No. XIX. From the Staffordshire Congregational Union. "Resolutions of the annual meeting of the Staffordshire Congregational Union, held at Hansley, July 11th, 12th, and 13th, 1843. "This meeting having observed the deeply interesting and momentous movements which have taken place in connection with the Kirk of Scotland during the last few years, cannot refrain from expressing its cordial delight in witnessing the remarkable increase of Evangelical doctrine and influence in that community. "Facts having at length abundantly proved the impossibility of maintaining with strict integrity and with due weight, that triumph of the truth, in connexion with the trammels of a state Church, this meeting expresses with much pleasure the high respect and cordial sympathy which it entertains towards that portion of the clergy and laity of the former Kirk of Scotland, who have proved themselves willing to sacrifice the temporal ties of a state establishment, rather than the essential doctrines and principles of the gospel. "This meeting tenders to that noble body of men an expression of fraternal confidence, and while it sincerely hopes that the appeals which are now being made to English liberality, will meet with a suitable response, it at the same time anticipates the period wheu the views of the Scottish brethren on the abstract question of a state-establishment of religion will undergo such modifications, and be brought so close to what this meeting considers to be the requirements of scripture, that the members of the Free Church of Scotland will unite with the Protestant Dissenters of Britain and Ireland in that arduous struggle which is now going on against every form of alliance between the civil and the ecclesiastical power." (ANSWER.) "COMMITTEE-ROOMS, 7 NORTH ST ANDREW Street, "EDINBURGH, 16th December 1843. "The Committee appointed by the late General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland to answer addresses and congratulations from other Churches, respectfully acknowledge the receipt of an extract minute of the Staffordshire Congrega tional Union-of date, July 13th, 1843. "The Committee, whilst they return the sincere thanks of the General Assembly for the encouragement afforded to the ministers and people of the Free Church by the approbation given to their proceedings by the Staffordshire Congregational Union, are exceedingly sorry that they cannot sympathise with their brethren of the Union, in the wish which they have expressed, that the Free Church of Scotland may unite with the Protestant Dissenters of Britain and Ireland in that arduous struggle which is now going on against every form of alliance between the civil and the ecclesiastical power.' "History and experience have convinced us that there is a form of alliance which is at once practicable, and agreeable to Scripture, and highly beneficial. We have renounced the temporal advantages of the Scottish Ecclesiastical Establishment, not in consequence of any alteration in our views on this subject,— but because the civil courts had violated our constitution, and Parliament, under the guidance of an infatuated government, had sanctioned that violation. If there were the most distant prospect of recovering our lost liberties, most gladly would we unite with other churches and associations in endeavouring to regain them, and in securing the same spiritual liberty for other established churches, which till a very recent period we enjoyed in our own. The times are as unfavourable as can well be imagined for the prosecution and accomplishment of so interesting an object. It will, therefore, be far more agreeable to us, and, we trust, more in accordance with the spirit which has characterised our separation from the Scottish Establishment, to unite with you and other bodies of Evangelical Christians in one great effort to disseminate at home and abroad the glorious gospel of our blessed Lord and Saviour. The field is the world.' Let us occupy it without delay, leaving Erastianised and corrupt establishments to fall by the propagation of Christian truth, or to be thoroughly reformed and Christianized, and thus to become a blessing in the earth. "We fondly hope that waiving our grounds of difference, you may be induced to enter into these views, and to become fellow-labourers with us in the great and interesting work of Evangelising the world. 3. Commending you and your flocks to the care of the great Shepherd of the sheep, and earnestly imploring an interest in your prayers, I am, "In name and by appointment of the Committee, "Rev. J. C. GALLAUMAY, &c. "PAT M'FARLAN, Convener." No. XX.