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We do not believe

always the same expression-We do not believe! Strange creed, composed wholly of negations! Uhlich states very distinctly what he does not believe; but what does he believe, then?

Open his Catechism. There he speaks of faith, and divides his chapter into three sections: faith in God, faith in Jesus, faith in the Holy Spirit. You fancy, perhaps, that Uhlich, having adopted this classification, will go on to explain something like the doctrine of the Trinity. You are mistaken. Faith in Jesus is the confidence we ought to feel, not in the Son of God, but in the man Jesus, "the greatest of sages, who spoke of God in a manner more sublime than Zoroaster, Socrates, or Kant!" And the Holy Spirit is God's universal influence upon the soul of man, so that faith in the Holy Spirit is faith in an influence! I pity the poor children who are forced to study this Catechism.

Yet Uhlich pretends to be the true successor of Luther. "Luther," he says, "protested against every restriction of Christian liberty by the government. His successors have departed from his precepts, and confessions of faith are chains by which the human mind is bound to the nineteenth century. We, in our turn, protest against this new tyranny, and we claim the heritage of evangelical liberty left us by Luther." There is one slight difficulty in this reasoning of Uhlich, namely, that Luther protests against human traditions in the name of the Bible, while the Friends of Light protest against the Bible itself, in the name of their feeble reason.

This self-styled reformer makes a distinction between the words of Jesus Christ and those of the apostle Paul. He maintains that Paul does not understand his Master's doctrine, which he has wholly perplexed and distorted. It is very convenient to expunge truths which the heart rejects; but how does Uhlich conform his opinion to that of the universal church, which has ever placed Paul's epistles in the number of the canonical books?

Let us take some further extracts from Uhlich's Confession of Faith, to show the views of the Friends of Light:

"1. With all the high rank assigned me in the creation, as man, I find myself imperfect and defective; something is lacking in me (indeed, you go this length); but aspirations after truth, virtue, peace, I do not lack.

"2. I recognize in Christ, the sublimest of God's ambassadors to men.

“3. I regard the main points of his history as authentic:" he means to say, excepting his miracles, which he takes to be only the combined action of the laws of nature and of the human mind.

"4. From Jesus I know God as my father, and I endeavour to honour him in spirit and in truth, by a complete and filial resignation.

"5. From Jesus I have the commandment of love as the rule of all my actions."

We will not extend farther these extracts of Uhlich's pretended creed. If you search for the least particle of vital Christianity, it is not there. A deist could subscribe to all the articles of this confession of faith.

But another Friend of Light, Wislicenus, has shown a still more audacious infidelity. Wislicenus was pastor in the city of Halle. Less ardent than Uhlich, he has a more logical mind, a more decided character. He recoils from none of the consequences of his scepticism. In the pulpit he suppressed the reading of the Apostles' Creed, saying that it is a mass of false opinions! In popular assemblies he declares openly that some of his own views are entirely contrary to the Scriptures.

He published a work entitled: The Bible? or the human Mind? His aim is to prove that the mind,-understand : the mind of the age, the mind of the people, is above the authority of the Bible. With him, truth is only to be found in the fluctuating and changing opinions of the multitude. What a system! and to what lengths of error has not Wislicenus gone! He even dared to say that the orthodox have the spirit of the devil, because they uphold old opinions, while he has the spirit of God, because he expounds such as are new!

Such impudence at last stirred up the indignation of the most indifferent. Wislicenus was summoned before his consistory, and deposed from his office. The ecclesiastical authorities published on this occasion a long Memoir of 92 closelyprinted pages, giving the reasons for the sentence of deposition. The consistory insists particularly on two grounds of complaint: one that Wislicenus has arbitrarily altered the liturgy; the other, that he rejects the Bible as the rule of faith. For once justice has been done. What would become of the church, if errors so monstrous could be publicly avowed by its ministers with impunity?

The third leader of the Friends of Light was the pastor Koenig. I feel some pain in speaking of him; for his death has recently been announced, and he has now been summoned before the tribunal of his sovereign Judge. Koenig was the journalist, the popular writer of his party. He would seem to have had little taste for the duties of pastor, and occupied himself most agreeably in purely temporal matters. He held on subjects of social economy some sound and just notions; but in religion, he had not more faith than other members of his sect.

He explains, in one of his pamphlets, in what manner he was led to deny the fundamental doctrines of Revelation. When he began his theological studies, the professors were almost all Rationalists. They taught that the books of the Old Testament were not written by the men whose name they bear, and that our own understanding is the supreme tribunal before which christianity herself

must be judged. How could the un happy student avoid being misled by such lectures?

