that purpose were attempted by the mutual appointment of committees. As it was understood, however, that overtures were to be brought before the Assembly of the Free Church, urging the propriety of her identifying herself, by some formal declaration, with the Church of the First and Second Reformation, these negotiations were discontinued; and thus, instead of discussing terms of union, which are apt to involve one or other of the parties in ambiguous statements, or in avowed concessions of truth for the sake of peace, time was allowed to the Free Church of Scotland to mature and put on record her convictions as to present truth and duty, leaving it to us to judge when we could consistently accede to her communion. Meanwhile, on every public question connected with the cause of the Reformation, the harmony of our views became more and more apparent. The "Pastoral Address," issued by the General Assembly in 1845, breathed a spirit entirely in unison with our own, and in point of public profession expressed in substance almost everything that we could desire. Many laudable acts of Assembly have been passed, indicating at once faithful adherence to former attainments and a desire for further reformation. The missionary efforts, and other schemes of the Church, so vigorously sustained, argued her vitality, and pointed her out as a field which the Lord hath blessed." And if any doubt remained as to the principles of the Free Church, these have been removed by the late "Act and Declaration" passed by the last General Assembly, and prefixed to their authorised edition of the Standards, the appearance of which we hail chiefly as serving to identify the Free Church with the Church of the First and Second Reformation, on account of its distinct avowal of all the Westminster Standards as the Standards of the Free Church, and its receiving these, not as was done by the old formula of the Established Church, which merely recognised the Confession of Faith, and that as "ratified by law in the year 1690," but fully and unreservedly, as they were received by the Church of Scotland in her best and purest times, by virtue of her own authority; and on account of the explicit pledge which it contains, "to prosecute the ends contemplated from the beginning in all the acts and deeds of her reforming fathers, until the errors which they renounced shall have disappeared from the land, and the true system which they upheld shall be universally received."

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This, and other Acts of the Free Church, we regard, not as grounds of union, but simply as data, from which we may judge whether the time has come when we may, with honour and consistency, drop our position of secession, and maintain our principles in communion with the Church of Scotland.

After serious and prayerful consideration, we have been led to the conclusion, that it is no longer dutiful or desirable to maintain a separate judicial organisation, but that it is at once our duty, and for the interests of the great cause which we have at heart, to propose uniting ourselves with the Free Church of Scotland. To this conclusion we have been led, by considering that the Free Church now occupies such a position, in respect of her constitution and administration, as renders it unwarrantable in us to maintain and prosecute an active and positive secession from her communion, and that she is the true representative of that Church from the prevailing party in whose judicatories our fathers declared a secession. Believing also that she not only professedly but practically adheres to the Westminster formularies, as her subordinate standards of doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, as these were ratified, with certain explanations, by divers Acts of Assembly in the years 1645, 1647, and 1648, we are fully satisfied that all the grounds of secession as originally stated have been removed, and that all the ends of that Testimony hitherto held by us in a state of separation may be now warrantably and faithfully prosecuted in communion with the Free Church of Scotland.

With this view, the following Resolution, forming the substance of an overture for union with the Free Church, signed by nineteen of our ministers, was moved and carried at our late meeting of Synod, viz. :—

"That this Synod do now recognise the Free Church of Scotland as being constitutionally, both by divine and human right, the Church of Scotland, to which our fathers appealed; and also, that the Synod do affectionately and respectfully propose to unite with the Free Church of Scotland on the basis of the Westminster Standards, held in integrity, and suitably applied, in the way of prosecuting the ends of our National Covenants, to which we are bound by our ordination vows, namely, 'in the way of abhorring and detesting all contrary religion and doctrine, but chiefly all kinds of Papistry, in general and particular heads, even as they are now condemned by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland,' which is the end to which we are bound by the

National Covenant of Scotland; and, more particularly, that we propose to unite with them in the way of endeavouring to maintain the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, against our common enemies-to promote the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, and to bring the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion, Confession of Faith, Form of Government, Directory for Worship, and Catechisms,' and in the way of 'extirpating,' that is, endeavouring to root out, 'Popery, Prelacy, Superstition, Schism, Profaneness, and whatever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness,'-the ends which we are bound to prosecute by the Solemn League and Covenant; it being understood that these ends are to be prosecuted in a suitableness to present circumstances, and only by such means as are competent for a Church of Christ to employ; it being also distinctly understood, that we hold by the Standards and Constitution of the Church of Scotland, not only as these may have been explained in any Act or Acts of the Free Church, but also as they are stated and defended in our own Testimony. In fine, it is hereby moved, that a Representation and Appeal, embodying the above principles, be drawn out and signed by the Moderator and Clerk in the name of this Synod, and transmitted to the next meeting of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, intimating our readiness, on a favourable reception being given to its terms, forthwith to terminate our Secession, according to the original design of our fathers."

