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We see, then, in this System of Lay Agency, much to be admired. The spirit and design of the propounder of it are highly worthy of commendation, and, undoubtedly, it could not be wrought out in Christian devotedness without producing extensive and important benefits. We suspect, however, that it will make very dissimilar impressions on the minds of different persons. Some ardent and zealous spirits may be prompted to exclaim, 'This is the plan! Thank God I have lived to see the day when it has been propounded! Only let this be carried out, and we shall soon see England evangelized.' We can imagine others gravely pondering this matter, and concluding their meditations with a shake of the head which says too plainly to be misunderstood, This is too bad. It can never be done. It is altogether utopian.' For ourselves we think we must select a place between these two parties. However we may practically shrink from the unwonted exertions to which this writer invokes us, we may not-and we will not attempt it-justify a reluctance to labor, or yield any thing to mere hypothetical difficulties, conceived to lie in a path we have made no effort to pursue. To every allegation that what he recommends cannot be done, the author is fully entitled to answer, TRY: if all cannot be done, a part may; and, at all events, much more can be done than is as yet attempted. We think, indeed, that he estimates the resources of our churches rather high. He reckons that a church of six hundred members would furnish at least fifty domestic expositors; that is to say, that every twelfth member of a church is qualified to conduct domestic exposition of the scriptures-and this, after he has taken out of it a prior twelfth, a first fifty of its ablest men, for district and congregational helpers and other officers. We are happy to think that he has found any church of Christ, his experimental acquaintance with which authorizes him to rate the qualifications of others so high. But, even if he have overrated them, it remains beyond question that there are in the churches men, and those not a few, who could do much of what is here laid down, and who ought to do it. There are interesting cases in which such exertions are begun, and we should be very sorry to say a single word that could discourage them, or to fail of contributing our slender share to their enlargement. In a similar strain we should remark upon the very obvious objections which may be started, as to the expense involved in providing so many rooms, libraries, &c., and the impossibility of persons in business attending so many meetings. There is force, no doubt, in these objections; but they amount to nothing as reasons why people should not do all they can. sum of them is, that the attempt to execute such a plan will be attended with difficulties. Of course it will; and we can meet

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this wise saw by another, at least equally true, namely, that those who do not try will never overcome them.

After all that we have said in commendation, however, we must add that we have our objections too, although of another class. To this System of Lay Agency, as a system, we cannot give in our adhesion. Our points of difference shall be stated.

In the first place, we cannot concur in what our author calls the governing principle' of his system. He would have every thing done by the churches. If this means any thing-any thing at least that we can understand-it means, that all evangelical movements' shall be considered and decided at church meetings, and all matters and questions relating to them brought for determination before the same assembly, either by direct proposition, or ultimately by reports of responsible committees. We find it difficult to believe that any person acquainted with our churches, and calling to mind for a moment the elements which constitute them, can affirm them to be well adapted to such deliberations. If the author means, however, (as, from subsequent passages, pp. 351, 357, we suspect he does,) that the pastor alone, or together with the deacons or with officers known by any other name, should plan and determine, and that the church at large should only do their bidding without participating in the deliberations, we think he uses language in a sense in which it will not be generally understood; nor can we see what advantage such a method can be supposed to possess over those above which he exalts it.

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Secondly. We dislike the tone of dictation and authority in which the whole plan is conceived. This is continually breaking out in the phraseology employed. The members of the district 'shall each subscribe at least one penny a week,' &c, 'It is to 'be expressly understood that every member shall use the library, ' and means shall be taken... to see that they profit by it.' With us this language almost provokes a smile; but we refrain from any indulgence of levity on a serious subject. The subject, however, is not only serious, but important. In a later chapter, in which he treats of the governing principle relative to agents,' the author, with much caution, lets us into the whole of his views on it, by quoting with approbation some passages from the Scotch First Book of Discipline, and printing in capitals the following significant passage. For no man may be permitted as best pleaseth him to live within the kirk of God, but every man must be constrained, by fraternal admonition and correction, to 'bestow his labours, when of the kirk he is required, to the 'edification of others.'--p. 290. The members of our churches will here see what kind of a rod would be held over them if the author of Jethro were in Moses' seat. Earnestly as we wish every member of a church to be active to the utmost of his

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power, and to concur in evangelical movements' with his brethren, we are not for having A. B. and C. brought before a church meeting for correction,' because they will not go where they are ordered. This new department of church discipline has small warrant from scripture, we think, and will find but few to welcome it across the Tweed.

Thirdly. We dissent altogether from the view taken by our author of the pastoral office. At what rate he is for vesting authority in the bishop,' (p. 355,) we feel it necessary to make a short extract to show.

The Christian pastor, according to the sacred scriptures, is contituted both the teacher and the ruler of the church, of which the Holy Spirit hath made him overseer. He is, under Christ, the head and chief of the institution with which he stands connected. He is the organ through whom is administered the code of laws by which the kingdom of heaven is regulated. He is their sole administrator. He is, likewise, the instrument by whom those truths are promulgated which bring health and cure to the human soul. He is the only authorized and responsible instructer of the faithful. All other teachers are subordinate and auxiliary to him. The entire system of tuition likewise, which emanates from the church, is wholly under his superintendence. This duty devolves exclusively on him, not on the church; for he alone has the 'rule' over that part of the kingdom which Christ has assigned him; and that rule extends to every thing which can constitute its subject.'-Jethro, p. 354.

