human control-the spiritual energies of the individual members are unfettered, and the movements of the united body easy and vigorous. Placed by the arrangements of Providence in its particular locality as a centre of light and of life, a Congregational church pays no regard to those artificial divisions of territory which, with the stiffness of state policy, are designed to restrict the spiritual superintendence of special districts to officials-not only taking no cognizance of, but designed to suppress private christian effort as irregular and injurious. Scriptural churches subject to no laws but those of Christ, can, in the enjoyment of heavenly freedom, make aggressions upon the corrupt masses of society, and carry the message of salvation to any sphere within their reach as zeal and judgment may dictate. To assert that these churches have hitherto acted according to the extent of their resources, their privileges, and duty, relative to this matter, would be to praise them at the expense of truth.

But a glance at the number and character of the churches of the Congregational order, north and south, produces a most favourable impression as to the amount of buried talent of which they are in possession, and the magnitude of the results which must inevitably flow from its being put into active operation. Besides, the great mass of members who are endowed with ordinary gifts, and might regularly devote a portion of their time to the extension of the kingdom of Christ by the distribution of tracts, by familiar conversation at the firesides of the poor, and by the beds of the afflicted; there are many in almost all

grades of society possessed of competent knowledge, of the gift of utterance, and of adequate leisure to visit the streets, and lanes, and hamlets around them, and preach salvation. And it is more than time that their attention were adequately awakened to this important subject, that with prudence and power they might bring all their resources into active operation for advancing the glory of their divine Head.

The preceding remarks bear upon the general subject of Lay Agency-embracing the varied resources which the churches may command through the personal exertions of their individual members. It is evident, however, that this essay was intended by its benevolent originator to bear more particularly upon the most important department of that agency-Lay preaching. In a practical point of view this is the most difficult part of the subject, in as much as no general systematic effort has been made by the churches to provide such an agency, and to regulate it so as to be productive of beneficial results. We shall endeavour in the following chapter to lay down a plan by which the latent energies of the churches in this respect may be called out, and regulated so as, by the divine blessing, to be made extensively subservient to the advancement of the interests of Zion; -not omitting, at the same time, the subordinate agencies which the churches may most easily command, and the employment of which the moral condition of our country so urgently requires.

CHAPTER IV.

PLANS FOR PROVIDING AND REGULATING GRATUITOUS

LAY AGENCY.

Organisation.-I. Let a few competent persons ascertain the moral statistics of the particular neighbourhood, embracing the numbers who do not attend any place of worship-the manner in which their Sabbaths are spent the numbers who cannot read-and particular facts illustrative of their moral condition and the degree of their ignorance.

This can be done effectively only by personal survey, entering into houses and public works, and conversing with the people face to face.

II. Let the result be communicated, through the pastor, to the church at a special meeting; the obligations of the church pointed out, and more especially the duty of looking out from among themselves competent persons to be their messengers to carry the glad tidings of salvation to the perishing multitudes; and the qualifications necessary for engaging in that service be faithfully and clearly pointed out-more especially, competent knowledge-the power of communicating

-some standing and experience in the christian life -and a good report of them that are without.

Special prayer for divine direction, relative to the proposed measures, should form a prominent part of the services of this meeting, and at the close a blank ticket should be served to each of the members of the church.

III. On an early day, the church being again assembled, let the tickets be returned to the presiding minister, having written upon one side of them the names of four or more judicious persons to be appointed, along with the pastor, as a committee for the superintendence and supply of preaching stations; and on the other side, the names of such brethren in the church as are deemed qualified to be engaged as lay preachers. Let the signatures of the members voting be appended. Let the minister examine first the lists for the members of committee, taking of course the proposed number of those who rank highest by the number of votes. Let the names of the members of committee, thus elected, be announced to the meeting; and let one or more of them who may be present be requested to assist the minister in examining the lists on the other side of the tickets, setting aside all who have not two-thirds of all the votes given. Let the names of the preachers thus chosen be announced, and their consent to the proposal be requested by an early day.

The names of the voters of course not to be read aloud, and let the tickets be immediately destroyed. IV. Let those consenting be solemnly addressed by

the pastor on the nature of their duties, and the manner and spirit in which they should be performed. The final arrangements to rest with the committee, whose duty it shall be

1. To fix upon the most necessitous and promising stations, according to the number of preachers, and make such arrangements as shall be necessary for suitable accommodation, &c.

2. Arrange the preachers two and two, who shall occupy each station for not more than one month at a time-the removal from station to station being, in as far as practicable, regulated by a fixed plan.

3. To meet monthly, and receive reports from the preachers of the state and prospects of the station which they respectively last occupied.

4. To visit each of the stations at least once in twelve months-two members of committee to each station.

5. To give in a half-yearly report to the church, at a meeting called for that purpose.

V. The election of committee and agents should take place annually.

Manner in which the services of the preachers should be conducted. Any fixed rules for regulating the manner in which the services of the preachers should be conducted would be of little avail, as different modes will be adopted according to the different capacities of the preachers, and any attempt to introduce a uniform method, and to render it imperative would not be acceptable to many. A few hints, however, may be useful.