that he was not only "received with cordiality and brotherly love, but that the feelings of said church toward your reverend body, are those of respect and brotherly kindness, which, if reciprocally cherished, may ripen into a closer union of council and effort." Your Committee would recommend :-That the correspondence with said Church, be continued; and, that Corresponding Delegates be accordingly appointed.

In reference to your Correspondence with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, your Corresponding Delegate reportsThat he has attended the meeting of said General Assembly, was received with much kindness and respect, and that he had discharged the duties assigned him.

Your Committee recommend the continuance of the aforesaid Correspondence, by the appointment of Delegates, on the part of this Synod.

Your Committee, upon examining the Minutes of General Synod, of the year 1827, find, on page 37, the following Recommendation, viz:-"That an overture be made by this body to the Synod of the Associate Reformed Church, to maintain a correspondence with that reverend body, upon the same terms with the correspondence maintained by this Synod with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church." On this subject, your Committee would recommend the adoption of the Resolution following, viz:

Resolved, That the stated Clerk of this Synod be, and is hereby directed, to furnish the Synod of the Associate Reformed Church with an official copy of the aforesaid overture of correspondence between said Churches.

In relation to the expediency of opening a correspondence with the Reformed Protestant Church of France :-On this subject, your Committee would submit for the adoption of Synod, the following resolutions :

Resolved, That it is deemed expedient immediately to open a correspondence with the Reformed Protestant Church of France.

Resolved, That the Rev. W. Eltinge, W. C. Brownlee, D. D., and the Elder John Nitchie, be appointed a Committee to prepare a

letter on this subject, to be signed by the President and stated Clerk of Synod, and forwarded to the Reformed Protestant Church of France. All which is respectfully submitted.

WILHELMUS ELTINGE, Chairman.

Resolved, That the Rev. W. C. Brownlee, D. D., and the Elder Andrew Howell, be delegates primarii, and the Rev. Peter Labagh, and the Elder John Rorer, be delegates secundi, to attend the next meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.

Resolved, That the Rev. G. R. Livingston, and Samuel Van Vechten, be delegates primarii, and the Rev. Robert Bronk, and Jacob C. Sears, be delegates secundi, to attend the Synod of the German Reformed Church.

ARTICLE VI.

Synodical Reports of the State of the Churches.

In pursuance of previous resolutions, the Synod spent the afternoon and evening of the sixth day of the Session, in religious exercises, conducted agreeably to a plan reported by a Committee of Arrange

ments.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on the State of Religion, to recommend some standing arrangements for religious exercises, during the stated Sessions of the General Synod.

The Committee on the State of Religion, reported, and their Report was adopted, and is as follows:

The Committee on the State of Religion, submit the following Report :

The movements of the Church of God, have a peculiar claim on the attention of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and especially, it becomes the highest Judicatory of the church to observe her aspect, and to endeavour to interpret the dispensations of her Head, that measures may be adopted which, under the Divine blessing, may extend her limits, and secure her prosperity.

The Reports of the Particular Synods of New York and Albany, contain a variety of details which calls for our gratitude to Him, who has said of Zion, "This is my rest, here will I dwell, for I have desired it." The churches enjoy peace; the truths of the Gospel are preached in their purity; Catechetical and Bible Classes are formed, and awaken an increased interest which affords grounds to hope, that they may become fountains of spiritual health to our Churches.

In the Minutes of the Particular Synod of New York, it is stated, that in the South Church, and in the Church in Market street, in the city of New York, members have become more awakened to diligence and prayer; and, while a deep seriousness is apparent in public, there are an unusual number in both these churches now under deep religious impressions. In the church in Orchard street, in the same city, it is said that the influence of the Holy Ghost has been powerful and extensive; the awfulness of the Divine presence has been felt; Christians have agonized in prayer for a refreshing from God; the impenitent have trembled, and, in many cases, broken forth in audible cries for mercy and forgiveness. In the Church at Jamaica, on Long Island, a goodly number have been received into full communion; considerable seriousness and seeking of God prevails. In the First Church, in Philadelphia, the subduing power of the Divine Spirit has been lately manifested in some remarkable instances. The hoary head has been made to bow to the sceptre of Divine grace, and, from the lips of infancy and youth, praise has been ordained. The state of religion in the Second Church, in the same city, and the prospects of that church, are becoming more encouraging. The Spirit of God has been poured out in copious effusion upon the Church at Kingston, and ninety-four added to the communion. Rhinebeck has been visited with the same showers, while drops from them have likewise descended upon the congregations of Upper Red Hook and Fishkill Landing. In the united churches of Esopus and Hurley, in the Classis of Ulster, there is a happy state of things, and unusually large accessions have been received.

