said unto him, go and do thou likewise.-Luke x, 37. Soon after this, Mr. Barelay proposed to administer the sacrament at Oxford. The session on consideration, told Mr. Barclay, that the dispute between him and Mrs. Paul should be settled first. Finally, Mr. Barclay convened the session: Mrs. Paul was sent for, and attended. The elders proposed a compromise-Mr. Barclay then accosted Mrs. Paul in an insulting and aggravating manner, as follows, viz. "Mrs. Paul, what shall I do to be reconciled with you? Shall I get down on my knees and beg your pardon? Shall I give all my substance? or shall I sacrifice my first born to be friends with Mrs. Paul ?" The elders checked him, and told him such language was unbecoming, it however only tended to irritate, but not to settle, reconcile, or turn away wrath. He intimated that Mrs. Panl was too intimate with Capt. Kinney. Mrs. Paul told him, that he was an abusive and impertinent fellow, and was not worthy the coat he wore, nor was be fit to preach the gospel. I would here observe, that Capt. Kinney was brought up in the family of Maj. Thomas Paul, from a boy, and was a partner of Maj. Paul's in the mercantile and milling business, at the decease of Maj. Paul. From the great friendship, and good understanding between Capt. Kinney, Maj. Paul, and every branch of his family, Maj. Paul's last request was, that

eapt. Kinney and Mrs. Paul should continue the business in copartnership; that it was necessary in order to promote their business, that Mrs. Paul and capt. Kinney should be friendly, is obvions to every candid mind, and also that this friendship could and did subsist, without any criminality or evil intentions. Mrs. Paul, in answer to this insulting insinuation, said, she should think herself at any time, much safer in the company of capt. Kinney, than of Mr. Barclay.

Mr. Barclay did not dare to table charges before the sessions against Mrs. Paul, but made use of his art and influence with the session of Oxford, and wished them to excommunicate Mrs. Paul from the sealing ordinances, and privileges of the church, and endeavoured to disgrace her all in his power. Here we find Mr. Barclay acting characteristic of himself, venting his spleen and malice against the innocent and unoffending widow. Instead of showing a christian temper of moderation, and forbearanee, and acting the part of the good Samaritan, " pouring in oil and wine," and healing the wound he had inflicted, by his unchristian temper, he wished, as it appears, to exterminate her. But he found this session too inflexibly just and virtuous to be turned and twisted to suit his nefarious purposes. They acted as guardians of the church, and honest men should do; Let the elders that rule well, be counted worthy of

double honour; Tim. v, 17. For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree. Timothy iii, 13. There must surely have been a great cause for this violent quarrel. Now let me inquire for the secret, (if haply I may discover it,) and in the language of Sampson to the Philistines, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. Judges xiv, 18. In order to illustrate this subject, I shall call Mrs. Paul, Joseph,' and Mr. Barclay, Potiphar's wife.' And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured; Potiphar's wife endeavoured to entice Joseph, and cause him to swerve from his duty. Joseph then exclaimed and said, How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God. Genesis xxxix, 9. Joseph even rent his garments, and tore from her embrace. She then being enraged, thought to be revenged on Joseph, by making a false complaint; but this iniquitous conduct did not avail her; for we find in the forty first chapter of Genesis, that Joseph was exalted to great honour and renown, and it is fair to presume, that Potiphar's wife was disgra ced, and sunk into oblivion, for no further account is found of her on record. He must increase, but I must decrease. St. John iii, 30. Mrs. Paul has increased, while Mr. Barclay has decreased. So in the case before us; Mr. Barclay has disgraced and put himself down. Here the declarations of

the Psalmist will apply: His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealings shall come down on his own pate. Psalms vii, 16. Mrs. Paul has become exalted; she has retained her respectability in society, and standing in the church, and has been received to the communion in sister churches. I will now permit the reader to draw his own inference, what was the probable basis of this great quarrel.

At a meeting of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, in the city of New York, on the 15th day of October, 1811, a minute was made, of which the following is a copy.

Memorials from the sessions of the congregations of Oxford, Knolton, and Mount-Bethel were received, praying that the committee, appointed at the meeting of the presbytery in Newton, to go into these congregations, and inquire into the reports said to be circulating there, injurious to the character of Mr. Barclay, might not be sent among them, giving as their reasons for their request, that Mr. Barclay stood high in their confidence and esteem, that a few only were dissatisfied with him, and that he was then in the height of his usefulness among them. Thereupon considering that new and important light has been furnished to the presbytery by the above memorials; presbytery resolved, That the committee appointed for the above mentioned purpose be discharged from the duties assigned them, and that the charges and reports against Mr. Barclay be left to those who may choose to substantiate them before this presbytery, according to the rule of regular process.

Ordered, That the above remonstrance be preserved on the files of this presbytery.

On motion resolved, That Mr. Brown be a committee, to prepare a draught of a letter to the congregations; explaining the views of the presbytery, in what they have done in this business; to be laid before the presbytery for their approbation.

The committe appointed to prepare a draught of a letter to be sent to the Congregations of Oxford, Knolton, and Mount-Bethel, brought in the following, which was read, approved, and ordered to be entered on the minutes of the presbytery.

DEAR BRETHREN,

Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you, through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The presbytery of New Brunswick, in the council, care, and discipline which they administer to their churches, have no object in view, but the good of religion, and the glory of God; it is always with pain, that they meet with rumours, and circumstances which in the slightest degree demands their judicial interference; and altho as faithful guardians of the church committed to them, they are ever ready, (as we trust is manifest from their late proceedings,) to inves. tigate the conduct of their members, and to regard the complaints of accusers; yet it affords them real satisfaction, to be furnished with such light, as is deemed sufficient at present, to relieve them from the obligation and necessity of prosecuting so painful an inquiry as that lately contemplated by them, and referred to, in the respectful representations and requests, received from the sessions of your congre. gation.

The presbytery, from information now received, are encouraged to hope, and from the affectionate earnestness of their zeal, to desire, that the animosities which have been experienced in your churches, though more circumscribed than was hitherto supposed, may speedily be known no more. That both pastor and people will in future be more prudent and conciliatory, that the dissatisfied will be more cautious and circumspect, and that christian union and love may be restored, and crowned with the blessings of the gospel of peace. Under a deep impression, of the excellence, and desirableness, of harmony, in christian societies, among brethren of the same community of God, and especially, between ministers aud their people, the presbytery exhorts and intreats all to put on that charity, which is not easily provoked, which thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity; beareth all things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things.'

The presbytery commend you to the protection of God's almighty power, to the peaceful guidance of his holy spirit, and to the purify.