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■ ' U-.^ilif.

Y^""'

CHRIST WOUNDED

THE HOUSE OF HIS FEIENDS.

■#

A BRIEF REVIEW

•r soxc

PROCEEDINGS IN DIFFERENT COURTS

®l)e JJresbgtman Cljurcl) ^f €anaba*

SECOND EDITION,

WITH SOME ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS,

'1.

-A! I

BY ▲. FEBRIER, D. D., CALEDONIA, C. W.

■1^

After the wftj which they dall hefesy, so Worship I the 6od of tty fiitbcri.
Acts xxit. 14.

BRANl-^OBl):
rRTNTBD AT tHB llEfiALD OFFIOB, OOLBOSkB STRBBt.

1861.

y,^,^

life J !f>*J

It St.' ■ i*i

^Ti' .''. ';^^.<'ii'ff|piiq!ipnini«iiiP^i«MiiHiippipH

^pp«^^jji|ill . Ml . . 9J^

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

)

In compliance with thn wishes of brethren aiKl friends, a nevy Edition of
this Vainphlet is herewith issued. So far as it relates to ourselves we could
viiliugly have declined giving furtlier publicity to ecclesiastical proceedings
in the Free Church, bo disgraceful to those who were their actors, but from
which it is hoped the Supreme Court of that Church will exonerate theni-
Delves when tliey next meet, so as to leave us no grouud to reyiroach the
whole deiiouiinution for tiie heartless, unhallowed, and tyrannical doings of
■« few individuals. We have always respected, and wish to continue to
respecC the body at large, for the sacrifices and exertions they have uiacie
fur conscience' sake ; and for many of the ministers we shall continue to
eiicrish a sincere regard, liut this will not prevent us h'om stigmatizing
the intolerance of the Calctlonia Conimisaion ; and of the whole Synud, in
whose name they acted, should they not condemn its deliverance, and do
rvery thing in their power to make reparation to us and our congregation
fitr the insults aud injuries which have boon so recklessly and sacrilegiously
committed.

8iuce the first edition was published almost nothing has transpired desert
i:ig (if notice. So fur from retracting anything in the pamphlet, udditiotts
might be ii^ade to it. and confirming evidences to the truth of the shuueful
tti'tingsit dolails mi^ht he adduced. Tlie folly and injustice of the Courts in
utiem(itii>g til dial with us, and bring us to their antiquated views, ou points
uh.iie our lilJerfy had been conceded by themselves,'— the impostures
pr;ictiso(l Uy the lUction, and the connivance at these, and encouragements
tu slander niid slriie, by •* members of Presbytery," — and the madness awl
tyriiiiiiy of the comuiission, all lemaiu Huausweredf aud unanswerable, and
mi^ht be uioie fiiliy ex^iosed.

The only effort at defence has been in some ephemeral notices in News-
pttperc. iitid has chiefly turned on an assertion, without the shadow of proul^
tliat 1:0 Dni" volimtiuy principles, but our views ou the Headship of Christr
tivtT the nntiiniH, have occasioned our separation from the Presbyterian
Cliurrii of Cunnda. This was attempted first by an nuonymous writer in
ttic Hamilton Guzcfte, with much inconsistency, styling himself "o Freo
(': inch Voluntary," but evidently meddling with " llijugs too high for
him." Next a{)peured the letter of the Rov. Mr. Stark, in the Dnudnii
Warder, wliere the same very false idea is lamely advocated, aud to which
fulTicient replies hi;ve bteu given. The only other attack of which we
have heard was by Dr. Burns, who had the pusillanimous cfii'outery to revisit
Cidfdoniu on the iilst of Jauuary.nnd atapublic meeting ^where he knew uotio
v'ould «>p|) me him.) t-iburst-uut with the same assertion, in iloing wliich, si> far
AS we u.iie.-stuudjiu diJ little cuurc than rviterate his "uldkuag^^* ol ftkl**>

L> i •//

^^mmmm

ir PREFACE.

hood and alander, given in the mare maenvm controversy, and afterwards i«
bis caluinniuus speech at the Synod of i848. We do not think it necessary
to Bay anything ni reply to what we did not hear. But although his elo-
quence may deceive some to whom the subject ia new, or to whom be ia
himself a stranger, yet, so far as we learn, his harangue consisted either in
gratuitous andsourrilous assertion, or infighting ior troths which have never
been denied. Amidst many excellencies of character, and high attainments,
which command respect. Dr. Burns sooins to have the same indurable iucon-
sistencies and defects which, twenty-four years ago, led a revered and emi-
nent minister* in a neighbouring colony, to employ, with merited severity,
the language which follows, and which seems to be applicable ptill : — " Yon
appear to mn to bo much better acquuiuted with the rules of cnn traries,
than with tho rules of logic." " What am I to think of you, and what is
the public to think f Is it that you hove no regard for truth 7 or that yon
are misled by a bustling disposition, which mistakes consequence for cor"
rectness, and which, whilst it aiTects to regulate vho religion of remote
countries, cnunot attend to the plainest statements." " The gospel sanctions
not the crooked policy of the world, and il' you employ it for its propaga-
tion you will 'spend your strength for nought and m vain.' Where n
straightforward course would have raised you to honour, with yonr present
measures you will be sure to meet shame.'

