tion and interests of pure doctrine. They value pure doctrine as the instrument of producing and promoting vital religion. With them, truth is for the soul, that the soul may be for God. They dread a formal and lifeless orthodoxy. History has taught them, that sound doctrine will be soon abandoned by churches, in which it is not preserved by the affections of the heart, as well as by the convictions of the judgment. They know that hearers with unconverted hearts may be impatient and jealous of unsound doctrine, and that preachers, destitute of vital piety, may proclaim an accurate and evangelical theology. They perceive that no forms of discipline, worship, or doctrine, can have power and prevail, if they are not impregnated with life, and administered with the warm impulse of heartfelt affection. At the present time, they see even a system of sacramental superstition prevailing more through the fervour, earnestness, and self-denial, of its advocates, than by their learning, genius, and ability, great as they confessedly are. Moreover, though the brethren present perceive that it is the indispensable duty of the independent churches to bear their appropriate part in the great pending struggles for liberty and truth, yet they are not insensible to the imminent danger to which they are exposed, who engage, however wisely and unavoidably, in such a contest, of sustaining injury in respect to the power of experimental religion, and to the calmness, the candour, and the charity of the Christian temper. The meeting, therefore, with heartfelt satisfaction, testifies its belief, that the life and power of pure and undefiled religion is, to the Congregational churches and their pastors, their dearest interest, their highest aim. As the preservation and spread of this religion is the ultimate end for which they witness and labour, so they feel that end can never be attained by them, unless they are imbued with that piety they labour to promote. Thus do Independents desire civil freedom, administered through representative institutions, by public virtue, for the sake of religious liberty. Religious liberty is with them, freedom from the dominion of men, that they may be under law to Christ, in an undeviating obedience to his authority, declared in Holy Scripture. They appeal to that authority in questions of church polity, as well as of Christian doctrine, because they think the polity prescribed by Inspiration was designed to preserve the doctrines it propounds. Those sacred doctrines they chiefly value as the message of salvation, rendered efficacious in the living and experimental piety they produce, when accompanied with the power of the Spirit, in the hearts of believers. This is their ultimate aim. They can be satisfied only with vital godliness, adorned with a Christian temper, rich in good works, crowned with salvation, and terminating in glory to God in the highest, through Jesus Christ their Lord.

A third paper was then read, on "The Validity of the Ministry of Congregational Pastors Vindicated," which, as there was not time fully to consider it, was referred back to the Committee, and by them to be brought upon again at the annual meeting in May next.

At three o'clock the meeting adjourned for dinner, which was most hospitably provided at the Exchange Rooms, where a large and most respectable company partook of a cold repast.

As the Rev. W. H. Stowell was to leave Nottingham that night, to be present at the opening of Dr. Raffles's chapel on the following day, it was proposed, and most cordially adopted, that he should convey to Dr. Raffles and his friends, and to the ministers assembled at Liverpool, the affectionate greetings and cordial congratulations of the united brethren at Nottingham.

At six o'clock a very large congregation assembled in Friar's Lane Chapel, when the Rev. John Morison, D.D., of Chelsea, delivered an animated and Scriptural address on Congregational Church Polity, founded on the principle, that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is the Religion of Protestants."

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He was followed by the Rev. W. H. Stowell, Theological Tutor of Rotherham College, on "The Purity of Evangelical Doctrine, secured by Congregational Church Principles." This acute and conclusive address was heard with deep interest by a crowded auditory, who, doubtless, regretted that its gifted author was compelled to impair its effect by omitting his last division, which was necessary to the complete. ness of the argument. We sincerely hope that its author will permit its publication in our pages.

The great length of the documents read at the meeting of Thursday morning, compels us to defer the record of that day's proceedings till our next number.

MEETINGS OF COUNTY ASSOCIATIONS.

