motion of Dr Buchanan with great reluctance. He considered that a call from a congregation in the metropolis of the empire should be entitled to the utmost consideration; and though before the disruption, the tendency of Presbyterian ministers had been to return from London to Scotland, he hoped the result of the late change would be to render it more desirable that they should remain there, from which the very best results might be expected. I must say, (continued Mr Dunlop), that could the removal of Mr Guthrie be beneficial to the Church, I would at once disregard any opinions or reasons of his own, and I would prove to him, moreover, that I was right, for I had some connexion in bringing that gentleman to Edinburgh; and I remember the very day before the election took place, be wrote me, saying, “I entreat you, I implore you, I command you to withdraw my name from the leet." However, I just put the letter in my pocket, and said nothing about it; and the result was that Mr Guthrie was elected. (A laugh.) And he has admirably succeeded in a great experiment. The reason, therefore, why I acquiesce with reluctance in the motion of Dr Buchanan is, that Mr Guthrie is placed in a situation the duties of which he is of all other men eminently qualified to fill. (Hear, hear.) I should lament the results of taking him away from his present charge. I am afraid it is the tendency to take away ministers from poorer congregations, and encourage the rich-a tendency which it is our duty to resist. We would encourage this tendency should we remove Mr Guthrie; and on these grounds, therefore, I reluctantly agree to the motion of Dr Buchanan; but I hope, from the importance of the subject, that Presbyteries will attend to the recommendation in that motion, for there are few clergymen that I would not hesitate to send to such a situation as that of the London congregation.

Dr Buchanan's motion was then agreed to.

DEPUTATION FROM THE LONDON PRESBYTERY.

The Assembly then received the deputation from the London Presbytery, from which an address was read, expressive of their sympathy in the principles and contendings of the Free Church.

The Rev. Mr FERGUSON then said—I crave the indulgence of the House, while I endeavour to discharge the duty, the very agreeable duty, which the Presbytery of London has intrusted to me. It is to express the feeling of the deepest sympathy, and most ardent attachment, which the London Presbytery cherishes for the Free Church of Scotland; and, at the same time, respectfully to offer any assistance which we have it in our power to give to the Free Church, in enabling her to carry out her mighty schemes. We believe the cause of the Free Church to be a great and good cause the cause for which our fathers suffered, and for which they shed their blood; and we believe it to be the cause of Christ. (Applause.) We have cast in our lot along with you, and we consider it an honour to be associated with such men in advancing the cause of the kingdom of Christ. It is not merely by the Presbytery of London, nor by the Presbyterians in England, that the Free Church of Scotland is sympathised with; for the unprejudiced classes throughout England are now beginning to be awakened and roused to a sense of the vast importance of the struggle in which you have been engaged, and the extent of the sacrifices which you have made. (Applause.) England for a time was difficult to move; but once moved, like all heavy bodies, it moves most powerfully. Its sympathies are not called forth in a day, but when once aroused, they are noble and generous sympathies. I may mention one instance of the interest which is taken in your cause. There is in the town of Southampton a wealthy coach-builder, who came to that town upwards of thirty years ago; and though he had then only 2s. 6d. in his pocket, he now turns out from his establishment from 140 to 150 carriages yearly. This gentleman gives an annual entertainment to his friends, workmen, and dependents; and this season it happened that the entertainment took place on the very day on which the deputation visited SouthampOne of our friends went to see the hall in which the entertainment was held, which was beautifully decorated with evergreens and festooned with flowers. But he also saw affixed, in different parts of the room, four mottoes, indicative of points which were engrossing public attention in Southampton. These mottoes were

ton.

