صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

forsaken, the conflicts of party then terminated. The Church of Scotland has, as a Church, in proportion to its limited means, done as much for the amelioration of men's spiritual condition, at home and abroad, as any Church in Christendom (whether it will do the same now remains to be proved). Our Free Church will, in God's strength, continue her efforts with unabated vigour. And it is matter of congratulation and thanksgiving to God, that the funds for the schemes, so far as the two collections go,-these afford a fair criterion for judging,- -are not likely to fall off. They have so far considerably increased above those of former years, notwithstanding all the efforts that have been making for our home ecclesiastical fabric. This lets us see what a Christian community can do, when its Christian zeal and charity are awakened, and sanctified, and fanned by the Spirit of God; and it lets us see from what quarter and from what congregations our resources were derived in times gone by. But leaving these considerations, I may surely affirm, that the appearance in the midst of us of one of our most gifted and devoted missionaries, and his declaration, with that of his brethren who are conjoined with him in missionary enterprise, and then the declaration of these talented and holy men who have been labouring so indefatigably among the outcasts of Israel,—and then again the declaration of that distinguished missionary Dr Duff, together with that noble band of Christian labourers, who, with him, are plying their sacred work on the banks of the Ganges, and, lastly, the declaration of our other talented and pious missionaries at Madras,-fills us with the most heartfelt joy. These all unite, to a man, in their Christian sympathy. Not merely so; they cast in their lot with their brethren of the Free Church of Scotland, and are prepared to share in all their toils, and difficulties, and privations, and sufferings. They virtually declare that whatever those in power may have done in compelling the Church to part with her rightful inheritance, and however low she may appear in the estimation of the unthinking mere men of the world, great or small, she holds a loftier position far than she ever did,—a brighter glory far is hers than she ever possessed, and she stands higher far in the estimation of the wise and the good than she ever did; and she cannot fail to have the approval of her Lord and Master. We have had addresses and congratulations from various Christian bodies, given forth in all the warmth and sincerity of their hearts, saying," The Lord bless and keep you; the Lord establish the work of your hands. We bless you in the name of the Lord." From sister Churches at home, from foreign Churches abroad, from representatives from almost every Protestant community on the face of the globe, and that could hear and know of our doings, we have had the Christian felicitation, and for this we desire to be grateful, and would reciprocate the Christian good wish and prayer; but we feel, and they will admit, that this is the most powerful and unequivocal testimony that has been borne to our principles, as being conformable to truth,-as being of God. Here are Christian men, and these not a few, men universally allowed to be possessed of great grasp of mind, strength of judgment, and clearness of apprehension,-men of admitted sterling Christian principle, of unfeigned piety, and ardent zeal, labouring in the cause of Christ in all the different quarters of the globe, removed far from the scene of controversy, separated far from each other, uninfluenced by local prejudice, without communication one with the other, fully aware of all our proceedings from first to last, fully capable of entering into and comprehending and judging of the merits of the whole question,—we find these men declaring, as with one voice, unequivocally, and without hesitation and reservation, that they cannot, as matters now stand, longer remain in connection with the Church of the Establishment, however dear to them as the Church of their fathers, and that they must unite themselves with, and adhere to, and cast in their lot with their brethren who have protested against the Established Church as now constituted, and have come out of her.

We inquire not into the motives that might naturally have induced these Christian men to remain in their former connection. These are numerous and strong, and might have operated on men of carnal minds and worldly policy; but all these they have cast away from them when duty and principle were concerned. They

Remember you are called to show how a Christian can endure as well as enjoy,—how a Christian can fight as well as triumph. Oh, be ye ensamples to the believers in every thing,-disarm those who are without by your meekness of wisdom,-urge upon your people, as I am persuaded you feel inclined to do, the respect that is due to all righteous authority. Though they may be blind, be not ye disaffected; let us be obedient for conscience' sake.

A dark cloud may yet continue to hang over us, which has not yet been dissipated; but methinks I see the bow in the cloud, proclaiming all is well. Fear not. Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; “your God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Brethren, farewell. We have had sweet counsel together. Never, never, shall we all meet again, and see each other in the face here below. The grey hairs and tottering frame of some of us, tell that our glass is nearly run; and the youngest and most vigorous are just as insecure as the aged and most enfeebled. We have all of us our race to run; and oh! if we meet before the throne at last, and unite with the redeemed there, it is immaterial at what period or hour we are summoned hence,-immaterial whether we meet here again in the wilderness below or not. I pray that from the Church below we may be all called (not one missing) to join the General Assembly and Church of the first-born. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift on you the light of His countenance, and give you peace.