We have, on these grounds, agreed to propose, and we hereby most respectfully and affectionately would propose, union with our brethren of the Free Church. Our sentiments may be higher on some points than those judicially avowed by the Free Church, but they are not hostile to any of them; there may be a want of entire identity between us, but there is nothing like repugnance or incongruity; we are aiming at the same ends, guided by the same standards, and animated by the same spirit. While, therefore, we freely accede to all the principles of the Free Church as ours, we beg it be understood that we desire to be received as adhering to the original standards and constitution of the Church of Scotland, not only as asserted and vindicated in any of the acts or declarations of the Free Church, but also as asserted and vindicated in our own Testimony, to all the principles of which we still adhere. These we have already stated in the fullest and frankest manner; and it remains now for the General Assembly of the Free Church to say, whether they are prepared to receive a body holding themselves bound by their ordination vows to these principles, and determined, through the grace of God, to maintain them in union with the Free Church, as they have hitherto done in a state of secession. We claim it as our right to be recognised as the representatives of the first Seceders, who now return to the church of our fathers, on the understanding that she has returned to her adherence to the great cause of the Reformation, and that, in acceding to her communion, we shall continue, in our several congregations, to administer ordinances and discipline as we have hitherto done. also request that this our Appeal may be inserted in the minutes of the General Assembly, signed by our names, in perpetual memory of the transaction.

We

Waiting the reply of the General Assembly to this our Representation and Appeal, and earnestly entreating for you, or for ourselves, the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this interesting crisis of our history, we remain, Reverend and Dear Brethren, yours in the Lord.

Signed in name and by authority of the Synod,

DAVID BURN, Moderator.
ROBERT SHAW, Syn. Clk.

No. II.-ACT ANENT THE REPRESENTATION AND APPEAL of the SYNOD OF UNITED ORIGINAL SECEDERS.

Edinburgh, 1st June 1852. Sess. 21. WHEREAS, Imo, the Synod of Original Seceders professes to represent the Brethren who, upwards of a century ago, protested against the course of defection pursued, and tyrannical procedure adopted, by the party then prevailing in this Church, and seceded from the said party on the ground thereof; appealing, at the same time, against the censures pronounced upon them "unto the first free, faithful, and reforming General Assembly of the Church of Scotland: "

"Whereas, 2do, the said Synod, following out the aforesaid appeal, have made a Representation and Appeal to this present General Assembly, with a view to re-union with this Church, on the basis of the Westminster Standards:

Whereas, 3tio, the General Assembly recognise the said Synod as representing the said seceding brethren, and not only condemn and deplore the course of defection and tyrannical procedure which led to their original separation, but disapprove of, and disown, the censures against which they felt themselves constrained to appeal; and,

Whereas, 4to, the said Representation and Appeal is in no respect inconsistent with the Standards of this Church, or with the principles for which she has been honoured to contend in the best and purest periods of her history:

·

The General Assembly cordially agree to the proposal of re-union made in the said Representation and Appeal, and fully consent that their brethren continue free to hold the views therein set forth, and to enjoy the liberty therein claimed, in subordination to the discipline and government of this Church.

The General Assembly, in agreeing to this proposal, feel it their duty to acknowledge the services rendered by the Brethren of the Secession to the cause of evangelical religion in this land, in the capacity of witnesses for the truth as it is in Jesus, and earnest contenders for their country's hereditary faith and church polity. And the General Assembly cannot but own the hand of God in the influence exerted by the Synod as a body, and by some of its most honoured members, in promoting the revival of a true Protestant and Evangelical spirit in our Church and country, as well as in upholding the scriptural doctrine concerning Christ's glorious and Sovereign Headship, alike over the Church, and over the nations on the Church's behalf.

In regard to the events and transactions of the First and Second Reformations, to which the Synod refer in their Representation and Appeal, the General Assembly agree with their brethren in owning the special grace of God vouchsafed to our fathers on these critical occasions; when the Lord was pleased to order his Providence in a manner specially calling for faithfulness, zeal, and union; and when he enabled the church and nation to make high attainments, and disposed them to enter into solemn vows and engagements for the advancement of His cause, and the overthrow of all that was opposed to it within these realms. The General Assembly agree also in confessing and lamenting the defection from these attainments, and the breach of these public promises and engagements. And they fully and unreservedly acknowledge the obligation to prosecute the ends of the Covenants, in the Reformations which these Covenants were designed to advance and perpetuate; and in particular, to oppose Popery in all its forms, and Popish institutions, influences, and tendencies, wherever they may be found; and to aim at a Scriptural union and uniformity, in doctrine, worship, and discipline, among the Churches of these lands; in the use of all competent means, suitable to present circumstances, and consistent with the Word of God and the functions and spirit of a Church of Christ.