We differ toto cœlo from this statement of pastoral pretensions, and we are sure it will be very unwelcome to the congregational churches of England, both Independent and Baptist. The author tells us, indeed, (and the statement is worthy of deep consideration,) that vesting this authority in the bishop' is essential to his scheme, and warns us thus emphatically of the consequences of rejecting it.

There is another light in which the subject may be consideredand grave, indeed ought to be the consideration-no other system will work; but this will work powerfully and well every where, and for evermore. This principle of management must be conceded, or the whole question of lay agency must be given up in despair. All plans, however excellent, in which this principle is violated by artificial theory, or neglected by apathy, or opposed and thwarted by the rage of an ultra democratic spirit, will prove abortive.'--Jethro, p. 356.

Be it so. The author has, then, certainly, a subject to discuss with the congregational churches of our country, before they can lend an ear to his practical instructions, and it is a pity that he had not addressed himself to it. He says (p. 356) that it is painful 'to be under the necessity of arguing a point so clear;' but to the persons for whom he has written, this point is not so clear' yet

as to render some little argumentation unnecessary, and of a species very different, we must be permitted to say, from the denunciations which are to be found in p. 357. To tell us, as he has done, that no other system will work,' is but to condemn his whole scheme at once; for we are convinced that we run no risk in assuring him, that whether any other system will work or not, the system of spiritual domination will not. In truth, we believe that the author of Jethro has vastly overdone his scheme in the matter of organization. It is like a royal procession, almost all trappings and harness. What we want, in our humble judgment, and what we trust, in spite of himself, his book will largely promote, is not the incessant and universal application of the military drill system, but a more free and unfettered activity for God, on the part of every Christian, in the sphere in which God has placed him, and according to the means with which God has endowed him.

We must now hasten to conclude our remarks. Jethro, the volume to which we have felt it our duty to devote our chief attention, is not the production we prefer. With all its excellencies, which are not few, it is written too rapidly and too dictatorially to be either very judicious, or very satisfactory. We cannot account for the writer's extreme fondness for the Methodist and Moravian systems. Dr. Matheson's essay enters directly into things as they are, with much patience and judgment; and aims more at enlarging and improving existing agencies, than at striking out new paths. He comes home with us, accompanies us in our ordinary walks, enters into our perplexities, and at every step quickens, counsels, and encourages. As a sample of the good qualities we have mentioned, we extract a passage relating to the Loan Tract system as carried on by the Christian Instruction Society, and the causes of its comparatively slender

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'It has been hinted already, that considering the many thousands of tracts in circulation, and the many hundreds of excellent persons, male and female, regularly and perseveringly engaged in lending them for a great length of time, the result has been very trifling. This subject has long engaged my attention. I have tried to ascertain from the agents themselves, in various places, how they managed the business; and I have no hesitation in saying, that in general the duty has been performed too hastily, without conversation, and too often without the spirit of prayer. The important object to be attained was too little realized, and consequently the necessity of divine influence was not sufficiently felt. In many cases the districts were too large; and where so many houses were to be visited, there was no time for personally addressing the consciences of individuals. Besides, inquiry was seldom made whether the persons receiving the tracts attended an evangelical ministry. Or even if this point were ascertained, they were still lent to all, without discrimination, in that particular district.

It might be, that one-third of the families visited were hearing the gospel every Sabbath-day; while families in some other part of the town, living in the neglect of all ordinances, were overlooked. Supposing this to be the case, then we may say that one-third of the agent's time and energies were misapplied, or, as far as concerned the persons entirely destitute of instruction, lost. I do not say that the visits of a judicious tract-lender might not be highly beneficial, even to those who have other opportunities of instruction. I speak only in reference to the existing deficiency of means to reach the case of those who 'care for none of these things.' The grand defect, however, (so far as regards the manner of execution,) is, that the agents do not spend enough time in each house. Into some dwellings, perhaps, they cannot obtain admission; but in others a few kind words would soon secure an entrance, as well as an attentive hearing. It may be generally expected that success will be in proportion to the care bestowed by the visitor on each particular case. Two minutes' or five minutes' serious conversation, founded upon the tract, or arising out of the circumstances of the family, would do more to interest and impress the minds of the careless, than the reading of many pages. Where this duty is attended to, there is a greater probability that the tract will be read, and that the visitor will perhaps become acquainted with facts calculated both to direct and to encourage him in his labour of love. This is highly important: for where there is no appearance of success, he is apt to become discouraged, heartless, and irregular in the work, if he does not give it up altogether. A better acquaintance with individuals might discover to him where good was doing, or where opportunities of doing it were most favourable. At all events it would deepen his feelings of interest in each family; and render his prayers on their behalf more minute, specific, and importunate. He would also be enabled to find and to improve occasions suitable for praying with the persons visited. And besides the blessings to be expected in answer to fervent prayer, we are all aware how impressively it conveys to the minds of the impenitent the deep sense of their misery and danger which dictates such supplications. I do not think it is too much to say, that if one-fourth of the families now visited by tract distributors were thus individually and deliberately attended to, the results would be much greater than they have ever yet been.'—Our Country, pp. 70-73.

Dr. Matheson has not confined himself entirely, however, to the evangelical agencies already in existence. In his chapter on the necessities of the rural population, whom he justly deems the most difficult of access, he deviates materially from the beaten track, and sketches a plan of operation, at present, so far as we know, totally unemployed.

Were it not that our space warns us to desist, we should be happy to prolong our notice of this volume; but we must conclude by expressing our cordial thanks to the writers of both the Essays for the pains they have taken with so important a subject, and our devout wishes that the volumes may be extensively useful.

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