This agreed with Livingstone's own notion of what a Missionary Society should do.

He had already connected himself with the Independent communion, but this preference for it was founded chiefly on his greater regard for the _personnel_ of the body, and for the spirit in which it was administered, as compared with the Presbyterian Churches of Scotland.

He had very strong views of the spirituality of the Church of Christ, and the need of a profound spiritual change as the only true basis of Christian life and character.

He thought that the Presbyterian Churches were too lax in their communion, and particularly the Established Church.

He was at this time a decided Voluntary, chiefly on the ground maintained by such men as Vinet, that the connection of Church and State was hurtful to the spirituality of the Church; and he had a particular abhorrence of what he called "geographical Christianity,"-- which gave every man within a certain area a right to the sacraments.