had been trodden by those who had gone before him. He sought his original in the Word of God, not as expecting to find there the specific model of a Church of Christ, but the truths, principles, and discipline by which it is to be moulded and influenced. He was deeply conscious of deficiencies in carrying out what was his constant effort for twenty-six years to effect, yet he faithfully did, according to his opportunities, what he could to accomplish that which he believed to be the design of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the gathering and pastoral care of a Church; and it was precisely in this aspect that he rejoiced in his position as a Nonconformist. All who were familiar with his inmost heart knew what tender regard he cherished for many holy men who were ministers in the Church of England, and how absolute was the freedom of his mind from prejudice on the subject of Establishments; but he saw clearly, and felt strongly, that the scriptural idea of a New Testament Church was impossible of accomplishment in the Establishment itself.

Those who know anything of a pastorship in London are aware how great are the impediments to the satisfactory oversight of a people, arising from the distances at which many of them reside. This was painfully felt by Mr. Evans. He had for many years arrived at the conclusion that a plurality of elders in each Church is the scriptural order, but the difficulty of uniting others with him, and the impossibility, as it appeared, of finding men who, if possessed of suitable grace and gifts, had time for the duties of the office, prevented the carrying out of this view; and while he visited the members of the Church at their houses, as far as time and strength would permit, he found the adoption of other means indispensably necessary. He set apart certain days when he

was to be found at the vestry of his chapel, to receive any persons wishing to converse with him, and the interviews to which this arrangement led were frequently of a most interesting character, and tended not only to bring him into acquaintance with some whom he could otherwise have little known, but in very many instances to discover and develop Christian life, and encourage to the open avowal of it, and to stimulate to active and devoted service in the Church of Christ.

The Church was also divided into districts according to locality. Men of God, who had approved themselves by their consistent walk, had the charge of the sections of these districts as visitors, and each district was under the superintendence of a deacon, so that by means of this simple machinery, the pastor was in possession of the general condition of the Church, and also became acquainted with any case that especially required his attention or visitation. The members belonging to each district met on appointed evenings, and at certain intervals Mr. Evans was present in rotation at one of these meetings, which were devoted to prayer, reading the Word of God, and conversation over its contents.

While these modes of supplying what was wanting in pastoral visitation were in active operation, it was to the meetings of the whole body of the Church, with its pastor and deacons, that he more especially looked for the realization of the scriptural idea of the true fellowship of the saints, and for the maturing, as well as the development, of those principles of spiritual life, whose influence was to pervade and govern their whole being.

His aim, in the exhortations which he then gave, was to unfold and enlarge upon the mutual relation

subsisting between the Church and its exalted Head, and between the members reciprocally; and the solemn obligations arising therefrom. His ardent and holy, yet sober solicitude for its purity, both in principle, practice, and influence, as illustrating the character of its Lord, was only equalled by his desire that such pure and holy influence should be the growth of union with Christ, and increasing scriptural intelligence. His dominion over all, the subjection of all grace and gifts to Him for the mutual benefit of the Church, was strongly and affectionately inculcated. One of the modes of its exhibition, in which, however, from various circumstances, he had but little success, was that the grace and endowments of the officers of the Church, and the other members, as well as those of the pastor, should contribute to their general instruction and edification. Among the causes to which his small success in realizing this object may be ascribed, was probably the fear under which many laboured who had some measure of qualification for such service, of being identified with, or of giving countenance to, certain recent movements of fanaticism,* and of bringing into disrepute a means of mutual benefit, which they concurred with him in believing to be as scriptural in principle as consonant with sound reason. Оссаsional addresses were, however, given, and had Mr. Evans's life been prolonged, his influence would, in all probability, have gradually effected an object which he deemed to be vital to the growth of the Church.

He had long cherished the desire, founded on what he strongly believed to be scriptural authority, that the Church should place around him a few gifted and * Irvingism.

spiritually-minded brethren from among themselves, to sustain the office of elders, to labour co-ordinately with, or subordinately to him in the spiritual oversight of the Church, as distinct from, but in entire co-operation with, the deacons. Various causes combined to delay the accomplishment of this desire; among others, the long disuse of the practice in the Churches, and the wholesome dread on the part of the Church of being suspected of a desire for innovation. In the meantime the service required, was to some extent, as far as their time and opportunities allowed, rendered by the deacons, whose sympathy with him in his anxiety for the moral and spiritual welfare of the Church, and whose harmonious co-operation with him in everything relating to its wellbeing, awakened and sustained in him the warmest brotherly affection for them, and often drew from him the remark, that they were "a band of brothers." The affection was on their part cordially and with the most tender veneration reciprocated.

He held, as has been already implied, the doctrine of believers' baptism, and that none other than believers were subjects for that ordinance, but the Church of Christ at John-street was based on a broader foundation than that of any ritual distinction. It opened its arms wide to all who confided in the sacrifice, and yielded themselves to the authority, of the Lord Jesus Christ; and he always firmly maintained that he could not be the pastor of a Baptist Church, as it would involve the rejection from Church fellowship, and from the table of the Lord, of many whom God had received, and who might, from their holy character, be advanced to higher rewards in heaven than many who agreed with him on this subject. He, however, invariably suggested

a candid and prayerful consideration of the subject to those who were candidates for fellowship with the Church, leaving it to the decision of conscience and judgment, as in the sight of God. A large number of the members were, indeed, Pædo-Baptists, as were also several of the deacons, and so far was this from being the least barrier to Christian intercourse or communion, that many of the communicants were unaware of the views of their fellow-members on the subject.

Mr. Evans was of opinion that the family of God should meet around his table every Lord's-day, and the Lord's Supper was therefore celebrated every Sunday evening, when those who agreed with him on the subject remained after the usual service, while the majority of the Church assembled together with him on the first Sunday in the month. These were always peculiarly happy seasons, in which he enjoyed much of his Master's presence.

In the admission of members into the Church he was most cautious that they should first give satisfactory proof of vital godliness; but, if he were once assured of this, he considered, that, however weak and feeble they might be, they ought to be united with the saints of God, in order to their being nourished by the means of grace, and association, with other believers. If, however, any doubt was entertained on this subject, their entrance into the Church was always delayed till it was removed; and this very delay was often the means of much good to the individual. His desires for the sanctification of his people were intense, as the letters addressed to them during his occasional absences-which are appended to this volume-will fully prove he watched over them with a holy jealousy; and where he saw any one going astray, either in doctrine or in practice, that person was