-From Synod of United Original Seceders, 1843. "At EDINBURGH, DAVIE STREET CHURCH, "11th August 1843. "The Synod of United Original Seceders being met and constituted-The Synod having spent considerable time in deliberating on their duty in reference to the Free Protesting Church, the following motion was made, seconded, and agreed to. That in consequence of the late faithful contendings of those now forming the Free Protesting Church of Scotland, and particularly of their struggles in defence of the spiritual independence of the Church, our relation to one another is very materially altered, therefore this Synod consider it to be highly desirable, in order to the faithful discharge of their public duty, to ascertain as speedily as possible the precise nature of that relation, and for this purpose they appoint a Committee to correspond with any Committee that the Free Church may appoint to see whether there still exist sufficient grounds for this Synod remaining separate, or whether by mutual explanations we may not be able to remove any obstacles to an honourable union. "Extracted from the Minutes of Synod, by "ROB. SHAW, Syn. Clerk.". (ANSWER.) "COMMITTEE ROOMS, 7 NORTH ST ANDREW STREET, "EDINBURGH, 16th December 1843. "The Committee appointed by the late General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland to answeraddresses and congratulations from other Churches, beg leave respectfully and affectionately to acknowledge the receipt of a minute of the Synod of the United Original Seceders of date the 11th August last, in which the said Synod has declared that it appears to them highly desirable to ascertain as speedily as possible the precise nature of the relation now subsisting between the United Original Seceders and the Free Church of Scotland; and has with that view appointed a Committee to correspond with any Committee which the Free Church may appoint, to see whether by mutual explanations the obstacles may not be removed which at present stand in the way of an honourable union between the Synod and the Free Church. "The Synod are already aware of the cordiality with which this proposal was received by the late General Assembly, and of the appointment of a Committee of the Assembly to confer with the Committee of Synod, in order to the Christian and amicable adjustment, if possible, of the differences subsisting between the Synod and the Free Church. It is not for the Committee which now addresses you to anticipate what may be the result of the proposed conference. But, on behalf of our constituents, and, we may confidently add, of a large majority, perhaps the whole of the adherents to the Free Church, we assure you that no proposal could be more welcome to us than that which you have made; and that if a union can be effected on terms honourable to both parties, we shall consider it an honour and a privilege to enter into full incor poration with a body of men whose principles and actings resemble so nearly those of the Church to which we belong. May that God whose name is love, and that divine Redeemer who prayed that his believing people in every age might all be one, sanctify our mutual correspon. dence, and order all things for our good and for the glory of his name. "In name and by appointment of the Committee, "Rev. ROBERT SHAW, &c. "PAT. M.FARLAN, Convener." : XXI. From the Baptist Irish Society. "At a public meeting held in the Baptist Meeting-house, in Abbey Street, in the city of Dublin, on Thursday, August 10, 1843, on behalf of the Baptist Irish Society, it was moved by the Rev. Frederick Trestrail of Cork,-seconded by the Rev. J. Eccles of Colerain,-supported by the Rev. T. C. Crate of Kislingbury, near Northampton, and unanimously resolved : "That this Meeting has beard with heartfelt pleasure of the recent secession of a large and influential portion of the ministers and members of the Scottish Esta blishment, and desires to record its gratitude to God for this timely interposition of bis providence on behalf of the Royal prerogative of Jesus Christ, and would regard this event as a sign of the coming of the day, when all interference by civil govern ment with the kingdom of Christ shall cease. "And farther, while it expresses its sympathy with these brethren who have made such great sacrifices for their principles, it urgently recommends united prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to increase their knowledge, piety, fidelity, and usefulness. "It was subsequently resolved at a meeting of the ministers composing the Bap tist Union for Ireland, assembled in the same place of worship. "That the Secretary be instructed to write to Dr Chalmers, the Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and accompany that letter with a copy of the resolution of the public meeting, No 2., expressing the cordial sympathy of this body with them in their present circumstances." (ANSWER.) "COMMITTEE Rooms, 7, North ST ANDREW STREET, 66 EDINBURGH, 16th December 1843. "The Committee appointed by the late General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland to answer addresses and