THE OBJECTS OF THE ALLIANCE. left to adopt such methods of prosecuting these great ends, as may to them appear most in accordance with their respective circumstances; all at the same time pursuing them in the spirit of tender compassion and love. vancement of Evangelical Protestantism, and on the counteraction of Infidelity, of "1. That, inasmuch as this proposal Romanism, and of such other forms of for Union originated, in a great degree, superstition, error, and profaneness, as in the sense very generally entertained are most prominently opposed to it, esamong Christians, of their grievous prac-pecially the desecration of the Lord's day; tical neglect of our Lord's new com- it being understood, that the different mandment' to His disciples, to 'love one Organizations of the Alliance shall be another;'-in which offence the members of the Alliance desire, with godly sorrow, to acknowledge their full participation, it ought to form one chief object of the Alliance, to deepen in the minds of its own members, and, through their influence, to extend among the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ generally, that conviction of sin and shortcoming in this respect, which the blessed Spirit of God seems to be awakening throughout His Church; in order that, humbling themselves more and more before the Lord, they may be stirred up to make full confession of their guilt at all suitable times, and to implore, through the me rits and intercession of their merciful Head and Saviour, forgiveness of their past offences, and Divine grace to lead them to the better cultivation of that brotherly affection which is enjoined upon all, who, loving the Lord Jesus Christ, are bound also to love one another, for the truth's sake which dwelleth in them. "2. That the great object of the Evangelical Alliance shall be, to aid in manifesting, as far as practicable, the unity which exists among the true disciples of Christ; to promote their union by fraternal and devotional intercourse; to discourage all envyings, strifes, and divisions; to impress upon Christians a deeper sense of the great duty of obeying their Lord's command-to 'love one another,' and to seek the full accomplishment of His prayer, That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.' "3. That, in furtherance of this object, the Alliance shall receive such information respecting the progress of vital religion, in all parts of the world, as Christian brethren may be disposed to communicate; and a correspondence shall be opened and maintained with Christian brethren in different parts of the world, especially with those who may be engaged, amidst peculiar difficulties and opposition, in the cause of the Gospel, in order to afford them all suitable encouragement and sympathy, and to diffuse an interest in their welfare. "4. That, in subserviency to the same great object, the Alliance will endeavour to exert a beneficial influence on the ad "5. That, in promoting these and similar objects, the Alliance contemplates chiefly the stimulating of Christians to such efforts as the exigencies of the case may demand, by publishing its views in regard to them, rather than accomplishing these views by any general organization of its own. "6. That reports, minutes, and other documents, in promotion of the above objects, shall be published by the Alliance at the time of its meetings, or by its order afterwards; and similar documents may be issued from time to time by its various Organizations, on their own responsibility." The truly Christian spirit of the Alliance may be gathered from the following resolutions of the London Conference, which were adopted by the members of the British Organization, and were appointed to be read at each annual conference of the British Organization, on the first day of meeting, during the course of the devotional exercises. "1. That the members of this Alliance earnestly and affectionately recommend to each other, in their own conduct, and particularly in their own use of the press, carefully to abstain from, and put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, with all malice; and, in all things in which they may yet differ from each other, to be kind, tender-hearted, forbearing one another in love, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven them; in everything seeking to be followers of God, as dear children, and to walk in love, as Christ also hath loved them. "2. That, as the Christian Union which this Alliance desires to promote can be obtained only through the blessed energy of the Holy Spirit, it be recommended to the members present, and ab London Conf. Abst., p. 9; and Manchester Conf. Abst, pp 6, 7. tongue, or the pen, towards Christians of other denominations; and to promote more zealously than hitherto, a spirit of peace, unity, and godly love, among all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. sent brethren, to make this matter the subject of simultaneous weekly petition at the throne of grace, in their closets and families; and the forenoon of Monday is suggested as the time for that purpose. And that it be further recommended, that the week beginning with the first Lord's day of January, in each year, be observed by the members and friends of the Alliance throughout the world, as a season for concert in prayer on behalf of the grand objects contem-nestly recommended to the members of plated by the Alliance. "3. That, in seeking the correction of what the members of this Alliance believe to be wrong in others, they desire, in humble