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abominable temples, and pressed into the church of God, that they might occupy a seat at his table, and take the cup of salvation in the name of the Lord. Hundreds of Christian congregations were speedily organized* on heathen lands, and with their pastors and elders and deacons, ordained a mong them, left to the regular enjoyment of the ordinances of the New Testament.

The gathering of the people to Messiah, by the diffusion of revealed knowledge and establish ment of churches among the nations, although frequently hindered, has never been stopped. The work is still progressive. New opposition upon the part of the enemy is counteracted by new exertions upon the part of Zion's friends. Extraordinary exertions, under extraordinary excitements, are at present to be witnessed in the earth, and great shall be the result. He who caused the Tyrians and the Canaanites to cooperate with the thousands of Israel in preparing materials for his house in Jerusalem, has awakened the nations, and marshalled the hosts of the people to his work in our own day.

There you see the instructers of the poor, with millions in their train, advancing and confessing the Lord's day as the time of light and life. In sight, and approaching in another direction, there is an equally vast assemblage, headed by those who have scattered their intellectual and pious tracts in the path of the poor and forlorn. Here are the numerous missionaries of the cross drawing near, with a multitude which cannot be

* Acts xx. 25. Tit. i. 5. Philip. i. 1.

numbered, gathered out of every kingdom and tongue, and about to connect themselves with their brethren, already within the limits of the mount round about, in their several distinct and organized tribes, Lo, on the right, comes the company of princes and nobles, undistinguished from their countless associates of every age and of every condition and hue. Their employment is the only honor which they claim, and that renders them illustrious to provide the Bible in every language under heaven, and present a copy to every living man.

These all, like the ancient Israelites coming up to the solemn feasts of Jerusalem, when emerging from the vale of Siddim and the plains of Jordan, of Moreh, and of Mamre, lift up their eyes to the hill of God, preparing to pitch around the standard of the camp of Judah, in the fulfillment of the prediction, "To Shiloh shall the gathering of the people be."

The union which Christianity effects among the people is not altogether visible and nominal. Many barren branches, we know, grow from the vine: and there are leaves and blossoms often without corresponding fruit. There are, however, fruitful boughs, and they who are joined to the Lord are one spirit. There is a certain union of affection and of life which believers have with Jesus Christ, and in him with one another, and it is to this union the text more particularly points; it is the most important, because, however mysterious, it is real, intimate, and everlasting. It is no metaphor, nor is it merely a union of name and profession, of love or

common interest. Every believer is actually united to Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost: and the union was provided for in the council of peace before the foundation of the world. Upon it are predicated all the saving benefits of the covenant of grace, communion with Christ in grace and in glory. Indeed "the reality of this union with Christ, is the basis upon which his representation of them as their surety, and the imputation of his righteousness to them for their justification, necessarily rest." "The last Adam is a quickening Spirit. I will put my Spirit within you. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his. The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. We live in the Spirit. Your life is hid in Christ with God." We are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. All believers having such union with Christ the Lord, must have union with one another in him who is their head. The same holy, almighty, and omnipresent Spirit is in them all; and it is impossible that they should not have communion with each other, while they drunk together into the same Spirit.

The communion of saints in the invisible church is far more effective in the production and cultivation of mutual love and confidence, than mere visible fellowship in ecclesiastical ordinances. Without the Spirit a church, however organized, is a heartless body; and with but a small proportion of actual Christians in church fellowship, whatever the respectability otherwise of the unsanctified members, the communion is comparatively unprofitable and

joyless. There is more of true Christian communion among real believers when they come in contact, though visibly separated by names and forms, and a hundred party distinctions, than exists among the members of the same visible organic body without confidence in each other's piety, although identified in all other interests.

The church, though one in the profession of the Christian name, is alas! divided in many principles and doctrines, and in the forms both of office and of worship. Heresies and strife have long abounded: but the communion of saints abides and will abide for ever. "There is one body and one spirit. One Lord, one faith, and one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Nor shall the reign of disunion be perpetual in her outward concerns: for the visible church is destined even upon earth to become one body. Her members shall unite in faith and in discipline over all the nations, "Thus saith the Lord to the city of our solemnities, and to the saints in Jerusalem, Lift up thine eyes round about and see, all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. The attendance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee-for the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish.Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness*- with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye."†

In the mean time, all that love the Lord are one in him, and drink together out of the same wells of salvation. Though separated by partition walls, reared by the folly and founded on the prejudices and carnal interests of corrupt men, though tempted by jealousies, and deceived by contending passions and rivalries, to perpetuate the sectional distinctions of ecclesiastical denomination, they who are born of the Spirit walk in the light, and recognizing one another, enjoy an intellectual and spiritual fellowship of complacency and mutual good will. Christian affection is a sacred flame "which many waters cannot quench, neither can the floods drown: and if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is be gotten of him."

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of winter storms, are detailed in my letter introductory to this series, and shall now receive no further notice. I begin the extracts from my journal with an account of the voyage from New York to Liverpool.

