of Scotland, to answer addresses and congratulations from other Churches, acknowledge with much pleasure a letter addressed to Dr Chalmers, late moderator of the Free Church General Assembly, by Mr Harris, secretary to the Oxfordshire and West Berks Association of Independent Churches and ministers, dated Wallingford, 20th October 1843,' and containing a copy of a resolution passed at the halfyearly meeting of the said Association at Chinnor, Oxon, on the 6th September last. "We return the cordial thanks of the Assembly for the sympathy which you have expressed with us in the principles which we profess, and for your prayers on our behalf, and in return, take this opportunity of assuring you of the interest which you and our fellow-Christians of other Churches have in our supplications at a throne of grace. It affords us peculiar satisfaction to observe, that recent events in the history of the Free Church are obviously leading to a closer union between Evangelical Churches of all denominations, and are strengthening the bond which ought ever to bind us together as believers in Christ, and servants of the same Divine Master. "In name and by appointment of the Committee,

"Mr WM. HARRIS, Secretary,

Oxfordshire and West Berks Association, &c.

"PAT. M'FARLAN, Convener."

FORMULÆ, &c., PREPARED BY COMMITTEE OF ASSEMBLY, AND APPROVED OF BY THE SPECIAL COMMISSION.

I.-ELDERS AND DEACONS.

1. Questions put before Ordination.

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners?

2. Do you sincerely own and declare the Confession of Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this Church, to be the confession of your faith; and do you own the doctrine therein contained to be the true doctrine, which you will constantly adhere to?

3. Do you own and acknowledge the Presbyterian form of church government of this Church, by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, to be the only government of this Church; and do you engage to submit thereto, concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof?

4. Do you promise to observe uniformity of worship, and of the administration of all public ordinances within this Church, as the same are at present performed and allowed?

5. Do you then accept of the office of an Elder [Deacon] of this Congregation, and promise, through faith, faithfully, diligently, and cheerfully, to discharge all the duties thereof?

2. Formula to be Signed.

I, A. B, do sincerely own and declare the above Confession of Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this Church, to be the confession of my faith; and I own the doctrine therein contained to be the true doctrine, which I will constantly adhere to: As likewise, I own and acknowledge the Presbyterian church government of this Church, by Kirk- Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, to be the only government of this Church; and I sincerely promise and declare, that I will submit thereto, concur therewith, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof; and that I will observe

uniformity of worship, and of the administration of all public ordinances within this Church, as the same are at present performed and allowed.

II. PROBATIONERS.

1. Questions put to Probationers before they are licensed to preach the Gospel. 1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners?

2. Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith, approven by the General Assemblies of this Church, to be the truths of God, contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; and do you own the whole doctrine therein contained as the confession of your faith?

3. Do you sincerely own the purity of worship presently authorized and practised in this Church, and also own the Presbyterian government and discipline; and are you persuaded that the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and church government, are founded upon the Holy Scriptures, and agreeable thereto ?

4. Do you promise that, through the grace of God, you will firmly and constantly adhere to, and in your station, to the utmost of your power, assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, and discipline, and the government of this Church by Kirk-Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies ?

5. Do you promise that in your practice you will conform yourself to the said worship, and submit yourself to the said discipline and government of this Church, and shall never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the

same?

6. Do you promise that you shall follow no divisive courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this church?

7. Do you renounce all doctrines, tenets, or opinions whatsoever, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church?

8. Do you promise that you shall subject yourself to the several judicatories of this Church? Are you willing to subscribe to those things?

2. Formula to be signed by Probationers before License.

I, do hereby declare, that I do sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this Church, to be the truths of God; and I do own the same as the confession of my faith; as likewise, I do own the purity of worship presently authorised and practised in this Church, and also the Presbyterian govern. ment and discipline, which doctrine, worship, and church government, I am persuaded, are founded on the word of God and agreeable thereto : and I promise that, through the grace of God, I shall firmly and constantly adhere to the same; and to the utmost of my power shall in my station assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church by Kirk-Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies; and that I shall, in my practice, conform myself to the said worship, and submit to the said discipline and government, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same; and I promise that I shall follow no divisive course from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church, renouncing all doctrines, tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said doctrine, worship, discipline, or government of the same.

III. PROBATIONERS AFTER BEING CALLED BY A CONGREGATION.

1. Questions put to Probationers before Ordination.

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners?

2. Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrines contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this Church, to be founded upon the word of God; and do you acknowledge the same as the confession of your faith; and will you firmly and constantly adhere thereto, and to the utmost of your power assert, maintain, and defend the same, and the purity of worship as presently practised in this Church?

3. Do you disown all Popish, Arian, Socinian, Arminian, Erastian, and other doctrines, tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to, and inconsistent with, the foresaid Confession of Faith?