dependence on the grace of God, themselves to obey, and by their practice and influence to impress upon others, the command of Christ, to consider first the beam that is in their own eye that they will, therefore, strive to promote, each in his own communion, a spirit of repentance and humiliation for its peculiar sins; and to exercise a double measure of forbearance in reproving, where reproof is needful, the faults of those Christian brethren who belong to other bodies than their own. "4. That, when required by conscience to assert or defend any views or principles wherein they differ from Christian brethren who agree with them in vital truths, the members of this Alliance will aim earnestly, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to avoid all rash and groundless insinuations, personal imputations, or irritating allusions, and to maintain the meekness and gentleness of Christ, by speaking the truth only in love. 5. That, while they believe it highly desirable that Christians of different bodies, holding the Head, should own each other as brethren by some such means as the Evangelical Alliance affords, the members of this Alliance disclaim the thought, that those only who openly join this Society are sincere friends to the cause of Christian Union; that, on the contrary, they regard all those as its true friends, who solemnly purpose their hearts, and fulfil that purpose in their practice, to be more watchful in future against occasions of strife, more tender and charitable towards Christians from whom they differ, and more constant in prayer for the union of all the true disciples of Christ. in "7. That, since all the disciples of Christ are commanded by the Holy Spirit to add to brotherly kindness, love,and are bound to pray, that all who profess and call themselves Christians, should be led into the way of truth;-it is ear the Evangelical Alliance, to offer special prayer for all merely nominal Christians, as well as for Jews and Gentiles throughout the world. "8. That the members of this Alliance, earnestly longing for the universal spread of Christ's kingdom, devoutly praise God for the grace whereby, in late years, Evangelical Christians have been moved to manifold efforts to make the Saviour known to both Jew and Gentile, and faithful men have been raised up to undertake the toil. They would offer to all Evangelical Missionaries their most fraternal congratulations and sympathy; would hail the flocks they have been honoured to gather, as welcome and beloved members of the household of God; and, above all, would implore the Head of the Church to shield his servants, to edify his rising Churches, and, by the outpouring of his Holy Spirit, to enlighten Israel with the knowledge of the true Messiah, and to bring the heathen out of darkness into light. They would also record their confident hope, that their beloved Missionary brethren will strive more and more to manifest, before the Israelite and other classes who know not the Redeemer, that union in their blessed Lord, the spirit of which, the members of this Alliance would gratefully acknowledge, they have generally cherished." A careful perusal of the foregoing Constitution and Resolutions, will put the inquirer in possession of the principal features of the Evangelical Alliance; will enable him to estimate the weight of the objections which, at first sight, might occur to him; as well as suggest some of the benefits and blessings which may reasonably be expected to attend its success. or 1. It is an Alliance of individuals; not an Association of churches, sects, denominations, through representatives. "6. That the members of this Alliance would therefore invite, humbly and earnestly, all ministers of the Gospel, all This principle of its constitution marks conductors of religious publications, and its object; which is to bring out, and to others who have influence in various bodies of Christians, to watch more than act through the means of those great ever against sins of the heart, or the essentials, in which Evangelical Chris tians of all denominations are agreed, leaving entirely out of view those points of difference which have caused this variety of denominations. The Evangelical Alliance leaves its members unfettered in the maintenance of all and each of the peculiar tenets or modes of worship which they prefer; under this single limitation, that each shall do so with Christian love and tenderness towards others. The bitterness which had hitherto subsisted between different churches and denominations—the acrimony of controversial writings-the uncharitable expressions, and, it is to be feared, the personal hostility of individual disputants-were regarded as a very great evil, and as one of the greatest obstacles to true Christian union. One great purpose of the Alliance was to soften, if not to eradicate, these. And it is fondly hoped that, in this respect, it has been blessed with no small share of success. Its influence has not been confined to its own members; to those able and distinguished controversialists who have joined its ranks, and, in doing so, have publicly and solemnly pledged themselves henceforth to dispute as brethren, and to write as Christians. On the contrary, the example of such men acting upon a system of love, has tended to sweeten the whole tone of religious controversy; and made even their opponents ashamed to maintain a rancorous spirit, which they feel to have been renounced and abandoned by the members of the Alliance. At the meetings of the Alliance, individuals