Wo know that not a few of the ministers of the Free Church have ex-
pressed surprise and regret that the Commission proceeded as they did;
and we even hope that some of them will have the candour and courage at
the nest Synod to expi'ess their sentiments. But no manly attempt has
been made, or can be made, to justify such conduct. Our statements nre all
true, and cannot bo disproved by their nctoi-s. They may feel sore under
the description of them, and try to explain them away. They know, how-
ever, as well as ourselves, that the trutn.and nothing but the truth, although
not the whole truth, is told : and we believe we have a witness in the con-
scieuees of some of them, to the scriptural character of our sentiments, ami
in all of them, to "the violent purvernion of justice" with wbicb they
are chargeable. But we freely forgive them, and are even thankful that
they were made the instruments of our emancipation from a Church given
to slander. They have separated us from some friends, but have opened tlw
door for others. " They thought evil against us, but the Lord meant it untu
good."

Their views on the headship of Christ over the nations, if they would
condescend to bring them fully out, are not in the Standards at all ; and they
are as absurd as they are unsuriptural : and by the national recognition of
which they speak so much, us has been well remarked, in answer to Mr.
Stark, "they mean nothing else than the assertion of it being tho duty of
the magistrate to endow the Church." Again, in the other iuiswlt to tb«
same letter, it is said : — " It ill becomes Mr. Stark, or any of his brethren,
to practise deception, and to substitute the gross doctrineof the magistrnte's
headship, as presented in tho Confession of Faith, for the glorious doctrine
of the Redeemer's headship o"er his Church, and over the wholi! 'vorld (of
course overall nations,) as held by Dr. Ferrier and the United Presbyterian
Church, both as taught in the Standards, and as it is fully and luminously
echibited in the Word of God."

Oor views of th« headship of Christ being thus, not only those of tlie
J Standards but those of the Scriptures, no minister of the Free Church, pro-
fessing to hold these Westminster Standards enture, can consistently reject
them. The enors on this doctrine are not with us, but with the Fjfew
Church. It is only where they twist the doctrine of Christ's headship over
the nations, so as to advocate civil interference with religion, and tho right
aiid power of the magistrate to ^dow the Ohurciv that we dissent froni
their views. They may cidl themselves Voluntaries, and speak of opposi-
tion tn endowments ; but it is an em|)tv boast. For to endowments, iu
themselves considered, they have officially declared that they have no ob-
jections; and we know that many of them " would take them to-morrow "

• The Rev. Dr. McCullocb, ol Pletov,Nova Seotia.

A I

PREFACE. y

If the goTernment woald recognise them, tnd none heaidet, (u they leem
^ttmplaiMatlj to view themielves) a* the only trae Oharch.

The subject of Christ's headship over the nations we have handled at
•onaiderable length in onr first immphlet; and to the views presented there
we adhere. Weiielieve they are the tame, with those of our brethren of
the United Presbyterian Church, which Dr. Bums and some of his friends
ao obstinately and shamefully persist in misrepresenting. Receiving the
Standards entire, as the Free Church professes to do, it never occurred to
«s that we could differ on this doctrine; nor did we know of any differen^ie
•ill eight months after we joined them, when Dr. Burns preached the Synod
sermon of which we expressed our disapprobation in the open court, stating
that it contained, amidst much excellent matter, sentiments in our view
•onsistent neither with Christ's headship over the Church, nor over llie
nations : and at the same meeting of Synod we stated generally the very
views of Christ's lieadHhip which we afterwards published. This subject
was never touched by the Presbytery at the time of our admission, or if it
hnd it is likely we would have been as i)lain with them as with the Synod.
Ihe views we liold on this subject were tuught in the Divinity Hull at
Edinburgh, under Dr. Paxton. whose orthodoxy will not be questioned by
the Free Church, nnd who is by some of her mniisters m Canada, as well
aa by those of the United Presbyterian Church, justly venerated.

Mr. Stark tries to make much of alleged, "conferences nnd conversa-
tions" at our admission, and of himself and others being appointed to con>
verse on the subject of Christ's headship. It is all misrepresentation.
We had no interview with any Committee on that ncciision: and with the
Presbytery at large we had only one meeting, and one conversation lor
{lerhaps two hours, when, without adjournment, we Were unanimously nnd
•ordially received. The subjects of couversatirfn were simply the Morisou-
ian and the Voluntaiy controversies,— on the former of which we ngrord
with them, and on the latter we diilered. The conversation on this second
subject, as we well remember, was chiefly about men in their collective
oapacities, being under similar obligations to God as when considered indi-
vidually, — about which we differed nothing till, as we thought, they uppenr-
od to X)re8s some notions implying, or seeming to imply, a losislative inter-
ference of the civil magi..' "ate with the christian church, when we plainly
intimated onr dissent from all such views, und our exception to the Con-
fession of Faith where they are implied : and, ns stated in the preface to
the Tower of Babel, declared that "if the Presbytery could not receive ns
as we were, and had been for nearly thirty years, we must bo contented to
remain without." It was this very declaration of ours that put n stop to
the conversation, nnd brought on the vote by which we were admitted:
and soon afterwards we were told, on unquestionable authority, ihat some
•f the ministers of the Presbytery hud said, to some brethren of the United
Presbyterian Church, that we had not given in to them in one iota from the
views held by the Church with which we were originally connected. This,
however, was when union was negotiating, and when it wus expected it
Would soon take ])lace : und perhiips it was said with a view to indicate a
readiness or anxiety to accomplish union with the United Presbyterian
lihurch.