4. Are you persuaded that the Presbyterian government and discipline of this Church are founded upon the word of God, and agreeable thereto; and do you promise to submit to the said government and discipline, and to concur with the same, and never to endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion thereof, but to the utmost of your power, in your station, to maintain, support, and defend the said discipline and Presbyterian government by Kirk-Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, during all the days of your life?

5. Do you promise to submit yourself willingly and humbly, in the spirit of meekness, unto the admonitions of the brethren of this Presbytery, and to be subject to them, and all other Presbyteries, and superior judicatories of this Church, where God in his providence shall cast your lot; and that, according to your power, you shall maintain the unity and peace of this Church against error and schism, notwithstanding of whatsoever trouble or persecution may arise, and that you shall follow no divisive courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church? 6. Are not zeal for the honour of God, love to Jesus Christ, and desire of saving souls, your great motives and chief inducements to enter into the function of the holy ministry, and not worldly designs and interests?

7. Have you used any undue methods, either by yourself or others, in procuring

this call?

8. Do you engage, in the strength and grace of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, to rule well your own family, to live a holy and circumspect life, and faithfully, diligently, and cheerfully to discharge all the parts of the ministerial work, to the edification of the body of Christ?

9. Do you accept of and close with the call to be pastor of this congregation, and promise, through grace, to perform all the duties of a faithful minister of the gospel among this people?

I

2. Formula to be Subscribed at Ordination.

do hereby declare, that I do sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine contained in the Confession of Faith, approven by former General Assemblies of this Church, to be the truths of God; and I do own the same as the confession of my faith; as likewise, I do own the purity of worship presently authorised and practised in this Church, and also the Presbyterian government and discipline, which doctrine, worship, and church government, I am persuaded, are founded upon the word of God, and agreeable thereto and I promise that through the grace of God I shall firmly and constantly adhere to the same; and, to the utmost of my power, shall in my station assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church, by Kirk- Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies; and that I shall in my practice conform myself to the said worship, and to submit to the said discipline and government, and never endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same: and I promise that I shall follow no divisive course from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church, renouncing all doctrines, tenets, and opinions whatsoever, contrary to or inconsistent with the said doctrine, worship, discipline, or government, of this Church.

ACT ANENT SYNODICAL ARRANGEMENTS.

GLASGOW, 24th October 1843. Sess. 13. The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, on the report of a SubCommittee of the Acting Committee of the Special Commission, appointed to recommend an arrangement in respect to the formation and appointment of Synods, &c., in terms of the remit of last Assembly, did and hereby do enact and ap point as follow, viz. :—

I. THE SYNOD OF LOTHIAN AND TWEEDALE-to consist of the following Presbyteries:-Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Biggar and Peebles, Dalkeith, Haddington and Dunbar. To meet on the first Tuesday of May and November. First meeting to be in Edinburgh in May 1844.

This Synod to hold their ordinary meetings in Edinburgh, and the Synods of Merse and Teviotdale, Dumfries, Glasgow and Ayr, Stirling and Fife, to correspond with the said Synod of Lothian and Tweedale, by sending each one Minister and one Elder.—Humbie, annexed by last Assembly to the Presbytery of Dalkeith, to continue to be connected with the Presbytery of Haddington and Dunbar,

II. SYNOD OF MERSE AND TEVIOTDALE-to consist of the following Presbybyteries :-Dunse and Chirnside, Kelso and Lauder, Jedburgh, Selkirk. To meet on the fourth Tuesday of April and October. First at Melrose in April 1844.

This Synod to have power to hold their ordinary meetings at Melrose, Jedburgh, Kelso, and Dunse, according to such rules as the Synod itself may fix. And in respect that the members within these bounds are at present few in number, the Synods of Lothian and Tweedale, and Dumfries, shall in the mean time send each two ministers and two elders as correspondents to the Synod of Merse and Teviotdale.

III. SYNOD OF DUMFRIES-to consist of the following Presbyteries:- Penpont, Dumfries, Lockerby.-To meet on the third Tuesday of April and October. First at Dumfries in April 1844.

The two Presbyteries at present within the bounds of this Synod, to be erected into three, to be called as above. The united Presbytery of Annan, Langholm, and Lochmaben, to act under the new designation of the Presbytery of Lockerby, comprehending the following congregations, viz., Ruthwell, Lochmaben, Lockerby, Moffat, Kirkpatrick Fleming, Half- Morton, Annan, Ecclefechan, Langholm, Wamphray. The united Presbytery of Dumfries and Penpont, now to act as the Presbytery of Dumfries, and to include the two congregations in the town of Dumfries, and those of Kirkpatrick Irongray, Kirkpatrick Durham, and Dalbeatie. The remaining congregations of Sanquhar, Glencairn, Thornhill, Closeburn, Wanlockhead, and Dunscore, to be included in the Presbytery of Penpont, which the Assembly now erect and ordain to meet ordinarily at Thornhill, first on the first Wednesday of December next; and further, they appoint the said Presbytery of Penpont to be supplemented in the mean time by the minister of Irongray with his Presbytery elder. The Assembly also appoint the Presbytery of Dumfries to be supplemented by the minister at Dunscore with his Presbytery elder.-The Synods of Merse and Teviotdale, Lothian and Tweedale, and Galloway, for the present to send two ministers and two elders each, as corresponding members to the Dumfries, which shall hold its ordinary meetings in Dumfries.