The Report from the Particular Synod of Albany, is defective. In that Report, it is stated, in general, that the Spirit of the Lord has not been so copiously poured out, as in instances heretofore recorded, in any of our congregations. No special revival of religion is re

ported by any of the Classes. Yet the Lord has not left himself without a witness among us, which should lead to greater diligence

and fervency.

Your Committee would add:-Among those institutions which exert an important influence on society and the church of God, Sabbath Schools occupy a distinguished place. The schools are increasing in number, and the system having received the improvements suggested by experience, cannot fail. with the blessing of God, to produce results which will be felt in the present prosperity of the Church of God, and extend their benign influence to generations to

come.

Your Committee rejoice to observe an increased attention to meetings for prayer and religious conference. The spirit of prayer is the best indication of the state of vital religion, and a harbinger of blessing. As this prevails, our churches may be expected to present the aspect of the primitive churches "walking in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."

Our Theological School is in successful operation. Messengers of salvation are sent forth into the vineyard of the Lord. There is a want of labourers, but it is hoped, that, under the blessing of God, on our Education Society, young men, whose hearts glow with love to God, will be thrust forth to gather the harvest. There has been an awakened attention to divine things among several of the students in Rutgers College. Present appearances are favourable. Let our churches wrestle with importunity, that these drops may be the precursors of a copious shower; thus may we expect, that the number of those who devote themselves to the ministry of the word, will be increased, and a hallowed influence spread through the different departments of society.

The Missionary operations of the church, are essential to her prosperity. While the indifference of former years is viewed with regret, we have reason to be thankful, that sympathy is excited in behalf of those who are destitute of the stated preaching of the gospel. A degree of success has attended the labours of our Missionaries, which ought to animate us to more vigorous efforts to build our "waste places." The field is large, our churches possess sufficient resources, and, we trust, there is an increase of Christian en

terprise, which will not hesitate to "devise liberal things," "that Zion may put on her beautiful garments, and Jerusalem become the praise of the whole earth.”

It is gratifying to witness an increase of a spirit of harmony, which, producing a combination of counsel, resources, and efforts, may justify the expectation, that churches may be planted in places hitherto desolate, feeble congregations strengthened-and that the visitations of grace, descending, as "the dew on Hermon," on all our churches, they may send forth the fragrance of a field which the Lord hath blessed.

The Bible and Tract operations of the day, are cherished and supported generally in our churches, and, we trust, that their claims will receive increased attention. Societies for the promotion of temperance, are established in many of our congregations, and will have a happy tendency to arrest the progress of that debasing and destructive vice.

But while there is much to animate us, there is still abundant cause of lamentation, that among many who profess to be the disciples of the Son of God, a spirit of lukewarmness and indifference prevails, and a conformity to the world, which ought to lead to earnest supplication, that He, with whom is the residue of the Spirit, would "strengthen the things which remain, and which are ready to die."

It becomes us, as "ob

Our lot is cast in an interesting period. servers of the signs of the times," to view the condition of the church. The slumber of ages is broken. In a degree hitherto unknown, the church, collectively, in her efforts to enlarge the boundaries of the Redeemer's kingdom, is giving an impressive proof that "faith worketh by love.' Let us awake to a deeper sense of our responsibility. In our respective spheres, let us exert our influence to promote the kingdom of our Redeemer in the world. Confiding in the promise of the King of Zion, that all flesh shall see the salvation of God, not wasting our time or energies in calculations on probabilities as to results, but diligent, faithful, submissive to Him, who "has reserved the seasons in his own power," and employing the instrument which God has selected for subduing the world, let us dismiss the suggestions of unbelief and despondency, assured, that at the appointed time, the vision will surely come, it will not tarry.