But after all what are om* views of Christ's headship over the nations, to
which the Free Church can object? '• We are not denying the supremucy
•f Christ over the whole world : we are not denying that the nUairs of
nations, whether sacred or secular, are under his control nnd direction, and
that he overrules and manoges them for the interests of his Church : nor
•re wo wishing to set nations free from the obligations which nil men in
them are under to acknowledge and embrace Christ for sulvation, and to
conduct their duties of whatever kind in subservience to his glory." Such
M our language in the very book where otir errors are said to be contained.
But what more than what we have now quoted can be said, or could be
wished, by the Free Church 7 Nothing except that f hey would wish us t«
■ay, — «' The magistrate may endow the Church." This is "the bone of con-
tention." Opposition to this is our only error, — an erro •, surely, *• on vi>v
tae's side," — an error only according to the Free Churcn; but, according tn
•very principle of justice and Christianity, a solemn scriptural truth. If w*

:r».

F.W---K

^■i* w^^l^mnw

Ki PREFACE.

Itnvo .publish<i»l pernicious crfora beRides, aa they aay we havo, hx ik^nfp
u« honest men, ua honuuraUf judgiea, aa geuuiuo foliuwera of Ohi,iat, ppinti
them out.

, Mr. Stark, it has been sniil, in Dr. McPberson's reply. " having entereJr
with much hesitation, on till) field of strife, isdetormined to make ^he most
(if it by encnuiitering not Dr. Ferrier iilouep but tho whole host of Voliui-'
ti^ries, iikj8 Haniun tho Agagite, who thought scorn to lay houds ou Mordecui.
ulune, but sought to destroy all tho Jews throui^hoat the kins^^m, even th(y>
peoplo of Mordocni." Ho presents a series of charges agunist tlio United
I'rcsbytcriiiu Church at large, and says, that thoKO uru pohits on which the
I'lce Church .nro not satistied with our views and those of onr brethren.
Thcae, it hiis been said, ''are slanderous niisreprescutations of tho princi-
l)iP8of thu United Presbyterian Church," ajid wo hopo, us is hiuteil, they
will afterwards be refuted. So far as they are referred to ua, we know of
nothing wo have said or published which can support tlienccusationii. Fivo
(iilforeut topics arc mentioned, on each of which, in order to prove ttiem
iuiipplicablo, we shall take the liberty to quot« from printed documents uf
our own.

I. The duty ot tho civil magistrato nnder tho christian dispensation.

" If tho magistrate bo a christian ho will have new light, new motives, and
iiovv cuds, in tho discharge of his civil duties, and especially he will seek
thereby to glorify God, as well as to do good to men."

II. The magistrate taking God's word for his rule and guide in legis-
lation.

" All tho public affairs of nations shntild be cniulucted according to God's
will, and under tho direction, so fnr as applicable, of God's wonJ. Tho
duties of nations and rnlrrs must always coincide with the dictates of reason
ftJid the principles of scripture. If tlioy an; not pointed out in God's word
in express language, yet still tiio grand scriptural priucijdes of truth and-
righteousness, and a regard to tl>o glory of G>d and the good of men, should'
regulate and stimulate every national action." '

III. The civil legislation for tho Sabbath.

" The magistrate is bound by tho moral law, to which tho observance of
the Sabbath belongs. Ho is bound by this precept to keep tho Sabbath
spiritually as a christian, and in this to be a pattern to others : and so far as
becoming external tranquillity and order are necessary, and their enlorcc-
»»ent can be considered as included in his civil duties, ho should consider
himself bound by this precept to exercise his authority in preventing tho
Sabbath from being openly desecrated."

TV. Providing religions instruction for the yoinig.

"Closely connected with every seminary for liberal education, if not in-
enrjiorated with it, there should be provision for tho religious improvement
of the studentji, and for administering to them an acquaintance with Christi-
anity, which is of heavenly origin, character, and tentlency, and tho grand
nnd of whiuh is to fit us for that world where the human taculties, vastly
invigorated, shall have exhaustless scope for exercise. The teachers and
]>rofe!<sors in such Institutions should not only be men of literary and scien-
tific attainments, but of piety and zeal; and it should be considered an im>
portant part of their duty, by their example and precept, to promote tho in-
terests of divine truth. Occasionally it may bo expedient for them to deal
in private with the youth committed to their care, and they should do so not
nnly with enlightened wisdom, but with scrupulous fidelity. Let me only
add, that as all human agency for the improvement of men and manuera,
and for the advancement of the interests of solid and practical knowledge,
will be vain without the divine blessing, so it must be the duty of all con^
cerned in any institution for education, whether as preceptors or disciples,
whether as patrons, benefactors, parents, guardians, or friends, to seek oa
c-verv effort that is made, the enriching blessing of God. And as all learn-
ing would bo vain without the knowledge of God, " vyhom to know is,
eternul life," as all wisdom is folly without that wisdom which cotnelh^
do^u from above, as all philosophy is destitute of its highest charms whicb
doea not elevate the mind, and turn tho heart to God, so let us seek that
tiuistianity may be outwi))ed iu uU our delibera;iuna and measnrei fta«i

nUETACl.

tereJ,.
o inn»t.

ii'deciti).

