. Civil and religious liberty was in the greatest danger: lory ism had gained the ascendancy: intolerance was rampant, and bigotry could no longer he kept within bounds, the trial ol Dr. Saclteverel had caused extraordinary ex citement from the centre to the remotest parts of the kingdom; and this valiant son of the church by law established, this apol ogist and advocate for the divine right ol kings, this hero and martyr, was led in tri umph through the west of England amid, the loud and prolonged shouts of, “No Popery,“Down with dissenters,” “No Church, ltd King.” Violence and outrage were committed oil the persons ot proper ty of dissenters bv these pious atitl peacea ble sansof our venerable establishment.— Many who refused allegiance to the late king were raised to places of trust, emolu ment, and honor; the ddetrifie of heredita ry ’ right was avowed in addresses to the tlvimey, vol. i. p. 501< flvimey, vol. iii- p< 2s. Publisher —BENJ. BRANTL.Y. NUMBER 8. queen, and iii books widely distributed a- . niong the people: while vigorous efforts were made to retire and restore popery by some ol the clergy, who went so far as to propose a union between the French and English churches. Just about this time’ the Schism Bill passed both houses of par liament and received the royal assent, but the very day fixed upon for it to come into operation, the misguided queen- was're. moved by death to a t'ril until \viierfi tyran ny will receive its recompense. Properly enough, the dissenters looked upon this as a signal in erposit on of pruviih nee. which called forth their devout and m i etT thanks givings to him who wrought tlieii deliver ance by turning the counsel of Ahithophel into Ibofishncss. In an address issued the year alter this event by the ministers of the Western Baptist Association', they remind ed the churches of tite design wit eh their enemies had formed against their “civil and religions privileges,” how the l ord appear ed for theni in lime of distress and fear, and “by a niarvethmx providence has dis appointed our enemies', outdone our faith, and prevented otir fears:” hence they re commended “that a solemn day of prayer and thanksgiving be observed by all the clmrcbes iii the association to bless our most gracious’ God lor hearing ;-nd so seasonably answering the prayers of his people.”§— These proceedings were honorable both let’ their piety and to their patriotism. They were thorough friends to genuine protes lanlrsin mid to true liberty. Peace to their memories! About the middle of the fast century ma ny dissenters of other denominations de graded themselves by receiving the Lord’s supper in the established'church, as a qual ification IVir municipal honors or for office tinder government. In the year 1742, there was a case of occasional conformity by a member of the baptist church meeting in Unicorn Yard, London. The offender was censured by tlie church, who sought advice from the board- of ministers. In’ tlteir emtdemnatioii of the practice, they made tlie following remarks about tlie prin ciple which led pur forefathers to separate from the national establishment of re igion.- “They could not, they durst not, submit to any religious constitution but what vVaS’ strictly regulated by the word.of God; nor receive as the rule of their faith, their wor ship, or their discipline, wiiat appeared to them to derive its origin only from the in ventions and decisions of fallible men.-- They could not hesitate one moment in their refusal of communion with a church, the very frame*of which is eorttrafy to the appointment of our Lord atid his apostles: a church that owes its constitution, its of ficers, its discipline, and many of its modes of worship, merely to human policy and power: and a church that assumes the ar bitrary right of imposing its prescriptions on the conscience of others.”|| These ad vocates of their civil rights were equally jealous about their religious liberties, know ing full well that if the former wire lost the latter would not he safe; and if we are to preserve our privileges as Christians, tve must defend our right as citizens. Can this lie done by standing aloof from politi eal movements? Would not absolutism in the state he soon followed by intolerance and despotism in the church? Did reli gious freedom evet flourish in any nation, ancient or modern, where civil liberty had no existence? .Our ancestors believed that the “enjoyment of civil liberty is essential to the development and exe/iio/v of five no blest. energies of the’ human mind; that there exist nil indissoluble connexion be tween the civil and religions freedom of a nation;’ that religions liberty, chilled in the deadly atmosphere of despotism, can open and spread only in the sunshine of politi cal freedom; that religion grows and blooms among the highest and most palmy branches of the tree of liberty, and ripens in luxuri ance among its topmost bongl-s ”* In the year 1745, the baptists gave re newed proofs of their love to constitutional .government and to religious liberty; for du ring that conclusive p -rind of English his tory they carne boldly forward to defend the liberties of tiie nation against domestic faction and foreign invasion. Though ex cluded from every situation under govern ment, by the infamous test act, and, like all other dissenting communities, were told to be thankful for the blessings of toleration; yet no sooner di.l the cr\pniies. to tlie Hano ver succession threaten to sweep away the safeguards’ of our civil and religions liber ties, and to. restore the ascendancy of Ro manism, than many of our own people rushed into the co -flirt and hazarded their lives in putting down the rehe I on. After the victory of Culloden. Joseph stennett preached and pub’ish and a t-ennon entitled Rabshakeh’s Retie it, in the course of which he exposed the plea for the divine right of kings in the following words: “Blessed he God we have received such notions of those liberties which xvefe bought at so dear a rale by our forefathers, that we are not easily entangled again with such a yoke of bondage as this.— The dictates of reason and feVelatinft speak of no such indefeasible right in any man, and the histories of all the nations show, that these principles have everywhere been obliged to give way to (he common fights of mankind. Government is fouhded on §lvimey, vol. iii. p. 108. !|Sce mote in Ivimey, vol. iii. p. 233. ’•Hall’s Works, vol. vi. pp. 2fll, 205.