Koenig designates his place in the work of the Friends of Light. "My special work," he says, "is not to discover new truths, but to announce and apply those which are discovered by others. I am a practical man." In another place he writes: "Lay aside, then, these Confessions of faith which belong to the era of the Reformation. The sixteenth century was less wise and less pious than our own! Return to the simple instructions of Christ. The Gospel of Jesus is nothing but the echo of our own reason!... We have juster ideas of God than had the monk of Wirtemberg. Insult no longer the good sense of the people by inculcating your superannuated dogmas!'

From walking in such Light, and loving such Liberty, may heaven preserve our readers!

Church Matters.

PARLIAMENTARY POSITION OF PRO

TESTANT DISSENTERS.

THE London Correspondent of one of the first-class Scotch papers, referring to the recent debate on Education, says: "Mr. Bright, on Tuesday night, made a vigorous attack, but his arguments were rather directed against the Church Establishment than against the Government plan as an auxiliary to it. Mr. Hindley also spoke, but so late at night, and with so little effect, that his voice was scarcely heard. It is very plain that whatever strength the Dissenters have must lie out of doors in the House their influence is

nil."

This is a mortifying statement; but while it cannot be denied, it demands the most serious consideration. The causes of such a state of things are, we think, easily explained, while the consequences are deeply, grievously, and increasingly felt. The great point to be inquired into is, the remedy, and we are happy to see that this is now intensely occupying the thoughts of many of the ablest and most patriotic men of the Nonconformist community. We leave the full discussion of the matter to that portion of the Dissenting Press to which it more especially appertains, and notice the subject here

only for the purpose of pressing on the attention of that portion of our readers who have hitherto stood aloof from public affairs, the absolute, the imperative necessity of taking this matter into their most solemn consideration. Let them be assured it is not a matter of indifference, but of serious obligation. It is demanded alike by the true welfare of the British empire, and the dearest interests of the kingdom of God.

The men of Yorkshire, as becomes them, are setting a noble example. At a Meeting of Ministers and Gentlemen from various parts of Yorkshire, convened by circular, and held at East Parade Chapel, Leeds, on Monday, May 3, 1847, for the purpose of considering the course proper to be adopted in further maintaining the resistance to Government interference in the Education of the People, and also in what manner the exercise of their suffrages as Borough or County Electors, at the next Election, would most effectually advance the great principles of Civil and Religious Liberty, on which the opposition to Government Education is based, the Rev. R. W. HAMILTON, D.D., LL.D., in the Chair; Prayer having been offered by the Rev. J. G. MIALL, of Bradford, Mr. PLINT

read several letters from Ministers and Gentlemen unable to attend the Meeting, expressive of their entire approval of its object. The following Resolutions were then proposed and adopted:

Moved by Professor STOWELL, Rotherham ; Seconded by SAMUEL HICK, Esq., Leeds; 1. That a vote for a grant of money in support of the Government Scheme of Education, lately propounded in the Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education, having been agreed to by the House of Commons, this meeting (consisting of Delegates from Evangelical communities opposed to the measure, throughout the county of York) deem it their solemn duty to put on record their Protest against the measure, and their deep regret that it should have received the sanction of the Commons of England, as well as to determine on the adoption of a course of procedure consequent on the decision thus made.

Moved by WM. ACKROYD, Esq., Otley; Seconded by the Rev. JAMES PRIDIE, Halifax ;

2. That how much soever they regret the decision of Parliament, they are neither surprised nor greatly discouraged; knowing that the friends of truth are often found in a minority, and recollecting that great principles of civil polity and of religious liberty have heretofore won their way in Parliament only by slow and painful steps, and have, notwithstanding, in the end, been admitted by the united voice of the Legislature.

Moved by the Rev. ROBT. MARTIN, of
Heckmondwike;

Seconded by J. JUBB HORNER, Esq.,
Wakefield;

3. That since the question of Government Education began to be agitated, such has been the progress of public opinion, as to justify the conclusion that, had fair opportunity been given to discussion in Parliament, and in the country, by the Parliamentary course of Bill, the measure, if not defeated, would have been carried by a much smaller majority.

Moved by JOHN CROSSLEY, Esq., Halifax; Seconded by the Rev. J. G. MIALL, Bradford;

4. That a patriotic Ministry, and a Legislature professing to represent the people, might have been expected at least to allow time for ample consideration, before coming to a vote of public money for this measure,-when it was seen that whole bodies of Dissenters, the acknowledged and earnest friends, as well of Education as of Civil and Religious Liberty, were not only opposed to it, but had declared it contrary to their consciences to receive public money in aid of religious Education,-that large Municipal communities, such as those of Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Glas. gow, had protested against the proposed scheme, -and that Petitions were pouring in from all parts of the kingdom praying for its withdrawment.