United
ich the
9tlireii.
iiici-
they
DUW oi'
Fivo
ttuem
(?nta uf

■■i«TMiM«i, and that the and of all ow pkof, Md MdMTOiin, uid^atltli*
oiMtt, may be glory tu God."

And V. The duty of the magiitrate to pray for Qod'i bUsMing on their
adainittration.

" The magiitrate ai a chrittiari, if •oeh he be, can do mneh : and the Tory
fact of hi* being a magistrate will vastly increase his inflnenee as a ohriatiaa
by his connsel, prayers, and example. He will thus becomn in the scriptnre
sense,— a nursing rather to the Church. We shall appland the magistrate
although he somewhat outstep the precise line of civil prerogative, and add
his ooansel, his prayers, and nis general influence as a christian, to the eip
forcemont of civil laws.^'

Having made these remarks and quotations, we ask again where are ewt
sentiments on the headship of Christ, or an^ other point, '* directly contrary
to the word of Qod, and highly pernicious m their character and tendency,*'
on wb'ch the reckless commission foanded their anomalous and tyiaanical
precodure t

Te this edition a few additional documents are given in Notes. Wo direct
the attention of readers in particular to the resolutions on Government
grants, and our reasons of dissent from them, in which the whole stir began ;
and also to the honourable example to others, presented by the Rev. Thomas
Dickson, Preacher of the Gospel, in withdrawing from a Church where
scriptural principles are condemned, and where worse than Jesuitical craft
and oppression are practised.

In sending forth this edition wo humbly and earnestly implore the divine
blessing on its use. To those whom it reproves may it be " an excellent oil
which shall not break their head :" and may it happily excite those who are
opou to light, and those who have received " the truth as in Jesus," te
" eentand for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

A. F

€mhthmti, Ut April, 1891.

tli(»

(f M"- ' « irKmrm'—'^mm

OIEISTWODNDEDintheHOUSEof HIS FRIENDS,

Aad OM ahall rar onto the him, What MW th«M wounds In thins hand* t Then ha

', Thoaa wla which I waa wonaded te the houte ofay Mends.— ZaeJUriaA XIIl. C

DiflTarent fiewst on which we do not enter, have been suggested, m
Intended, by the Spirit of Inspiratbn, in this passage. We do not ioaiM
dMt it dUrectljr refers to Christ, although, as an accommodation of Scripture
language, its truth as stated by us on the title, is indisnutable. Christ
eamejto His own, and His own received Him not. Neither did Hie
brethren believe on Him. One of His disciples dHuied, and another
betrayed Him. On one memorable occasion they all forsook Him and
fled. We read, too, on a particular exhibition of truth being made bj
Him, (humbling, indeed, to human pride though honouring to God) thai
firom that time many went back and walked no more with Jesus. In
these and other instances Cluist might literally be said tn bn wounded in
the house of His friends.

But in subsequent ages, the sentiment has often found illustration in
the imperfections and backslidings of Christians, which iiuve brouf;ht
dbhonour on religion; andeven when seeking to serv^ ind ginrify Christ,
His Ministers have sometimes, by ignorance and (:. ujudices, been the
means of ; r' rding His cause ; — and hence Christ has been wounded in
the house of his friends.

These thoughts have occurred in connexion with n certain course of
procedure, by the Presbyterian Church of Canada, which must ever be a
•tain upon its early history, and which, believing its represeatutiTeB to
be sincerely devoted to the cause of true religion, must be acknowledged
and deplored as a woundins of Christ in the house of bis friends. For
friends to Christ doubtless the Ministers of this Church are — mostzealoue
and genuine friends — although it is to be feared that in matters to b*
noticed, they have not been honoured to serve his cause with as much
wisdom as sincerity.

It was in 1845, a year after this Church was first constituted, that we
were brought into contact with it. We did not join it rashly, nor till
every reasonable assurance had been reiterated of entire forbearance on
•11 circumstantial points, and of their having ao, hesitation about receivinc
us, although we held all the views, as we stated to them, of the United
Presbyterian Church, and, so far as we saw, would continue to hold
them ; nay, till the brethren of the Presbyterian Church declared them-
selves open to light on all points, and their earnest desire to conform in
•11 things to the principles of the word of Qod. We had just come from
the United States, where we had been connected with the Old School
General Assembly, and the professions of our friends of the Presbyterian
Church of Canada, were so similar to the views of the large and enlight-
aned Denomination we had left, that they gained, perhaps unduly, on
onr confidence. They assured us that their new Denomination was not
Ihlly organized, but that it was their intention to consolidate it oc tlw
most liberal principles, to make it a Presbyterian Church for the ProvincOr
liaving no necessaiy connexion with Foreign Churches, not even witk
Ibe Free Church of Scotland, whose name, on that account, they refused f
kot that, entirely independent of Ihem all, their association was to b«
based on such general termsof communion as that not only we, originallr
fl£the United Secession Church of Scotland, and of voluntary ■enti'

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

inents, butasthat all evangelical danominations of Presbyterians, withont
ccmpromising their pecuHar views, might> in the exercise of Christian
foibearance, have freedom to unite with them.