congratulations from other Churches, beg leave respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of Resolutions adopted at a public meeting held in the Baptist Meeting house, Abbey Street, Dublin, on Thursday the 10th August 1843, and subsequently approved of at a meeting of ministers composing the Baptist Union for Ireland. "On behalf of our constituents, and of the Church to which we belong, we offer you our sincere thanks for the brotherly sympathy which the Baptist Union for Ireland has expressed towards us in the Resolutions above referred to, and we most earnestly unite with you in prayer to God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.' "In name and by appointment of the Committee, "PAT. M'FARLAN, Convener." "The Rev. the Pastor, Baptist Meeting, Abbey Street, &c. XXII. From the Reformed Presbyterian Synod of Ireland. "October 17, 1843. "To the Reverend the Moderator, and remanent members of the Assembly of the Free Protesting Church of Scotland, to meet in Glasgow, on Tuesday, the 17th of October, 1843. "REVEREND AND DEARLY BELOVED IN THE LORD-In the name and by the appointment of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod of Ireland, we avail ourselves of this, the first opportunity since the disruption of the Scottish Establishment, to lay before you the humble expression of our sympathy. And we beg you to accept the assurance of the intense anxiety our souls have felt, in the struggle you have been honoured to sustain against the impious encroachment of an Erastian State, on the prerogatives of our Divine Master, and the rights and liberties of his free people. The very dust of Scotland's Zion is dear to us, and our hearts hail with joy every additional indication that the Lord is returning to her long desolations,-that the time to favour her is at hand, when taking to him his great power, he will still more remarkably arise and have mercy upon ber. Oft have we looked with liveliest emotion to the classic land where the ashes of our martyred fathers repose, and with thrilling interest have our bosoms throbbed at those recent events which, in rapid succession, seemed to betoken the near approach of the time, when hands influential and efficient would uplift the banner our fathers so nobly bore and give to Scotland's admiring gaze its ample folds and its entire inscription-when the lovers of truth, and liberty, and righteousness throughout the earth would see the sons of Scottish covenanted sires bearing aloft, as in the glorious days of the Second Reformation, Christ's crown, and Britain's covenant. In "Although, for a long series of years, even from the era of the Revolution Settlement, the founders of the Reformed Presbyterian Synods deemed it their duty to occupy the position of dissent-declining to accede to an ecclesiastical constitution, defective, as they thought, in some important Scriptural attainment by which the Church had been distinguished in the reforming period, and which they ever regarded as binding on the Church and nation by the oath of the covenants; and, although fully adopting their views, and striving to follow their steps, yet in complete accordance with the wishes of their hearts, and the burden of their prayers, we have regarded the cause of Evangelical Presbyterianism, in the Established Church of Scotland, with more than ordinary feelings of friendly attachment and concern. our congregations, fellowship-meetings, families, and closets, we have, especially of late, been often and earnestly pleading at the mercy-seat, for the bestowment of that grace which, we bless the Lord, has not been withheld from you in the time of your need. We were not personally present with you in the high places of the field, but we trust the good Lord honoured us to hold up in some measure the hands of his servants, your men of counsel and of prayer,-your mighty men, till the sun of Erastianism in the Church of Scotland has gone down, as we hope for ever. And often and earnestly shall we pray, that God may dispose you to have war with this Amalek, from generation to generation, and make you eminently instrumental in utterly putting out the remembrance of it from under heaven. 