Brethren in the eldership, whose labours are labours of love, we thank you for your attendance; we trust you have not found it unimportant to be among us and take part in our deliberations and proceedings, and that your worldly interests may not suffer by your temporary withdrawal from your secular duties. You are a most important part in the constitution of our Church. Often have our hands been strengthened, and our labours lightened,—our hearts cheered by you; often have we been encouraged and stimulated by the deep interest you have taken in the affairs of our Church,-by the zeal, and fidelity, and skill with which you have discharged your duties. I need scarcely tell you that your ministers, and the Church to which you belong, never more required that your energies and efforts should be put forth and called into active and prayerful operation. For the Church's sake, for Christ's sake,-go forth to your duties with redoubled activity; and may the Lord bless you and yours, and make you a blessing.

And, though not customary to go beyond the limits of the Assembly, yet I may be permitted to address a single sentence to the members of the Free Church who have honoured us with their presence. I craved your prayers at the outset, and we have had them. I crave them still, for we need them. Moreover, I crave your interest in behalf of that Church which is now cast, in Providence, upon the liberality of her people. Manifest your interest by your lives,-show by your godly and consistent walk that you are Christ's freemen. Manifest it by your exertions, each one of you in your sphere, for the maintenance of our Church. Many of our godly ministers have made great sacrifices for Christ's sake, for conscience sake, and for your sake. Show that you are not indifferent to these sacrifices, and that you are willing and prepared to lighten their burdens by your exertions and by your sacri. fices for their weal and comfort. And now, brethren in the Lord, I commend you all to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.

And as we met in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the great and sole Head and King of the Church, so, in the same great and glorious name, we dissolve this Assembly, and appoint our next meeting to be holden at Edinburgh, on Thursday the 16th day of May next.

The Assembly then sung the last three verses of the 122d Psalm, and, after the benediction, separated at two o'clock on Wednesday morning.

APPENDIX.

ADDRESSES OF SYMPATHY FROM OTHER CHURCHES TO THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND,

WITH

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ANSWERS.

No. I.-From the Eastern Reformed Synod in Belfast.

The following resolutions relative to the Free Church of Scotland were adopted by the Eastern Reformed Presbyterian Synod, at a meeting in Belfast, August 1, 1843.

"1. We, the ministers and elders of the Eastern Reformed Presbyterian Synod, most sincerely rejoice that the members, but especially the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland, have given such a noble testimony to the royal prerogatives and supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the alone King and Head of his Church.

"2. We rejoice that the ministers and members of the Free Church have made a glorious stand in favour of the blood-bought liberties and privileges of the Church. They have nobly resisted the attempt to wreath about the Church's neck a yoke of bondage.

"3. We rejoice that the ministers of the Free Church have not only resisted the attempt to put it in the power of the civil magistrate, through the medium of patronage, to crush the liberties of the people of God. We rejoice still more that the ministers of the Free Church have nobly resisted the temptation of having that power transferred to themselves. They will neither allow the patron to interfere with the rights of the people to choose their own ministers, nor will they interfere with that right themselves-their conduct in this is worthy of all praise.

"4. We rejoice that the ministers of the Free Church, by their unbending integrity, have averted much evil. These ministers had passed an act to prevent pastors being forced on the people. The civil magistrates declared this act to be unlawful. The ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland had, in their own apprehension, and according to their own declarations, passed the Non-Intrusion Act, in obedience to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. The civil power said, you must rescind this act and obey us! Had the ministers and elders complied-had they rescinded the act-what would the language of their conduct have been? It would have been this. Jesus Christ commands one thing-the civil magistrate commands the reverse ;-we will disobey Jesus Christ, and obey the civil magistrate.

"This open and acknowledged insult offered to the Lord Jesus Christ would have inflicted on the religion of Jesus a deep and lasting wound,-it would have degraded and disgraced the ministerial character. We rejoice that these evilsthese frightful evils-have, by the uncompromising fidelity of the ministers and members of the Free Church, been happily averted.

"5. We rejoice,-not only in the evil being averted, but in the immense good likely to accrue from the magnanimous conduct of the non-intrusion ministers. A deep stigma had long been fixed on the ministerial character. The avarice of the

* Other addresses were received. See these:-1. Minute of Synod of Original Seceders, p. 20. 2. From Reformed Presbyterian Synod, p. 28-3. 30. United Secession Synod, p. 32-34.

clergy had become proverbial. The ministers of the Free Church have done every thing that men could do to remove this stigma. They have nobly sacrificed their emoluments on the altar of truth. That public bodies had no conscience, had also become a kind of proverb. We rejoice that the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland have proved to the world that not only individuals, but large bodies of men, in obedience to the dictates of an enlightened conscience,-in obedience to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ-may be willing to sacrifice their worldly interest-may be willing to take joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that in heaven they have a better and a more enduring substance. The ministers of the Free Church of Scotland have not only professed obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ-they have confessed him before men when strongly tempted to deny him— they have nobly confessed him-they have witnessed a good confession before many witnesses. By their magnanimous conduct they have added another proof to the truth and divinity of our holy religion. They have done much to stop the mouths of infidels-they have done much to raise and elevate the ministerial character-they have magnified their office.'