These profebaio'ns, made by^hose who l^ew well our sentiinents, werii
gratifying and enticing. A Presbyterian Denomination to be tlius
constituted was a noht) object of contemplation, and exactly what
('anada needed, for* every where, in the Province, it was found that
Christians, especially Presbyterian Christians, from all denominations
oTthe fatherlands, harmoniously commingled, and, merging their little
differences, co-operated with zenl to sustain a regular dispensation of
gc<>pel ordinances, thus presenting a pattern which their Ministers would
do Well toiraitnte.* It was not th 9 people but the Ministers who had
hitherto stood aloof, and contended about sectaiian peculiarities. A
Christian Church organized in the manner proposed, was therefora
likely to present an attractive aspect, and to bid fair to be the centre of
union among Evangelical Presbyterians. At all events, as the United
(Recession never made n renunciation of the Establishment principle a
term of communion ; these professions were sufficient to convince ua
that union between the Presbyterian and United Presbyterian Churches
might very soon be accomplished. ■

Alas, in whom are we to place confidence if the Ministers of Religion
can fawn and flatter to make proselytes to their cause, and if, with fair
professions of liberality, they are, it may be unknown to themslves, under
the baneful influence of a proud and unconquerable sectarian spirit!
Alas how often in such circumstances is the Saviour wounded in the
house of his friends !

Having boon Inducted at Caledonia in April 1846, taking exception to
tho passiiges in the Confession of Faith, which teach, or may be 8upi)0sed
to teiicli, compulsory and persecuting principles in Religion, it was not
long till we began to fear that we were not likely to be altogether com-
fortable with our new brethren, that they were far behind the age, and
unprepared to follow an enlightened course of ecclesiastical policy, and,
in fact, that they were in danger of proceeding in a narrow and selfish
course, and enshrining themselves in all the sectarian peculiarities which
they had professed their determination to renounce.

In the month of Juno, 1846, the Synod was opened at Hamilton with
a Sermon by Dr. Burns, in which, in a manner the most indecent and
outrageous, he made slanderous and gratuitous charges against tha
United Presbyterian Church, grossly misrepresenting their sentimentSi
when several of their Ministers, and not a few of their Members, had com*
with conciliatory feelings to hear him. His railing language, of
immeasured severity, was not taken notice of by the Synod. They
silently permitted Christ to be wounded in the house of His friends. — ■
VVo now felt reproved and ashamed in being united to such a Church, and
we acknowledge that this blunt and uncharitable attack, never challenged
by any but ourselves, produced a distaste to the denomination which wa
have not yet got over, and made us wish that Providence had so ordered i|
that we had never connected ourselves with such a body.

At this Synod too,' on the suggestion of the same Minister, a minut*
was passed, when the report of tlie Union Committee was given i^,
which, although as harmless as it was unnecessary, went on the suppo-i

* It is much to De regretted that whiht tho people are thus intermiiiRled the minister*
•t«iid aloot'and contend abont the eectnrian peculiarities by which their friends at home tarn
roipectively distinsuishcd. Is it not evident that the moro this is done they are the leas tta*
correct representatives uf their peoplo.and thus create and augment an unseemly discrepaney
l itwecn their courts and congregations ? Without union in this country, the Chrutian'
people, who are fur before their Wnistors in Christian forbearanca and charity, will ncT*
Itare a proper repreeentaticn in the ecclesiastical courts.

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

out
iao

iU8

hat
hat

908

uitionthat some very formidable error e.xistecl iu the other body, of whick
if was necessary they should beware, and was intended to reflect on th«
United Presbyterian Church. This minute bore that " the Synod Te8oh%«
ta record their conviction of the vast importance of iho prmoirilo- thai'*
men in their national as well as their individual capacity are bound io-i
honour (iod, and to regulate their proceedings by the rules of Ilia Word* -'
apd that Christ is King of nations, as well as Head of the Church." Of
this minute, to which it is believed every Minister of the United Presby-
terian Church would subscribe, its autnor made an unnecessary noiao
afterwards, insinuating that if it had not gone amlssing, but been pro-
duced at a particular lime, it would have put a stop to all further ne]»o-t
ciations for union, as it would be rejected by the United Prpsbytenun
Church; and its author also expressed his astonishment that we should^
have voted for it. Since such were his views, one would think it had
been introduced for the purpotse of creating difficulty, or producing strife. «
But it only shows the ignorance of the Presbyttnian Church, nt that timo
of the sentiments of the United Presbyterian Church, for it exhibits doc-
trine in which the two Churciies perfectly coincide, and shews how
easy it would be to keep by such general principles as to preserve ^
harmony and secure uuion.

