our great shortcomings and sins, and earnestly implore at the hand of God, that whatever it be that hindereth the progress and prosperity of our Church, whether it be from within or from without,--that he would graciously take it out of the way, and cause us to grow as the lily and to cast forth our roots as Lebanon. We are firm and unshaken in holding fast the principle of Establishments, while we meddle not with the emoluments and privileges of which we cannot but think we have been unrighteously deprived. Without grudge or hindrance, we leave these to such as now enjoy them, striving on our own part to follow on to know the Lord, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is good for the stability and success of our Church that we should rightly estimate the wonderful circumstances of our revival and progress. We furnish an example of a Church coming forth from a struggle of long duration and of great severity, in a state of comparative equipment and efficiency, combining the elasticity of youth with the wisdom and experience of years—blending together in one scriptural Presbyterian polity the element of lay cooperation with the unction and authority of the clerical office, and thus realizing and showing forth to the conviction and joy of our own hearts, and to the comfort of many others far and near, that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord.

This is the spring of our hope and confidence in regard to ourselves; and with respect to other true churches of Christ, whether they be in this or in other lands, our sincere desire is, that the God of all wisdom and grace may direct them to such measures as may conduce to their growing purity and efficiency.

But while we cherish this liberal and Christian spirit respecting other churches, our immediate and earnest attention should be given to the care and cultivation of our own vineyard. And surely there is enough here to call forth our utmost exertions. Whether we think of the extent of our boundaries, or the variety of our localities,―of all that is needful for providing spiritual ministrations for the neglected crowds of our cities, or the scattered sheep in sequestered corners,-for the godly upbringing of the young, and for the right training of those who are destined for the office of the holy ministry, there is such an amount and urgency of duty as may well cause us to exclaim, Who is sufficient for these things? Blessed be He who enableth us to say from our own experience, as well as from His unfailing promise, "Our sufficiency is of God." He has hitherto graciously sustained and prospered us. In Him, therefore, we put our trust, and to Him we shall commit all our ways.

However ardent may be our zeal in the cause of foreign missions, that must not relax our efforts to meet the urgent claims of our own people at home. Instead of any such injurious effect, we should rather desire that the competition of claims should provoke to love and to good works, so that the more earnestly we seek that the wilderness and the solitary place may be glad, we shall labour the more strenuously to secure that our own land be as a well watered garden, and a field in which the Lord doth greatly delight. Brethren, these things have deeply affected your hearts from the beginning, and there can be no doubt that they shall engage much of your attention at this time. May the Lord send out His light with His truth, to lead and guide you, that all your measures may be acceptable and wellpleasing in His sight, and greatly prosper in reclaiming the wanderers, and

recovering the wicked, and building up his own people in faith and holiness unto everlasting life.

In regard to the particular kind of efforts that are best suited to the occasion, and which the exigencies of the case require, we know well that the first and most important is the prayer of faith, the outpouring of the heart before God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let us then strive together in this exercise, casting all our care upon Him who careth for his people, and hath not required any of the seed of Jacob to seek His face in vain. But along with those earnest pleadings with God, there must also be the devising of liberal things, the abundant free-will offerings of the people according to the necessities of the case for the support of such as give themselves to the work of the Lord as pastors and teachers. As I am aware that this subject is largely to engage your attention in this Assembly, I shall not anticipate the mature consideration of it on your own part further than to express my earnest hope, that the great Head of the Church may be pleased to direct you in the way that is best calculated to ensure the unity, efficiency, and extension of our beloved Church.

Although it would be inconsistent with the character of this Assembly, and with the objects that should engage its attention, to occupy itself with the political affairs of this world, yet it surely becomes us to have respect to the state and signs of the times, that we may be suitably affected by them. It would infer criminal indifference on our part, if we did not give earnest heed to the doings of Antichrist,-the Man of Sin. These are of the same character that they have been from the beginning, invariably and unalterably crafty, malignant, and daring. In this highly-favoured land we have long enjoyed the ordinances of Divine grace in comparative purity and peace. These are the precious fruits of the victory which our fathers, by the mercy and might of God, achieved over the adversary. But after a considerable period of repression, the Wicked One has again risen up with revived hopes and renewed confidence, that he may come forth to practise his wiles against the simple, the unwary, and the false-hearted. As watchmen on the high towers of Zion, it is required of us to give a loud note of warning and alarm, and to continue to blow the trumpet, that all our people may be on their guard, and take unto them the whole armour of God, that they may be able to withstand in the evil day. The Mystery of Iniquity against which we have to contend has been engaged during the lapse of many ages in perfecting its arts of delusion for ensnaring and destroying the souls of men. Along with the proficiency acquired by such longcontinued practice, it seems in our day to stand on vantage ground through the base conduct of many traitors and false brethren to be found among those who profess to be its adversaries. But, in addition to this, it has received a most formidable accession of strength from the concurrence and co-operation of so many of the Kings and Potentates of the earth, who are of the same mind, and give their power and strength to the Beast. Those persons must be blind indeed, who see not in this coalition of Popery with despotism and infidelity a combination of the most fearful character against the Lord and against his Anointed. Among the various parties in this coalition, there is what may be termed action and re-action, each bringing out of its own chamber of imagery something that is peculiar to itself, and which may form an available contribution to forward the crusade against civil and religious liberty over the face of the earth.