are brought into contact with each other, whom denominational differences would otherwise have inevitably kept separate. They are taught to regard each other with those feelings which their union in essentials suggests; whilst the points of their difference and consequent separation are entirely sunk and forgotten. How important are the former, as bearing upon eternity, and how comparatively unimportant are the latter, as having reference mainly to time-may be illustrated by the fact, so universally acknowledged in the Alliance,-that its devotional exercises, its approaches to God in solemn and united prayer, have never borne the slightest tincture of sectarian peculiarity. Seldom, if ever, can the church or denomination of the member who leads their devotions, be known or discovered from the strain of his address or exhortation. The experience of the worshipper teaches him to expect, with perfect confidence, the movements of Evangelical piety, as well as the expression of truly catholic sentiments. In direct access to God there is no collision of individual paths. The attraction is to a common centre; in approaching which, the individual worshippers approximate to each other, only to meet where all is harmony, union, and love. The objection, therefore, that the Evangelical Alliance has no respect for differences of religious opinion,—or that, in joining its ranks, any individual is exposed to a compromise of his peculiar opinions on the one hand, or to hear them undervalued on the other-is completely obviated by its constitution. 2. The action of the Evangelical Alliance, although direct in reference to its own members, is mainly and necessarily indirect upon Christendom in general. Of its direct influence upon the characters, feelings, and conduct of its members, it is difficult to speak except in general terms. It is confidently trusted, that many of its members have seen cause to bless the day when they were induced to join it. It is believed, that all have felt the elevating spirit of its larger assemblies, and experienced the ameliorating influence of its devotional meetings; that the timid and doubtful have found their grasp of Gospel truth rendered firmer, by perceiving that the same blessed truth was strongly held, and confidently relied on, by minds of a sterner and sturdier quality; and that men who had previously known each other only in the affairs of worldly business, have been led to conduct that business in a far better spirit, when they found, in those with whom they had to deal, that union of evangelical belief and sentiment which causes them habitually to meet at the Alliance. To the secret prayer—the fa mily devotion-the Sabbath worship- | experience, has not been allowed to evais now added an additional opportunity porate in words. Societies have been of approaching to God;-of approaching formed for the purpose of preventing or to Him under promises of peculiar bless- diminishing Sabbath desecration, which, ing-such as the Saviour himself attaches although distinct from the Alliance in to the manifestation of Christian union. constitution, are, in truth, offshoots from In all bodies there is a tendency to esprit this parent stem, and are still fostered by de corps. The prevading spirit of the the counsels, the encouragement, and the Alliance is that of love to God and man. prayers of the Alliance. Who can have None of its meetings fail to disengage witnessed the noble efforts that have that blessed and glorious spirit; and from lately been made, both within and withsome of its larger assemblies have pro- out the legislature, for the attainment of ceeded expressions of its essence and ten- this deeply important object-without dencies so precious and influential, as to becoming aware, that what previously constitute a noble gift and addition to had been confined to the labours of a few Christian literature. honoured individuals, has now become a national movement? And who can fail to trace in that movement, the workings of a vast combination of Christian pastors and laymen, who, having again and again met within the halls of the Alliance, to join in prayer for the better observance of the Sabbath throughout the land, and to interchange their views and counsels as to their own practical duty in regard to it-have parted with the determination of carrying these into execution, in all their various localities, from Orkney to the Land's End? But the indirect influence of the Alliance upon the Christian world around them, is perhaps still more important. Its constitution precludes it, except in very rare cases, from taking direct action as a body. Its influence upon its individual members is, however, a mighty means of acting indirectly upon others. Meeting as individuals in one common centre of Christian union-and thus impressed with the value of Christian objects and sharing in common counsels for their attainment,-its members disperse to their several spheres, and separate churches, and distinct localities, with the intention to aid the common movement, each in his own way. They are thus in combination, although distinct; and their working, however distant and diversified, has one common tendency, and aims at one common result. Such tendency can never be sectarian ;—such result must always be Christian. The range of such Christian objects must be as wide as the interests and employments of society itself. Yet one or two of these may be selected as worthy of particular notice at the present time. The due observance of the Sabbath is