DORSET.-The autumnal meeting of the Dorset County Association was held at Wareham, in the last week of September. The Rev. George Jones, of Lyme Regis, preached on Tuesday evening, the 28th, at the Upper Meeting. A prayer meeting was held at the Old Meeting on Wednesday morning the 29th, at seven o'clock; at eight o'clock, in the British School-room, there was a public breakfast of the teachers and friends of Sunday-schools; after which, addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Gurnett, Bodwell, Jones, and Joseph Smedmore; at eleven o'clock the services connected with the recognition of the Rev. Thomas Seavill, as pastor of the church, assembling in the Old Meeting, Wareham, commenced, Mr. Chamberlain stated the nature and condition of a Christian church; Mr. Bodwell asked the usual questions, to which satisfactory answers were returned by Mr. John Brown, one of the deacons of the church, and by Mr. Seavill, the pastor elect; Mr. A. Morton Brown offered the recognition prayer; Mr. Spink addressed the pastor and church; and Messrs. Rice, Simper, and Jones, also took part in the service. At seven o'clock in the evening, a devotional meeting was held. Mr. Joseph Smedmore commenced with reading the Scriptures and prayer; Mr. A. Morton Brown gave a very interesting detail of his visits to the village stations in the north and east of the county; Mr. Jones addressed backsliders, and prayed for them; Mr. Rice spoke of submission to Christ, and prayed; and Mr. Bodwell spoke of the danger of delay, and concluded with prayer. At the business meeting in the afternoon, the minute secretary was instructed to furnish county statistics for the Congregational Calendar; and to forward a circular to each church in the county, recommending a simultaneous collections in behalf of British Missions, on the 31st of October, 1841.

The unavoidable absence of the Rev. William Jay, of Bath, as well as of the venerable and long tried friends the Rev. Messrs. Durant and Keynes, was much regretted. The attendance at all these services was very encouraging, notwithstanding the unpropitious weather.

THE MONMOUTHSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF ENGLISH MINISTERS AND CHURCHES held its half yearly meeting in Newport, at the Tabernacle, September 15th, 1841. Preachers :-The previous evening, the Rev. Edward White, Cardiff; Rev. T. Rees, of Chepstow, addressed the Sunday-school teachers. At seven o'clock in the morning the Rev. J. Bunn, of Abergavenny, took the given subject, "On brotherly love." At three o'clock a public meeting was held, to excite attention to Home, Irish, Colonial, and Foreign Missions; and in the evening the Rev. T. Loader, of Monmouth, preached at seven o'clock. Various ministers engaged in the devotional services.

Simultaneous collections for British Missions on Lord's-day, the 31st of October next, were unanimously recommended, and it is hoped will be adopted by the churches connected with this association.

STAFFORDSHIRE CONGREGATIONAL UNION.-The twenty-seventh anniversary of this Union was held at West Bromwich, on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th, of July, 1841. The Committee met on Monday the 12th, at three, p.m. The ministers and delegates began to assemble at five, and a preparatory sermon was preached by the Rev. John Raven, of Birmingham. On Tuesday the 13th, a prayer-meeting was held at seven, a.m.; the district committees of the county met at nine; the business of the Union commenced at ten, and continued till half-past one. A dinner was provided in the School-room, to which ladies, as well as members of the Union, were admitted. Business was resumed after dinner. The annual sermon was preached in the evening by the Rev. J. Fletcher, of Hanley. The subject of the discourse was the possibility and duty of a church to retain the state of revival to which it may be raised. After the discourse the Lord's supper was administered to members of Christian churches present. At the communion, the Rev. John Hill, of Gornal, presided, and several other brethren gave addresses. Wednesday was occupied in a similar way to that of the previous day, with the exception that in the evening a public meeting was held. The chair was taken, and the report read, by the Rev. J. C. Galloway. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Messrs. Cook, of Utoxeter; Pearce, of Lozells; Fletcher, of Hanley; Hudson, of West Bromwich; East, of Birmingham; Hammond, of Handsworth; Griffiths, of Pean; Hall, of Wolverhampton; Hill, of Gornal; Owen, of Snethwick; Buck, of Burton. On Thursday morning the ministers met at nine, and spent nearly three hours in fraternal conference, on the duties and difficulties of the Christian ministry. These meetings were characterized by close attention to business, uninterrupted harmony, and fervent prayer. In addition to the ordinary business which the operations of the Union in different parts of the county occasioned, resolutions were passed in favour of making arrangements to have deputations of ministerial brethren to visit every church and preaching-station in the county, with a view to promote the revival of religion in such places, and the extension of efforts to make known the way of salvation-in favour of addressing the Committee of the Congregational Union of England and Wales on the importance of obtaining much more spacious premises for the annual meeting in London; of securing longer time for the meeting; and holding public services in connexion with it; in favour of requesting the same Committee to take into consideration the desirableness of publishing a cheap, practical and devotional, monthly periodical, with a view to interest the members of our churches generally, in the principles of Congregationalism, and on the state and transactions of our different churches and denominational institutions; in favour of forming a Voluntary Church Association for the county, in connexion with the one in London, &c.