Moved by the Rev. EBENEZER MORLEY,
Hull;

Seconded by Dr. MONRO, Wakefield;

5. That, in the discussion which preceded the vote of money for this measure, no adequate

expression was given to the grounds on which the friends of Free Education object to it, the success of the voluntary principle having been almost altogether overlooked; the partial and oppressive bearing of the scheme not having been disproved; and, above all, the great principle of Evangelical Dissenters having, except by one or two Honourable Members, been utterly disregarded, viz., that it is not compatible with the office of civil government to interfere with the religious training of the people.

Moved by C. H. JONES, Esq., Huddersfield;
Seconded by the Rev. BENJAMIN BEDDOW,
Barnsley;

6. That they disavow all factious motive in the opposition they have offered to the Government Measure of Education, and vindicate the methods they have taken to induce its withdrawment as strictly honourable and constitutional; and that they are surprised and feel aggrieved by the charge of having adopted undue methods, especially as proceeding from those who have ever been supposed to be favourable to the free expression of public opinion, and to the exercise of popular influence upon the People's Representatives, and upon the Members of a Constitutional Government,

Moved by GEO. TUCKER, Esq., Sheffield; Seconded by the Rev. J. GREGORY, Thornton;

7. That, since the opposition offered to the present Government Scheme has been the result of solemn conscientious conviction, this Meeting, whilst protesting against the recent vote of the House of Commons in its favour, express their determination to use all constitutional means for the prevention of renewed grants, resolve to pursue a course of determined and persevering exertion for the entire withdrawment of the Measure itself, and to obtain the abrogation of the Committee of the Privy Council for Education.

Moved by EDWARD BAINES, Jun., Esq.,
Leeds;

Seconded by ROBERT MILLIGAN, Esq.,
Bradford;

8. That acting under the influence of these sacred obligations which they hold as Nonconformists, they bind themselves never to touch a Farthing of Public Money for their Schools, and earnestly urge on all Nonconformist Communities to bind themselves by a similar engagement.

Moved by JAS. RICHARDSON, Esq., Leeds;
Seconded by the Rev. SAMUEL ODDIE,
Ossett ;

9. That the meeting, seeing that the Education to be given according to the Minutes of Council is avowedly and strictly religious, whilst they are conscious that their opposition springs from no narrow or sectarian feeling, emphatically renew the avowal of their great principle, that all interference of civil Government with religion is inconsistent with its spirituality, and with the rights of conscience; and they further avow the principle, that the education of the people does not fall within the province of the Civil Government, and is incompatible with its proper functions; they, therefore, recommend that these broad principles be everywhere adopted, as constituting sound and safe grounds of opposition to the obnoxious measure against which they are now protesting.

Moved by Dr. GORDON, Hull;

Seconded by BENJAMIN CLAY, Esq., Dews

bury;

10. That the recent debate in Parliament has convinced this meeting that their principles are neither represented nor understood in the Senate; aud that it is incumbent on the Nonconformist communities of the country to adopt such methods as may be deemed wise, and may be likely to prove most effectual for the return of representatives to the House of Commons, who shall be capable of fully sympathizing with them in their views and sentiments; they, therefore, in prospect of a speedy election, recommend:

Moved by THOS. BURNLEY, Esq., Gomersal; Seconded by Mr. JOHN ANDREW, Scarborough;

First. That no candidate for Parliamentary

honours be supported who shall not be prepared to resist every attempt to renew the grant of public money for the objects contemplated in the Minutes of Council, and who does not maintain the principle that public moneys cannot rightly be appropriated to sustain educational and religious establishments. Moved by the Rev. THOMAS SCALES, Leeds; Seconded by the Rev. JAMES PRIDIE, Halifax ;

Second. That suitable parties be sought among our Dissenting communities, or among those who sympathize with them in the sentiments now avowed, to become candidates for the representation of Parliamentary constituencies, and that the most earnest and energetic efforts be made to secure their return.

Moved by SAMUEL SWINDELL, Esq., Halifax;

Seconded by the Rev. G. B. JOHNSON, Doncaster;

Third. That where no such candidates can be obtained, it is recommended as the course worthy of the conscientious elector to stand by, in the day of election, without interfering in the contest, by no means giving his suffrage to such as will make use of Parliamentary powers in opposition to the principles of Nonconformists, much less supporting in a factious spirit such candidates as may still more widely differ from them on questions of civil and religious liberty.