IV. SYNOD OF GALLOWAY-to consist of the following Presbyteries:-Kirkcudbright, Wigton, Stranraer.-To meet on the fourth Tuesday of April and October. First at Wigton in April 1844.

Wigton to be the ordinary place of meeting, as being the most central town in the district. The Synods of Dumfries, and Glasgow and Ayr, to send each, in the mean time, two ministers and two elders, as corresponding members to the Synod of Galloway. The General Assembly understanding that Wigton and Stranraer, united

by last Assembly, have been constituted as separate Presbyteries, sanction this ar rangement, and appoint the Synod of Galloway to consist of the foresaid Presbyteries of Kirkcudbright, Wigton, and Stranraer. Ballantrae and Colmonell are hereby disunited from Stranraer Presbytery, and connected with the Presbytery of Ayr, and Synod of Glasgow and Ayr.

V. SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR-to consist of the following Presbyteries:Ayr, Irvine, Lanark, Hamilton, Glasgow, Dumbarton, Greenock, Paisley.-To meet on the second Tuesday of April and October. First at Glasgow in April 1844.

This Synod to meet always in Glasgow, and the Synods of Argyll, Galloway, Dumfries, Lothian and Tweedale, and Stirling, to send each a corresponding minister and elder to the said Synod of Glasgow and Ayr.-Ballantrae and Colmonell, in the Presbytery of Stranraer, are united to the Presbytery of Ayr as aforesaid.— The Presbytery of Lanark to be in the mean time supplemented by Messrs Buchan and Clason, from the Presbytery of Hamilton, with their Presbytery elders.

VI. SYNOD OF ARGYLL-to consist of the following Presbyteries:-Dunoon and Inverary, Kintyre, Islay and Jura, Mull and Lorn.-To meet on the first Wednesday of September. First at Lochgilphead in April 1844.

This Synod to meet ordinarily at Lochgilphead, but with power to meet occasionally at Inverary and Campbelton.-The Synods of Glenelg, Perth, Stirling, Glasgow and Ayr, to send each a corresponding minister and elder to the Synod of Argyll.

VII. SYNOD OF STIRLING, to consist of the following Presbyteries:-Dunblane, Stirling, Dunfermline.-To meet on the first Tuesday of April and October. First at Stirling in April 1844.

The union of Stirling with Perth having been found to be an unsuitable arrangement, the Assembly erect the Presbyteries of Dunblane and Stirling, formerly attached to the Synod of Perth and Stirling, with the Presbytery of Dunfermline in the Synod of Fife, into a SYNOD OF STIRLING, to meet ordinarily at Stirling, and to be corresponded with by the Synods of Argyll, Perth, Fife, Lothian and Tweedale, and Glasgow and Ayr, each sending one minister and one elder.—In regard to Presbyterial arrangements within the bounds of the Synod of Stirling, the Assembly connect the united congregation of Dollar and Muckhart (presently belonging to the Presbytery of Auchterarder) with the Presbytery of Stirling. And they separate the congregation at Kincardine from Dunblane Presbytery, and unite it to the Presbytery of Dunfermline.-The congregations at Kinross, Milnathort, and Keltie, the Assembly disjoin from the Presbytery of Dunfermline, and with Blairingone and Fossoway in the Presbytery of Auchterarder, Portmoak in the Presbytery of Kirkcaldy, and Strathmiglo in the Presbytery of Cupar, erect into a new Presbytery, to be called the Presbytery of Kinross, to meet ordinarily at Kinross, first on the first Wednesday of December next, and to be connected with the Synod of Fife.

VIII. SYNOD OF PERTH-to consist of the following Presbyteries:-Perth, Auchterarder, Dunkeld, Weem, hereafter to be called Breadalbane.-To meet on the third Thursday of April and October. First at Perth in April 1844.

The corresponding Synods to be Argyll, Stirling, Fife, Angus and Mearns, and Aberdeen, each sending a minister and elder.-In regard to Presbyterial arrangements within the bounds, the Assembly separate the congregation at Rattray from Dunkeld Presbytery, and connect it with the Presbytery of Meigle, and Synod of Angus and Mearns. For the present, however, the minister of Rattray with his Presbytery elder, to continue also associated with the Presbytery of Dunkeld. - The united congregation of Muckhart and Dollar, with the congregations of Blairingone and Fossaway, to be disjoined from the Presbytery of Auchterarder as before mentioned. The Presbytery of Dunkeld is hereby empowered to meet at Meikleous on the last Tuesday of October current.