Finding that this general statement v*as insutTicient to prevent th«
Union, as it is now belioved the zealots of the Establishment principlo
wished, it has been supposed that further steps were contrived to arrest
the negotiations, or to render tliera nugatory. It was long, indeed, be-
fore the nature and position of these negotiations iu Coinniittoo were
fmblicly known. They seem to have been purposely concealed, like
leathen mysteries, from the knowledge of the people, who were kept
in wonderment about what was going on, and in anxiety and suspens*
about the results.*

The Mare Magnuvi controversy, which began in September, 1817, and
«Mided in Mav, 1848, brought the diii'ereuce between the Presbyterian
and United I'resbyteriun Churches in some measure before the public ;
and disclosed enough of the spirit of some who hold tlie principle of aa
»atablishrnent to produce the conviction that they alone are the sectarians,
and that they alone prevent the union by persisting in misrepresentation
and slander, whereby they deceive even many of their own brethren
who are favourably disposed, and whereby they wound Christ in,th«
house of His friends. Yes, it was at the laying of the found ation-ston«
of Knox's Church, Toronto, that the great out-breaking was made, alto-
fether out of place, uncalled for, and uncharitable, as the Rev. Mr. Rin-
tQul remarked ; yet by this the public soon got some insight into the cha-.,
racter of the aegociations for union. This Mare Magnum controversy ■
did no honour to the Presbyterian Church. It brought out some ugly
features of calumny which are current among the friends of the Establish-
ment Principle, and which they have neither the manliness to attempt
to prove, nor the honesty to retract ; and which, with all the ingenuity
and plausibility they are able to command, they seem to delight to circu-.,
late. The intelligent public know how to estimate these misrepresen- ,
tations, as well as the cause which requires or employs them for its
•upport.

• In 1849 an nccount of tho proceodinsfs of tlio Committees on TTnion was publit^hed by
•rrtor of the United rresbyterian f^ynod which, nltho' from courtcHy to tho other Synod, wm
broited to tlio pu'.ilirntlon cf tho minute.", conveys much va'.ualilo information. Tbm
PreHbyterioii Syno 1 resolved iit their meetin^r in 3848 to publieh " tho pnpera of th«ir ow»
•ommittee with eucli cj ^ianations as might appear necessary :" but. so liir as wo know, tfato
was never done, which we regret, as it pccms to indicate n feor on their part of telling tb»
world plainly whai their principles really are. Were they to be more explicit we trust it
would be sotn that there is not ho much ot error in their views as their usually vngn* ,
•tatoments eometimes lead us to suspect. We hold nonu cf the errors they impute to «m '
•nd wi»h they would detiist from their uncharltaWe inferences. It would bo well that they
piaii. ' represented their own principles, and cca£cd to make miFrcnresentations of oura.
we would say to them, " Physician huul thyself." "First cast out the Wimi out of thiutt owii«
0f«, and then ihalt thou lec clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother'! eye."

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

This controversy, with all its ungraoiousnefls and absurdity, with all
Hi railing accusations, was conducted on the Establishment side entireljT
if Dr. Burns. The public know that by a course of blustering lettenv
thinking to expose the Voluntaries, he exposed himself to ridicule, if not
to censure. Thinking to cry down and extirpate their principles, he wai
but the instrument of bringing them into greater publicity. Nothing
«Du!d be more outiageous than the reveries of>Dr. Bun:'- in this matte?.
He knows., or ought to know, that his accusations are inapplicable, but
by the flexibility of his imagination he brings himself to assert, and in
•ome instances to make others believe, that there is a vast and momen-
tous difference between the principles of the Presbyterian and United
Presbyterian Churche8,.and at the same time he occasionally narrow*
it into next to nothing, or, as he expresses it, into the compass of ** a nut
■hell."

The difference between the Churches is simply on the power of ttii
«tvil magistrate in matters of religion. The Presbyterian Church saying
that legislative interference is lawful, and the United Presbyterian ChurcM
saying that it is not lawful.

Especially does the Presbyterian Church believe it. to be lawful, ia
•ome circumstances, for the civil magistrate to endow the Church, whereat
Uie United Presbyterian Church believes that in no circumstances caa
this be lawful. Now, as this is never likely to become a practical ques-
tion in tliis country — as every day proves that it will soon be hopeless is
this Province to think of an endowed church — every unprejudiced chris-
tian must admit that it is a difference which ought never to keep evan-
gelical Presbyterians asunder for a day. This should have been mad*
a matter of mutual forbearance at the very outset of intercourse betweeo
the committees. This omission was sounding the trumpet of war at
once, and not like " men who had understanding of the times to know
what Israel ought to do." But whose fault is it that this theoretical sen-
timent should prevent union? Not that of the United Presbyteriaa
Church, for they forbear with all among themselves who hold the princi-
ple of an establishment, and are willing to forbear with all other Chris-
tians who only differ from them in this. The fault lies entirely with the
Presbyterian Church, which, by a course of sophistry and calumny ha*
been for years endeavouring to make it believed that this difference is a-
miffhty matter, having ramiticatioiis and references of essential moment
to the interests of religion. In what manner and with what success thi*
has been done, will appear as we proceed, but we hold that these are all
groundless inferences, and that the real difference between the Churches
IS resolvable into the civil establishment principle alone.