The General Assembly appoint the Representation and Appeal referred to in this Act, to be recorded as craved, and to be inserted along with this Act in the printed Acts of the General Assembly.

No. III.-ACT ANENT THE UNION WITH THE SYNOD OF UNITED ORIGINAL SECEDERS.

Edinburgh, 1st June 1852. Sess. 21. Whereas the Assembly, by their Act anent the Representation and Appeal of the Synod of Original Seceders, have agreed to an incorporating union between the said Synod and this Church:

And whereas it is necessary to provide for carrying that union into full effect: Whereas, also, the Act VIII. Ass. 1850, "anent the Admission of Ministers and Probationers from other Churches," does not apply to the case of an incorporating union with another church:

The General Assembly ordain, that the pastors of the said Synod who have subscribed, or who shall subscribe, the said Representation and Appeal, and the congregations adhering to the said pastors, along with the Kirk-Sessions thereof, shall be received and admitted by the Presbyteries of the bounds respectively, as Pastors, Congre gations, and Kirk-Sessions, of the Free Church of Scotland.

The General Assembly also hereby recognise and declare such ministers, belonging to the said Synod, and not having pastoral charges, and such elders and probationers belonging to the same as have subscribed, or shall subscribe as aforesaid, to be ministers, elders, and probationers of this Church.

And the Assembly direct their Clerks to transmit the names of the said pastors, ministers, elders, and probationers, along with a printed copy of this Act, to the Presbyteries of the bounds within which they severally reside.

Farther, the General Assembly resolve, with regard to the congregations that shall be received under this Act,

I. That, Whereas the said congregations have not any claim upon the General Sustentation Fund in virtue of this Act, they shall be at liberty to retain their own financial arrangements relative to the support of the ministry, at their discretion.

II. That, in the case of any of the said congregations which may be vacant at the time of the union, it shall be competent to the Presbytery of the bounds, with the concurrence of the Sustentation Committee, to require that, before calling a minister, the said congregation shall undertake to be no burden on the Sustentation Fund.

III. That, in the case of any vacancy occurring after the union in the said congregations, the entire question of the continued subsistence of the vacant congregation, and the terms on which it is to be allowed to call a minister, shall be regulated exactly as in the case of any vacancy in the congregations now belonging to this Church.

IV. That, inasmuch as it is desirable that the said congregations should be brought, as soon as possible, to assimilate their system of ministerial support to that which is in use in this Church, it be remitted to the Sustentation Committee to consider the subject with due regard to the interests of existing ministers, and to report thereon to next General Assembly.

No. IV.-MINUTE OF SYNOD OF UNITED ORIGINAL SECEDERS.

At Edinburgh, and within the Original Secession Church, Davie Street, the twentyeighth day of May eighteen hundred and fifty-two years. Which day the Synod of United Original Seceders being met and constituted, inter alia, The Synod having heard the proposed deliverance of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland anent the Representation and Appeal of this Synod, after serious consideration of the same, unanimously express their cordial satisfaction with it. The Synod then appointed a brother to engage in prayer; and the question being put, Does the Synod now consider the way open to accede to the Free Church of Scotland, in the event of that deliverance being passed as an Act of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland? it was carried, Unanimously accede: Wherefore, the Synod did, and hereby do, agree, in that event, to accede, as a Synod, to the Free Church of Scotland, and thus fulfil the design of their fathers in stating the Secession.

The Synod further agree that, after constituting on Tuesday next, the first day of June, the following members shall appear before the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, viz., Dr Thomas M'Crie, Edinburgh, Moderator; Dr Robert Shaw, Whitburn, Synod Clerk; Mr William White, Haddington; Mr James Black, Kirkaldy; and Mr Edward Anderson Thomson, Dundee,-ministers; with Mr William Bremner and Mr George Shirra Gibb,-elders; to announce the final decision of this Synod to the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.

Extracted from the Minutes of the Synod of United Original Seceders, on

this and the preceding page, by

ROBERT SHAW, Synod Clerk.

F

No. V. COMMITTEE of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY appointed to consider the Representation and Appeal of the Synod of United Original Seceders.