66 For several years past, our hopes respecting the cause of truth in the Church of Scotland had been greatly elevated-as well from our knowledge that, in many pulpits and parishes of the land-in public services and private ministrations, the gospel of the kingdom was faithfully proclaimed, and pressed on the consciences and the hearts of a highly intellectual people; as that, a large amount of sanctified talent, and high mental attainments, and moral courage, and spiritual mindedness, and holy zeal, was consecrated to her service, and brought to bear on her counsels, and to combat in her courts, and before the world, for many great and precious truths that had been the glory and the bulwark of Scotland's covenanted reformation. And while we witnessed the unremitting, and to some extent successful efforts, that were made to neutralize the blighting course of Moderation, when we saw, despite the pressure of that ungodly system, the Church originating, and car-` rying forward so many schemes of godly enterprise and Christian beneficence, we did conceive high expectations of a still more plenteous rain, whereby the Lord would refresh his weary heritage in our father-land; but we were wholly unprepared -at least in the earlier stages of your trials, for an event so joyous, for your obtainment of an emancipation so complete. When Zion's bondage God turned back, As men that dreamed were we.' We did not believe the State would be so infatuated, as precipitate a crisis so gloriious for you, and so big with portent of national judgments to themselves. We had not ventured to anticipate, that in a space so short, the Redeemer's gracious providence for so we regard it, and so we doubt not yourselves regard it should have so hemmed you in, and shut you up to 'go forward-that he should have so soon and so signally converted your sea of troubles and perplexities into firm footing and a 'plain path,' and afforded you facilities so favourable for shaking yourselves loose of the task-masters, who would have perpetuated their usurpations over you, and made you, at the same time, the dishonoured instruments of rivetting on Christ's freemen, the fetters of a deep and degrading bondage. We had not dared to hope that so soon after you had conceived 'the glowing thoughts of freedom,' and set yourselves in right earnest to claim and contend for it, the angel of the covenant should have led you in a way you knew not, and sought not to the achievement of so great a triumph of principle over power-of Christian simplicity and single-mindedness, over the time-serving and tortuous policy,—the intolerant, yet crushing spirit of Moderatism within, and the Erastian domination of the State without,—the dealings of the State towards you, we hold to be decidedly Antichristian. Your refusal to acquiesce in their claims was clearly demanded by your allegiance to the Lord Jesus. His grace has enabled you to feel your obligation and nobly to act in accordance with it. So far you have done homage to your sovereign Lord and theirs, and you are now, we are persuaded, richly experiencing that in keeping his commandments there is a great reward.' Patronage, under every known or imaginable modification, we believe to be unscriptural and iniquitous; and the independent jurisdiction of the courts of God's house we consider essential to the purity and efficiency of the Church, and as inalienably secured to her by her Divine Head; and we know it was recognised by the state, and guaranteed to the Church of Scotland, in the purest times of reformation. The Erastian decisions of the Civil Courts, affirmed by the highest appellate tribunal in the land, and afterwards virtually embodied in their most obnoxious features in the Letter of the Queen, we regard as evincing no less than treason against the King of kings; and we cannot but look on all these developments of the immoral character of the constitution as tending to fill up the measure of the nation's iniquities, and to provoke the speedier down pouring of the Divine indignation. The legislature and executive in a Christian land, and especially in a land once in covenant with God, we hold to be no less bound, than is the Church herself, to honour the Messiah, and, in their own province, to fulfil his will; but theirs is the sin, not simply of refusing to obey, but of recklessly attempting to wrest from the hands of the reigning Mediator his Royal sceptre, and pluck from his brow his Royal Crown, and to prevent, as far as competent to their power, the exercise of His own authority in His own house. They have done more. They have, with fearful temerity, usurped His Royal authority, and assumed to themselves the incommunicable prerogatives of God's High Priest upon his throne; and in attempting to coerce you into a palpable participation of their criminality, they have unwittingly elicited a manifestation of high principle, and holy and irrepressible purpose, which cannot fail to evoke from the heart of true godliness in every corner of the empire-in every Christianised spot of our world— a feeling which, though, alas! it has too long lain dormant, will, we trust, slumber no more, till the kingdoms of this world shall have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. And yet, great as is the wickedness perpetuated by the state in your department of the vineyard, we are constrained to regard it as only a part, and, if the comparison be made on the ground of numerical calculation, or political influence, only a small part of their rebellious procedure against the Lord and his |