a truly catholic-a universally Christian object. As to details, individual Christians will differ. But, what then? There is a great, common, object, of surpassing interest, at stake; and all can unite in endeavouring to attain that object, in the way and manner that approve themselves to the conscience of each. Oh! how influential towards the conversion of the ungodly and unthinking world, would be a general union and concert among professing Christians, to keep the Sabbath holy! This would indeed be one of the manifestations of unity amongst His disThe due observance of the Lord's day ciples, upon which the Saviour's blessed has all along formed a prominent object promise might be expected to attend. It of the Alliance. The subject has been is a manifestation which every successive thoroughly discussed, at their meetings, meeting of the Evangelical Alliance has and in their committees. Its practical an increasing tendency to secure. Is there attainment has been the theme of many one who reads these lines, whose heart has valuable papers emanating from its mem- mourned for existing Sabbath desecration, bers. The interest created by this and trembled at its threatened increase interchange of sentiment, upon a subject-whose secret prayers have ascended to which comes home to every Christian's God, that He might restrain the wicked ness of ungodly men, and incline the hearts of His people to resist the progress of Sabbath desecration?-let him see the duty of joining his hand with the hands of those who have united together, in the face of the world, to achieve such great objects; and let him seek the blessing of God, by supporting the Evangelical Alliance,—the great support and bulwark of Sabbath observance. Another subject to which the attention of the Alliance has from the first been specially directed, is that of Popery. Against this system, the doctrinal basis of the Alliance presents a firm front, and a distinct protest. To check its advance to devise means for the spreading of Protestant principles-have been favourite objects of its members, collectively and individually. The whole subject was specially committed to one of the Divisions of the British Organization, and has been dealt with in their reports, and in the discussions which have followed upon them. It is not too much to say, that the mind of Great Britain has been materially influenced by these proceedings; that the Protestant principles of every member of the Alliance, both lay and clerical, have been strengthened; and that there probably are few parishes in the kingdom, where they have not been instrumental in preparing the people to meet the great crisis which has now arrived. It is believed, that to the minds, even of the most earnest and experienced Christians, the late universal movement amongst the Protestants of Great Britain was matter of surprise. No wonder, then, that it was little anticipated in other quarters; and that its intensity and universality have appalled the very aggressors themselves. It is now quite certain, that there has been of late years-aye, within these few years-a great awakening of our Protestant people, to the value of their pure religion, as well as to the dangers with which it is menaced. Yet these dangers are not new, any more than the blessings which they threaten to destroy. Rome has always been the same; and if her late overt attempt has been more incau tious than usual, this seemed to be justified by the apparent apathy of the people, and the real indifference of our rulers. But she has now been taught, by a series of movements throughout the length and breadth of this land, unprecedented in number and in energy, that beneath that apparent apathy, there slumbered a deep and rapidly increasing feeling of Protestant interest. How that interest has been created and fostered in later years, previous to any movement of aggression calculated to call it out, but ready to explode into national enthusiasm, upon the application of an apparently insignificant spark-may appear a mystery to others. But it is believed, that the members of the Evangelical Alliance have been at no loss to trace, in the events of the day, the workings of a gracious Providence, in answer to the combined prayers of the Protestant Christians assembled from every quarter of the country at the Annual meetings of the Evangelical Alliance, or collected in knots and committees throughout their several districts and divisions-in answer to the congregational devotions of Christian people, of all denominations, whose pastors have carried into every quarter of the country, the zeal and the anxiety for Protestant purity of doctrine and practice, which they derived from the meetings of the Alliance,-in answer to the exertions and the teaching of Christian parents, and husbands, and masters, whose minds have been awakened to the dangers of Popish doctrines, by the discussions of the Alliance. Christian Reader,-The subject is so extensive and so interesting, that it might lead me to trespass much farther on your time and patience. But I restrain myself by the consideration, that to suggest is better than to exhaust. They who have read so far, may probably think it worth their while to inquire farther into this subject, for themselves. They who have thrown down this paper in indifference, before they have got this length, would in all probability remain unmoved, even if they were constrained to peruse a more lengthened treatise. Christian Reader,-If you have not hitherto joined the Evangelical Alliance, |