"Justice to Ireland"" Fewer tolls in Wales"-" The Free Church of Scotland" (hear, hear)—and "Free Trade." (Hear, hear.) Now this indicates the subjects which occupy public attention in Southampton; and I can tell you that in England the cause is making way, not only in the towns and villages, but in the rural districts; and was it not for unduly taking up the time of the Assembly, I could detail to you how a Free Church discussion was conducted by the farmers of Gloucestershire, and how in that discussion our cause was victorious. (Applause.) But though the cause of the Free Church of Scotland is making progress, and forcing its way in town and country, yet its principles are far from being understood. All can understand that a great movement has taken place, but all cannot understand the principles which led to it; and though all can understand that a great sacrifice has been made for conscience sake, yet all cannot understand the grounds upon which that sacrifice has been made. (Hear, hear.) I have heard an evangelical clergyman state on the platform in Exeter Hall in London, in reference to this question, "I am not sure you are legally right; I have heard the intrusion version of the question, and thought them right; I have afterwards heard the non-intrusion version, and then I thought them right; but though I am puzzled with the legal view of the question, I am quite sure that you are evangelically right. (Applause.) He continued " I am greatly puzzled with your legal questions, but I feel assured you are honest men, and therefore I honour and esteem you." And this gentleman sent some very substantial proofs of his interest in our cause. I rejoice that a deputation is soon to come up to England, and I hope it will have little difficulty in making it apparent that our cause is not only evangelically, but legally and constitutionally right. I trust that of those ministers who will come up, some may be prevailed on to remain. You have just refused us one great man, and I do not wonder at it; but I rejoice to think that so soon as you can overtake it, the field in England will not be overlooked. I have just one other point to allude to, but it is an important one, for though the conviction is growing in England that our cause is a great and good one, there is also another conviction growing, viz., that we are on the eve of terrible times, when the powers of light and darkness are gathering their forces for the conflict-and there is a conviction growing that the Man of Sin is about to make some desperate effort, which will cause the battle of Protestantism to be fought over again. And if so, all evangelical denominations should, for their own sakes, draw more closely together, and have a tie to bind them in the day of trial, and enable them to combat under the same banner. The Free Church of Scotland has made the first stand in this great struggle, and has borne a noble testimony to her faith in the Son of God-a testimony which cannot fail to have its effect on all evangelical Christians. (Applause.) After a few additional remarks, the reverend gentleman sat down by again expressing the sympathy of the London Presbytery with the Free Church of Scotland.

Mr MARSHALL, an elder from the London Presbytery, next addressed the Assembly, but in so low a tone of voice, that his remarks were scarcely audible. He was understood to give his hearty concurrence to the remarks of Mr Fergusson. He also requested the aid of the Assembly in providing a pastor to the Church in London Wall, now vacant, which was one of the oldest congregations in London-having been in existence for 180 years.

Mr TWEEDIE intimated that interim supplies were in the course of being provided for London.

Dr CANDLISH said-I beg to move that the thanks of the Assembly be voted for the expression of sympathy which we have received from our friends in London. It would be needless to repeat the pledge of the determination of the Assembly to attend, so far as in its power, to the wants of the church in London, and throughout England. The best proof of this pledge having been given in earnest is the announcement of Mr Tweedie; and though it is impossible to loose Mr Guthrie, we have done what we can to provide interim supplies for the Churches in London. I think it right also to state that there is another town-a town in the north of England, Newcastle, which is to be treated in the same manner. That Committee, of which Mr Tweedie is the Convener, has made arrangements, that ministers shall go up one after ano

ther-two to London, and one to Newcastle, to officiate for three months to come. This is a very inadequate supply for them; but, at all events, it is making a commencement; and with the present pressure upon us, it is going as far as we can do until we have ministers to send permanently to London, and other places. Allow me, Sir, the opportunity of expressing my delight at the ready appointment of a Coinmittee to correspond with our London friends, in reference to the ministers who may be called there; and I trust it will greatly facilitate the settlement of clergymen in the metropolis. It is obviously not the best way for any of the congregations in London to make a grasp, as it were, at some of the best ministers in Scotland; this is not the mode of accomplishing their object; the best way is, undoubtedly, that they should know the men who are transportable, and then give them calls; for it is only disappointment to them, and mortification to us, when a call is addressed to us that we must refuse. One of those clergymen who was recently transported to London-Mr Hamilton of Regent Square was introduced by correspondence with certain of the members of the Church of Scotland who communicated with Mr Hamilton, and in this way he was prevailed on to accept the call; and this has enabled us to settle in the metropolis, a man who is regarded by all the Church as singularly gifted in the Lord, and who may be considered in London as pre-eminently one of the apostles of Christian union and co-operation. In the same way, I cannot doubt that there are many men unknown to our London friends-men not so notorious as my friend Mr Guthrie-who may be found out by correspondence, as was the case of Mr Hamilton; and then it would be seen that the Free Church of Scotland has many men to occupy stations in London and elsewhere, with inestimable advantage. I trust the Presbyteries of the Church will give earnest heed to the recommendations of the Assembly, in the way of consenting to calls that may come from London, especially when these are sanctioned by the Committee; and an effort should be made not to withdraw ministers from the Presbytery of London, but rather to strengthen them, by sending zealous pastors to minister to these congregations, and support our cause in the great metropolis. I therefore move, that, "The General Assembly acknowledge, with heartfelt gratitude, the expression of sympathy on the part of their brethren in London, report their earnest anxiety for the full supply of Christian ordinances in the metropolis in connection with the Free Church, and request their Moderator to convey the thanks of the House to the members of the deputation."

