The Evangelical Alliance, we are firmly persuaded, is the most important confederation for the attainment of this great object, which has been formed by the disciples of Christ for many centuries. This opinion has not been hastily adopted. The preparatory measures,-its meetings, —its discussions,—its resolutions,—the objects it contemplates, have been subjected to an earnest, and we trust, impartial consideration, and the result is the conviction stated. The grounds of this conviction we now propose to lay before our readers, in a few general observations on its recent meetings.

The formation of the Alliance was no hasty and ill considered measure. Believers in almost every quarter of the visible church had mourned for years over its divisions, and movements towards union had taken place some time before in America, the Continent, and in Great Britain. In America, Dr Schmucker of Pennsylvania, years ago endeavoured to rouse Christians to the duty of uniting, and of concentrating their energies on objects of common interest. In Switzerland, a few of the leading ministers made efforts towards fraternal intercourse on principles somewhat resembling those of the Evangelical Alliance. In our own country similar efforts had been made for a considerable period. But in 1842, Mr James of Birmingham,―beloved name in connexion with union!-submitted a scheme to his brethren at the metropolitan meeting of the Congregational Union, and published a letter on the subject, which produced a very general impression in regard to the desirableness of union. Meetings were shortly after held in London, and one especially in Exeter Hall, which produced a deep and delightful conviction on all present, that union among the disciples of the Redeemer was at once a privilege and a duty. While England and the Continent were thus preparing for a general movement, the Head of the church took care that Scotland should not be left behind. The bicentenary of the Westminster Assembly was held in Edinburgh in July 1843. At that meeting, the late beloved Dr Balmer delivered a speech, which ultimately led to the publication of a volume on "Christian Union," consisting of essays contributed by clergymen of different denominations, and these essays were instrumental in giving direction to a feeling which was already very generally diffused through the public mind. It required only another voice to embody that feeling. It came from America. To the Rev. Dr Paton of New York belongs the honour of proposing that a great conference, embracing the protestant christian world, should be held in the metropolis of the British empire. The proposition fell upon minds already, by a series of remarkable providences, prepared to give it a hearty response. A preliminary meeting, as is universally known, was held in Liverpool, where it was agreed to hold a general convention in London, during the summer of this year, and arrangements were begun for carrying the resolution into effect. As the time drew near the interest every where increased; and all connected with the movement became more anxious that every thing should be done in such a way as was best calculated to secure its object. Surely a convention, the previous steps of which were so carefully considered, could not be held in vain. But the meeting of the Alliance, when it was finally determined, was not only well matured, but became very generally the subject of earnest and persevering prayer.

The evidence of this fact is as conclusive as it is delightful. Multitudes of meetings, some more public, others more private, in their character, were held both in Scotland and in England, to entreat that God would direct those who were principally engaged in helping forward the movement; and when the convention was held, that he would pour out his Spirit on all who should be present, that they might manifest christian love and union among themselves, and be the instruments of diffusing them abroad. Probably no contemplated meeting ever called forth in this country more of the spirit of earnest and importunate prayer. Christians in secret, and in their families, bore the Evangelical Alliance upon their hearts, and held it up to the guardian care of the triune God. In the prayer meeting, as well as in the sanctuary, it was largely remembered, and supplicated with a fervour which clearly proved how firm was the hold it had taken of the christian mind,-how anxious men were for its success, and how strongly it was felt that it was only by the divine blessing that that success could be secured. These meetings for prayer were not confined to Britain. It is scarcely too much to say that they were œcumenical. Dr Cox of New York repeatedly, and with delight, mentioned the fact, that all America was moved on the question of union; and that thousands, and tens of thousands of prayers, in public and in private, had been offered up, and were, at the very time he was speaking, ascending to the throne of grace in behalf of the convention. Several American brethren stated the same important fact; and that the spirit of prayer was general throughout the American churches. Wherever the contemplated Alliance was heard of, it seems to have become immediately the subject of earnest prayer. One American brother had, during the preceding season, travelled through much of Europe, and part of Asia, and his testimony was,-in Germany he found all the Christians praying. In Switzerland, wherever he met with disciples, almost the first question which they put was respecting the Alliance. From Switzerland he passed into Italy, and he found it an object of interest even there. From thence he crossed to Malta, -there he was invited to attend a meeting of clergymen, and, when he went, he found an Episcopalian, a Free Churchman, a Methodist, and others; and they were met to pray for the divine blessing on the Evangelical Alliance. He proceeded to Constantinople; and when introduced to the missionaries, and the few disciples there, the first question which they put was, "What is this Evangelical Alliance of which we hear? It seems something so delightful and heaven like, that we have had several meetings to pray for the blessing of God on it." From Constantinople he passed over to Smyrna, and was met there by the same question. Even amid the ruins of one of the apocalyptic churches, and from which the candlestick had been so long removed, was prayer being offered up to the throne of grace, in behalf of the union of his people. A convention which had excited so much of the spirit of prayer; and which during its meetings was made so generally the subject of prayer, must have been no ordinary meeting. Such a meeting could not be held in vain. It must