·

"6. Whilst from our inmost souls we honour the men who have done so much for the glory of God and the freedom of his Church, and consider them worthy of all encouragement and support, we must not forget that these good men are only instruments, and that the Redeemer himself is the great moving agent. Since the Second Reformation, no event has occurred in which the finger of God is more remarkably visible. The General Assembly, in passing the veto act, had no conception of the results to which that act would ultimately lead, nor had the_civil power, so far as we can judge, the slightest anticipation of a disruption of the Establishment. The infinitely capacious mind of the Redeemer contemplated both. He overruled the movements on both sides. Under his divine superintendence, invaluable good we are convinced has been done, and much more, we trust, will soon be effected. Scotland has burst her chains, and England, we hope, will soon follow her example.

"The members of both Establishments, we have no doubt, will soon see, not only the utility, but the absolute necessity of obeying the apostolic injunction, Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be no longer entangled with a yoke of bondage.'

"The Son of God is riding forth gloriously, conquering and to conquer. The late movement in Scotland we regard as a victory on the side of the Lamb. Whilst some are crying Alas! we beg to join with those who sing, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive, &c. And again they said, Alleluia!'

[ocr errors]

Finally resolved,-that a copy of the above resolutions be sent to the Moderator of the Assembly of the Free Church, with the Synod's best wishes for her progress and success. "SAML. B. STEVENSON, Moderator. "CLARKE HORISTON, Clerk.”

(Signed)

[blocks in formation]

"REVEREND SIR,-The Committee appointed by the late General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, to answer Addresses from other Churches, acknowledge with much thankfulness the receipt of a copy of Resolutions, agreed to by the Eastern Reformed Presbyterian Synod, at their meeting in Belfast, on the 1st of August 1843.

[ocr errors]

The Committee are well aware of the paramount importance, which the body, of which you are the members, have at all times attached to the doctrine in defence of which the ministers of the Free Church have been called to sacrifice their status and emoluments as ministers of the Establishment, and they had no doubt of their enjoying your sympathy in the arduous struggle in which they have been engaged, in maintaining the right of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule supreme in His own house.

It

affords us much pleasure to learn that you approve of the manner in which we and our brethren of the Free Church have conducted that warfare; and, in humble dependance on Divine grace, we fondly hope that our future proceedings may be such as to merit and receive your approbation.

"The Committee beg leave to offer their brotherly salutations to yourself and the other members of the Eastern Reformed Synod-and, with fervent prayers for your spiritual prosperity as individuals and as a Church,

"We are your faithful brethren in the Lord,

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

II. From Associate Churches of the Baptist Denomination in the Counties of Lancaster and Chester.

"At the annual assembly of the Associated Churches of the Baptist denomination in the counties of Lancaster and Chester, held at Pendle Hill, Lancashire, on the 8th, &c. of June, 1843, Rev. John Birt, A.M., Moderator, it was moved by Rev. C. M. Birrel, Liverpool, seconded by George Foster, Esq. of Sabden, and unanimous ly carried:

"1. That the ministers and delegates now assembled have heard with unfeigned satisfaction of the late secession from the Established Church of Scotland, and although differing from the retiring body in their views of the internal government of the Christian Church, and of the duty of the civil power in relation to it, they can not withhold the expression of their highest admiration of the firmness, the integrity, the harmony of purpose, and the faithful practical submission to the only King of Zion, which have led them to this result.

"Further: whilst this Association would unite in the fervent prayer, that those who have so nobly begun a fresh career of Evangelical labour, may be counselled and sustained by Divine grace through its whole course, they would urge their own churches to the contemplation of so striking an event, as constituting an additional omen of the approaching emancipation of the whole Church from the dominion of secular governments; as affording a providential promise of support to all who may hereafter be called, under circumstances of trial, to bear testimony to Divine truth, and as demonstrating in the eyes of the world that there is in our common principles, as Christians, a power which can render men superior to temporal advantages, to hallowed associations, and to personal ease. "JOHN BIRT, A. M., Moderator, "W. T. BURCHELL, Secretary."

(ANSWER.)

" COMMITTEE ROOMS, 7 NORTH ST ANDREW STREET, 66 'EDINBURGH, 16th December 1843.

"REVEREND SIR,-The Committee appointed by the late General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland to answer addresses received from other Churches, beg leave to offer their cordial thanks to you, and through you to the associated churches of the Baptist denomination in the counties of Lancaster and Chester, for the resolutions unanimously adopted at your annual assembly, held at Pendle Hill, Lancashire, on the 8th of last June, and transmitted to our Moderator.

"It is a source of unspeakable satisfaction and encouragement to us to find that, amidst the diversities of opinion subsisting among Christians on points of minor importance, there is a general-may we not say-a universal agreement among the evangelical Churches of Christendom in what you justly term, the duty of faithful practical submission to the only King of Zion. We firmly believe that it is in the exercise of such a submission that the Churches of Christ of every denomination shall, under

« السابقةمتابعة »