The motion was cordially agreed to, and the thanks of the Assembly conveyed to Messrs Ferguson and Marshall, through the Moderator.

MISSIONARY PRESBYTERIES.

Mr ALEXANDER DUNLOP called attention to a proposal which was brought before the Assembly by the Committee on Foreign Missions, with Dr Gordon at their head, in reference to the exercise of presbyterial functions by the foreign missionaries. Hitherto these had been exercised by the missionaries in India, along with the chaplains of the East India Company; and they all knew that it was of essen. tial importance to the progress of the gospel that they should have full powers, as a Presbytery, for exercising discipline in regard to native converts, and in licensing and ordaining to the ministry. It was now proposed to continue and confirm these powers, which, however, could not be exercised in reference to application for ordination, without the concurrence of the Committee at home. It was also proposed to enact the same measure for the Jewish missionaries. He concluded by moving that the following enactment be adopted :

"Be it enacted by this Assembly, that it shall be competent for the missionaries of this Church, both to Jews and Gentiles, in subordination to the General Assembly of this Church, and when three or more ordained missionaries are resident at any station or in any district, to form themselves into Presbyteries, with the power to exercise the usual functions of such courts; that, in particular, the Presbyterial bodies already formed at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, shall merge into such Presbyteries, such ministers as may be sent to India to officiate among our countrymen there, taking the place of the chaplains of the East India Company, and one of the

elders adhering to this Church for each of the ordained missionaries or ministers being admissible instead of the elders formerly chosen by the kirk-sessions connected with the congregations of the said chaplains; and that the Presbytery of Bombay, when duly constituted, be empowered to take Mr James Aitken, missionary at Puna, on trials for ordination, and to ordain him to the office of the holy ministry, if found qualified; and that all subsequent cases of application for ordination be reported by the Presbyteries to the Committees of this Church in connection with which the missionaries may be labouring, for the purpose of obtaining the concurrence of these Committees as to the farther steps to be taken. And be it also enacted that each of the Presbyteries so constituted shall be represented in this General Assembly by one minister and one elder."

The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr FAIRBAIRN of Salton read the following

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

"The Committee of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland on Sabbath Observance, consider the present meeting of Assembly a suitable and proper occasion for bringing the subject of the Sabbath before the Assembly in a form somewhat different from that of an ordinary report. The Assembly is called at its present meeting to lay, in some respects, the foundations of the order and government to be maintained in this Church; and though much that is essentially connected with this may not need to be now distinctly and separately brought out, being justly regarded as already settled in the standards which this Church recognises, yet as these standards excel all others in the full and explicit manner in which they assert and maintain the truth of God respecting his day of rest, and as many circumstances, especially of late years, have been operating to produce a practical disregard of the testimony they raise concerning it, the Committee are of opinion that it might do an es sential service to the cause of the Sabbath, and through that to the interests of religion generally, were the Assembly to give a distinct and faithful deliverance of its mind upon the subject. In advising this, the Committee of course have mainly in view the interests of religion as these respect the individuals and families of this land, and in particular the individuals and families connected with the Free Church of Scotland. But considering the regard which is directed, even from distant quarters, to the principles and proceedings of this Church, it can scarcely be deemed presumptuous to expect that other lands and other Churches may to some extent be benefited by such a testimony being now lifted up in favour of the Sabbath as an ordinance of heaven-an ordinance, the due observance of which is inseparably c‹ nnected with the existence of living piety, while many Churches, which hold the leading doctrines of the Reformation, have never given it that place in their creed or government to which it is entitled, The Committee, therefore, recommend that this Assembly adopt and sanction with their authority a brief statement regarding the obligation and observance of the Sabbath, and give it forth to the Church and the world as a portion of that testimony which they are resolved, both in doctrine and practice, to maintain. With this view the Committee submit the following statement for the approval of the Assembly.