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*The spirit of prayer during the sessions of the Alliance was equally remarkable. The devotional exercises occupied about one hour at the commencement of each sederunt. A hymn or a psalm was sung: the scriptures were read. Prayer was

have done good, and one of the blessed fruits of these many prayers was the delightful spirit of FRATERNAL AFFECTION which was so remarkably displayed by ALL during the meetings of the Alliance. "Let brotherly love continue," is the apostolic injunction, implying that every Christian should cherish towards his christian brother the love of discipleship; and that he should display it towards him in all circumstances, and at all times. We hesitate not to affirm, that this was the characteristic feature of the late meetings of the Alliance. There was more real love towards one another as brethren manifested at these meetings than has been exhibited in any church,-in all the churches put together,—for many a day. And let the reader remember the materials of which the Alliance was composed. There were men of all countries,-differing not only in language, but in education,-modes of thinking, customs and manners. There were men of every degree of talent and attainment—men of the profoundest scholarship, and splendid genius, as well as men of very moderate intellectual powers and acquirements. There were ministers and members of above TWENTY DENOMINATIONS— Churchmen and Dissenters-Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists-Lutherans and French Protestants-Pædo, and Antipædo-Baptists, and there was one Plymouth brother, who declared, that with a clear conscience he had signed the Basis of Union, and that he looked round on every man in that hall, and clasped him to his bosom, as a brother in Christ Jesus! The sentiment thus impressively expressed, was the prevailing sentiment of the assembled brethren. Each felt that he was one with his brother, because both were one in Christ Jesus. The tongues were many, but the hearts were one. All had been made to drink into one spirit. It was felt that there is but one body, and one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in all. It was this that made the meeting the sublime spectacle that it was felt to be. It was this that constituted the great charm of this extraordinary convention. The writer of these lines moved among his associated brethren. He conversed with the men there from every country. He met many of them in private, and at the public dinners,† and the manifestations of this spirit of love and union were uniformly such as to swell, and refresh, and elevate his heart. Every speaker adverted to this delightful feature of the meetings again and again; and frequently did the writer ascend to the gallery, at one end of the hall, and there gaze down upon the assembled multitude below, till the feelings of his heart were too big for utterance. It was remarked in the previous article, that there was full and free discussion on every topic introduced. There was also difference of opinion, and very decided difference, expressed on offered up sometimes by more than one individual. These services were throughout characterised by deep solemnity, and holy fervent desire. There was a feeling of entire helplessness and yet confiding dependence on the God of all grace. Often was the writer reminded of the wrestling of Jacob with the angel at Peniel, and of his saying, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me."

These dinners constituted an interesting portion of the happiness enjoyed on this occasion. All the foreign brethren were dined free, and a number of tickets were provided for British or Irish brethren to dine along with them, so that opportunities of private intercourse with distinguished men might be enjoyed. At one of these dinners at which the writer was present, German hymns were sung by German brethren; French by French brethren, &c., &c.

many points. But neither warmth of discussion, nor, difference of opinion, interfered with the full flow of fraternal love. It is delightful to dwell on this view of the convention. Examples of it might be given without number. Let the following be taken as a specimen. At the first public meeting in Exeter Hall, Dr Cox of America, in the course of a very remarkable speech, said, "Union among Christians is our duty, and let no man despair when we are all endeavouring to perform it. Sir, we have recollected ourselves. We have but one Saviour. 'Look unto me, and be ye saved all ye ends of the earth, for I am God and there is none else!' We have but one heaven, where the General Assembly and the church of the first born are clustering around us. We have but one glorious gospel of the blessed God, the creed of this Alliance. I am not about to panegyrise our basis. I cannot do it. If that be done, I will devolve it upon my honoured namesake whose hand I grasp as a brother. (The worthy doctor here took hold of the hand of Dr Cox of Hackney in both of his, and looking fondly in his face, exclaimed) I could tell his name,-but I do it, sir, symbolically of the union of Christians—no matter on what side of the Atlantic we are born, we recognise each other, I you as my brother, as sprinkled with the blood of Christ—and you me as immersed in the sympathies of this occasion." The effect of this action, and striking outpouring of fraternal love was thrilling. Many a heart was melted. But the same spirit was displayed in all our meetings. We were like the primitive saints, of one mind and of one heart, we met together with joy, and ate our meat with gladness and singleness of heart; praising God, and having favour with all the people.