In our day and generation we often hear of the march of intellect, and of the great progress of science; and it must be acknowledged that there is truth and meaning in these expressions. Undoubtedly there is a rousing

and quickening of men's minds, and a calling forth of their capacities in an unusual degree. But are we not also constrained to know of what be may termed the march of despotism and oppression,-when all that we had ever read or heard of before of the hateful practices of Tyrants is far outstripped and exceeded by the enormities and atrocities of recent times? It looks as if modern despots had studied with great cordiality and interest the lives, and maxims, and practices of tyrants and oppressors of old. And, as the natural consequence of this, they have become enamoured of their principles; they approve their sayings, and strive to imitate their practices. Indeed, they seem to be prompted by the ambition of becoming wiser than their teachers, and of adding to the cruelties of former times a degree of refinement that would cause the iron to enter more deeply into the soul, and make it reach susceptibilities of suffering that had escaped the ingenuity of their predecessors. These infatuated men are not afraid of setting themselves against the Almighty, and of running upon the thick bosses of His buckler.

Brethren, these things are pressed upon our attention in such a way as that we cannot but take some notice of them. They have come painfully home to our own case and condition. Some of our most esteemed and valued missionaries have been driven away from their post of duty, not only without any impropriety of conduct being laid to their charge, but in circumstances of such indignity and suffering, as to resemble the capricious violence of barbarous tribes more than the considerate and respectful measures of well-regulated governments.

The manifestations of the spirit of which we have spoken are not confined to our case; there are other evidences of its evil working that show but too clearly what is its real character. In these things there may be seen the foreshadowing of an onset, that shall fearfully try the faith and the patience of the saints. Surely the knowledge of these things is well calculated deeply to affect our hearts. We cannot but sigh and cry for the desolations that abound in the midst of the earth, and which threaten to prevail more and more. May the Lord be our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, and enable us to rest in the assurance, that the King whom He hath set on his holy hill of Zion shall reign until all the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ!

Dear brethren, before coming to the conclusion of what I purpose to say at this time, I would desire to take special notice of your brotherly kindness to myself in calling me to be the Moderator of this Assembly. I can truly say that I prize this token of your favour very highly, and desire to express my warmest acknowledgments. There are among you friends who recollect well a former time when I enjoyed the same honour; and assuredly I ought not to forget it, for the friendship of my brethren, and the great goodness of God towards me on that occasion, have left a deep impression on my heart.

And now, when by your unmerited favour I am again exalted to this. office, I trust you will bear in mind that, while advancing years, increasing infirmities, and decaying powers have diminished my fitness for the duties of this Chair, they strengthen my claims on your indulgence and sympathy. You will bear with my shortcomings, and commend me to the mercy of Him who hath promised, "As thy day is so shall thy strength be." But if, in reference to this Office, I would almost shrink from a comparison with my former self, what should be my emotions when I think of the distinguished men who have gone before me, and especially of the eminent and beloved

brother who has been my immediate predecessor? The name of Dr Duff is honoured throughout the world. His praise is in all the Churches. We cannot suitably acknowledge the goodness of God to us as a Church in granting us a brother in the ministry of the gospel, and in the missionary work, so richly endowed with the gifts and graces,-the varied talents and accomplishments, that fit him for the high path of duty to which he has been called, and whose manifold and marvellous labours have been so much owned and honoured by his heavenly Master.

When I speak of him in such terms, it is not in contrast, but in connection with his noble companions and coadjutors in the same field and in the same labours.