CUMBERLAND.-A meeting was held at Aspatria, October 6th, 1841, for the purpose of reviving and reorganising the association of pastors and churches in the county of Cumberland, which, owing to the lamented death of the late secretary, the Rev. J. Helliwell, had not met since June, 1839.

The following ministers of the county were present. Rev. R. Wolstenholme, Carlisle; Rev. R. G. Milne, A.M., Whitehaven; Rev. J. Reeve, Aspatria; Rev. D. Black, Abbey-holme; and Rev. A. F. Shawyer, Cockermouth. Letters were received from the Rev. Messrs Harper, of Alston; Brewis, of Penrith, aud Baker of Brampton, regretting their unavoidable absence, and containing assurances of cordial concurrence and co-operation with the brethren assembled. The meeting was favoured with the presence and counsel of the Rev. Dr. Matheson and the Rey. J. Blackburn, secretaries, respectively, of the Home Missionary Society, and the Congregational Union. The assembled pastors were also honoured with the presence and advice of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, of Brayton Hall, Bart., whose Christian hospitality, zeal, and devotedness, entitle him to the esteem and gratitude of our denomination.

The proceedings were commenced with prayer by Dr. Matheson. After the rules of the association had been revised to meet the present state of the churches in the county, and other necessary business had been disposed of, a deputation was received from the church at Workington, who sought the advice and co-operation of the association, in obtaining an assistant minister for their venerable and beloved pastor, the Rev. S. Peil, who has laboured in word and doctrine in that town, upwards of fifty years. Arrangements were consequently made for the purpose of effecting the objects of the deputation. The spiritual condition and claims of several districts, but ill furnished with religious instruction, engaged the sympathies of the meeting, and various resolutions of a practical tendency, were passed with a view to promote the spiritual interests of the county.

Among the incidental subjects brought forward, the importance and necessity of extreme caution, in admitting unknown ministers into the fellowship of our associa tions, and to the pastorate of our churches, was particularly commented upon and strongly recommended; but no decisive arrangements on this subject, were submitted to the meeting, it being understood, that the Congregational Union proposed consider. ing the question, with the view of recommending some plan for guarding, in this respect, the honour and purity of the denomination.

COLLEGIATE ANNIVERSARIES.

AIRDALE COLLEGE YORKSHIRE.-The annual examination of the students took place on Tuesday, June 22nd; the Rev. J. G. Miall, of Bradford, presided. The studies pursued by the various classes during the year have been the following :—

Hebrew.-Book of Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Genesis, c. 19 to end, Leviticus, 20 chapters, and Isaiah, 26 chapters, collating them with the Septua gint. One class was prepared to translate 28 verses of the 1st chapter of the Gospel of John from Greek into Hebrew.

Syriac.-Gospel by Matthew, chap. 7 to 16, inclusive, and the Epistle to the

Romans.

Greek.-The Oration of Demosthenes, "De Corona." The "Prometheus Vinetus," of Eschylus. First book of Iliad. Æsop's fables, and the Odes of Anacreon. Also from the Greek Testament, Mat., 12 chapters, the Epistle to Ephes., Phil., Coloss, and of James, Peter, and John.

Mathematics.-The first, second, fifth, sixth, and twelfth books of Euclid, with the elements of Plane Trigonometry; also two classes in Algebra, as far as Simple Equations.