Moved by the Rev. HENRY BEAN, Heckmondwike;

Seconded by the Rev. JAS. BUCKLEY, Peniston;

11. That a Central Committee be permanently constituted for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects contemplated in the preceding resolutions, which shall hold its meetings in this town, and shall consist of the ministers of the various Dissenting communities and other individuals; that a stipendiary secretary be appointed, together with a chairman and a treasurer; that it be recommended that similar committees be formed in the various towns of the county, and that a fund be raised by voluntary contribution,-the functions of the committee to be continued for twelve months, then to be renewed or otherwise as occasion may require.

Moved by JNO. WADE, Esq., Leeds; Seconded by Mr. THOS. PLINT, Leeds; 12. That this meeting, deeply impressed with the obligation that rests on them, in common with the whole community, to promote as far as in them lies the work of free education, determine for themselves, and earnestly press upon the several bodies which they represent, the importance and duty of sustaining to the utmost of their ability the Sunday and day-schools existing among them,—of extending the benefits of education to vicinities in which there is deficiency, and of seeking the continued improvement of the system of education; and they further suggest it as worthy of consideration, whether an Educational Board may not be advantageously organized expressly for this county, together with a Normal school for the training of teachers.

Moved by Mr. THOS. MORGAN, Leeds; Seconded by the Rev. E. H. WEEKS, Dewsbury;

13. That the experience of Nonconformists for ages past, and especially for the last few years, is calculated to teach the importance of more widely and earnestly enforcing their peculiar principles, ESPECIALLY IN REFERENCE TO THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE; and the meeting strongly recommends that the attempt to enforce them should be conducted as on the ground of civil and religious liberty, so especially also on that of evangelical principle; and that, to this end, organizations should be formed, whether on a distinct basis, or in connexion with existing institutions, for the purpose of diffusing sound opinions by public meetings, lectures, and the press, and that all these movements be conducted in the spirit of devotion and in the temper of the gospel.

These measures are extreme, but such is the occasion. They will be viewed variously, according to the mental habits, the political bias, and the social position of men of equal worth and patriotism. We have given them the best consideration of which we are capable, and the result is, a general approval. We are convinced there is nothing necessary to the complete success of the movement but general unanimity in its adoption. And why despair of this? We are keenly alive to the difficulties arising from a variety of causes, but see only those which time, truth, and teaching will overcome. As Dissenters we can hardly be worse, in relation to the Senate, than we are; we are a people without representation. That we have the Franchise only serves to aggravate our calamity! With the badge of freedom we walk in chains! The Free Church, Methodism, Popery, Prelacy, all are duly represented; the neglect, the contempt, the insult of serfdom, are the sole patrimony of the Nonconformists!

TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE BRITISH ANTI-STATE-CHURCH ASSOCIATION.

THIS may be considered one of the most important events of the year 1847. The following is an extract from the Report made to the Conference concerning its Publications:

These, hitherto, have been almost exclusively in the shape of Tracts and Reports, and may be enumerated as follows, together with a statement of the number of each which has been printed: Report of the Proceedings of the First Anti-State Conference. A neat volume, 12 mo

People's Edition of the Report

Separate Tracts, containing the several papers read at the Conference; viz., 1. History of the Circumstances leading to the Conference.

Dr. Cox .

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In addition to the publications already enumerated, the Executive Committee, anxious to imbody suitable expositions and illustrations of the principles of the Association in a cheaper and more popular form, have issued two series of papers, each paper occupying from two to eight pages, under the general designation of "Tracts for the Million," the reception of which by the public has been such as to prove their adaptation to usefulness to have been highly estimated. The two series comprise seventeen tracts, with the separate titles of which the Committee forbear troubling you, inasmuch as they have already appeared in the Second Annual Report to the Council. The total number of these tracts printed is 120,000; the number disposed of, 80,000.

Total number of the Society's publications of every sort:

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In endeavouring to estimate the value of this department of the Society's labours we are naturally led to compare it, in point of efficiency, with the popular Periodical Press. In the CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE, for instance, there were, during 1846, some twenty-eight pieces, of various sizes, bearing on the subject of Christ's church, with a total sale to the extent of 1,218,400 copies. The matter then stands thus:

The total number of the Society's publications of every sort circulated in three years was 158,000.

Total of Church Articles in the CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE, circulated at the above rate, in three years, 3,654,000. Or, for the simple reader,

The Society, One Hundred and Fiftyeight Thousand copies.

The Magazine, Three Millions Six Hundred and Fifty-four Thousand copies. It will be seen that the general number of the Society's articles printed was 2000.

The average number of the Magazine articles actually sold was 101,500.

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