We cannot but feel that we are singularly favoured of the Lord in having such a company of gifted and godly missionaries over the face of the earth, and especially in the regions of the East. These excellent men are of one spirit, and the same fire of Divine love and zeal burns in the heart of them all. But He who disposeth of his servants, and dispenseth to them of his gifts severally as he will, has been pleased to set forth the movements and missionary labours of our brother Dr Duff before our eyes so prominently as to claim our special regard. In studying his character, and in following his progress, is there not pressed upon us the feeling that in spirit and energy, in zeal and faithfulness, he is like one of the prophets of old- or to him, whom God had raised up as a chosen vessel to bear his name before princes and kings, and the children of Israel? While Dr Duff is our missionary-identified with us in all things, and devoted to our cause-yet is he like the Apostle of all the children of the East. His large and loving heart embraces them as coming within his commission. He is willing to spend and be spent for their good. He yearns over their perishing souls, and seeks that they may be brought to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent-whom to know is everlasting life.

There is, at the present time, in the state of India what contrasts favourably with this quarter of the globe. Here darkness hath covered the nations, and thick darkness the people. In the midst of arts and sciences, of learning and refinement, of liberty and religion, there is the rapid return of infidelity and superstition, of barbarism, oppression, and horrid cruelty, of evil advancing in every variety of form, diversity of character, and immensity of power to cause suffering and wretchedness. Oh! how soothing is it to the heart that is animated by the love of God, and the desire that souls might be saved, to turn from the gloom and horror of such a state of things, and to direct its thoughts and longing desires to the regions of the East, where the natural sun rises to unfold his beauty and to dispense his blessings to the children of men, in the hope of discerning in that distant horizon streaks of heavenly light, and tokens of Divine love, which give the assurance of an approaching day of gospel grace and of spiritual prosperity, the like of which this world of guilt and of darkness has never witnessed. May the Lord hasten it in his time, that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God!

Craving the indulgence of the Assembly for having occupied its time so long, I now come to a close by summing up all that I have said, or would say, in the words of the Apostle Paul "Finally, brethren, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

The hearty applause with which the address was received throughout, was loudly renewed at its conclusion.

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ADDRESS TO HER MAJESTY.

Dr DUFF said,-As retiring Moderator, I have another duty to discharge connected with loyalty to our earthly Sovereign, Queen Victoria. On this day, is celebrated in this city, the anniversary of Her Majesty's birthday, and we are called upon as loyal subjects to keep this fact in remembrance, and act accordingly. It has been often said, sometimes in ignorance, sometimes perhaps in malignancy, and sometimes, it might be, in a kind of exulting pride, that presbyterianism is of an essentially republican or antimonarchical character; in other words, that it can only thrive alongside of, or in incorporation with, republicanism, and is incompatible with, and hostile to, monarchy. Now, the whole history of the Church of Scotland demonstrates, that whatever the fact may be across the Atlantic, it is not so in Scotland. The whole history of the Church of Scotland testifies that never was there a body of people that contended more strenuously for lawful monarchy than the presbyterians of Scotland- -never a body of loyal subjects who submitted to greater sacrifices, even unto blood, in upholding the cause of lawful monarchy. And without detaining you any longer upon an occasion that requires no speech, I feel that I express the mind of every reverend and honourable member of this House when I say that there is not in Her Majesty's dominions in any part of the world, whether in Europe, or America, or Africa, or Asia, or Australia, to be found a body of subjects more loyal, more attached, more devoted, to the person and throne of our beloved Protestant Monarch, Queen Victoria, than the presbyterians of the Free Church of Scotland. I therefore move that this House agree to frame and present a loyal congratulatory address to Her Majesty on the occasion of the anniversary of her birthday. (Applause.)

Lord PANMURE, on rising to second the motion, was received with much applause. He said, I scarcely think a seconder is wanted for such a motion; but as it is the custom in our General Assembly that he who leaves the chair should move the address to the Sovereign, so it also becomes us that one of the lay members of this body should second the address to the Queen. I think, after what Dr Duff has said, I will not attempt again to vindicate the loyalty of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. The charges that have been made against us have already rebounded on the heads of those who have made them; and I believe the nations are now convinced that it was not in opposition to the powers that be, but in godly submission to higher powers than they, that we left the Establishment, to vindicate our consciences by forming the Free Church. We have on the throne of these realms-and I thank God for it—one who bears that character with which Dr Duff has stamped her-the character of a true Protestant; one who, I believe, will resist all attempts to tamper with that protestantism, and who will never sanction in any shape, come in what way it may, a deviation from those principles which ought always to distinguish this country, taking the lead as it does among the countries of the world as the supporter and the defender of civil and religious liberty. With these few words I most cordially second the motion which has been made for an address to Her Majesty, congratulating her on this return of her natal day, and concluding with our earnest and most sincere prayer that it may please God long to spare her, not to reign over our temporal interests only, but to live in the hearts of a happy, loyal, and united people. (Great applause.)

A Committee was then appointed to draw up the address.

After appointing Committees on Bills and Overtures, and for arranging the business of the House, the Assembly adjourned till Friday at one P.M.