Latin. Pliny's Letters, Terence's " Andria," Horace's Odes and "Carmen Seculare," with the first book of the " Æneid."

Divinity.-Lectures on the Being and perfections of God, and on preaching and the pastoral office. The two senior classes had also read in Calvin's Institutes.

Mental Philosophy.-Brown's Lectures on the Emotions; and six essays from Reid, on the human mind, as text books.

French.-First vol. of "Pensees de Pascal."

Church History by Mosheim, and Belles Lettres by Blair.

Report of the Examining Committee.

The Committee have no hesitation in expressing their conviction that the results of the examination have been such as to reflect high honour on the students and their respected tutors. Time and opportunities have, it is evident, been most sedulously improved, both by those who have directed, and those who have pursued the course of

the year. And when the diversity of subjects is remembered, the amount of acquisition affords a gratifying promise of the attainments which may be expected from the students in their subsequent ministerial life.

On the following day a public meeting was held in the College Chapel, when the following essays were read:-"On the sin of Quenching the Spirit," by Mr. Lings; on the "Harmony of Reason and Revelation," by Mr. Goodall; on the "Adaptation of Christianity to the Moral State of Man." And the Rev. T. Scales, of Leeds, delivered a most excellent and suitable address to the Students, which was unanimously requested to be printed. After which, the constituents of the college met in the library; J. P. Clapham, Esq., in the chair. Rev. W. Scott, theological tutor of the nstitution, read the report, from which it appeared that three students had finished their academic course since last midsummer: Mr. Alfred Scales, who is supplying a vacant church and congregation at Bangor; Mr. H. Lings, who has accepted an invitation to take the pastorship of a newly-formed church at Accrington, in Lancashire ; and Mr. S. Goodall, of the church assembling at Claypath Chapel, Durham.

In the evening an interesting and useful sermon was preached in the College Chapel, by the Rev. H. J. Muir, of Sheffield. The next session is expected to commence with twenty students.

ROTHERHAM COLLEGE.-The friends and supporters of this institution held their annual meeting at the close of the session, on the 30th of June last, in the College Library-Joseph Hodgson, Esq., in the chair. After the usual introductory services, the three senior students, Messrs. Wilson, Lewin, and Beddow, who then closed their course of study in the house, and who have all entered upon promising spheres of ministerial labour, read essays upon the following subjects :-"The Harmony of the Writings of St. Paul and St. James on the Doctrine of Justification;" "The Relation of the Atonement to the Divine Purposes;" "The Life, Character, and Writings of Tertullian." After the reading of these essays, Dr. Alliott delivered an address to the students, affording admirable counsels to them in the several stages of their career. The Rev. W. H. Stowell, theological tutor, read the report, which was very satisfactory in all the aspects of the college, inspiring the hope that its supporters will see upon it the visible tokens of heavenly blessings. The funds of the college are in a less satisfactory state than they were last year, the number of students and the consequent expenses of the house having increased, while the subscriptions had fallen short of the customary amount. In the present depressed state of commercial affairs, a great and speedy augmentation of the funds of the institution can scarcely be expected, yet in the confidence that a brighter day is dawning, the Committee may reasonably indulge the hope and press the entreaty, that the Protestant dissenters of Yorkshire, as well as of other parts of the kingdom, from which the ministers educated in this college have been sent, or in which they are labouring, will continue to this institution their liberal support. This college is prepared to take a large share in the great movement towards the moral elevation of our countrymen. It has its representatives in the missionary field. More than a hundred of our living ministers have been educated in it. From these ministers and their congregations the Committee naturally, and, as they feel, justly look for those funds which are required to carry on this institution with the energy which is called for by the urgency of the times.

The Committee of examination, of which the Rev. Dr. Alliott, of Nottingham, and the Rev. B. B. Haigh, of Tadcaster, were chairman, were engaged on the Monday and Tuesday previous to the annual meeting. The students were examined with great care on an extensive plan, by written papers in the departments of logic, mental science, ethics, Biblical antiquities, church history, and theology. They were previously ignorant of the questions to be answered, and wrote their replies in the presence of the examiner, without assistance, either from books or each other. Their papers under