Tuesday, 16th February, 1830, at 10 o'clock, A. M. I stood on the deck of the packet, of that day, bound for the commercial metropolis of the west of England.The ship CALEDONIA belongs to "the Old Line," and is one of the finest in the trade, which employs many elegant specimens of naval architecture, to the admiration, not only of our own enterprising citizens, but also of sea-faring men skilled in the art in all the ports of Europe. It was full tide, and we stood high above the level of the Beekman street wharf, although the vessel was deep in the water. With her clean deck, cleared of every incumbrance, her lofty masts with their spars and their rigging tight and trim, the noble vehicle stood motionless, moored fast to the pier as if designed to remain stationary for the gaze of the community. The wharf was covered with spectators, and the deck was crowded with friends, visiting those who were about to take their departure for a foreign shore, and exchanging a farewell with esteemed relatives about to risk the terrors of the deep. Many a Christian hand was extended to my grasp on that morning, the shaking of which made every chord of my heart to vibrate, for I knew not whether we should ever again meet on earth. Every mariner was at his post, and the officers, with a calm steadiness of look, stood, or walked with a self-possession, which indicated that every one understood what was going on around him. It was a cold morning. The Farrenheit thermometer stood at the door of my house, when I departed, at nine above zero. The whole bay, and both the East and North rivers displayed to the eye a field of ice. The steamboat Rufus King was fastened to the Caledonia sea-ward, and the chimney of her furnace sent forth its stream of circling smoke higher than the mast-head: for although cold, there was not a breath of wind to cause a fluttering in our eagle banner with its stripes and its stars. All was still on the frozen waters. On the shore was motion. The hum of business was heard from a distance, and the number of spectators increasing and approaching to the side of the ship, when the word was pronounced distinctly, but not boisterously, "ashore." Many of those on deck descended the steps, the crowd was in motion toward the point of the wharf; hands and hats were waved, and many an eye beamed a benevolent adieu.

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The whizzing steam was heard. the moorings had been unfastened in a moment: the ebb tide had applied its force: the ice floated forward; and the stately Caledonia without exertion slipped away from the shore, led by her little consort in midst of sheets of floating ice, while the hammers of the clocks told eleven, from the steeples of beautiful New York. The sound seemed the knell of my departure, from my chosen land, and from the living beings most near my heart. I repressed these feelings; for as yet there stood at my

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side an old friend-the Rev. Dr. --, and two of my own sons, who escorted me to Sandy Hook.

At two P. M. They dined with me on board, outside the Hook, and returned in the steamboat to the city, with my prayers at parting that they might be preserved in safety. Just at the moment of their departure a swift row-boat came along side with an additional passenger for Liverpool. He was accompanied by my young friend, Mr. W., a preacher, who ventured thus far amidst the frozen waters, for the melancholy gratification of taking his farewell. He instantly returned.

Our sails were unloosed. The Caledonia yielded to the pressure of a young northeast wind; and at three o'clock we were out at sea, leaving the heights of Neversink to the right, and gradually losing sight of the southern shores of New Jersey. The curtain of night was soon drawn upon this prospect and America became invisible. I descended to the cabin, to which my fellow-passengers had retired before me. Each now commenced arranging his own travelling furniture in his neat, commodious, and appropriated state-room. All these bed-chambers open into a spacious and elegant cabin, furnished with a fixed dining-table, with rows of sofas also fixed immovably, whatever may be the motion of the ship. The berth, however, in his own apartment, soon became the chosen place of each of the passengers. Every one of them, except myself, became sea-sick and disappeared. The night was dark and cold. The wind was high and increas

ing. Toward morning it settled to a steady gale which lasted until Friday, 19th. At noon of that day we were in latitude 37° 40', longitude 56° 39′.

During the time of this first gale I had all desirable solitude. My fellow-passengers were still invisible. I was in health, with time at command to read and to reflect. Writing was nearly out of the question. In conversation I occasionally indulged with the captain, both below and on deck; for I frequently ventured up to contemplate the wonderful works of God on the deep. This always afforded entertainment to the mind. Captain Rogers is a gentleman of intelligence and polished manners. Cradled, it might be said, on the ocean, and educated for the several duties of a seafaring life, he had for years enjoy ed the company of accomplished officers in the navy of the United States. His conversation was rarely professional; and only when my inquiries led in that direction: but it never became uninteresting; for he is always at home. Every thing is in keeping aloft, and in the cabin; his orders are given with promptness, and his eye is as impressive as the tones of his voice in securing obedience. Often in command of ships of the first class, and always in actual service and in various seas and seasons of the year, he never lost a spar. As a seaman he has probably no superior of his own years. He is still in his prime. Friday night the wind abated, coming round, a few points, to the west: and next day at noon we were in latitude 33° 40', longitude 40°. The wind however increas

ing-and, in the afternoon, to a gale. Scudding before it, under closely reefed topsails, I enjoyed the deck. The sun poured down his light, at intervals, between showers of rain and hail. The other passengers were now recovered, and coming forth to contemplate the ocean scenery. All on board appeared fearless and cheerful. With every spar and cord firm and strong, the Caledonia, buoyant over the billows, stretched along her course with great celerity. By the diversities of the lights and shadows, occasioned by the agitation of the waters and the swiftness of the passing clouds, the prospect was ever varying and grand. Chased at the stern by waves of twenty feet high, they soon passed us roaring and foaming under our bowsprit, yielding their place behind to a sea rising up with a mightier force and a darker frown. These blue ridges of water might measure from the bottom of the intervening trough 30 feet to the summit. At a distance you might occasionally see an extensive plain of dazzling white, and again resembling hills of alabaster sand scattering their glittering dust before the storm. 'The eye would soon behold what appeared to be ranges of lofty mountains covered with deep green and capped in every form by the clouds. While the spray, at a distance from the ship toward the left, displayed every color of the rainbow, and at times a fine segment of the bow itself. Admiring the powers of human genius, as displayed in constructing and navigating the floating palace, in which I dwelt upon the waters, let me praise Him who

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