At length the synopsif? of points on which difference of opinion had
been found was published in some of the periodicals ; and from this it
appeared that after two or three years cprrespondence, the committee*
had done nothing to promote union, but much to prevent it. It has eight
articles, but they all bear on the Establishment principle ; so that after
•U, this is the only point of difierence between the Churches. A unioa
might be concluded at once by making this Establishment principle a
matter of mutual forbearance. But so it is, there are those who are m
much under the influence of deadly prejudice that this principle is cher-
iflhed by them as one of essential moment.

It was thought by some, that at the Synod of 1848, Dr. Burns would
Ihive been called to ar^oount for the slanderous statements he had made,
■t least, that the Synod by some minute or resolution would shelter
tiiemBelves from all blame as having sympathized with the slanderer,
bat there was never a word on the subject. Not a single expression of
fagret was uttered, and although Dr. Burns' ofliciousness alone had given
a dash to the prospects of union, yet the Synod so far from giving aaj

•a

sly

STB,

not
vtm
Jig

bat
ia
sa-
ted

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS. It

•heck to such impnidency wore ittady to allow a repetition of all Hm
mseemly and at)usive statements. They hailed an overture which
■prung out of the Mare Ma^um controversy for adherence to the stand-
ards, and by their deliberations and decisions on two other causes wnick
0ame before them, in both of which it seemed to be their only aim ^
fortify the Establishment Principle, they did all in their power to put a*
end to further negotiations for union ; saying virtually to their brethren
— * Here are our sentiments on the disputed points, if you can come over
to these, which we know you cannot, we snail fraternize with you, if
not, there is no use f^r discussing further the desirableness and practica-
bility of union.'

The two causes referred to, were, The question about government
grants, and the Report of the Union Committee. As the former of thew
causes seemed to involve points that would belong to the latter, it waa
thoujrht by several wise, prudent, and conciliatory members of Court,
that before they proceeded to give their sentiments about government
grants, they should hear the report of the Union Committee, and giva
their deliverance thereon. This, however, was overruled, for what rea-
son we know not : but it was more and more felt, in the progress of the
discussion about these grants of government, that the Synod erred in the
arrangement, for it was in danger of committing itself on points which
would be barriers to union with the United Presbyterian Church. It ap-
peared to us a most injudicious thing, and a want of proper courtesy, to
begin with this question, as that was likely to commit the Synod on th«
other, or to shut them up from an unfettered consideration of it. If thew
was any chance of union, or any great wish for it, it might have beeA
•een that a rash deliverance about Government grants, might possibly
render it impracticable. And so it turned out, for, in disposing of thi«

auestion, instead of simply declaring that it was unseasonable to receiw*
xese grants, which (without approving or disapproving of the Establish-
ment principle) would have given universal satisfaction, and left the door
open lor union, and even made union easy, they accompanied a deliv-
erance of the same amount with a series of resolutions on the Establish-
ment principle,* and, afterwards, even elevated some points fcontained

• To all who reject the Establishment possibly these resolutioTis will nppcRr to te
iKoeedingly foolish, as well oa contradictory and unwarranted. The following is thflr
tenor:—

1. " That this Synod holds unchanged the principle which has heretofore formed ««•
aUtinpiishing part of its testimony for {:lirist as King of nations, viz;, that it is tJiu duty
9t civil rulers as such, as being under law to Christ, not only to prot<^ct, but tu countcoam*
■od favour the Churcli.

2. " That it is the opinion of the Synod that the question of endowments, or in oflM*
words the question whether the civil magistrate oujrlit, in shewing countenance and favutir
to the Church, to npiircprinte a portion of the public funds for itH support, ia one of
swbordinate importance ; and on which dilf'erenccs of opinion may e^ist among those whw
are, nevertheless, sound afi to all that is essential in the doctrine of Christ's Ileodehip ot»r
ttic nations.

U. " That tho endowment of the Church by the civil magistrate is held to bo lawful ; hot
■Jilt the question aa to tho duty, at any given time, of granting such endowment on the uart
m the civil magistrnte, or of its acceptMnuo on the part of the Church, ought to be detcrmiiiMl
on the grrmnds of Chiistiiiu expediency.

4. "That, however justifiable the retention of endowments rcceivsd under different
alrcamstancr.s may be, the .''ynoil. looltine to the conduct of the govrmment of this country
in now ottering cndowmonts to religious bodies without reference to the distinction between
tiruih and error, to the divisions and jealousies which the' accep^ancc of ondowments in
prodcnt circumstances would occasion, to the stronif feeling which prevails throughout tbs
Church— Ihiit tlieir accepti.nco would tend to diminish flie ufefnliieiis of ministers and tha

epti, and to the evil iufiuenca
ndenco upon tho State, wbick

, .... .^iiuu IB ui opinion that it would tli

d«eply injurious to tho interests of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and to
tha cause of tho Redeemer in this land, to accept in present circumstancos of any grant of
pablic money from the GoTemmeut.

