ately after the Union, to promote the spiritual interests of the conjunet Church; and that the Testimony, consisting of two parts, historical and doctrinal, was designed to exhibit in a concise form, the origin and progress of the secession, as well as to illustrate the doctrines we hold, and to guard our people against the errors and evils we would have them avoid, without, however, requiring (what few could be supposed conscientiously to give) a specific approbation of all the views it contains, so multifarious, and in cases not a few, too metaphysical and profound for common minds to grasp very distinctly. We perceive, and we know, beloved brethren, that in some instances we differ from you in certain subordinate modes of worship, as well as in the duration of some offices; but what are these to the many things in which we are agreed? We rejoice in receiving the assurance that you are a Church holding the head, even Christ, and " contending for the faith once delivered to the saints;" aiming at faithfulness in your administrations; and anxious to promote the best interests of those "over whom the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers. ." We also are the friends of the cross, and of salvation by free grace, reigning through the the righteousness of Christ; are endeavoring to maintain "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," and are desirous that those committed to our care, “speaking the truth in love, may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, even Christ." Our church is composed as you may have heard, of the two larger portions of the secession. It consists of about 300 congregations, settled and vacant; and is extending itself on every side. Our sacred Seminary, though it includes only two professorships, embraces the same subjects of tuition with your Theological Institution; our students obtain their classical and philosophical learning at the universities of our country, which are open to all; and our Presbyteries, by subdividing themselves into Committees, take an active part in the tuition of those who are destined for the holy ministry, during the recess of the Hall. Several of these Presbyteries have also been lately engaged in investigating the moral and spiritual state of the congregations under their inspection, by means of a series of queries directed to the several sessions, and they have addressed to both sessions and congregations, "the word of exhortation founded upon the returns made to these queries, with a view to stir them up to their duty, and to promote the work of God among them. The Synod, which meets once every half year, has under its jurisdic. tion 23 Presbyteries, which correspond to your Classes. Our church has been labouring for many years, and lately on a more extended scale, to diffuse the knowledge of Christ in the dark places of our land; and our congregations, in addition to an annual collection to the Synod's fund for religious and charitable purposes, as well as to all their other contributions for the poor, and for public institutions of a common character, have given liberally to this object. At their meeting before last, the supreme court had resolved to undertake a Foreign Mission; and at their late convocation, the British Provinces of North America, where many of our countrymen dwell, was selected as the scene, while directions were given, that the Missionaries who might be sent forth, should be instructed to pay particular attention to the hapless aborigines of the country. Thus, dear brethren, in accordance with your wishes, and responding to your fraternal salutations, have we poured out our hearts over you, and laid open to you succinctly the state of our church; and in part of religious society, in this our distant land. We invite earnest. ly the continuance of the correspondence. It will refresh our hearts. We regret that this communication cannot reach you before the meeting of your Synod is past, but we hope to hear from you again, when you shall have a convenient time. Meanwhile, knowing your appointed era of assembling, we shall not fail to remember you in our prayers at the throne of grace; and we solicit also an interest in your intercessions at all times, especially at the periods of our semiannual meetings, about the middle of the months of September, and of April. And now, beloved brethren, partakers with us of the faith, and hopes of the Gospel, what remains, but that we entreat for you, that ye may ever stand fast in one mind, and with one mouth, striving together for the faith of the Gospel; that your hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love to the full assurance of understand. ing to the continued acknowledgement of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. "Finally, farewell: be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind; live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you." "Grace be unto you and peace from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the first begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God, and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.” Glasgow, June 5th, 1832. G. LAWSON, Moderator of Synod. WILLIAM KEDSTON, D. D. |