The preceding remarks supply an answer to the question which has been repeatedly put by both the enemies and the friends of the Alliance, -What good is it to accomplish?—what has it done?-what benefit is it to bestow either on the church or the world? The answer to the first of these questions is, the Alliance has demonstrated that, notwithstanding the differences amongst the people of God, there yet exists also a deep and real unity; and that it is possible to manifest that unity amidst all their diversities. This is of itself a glorious exhibition, and worth all the trouble and expense connected with the late Convention. Let it, however, be distinctly understood, that the Alliance did not. create, nor was it designed to create, essential union among the disciples of Christ. That union exists independent of all visible confederations. All Christ's followers are united to one another. Like the members of one family, they are essentially one, whether they realize the fact or not; and it is beyond their power to break that unity. They may do much to conceal it. They may be separated from one another by continents and oceans-they may speak different languages -they may even become estranged from each other, but still they are brethren. "They have all been, by one spirit, baptised into one body, whether they be Jews or Greeks, bond or free, and have all been made to drink into one spirit." They are children of the same Father. They are all united to one Redeemer; and the fact of their union with him makes them one in relation to one another. The bond which unites them, therefore, is as inseparable as that which joins them to the Saviour; and you can dissever the union of Christians only by separating

them from Christ. It was not, then, we repeat, to create union, but to manifest the union which already exists, that was the design of the Alliance. This unity, in all its grandeur and loveliness, has yet to be manifested to the world. The church has not yet looked forth upon our apostate earth as one consecrated host, "fair as the sun, clear as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners." But the Alliance has done much towards this glorious consummation. It has shown not only that the points on which genuine believers are agreed are much more numerous and important than those on which they differ; but also, that they can walk together, and co-operate together, as far as they are agreed. This sublime idea was completely realized. Differences in judgment were fully and frankly expressed; differences on even many important points were brought out; but the members were drawn nearer to each other in mind and heart throughout the whole course of the discussions. As John Angel James, a name that ought to be reverenced by every lover of christian union, remarked-" We gathered around the waters of charity, where we had washed the name sectarian from our brows, and placed there the name Christian." And was all this nothing?

Instead, then, of putting the question, What has the Alliance done? I would rather put it thus;-What has the Alliance not accomplished? It has accomplished what the world has never seen before. Let the reader only remember what has been said already of the materials of which the Alliance was composed-the men of different countries and denominations—and then ponder the following things:-Did not these men meet to accomplish the Redeemer's prayer?-to mourn over, and endeavour to remove, the scandals which the divisions in the church of Christ have created?—and to draw more closely the bonds of christian brotherhood? And were not these objects accomplished? There were friendships formed which otherwise never would have been enjoyed; there was intercourse-holy, delightful intercourse secured, which otherwise would not likely have been realized on earth; we mingled in devotional exercises together that often seemed to place us on the very verge of heaven; heart mingled with heart as we looked on smiling faces which told how congenial was the atmosphere which all were breathing. We felt, while we discussed with each other the points on which we differed, that there was the same candour and integrity in other breasts as in our own; that the gospel which we had received was manifestly moulding all hearts into one bright pattern, and fitting all for fellowship which would be eternal. I ask, was all this nothing? Was all this no benefit? To be baptised into a spirit of love and truth-to be bathed in the stream of real christian charity -to learn to love a Christian as a brother, and to show it, though he differed from me, were surely something worth and for upwards of one thousand persons, of different lands and of as many different denominations, to drink into the same spirit, was surely a consummation calling for deepest gratitude to that God, through the outpouring of whose Spirit alone such a blessed union was effected.

And what benefit is it to confer upon the church and the world? If the spirit which was exhibited in Free Masons' Hall be cultivated by every member of the Alliance, and which each pledged himself to