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chap. vi. SCRIPTURAL BASIS OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES. 159 enjoin the avowal of such as make profession of their faith, and the uniting in fellowship for commemorating that ordinance whereby the disciples of the Lord Jesus do show forth his death till He come, they had been accustomed in more than one locality to follow as closely as possible the few simple and affecting directions of the Saviour himself, and the illustration of those given by the great apostle of the Gentiles. They had, I was informed, at times found a dif ficulty with regard to the elements to be used; but, so far as their circumstances admitted, they had followed, as their safe and unerring guide, the Word of inspired Truth. If, in relation to any of these subjects, they had not observed all that may be taught in the New Testament, they had added nothing thereunto. Nothing traceable to the latent influence of idolatry, or commended by imaginary fitness or advantage, had, so far as I heard, been introduced, but they had been content in these and other matters to adhere to the written Word; only too thankful when permitted peacefully to do so. I was informed that, although they knew the peril to which they were exposed, they had been accustomed to listen to the words of instruction and encouragement, to sing the praise of the Divine Eedeemer, and to draw near the mercy- seat in prayer. These simple services were held not only in the habitations of men, though chiefly at the midnight hour, but also on the distant mountain’s side, in the dreary cavern, or in the concealment of the remote and almost im pervious forest. Love of life, and nature’s first great impulse, self-preserva tion, had induced such gatherings as these, because their creed and their conduct had been declared by the government to be criminal and injurious to the nation. There did not, however, appear to have been the slightest foundation for any such conclusion, so far as the sentiments or the conduct of the Christians had been concerned. Many had been the