The Express.
London, England, 1851-07-19 00:00:00

Dlt. MERLE D'AUBIGNF..

Reply to an Address tonrarded from the Metro-
politan Church Reform Association to the Rev. Dr. M.
D'Aubigni, in which was expressed regret that a more
fraternal welcome and an unqualified recognition of equal
ministerial functions had not been given by the metropolitan
clergy to the Foreign Evangelical Futon :
Sirs and Reverend Brethren,—l have had the pleasure to
receive your letter of the Sth of July, wiitten in the name
of the Metropolitan Church Reform Association. While the
!sentiments which that letter represses do honour to the
church or Englund, they must be gratifying to the
minister* of the reformed churches of the continent
i The faith of those churches is the sane with your
I own. The doctrines of the Thirty-nine Articles
are dear to my brethren and to mys..ll Though in the
continental churches several have set aside portions of the
Word of Life, and fallen into rationalistic errors,—though
. in the church of England several add to the things written
'in that Book, and fall into the superstitious ecclesiastical
errors of Rome,—there are still in England and on
the continent a considerable number of ministers
1 and members of the church who wish to lay no
I other foundation than that which is laid—Jesus Christ,
—who look to no other authority in matters of
faith than that of the word of God, no other salvation than
grace justifying by faith, no other regeneration than that
which the spirit works in those that believe.
The unbelieving or superstitious can make any sect
or party, for the essence of human opinions is diver-
sity and contradiction ,• but the members of the body
of Christ, whatever be their nation and language, are
one, because they have the same Head. In spite of
• that sectarian spirit which you reprobate in your let-
ter, yet which breathes so strongly in England, let us
always recognise this union—this unity—let us truly be the
different members of one and the same body. leaeoauni
eireAsisi erfror maraorla. (The catholic church, the com-
munion of saints.)
Life can only proceed front life. It is the living mem-1
hers alone of the church of England that can renovate and
reform it. The church has constantly need of reformation'
by the word and by the Holy Spirit, on the ground that it
is subject to a constant deformation by the principle of sin
and darkness, which is naturally in man.
It is with great joy that I see an association propose to
itself the end which yours has in view. Remembering.
, then, that it is the Lord alone who reforms his church and
panties the sons of Levi. I pray him to be with you, sin,
to give you much faith, much prayerfulness, a powerful
and pure confession of his name, his divine and vivifying
presence, since it is essentially by these means that a true
reformation can be accomplished. Have the goodness, gen- '
tlemen, to ezilrera to your conference, at its neat meeting,
my sentiments of gratitude and Christian affection.
Dashing, as you request me, to make known to my bre- 1
thren on the Continent the sentiments expressed in your
letter, I have communicated its contents to two journals.
I hope that it will be announced here as in England. and
will rejoice and strengthen the hearts of believers. Never !
was It more necessary than now fur them to think and act
SS 0011

I am, dear sirs, your devoted humble servant,
MERLE D'AUBIGNE.
Cieneve, July 11, 1831.
To the Herds. G H. &ratchet, O. G. &ado's,
Chas. D. Johnson, Esq., London.