"PATRICK FAIRBAIRN, Joint Conveners..
"ROBERT ELDER,

"The light of nature showeth,' it is written in the Confession of Faith, ch. xxi. 'that there is a God, who hath lordship and sovereignty over all; is good, and doeth good unto all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the devices and imaginations of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture. As it is the law of nature, that in general a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so in his word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be

kept holy unto him; which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed to the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord's day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath. This Sabbath is then kept holy to the Lord, when men after a due preparation of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employments and recreations, but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.'

"1. Recognising and asserting anew the principles embodied in this portion of the Confession of Faith, the General Assembly do, therefore, first of all, declare and publish their belief in the perpetual obligation of the fourth commandment, as imposing the religious observance of one whole day in seven for the peculiar worship and service of God. And this they do, 1st, Because of the place which the command holds as a part of that of the moral law, which was engraven by the finger of God on tables of stone, as being of no temporary obligation, but binding on the Church through every stage and period of her existence. 2d, Because the sanctification of one day in seven, which it enjoins, having been appointed at the very commencement of the world, and in imitation of God's procedure in creation, who continued to work six days in succession, and thereafter rested on the seventh, for the express purpose of making his own example furnish the rule which should be observed by his creatures, implies that the Sabbath was designed to be both an universal and a perpetual institution. 3d, Because the answers which our Lord gave to the Scribes and Pharisees, who on several occasions accused him of profaning the Sabbath, proceeded each time upon the ground that the obligation to keep the fourth command stood in full force, but that they unduly stretched its prohibitions of labour, and made the rest it enjoins too rigorous, by seeking to prevent certain works of necessity and mercy, which it was never meant to exclude. 4th, Because the leisure and rest of one day in seven is imperatively required for the cultivation of personal piety, and the due celebration of Divine ordinances; and the history both of individuals and of communities clearly manifests that religion flourishes and decays very much in proportion to the respect that is paid to the Sabbath, as a day of sacred rest and spiritual enjoyment. On these grounds especially, though others might also be mentioned, the General Assembly declare their firm conviction of the moral and everabiding obligation of the fourth commandment, as requiring one day in seven to be set apart for a holy Sabbath to the Lord. And they do not consider these grounds at all weakened, or in any respect interfered with, by the change of the day from the last to the first day of the week; for while they believe that change to have been made by the Apostles, acting under the immediate direction of the Holy Spirit, they consider it as in perfect accordance with the previous history of the Sabbath, which, as it was formerly connected with the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and the giving of manna in the desert, and at an earlier period still, with the creation of the world, so is it now most fitly connected with the resurrection of Christ, which was the time of his resting from the mighty work of redemption, and the pledge to all his people that in due time they should also enter into the rest that remaineth for them in the kingdom of God.

"2. In regard to the manner in which the obligation imposed in the fourth commandment is to be observed, the General Assembly declare their confident belief and persuasion that the commandment is then only fulfilled, 1st, When men cease from those works whieh are more properly their own, "not doing their own ways, nor finding their own pleasures, nor speaking their own words." So that it is required of all on this day to abstain, not only from sinful courses, which are not law. ful at any time, but also from those things which belong to the prosecution of their ordinary callings and occupations in life. It is required of masters that they allow their dependents full freedom to spend the rest of this day in the worship and service of God, as a portion of time which he has reserved for himself, excepting only in so far as works of necessity and mercy may require to be done. And while it is permitted on this day to do what may be required for the necessary support and re