3. '• That in these circumstances tho Synod reflises to entertain tho overture or grant tta*
prayer of tho petitioners now before it, prohiUta and discharges all uiinistera and
ontigregaiions from taking independent action in u matter so important, and enjoins dicm
to submit, as constitutionally bound, to Im> guided by tho action of this Supreme Courts—
and ftirther, the .^ynod inetruct all Pretbyterioa to see that theio retolutiuna uo baoMOij
•Id fViIly earried out."

r.t

H4 CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

*in these, of very doubtful disputation, into terms of Ministerial felloif-«
ifcjp ;* thus not only preventmg union with others, but creating disunioa
iM^ng themselves. Now this was done at the very time when, wha^-

'^•ver their private sentiments were, which none would v;ish to disturb,
it was evident that common policy, and common civility, would say that
it was improper and inexpedient to make any judicial declaration about
the Establishment principle — especially doin^ it as an essential artick
oif their creed. Had there been any thing Ifke a thorough conciliatory
spirit, had there been any sincere desire for union with the other Church,
they would have said on this occasion-, * We have been negotiating for
«nion with a Church the most of whose Ministers are knowii to condema
the Establishment principle in every shape, but which, notwithstanding,

'leaves every one to think as he pleases. Let us, therefore, imitate their
example, and, although it is true that most of us hold this principle, yet
without enactments thereon, let us leave every one to think as he
pleases. This will shew our brethren our willingness to meet them
without committing ourselves. This will present us to them in the same
attitude of forbearance in which they piesent themselves to us. This ia
the only way in which we can ever expect the union with our brethren
to be consummated.' But instead of inis, which was reasonable, they
nettle the (question of union by deciding against it in resolutions on a dif-
ferent subject ; and after the matter is thus settled— ^after they had got
almost the whole Synod committed on points which render union impo«-
«iHe, they were to proceed in a day or two, to hear the Report of ths
Union Committee.

We now felt that Christ was wounded in the house of His friends ; feh
that a severe blow was given to the interests of the Church ; that a dash
was put to all those hopes we had fondly cherished of seeing this Pres-
byterian Church united with another, of equal rank in Christian purity,
nnd of longer experience in Christian action, a union prevented by whic)i
the Presbj'terian Church would havt chained much, whilst it would hav«
lost only what it would have been gain to lose. We remember after the
deliverance on the Government grant question, to have said to soiww
brethren. * Do you know what you have done by these resolutions so in-
considerately carried ?' No, they said. ' Well,' said We, < you have d«-
<!^ded another question of far more importance, which should have been
left to your unbiassed and uncommitted consideration.' ' What is that V
said they. < It is that you cannot unite with the Ui led Presbyteriaa
Church.' This they had not perceived, but they saw it when it was Xuu
late.

We now saw every prospect we had eiitertiiined of speedy union
(krkened bj' the clouds of prejudice ; nnd lelt cooled to tliis Church from
which we had nnticiputed so much. What will they now sny (thought
we) to the question of union which is next'to come on ? If wo are XUvm
disappointed in n cause of inferior niomey, what are we likely to feel in
the other which is of viral importiince i <' If thou liuPt run withtlw
footmen, nnd they have wearied thee, what wilt thou do in the swelllitjj
of Joidnn ?"

.Will any reasonable m«n blnme us in having strongly didseiiliMl ngiiiutit
the resolutions of Synod on the present occasion?! What could wetii

• Nuthing Would bo more unrcn?oniiljj
frinc iiifatuHtiuii, or they W( uld neve:
i)rgociatiuii8 for union with the Unite '
l'«|)ist:j thcylaid chiiiii to inl'ullihilit;
l•^p^hTtcri(>p to mtirfy
c-flB(li(latc.° for licence

thnu thi«. Indeed the Synuil Bcotncd to bo uitder

iuve been guilty of i>nch i-n.'hnei>6 iu the mUUt of

I'cseyterian Church. It wciuld feem na it'hke Um

"The Synod," says the iniimtc. "cnjuiud unc«

tht-inKclves fuHy ns to the Hoiindrosd cf the view* of nil

nnd ordiimtidU, iind idl R])i)licontH for udnn:i«Hi()U into tiiM

Church, whether Rs I'rQbatimi«r!< or Ordained Minieter&onthc«u1)Ji'etof Christ'ti Ileadtltiy
t>ver the nations, wiMi i-};ecinl refeicDcc to the ^'tundnrds of the C'hur('h,itud the deliveriiuiM*
of this r..nod durhig the present setinion, relative to this great doctriiic."
t Tltc foUowing ii the tenor cfourdiFicnt:— ''Concurring in the gt nernl design of tba

lunioa

rhaV-

iturb,

that

Taboiit
rtick

[atorj

lurch,

lema

5* yet
18 be
J them
jsame

lis 'iB

thfen
the
a<

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

IS^

otherwise in conBistency with oar own
retified terms of our connexion with this
well that we could not join them in »
inconsistently with our uniformly avowi
dlent they would have had just ci
and sincerityi We would rather

lews, and with the solemnly
hurch ?* The brethren knew
h proceedings , with out acting
'sentiments. If we had been
to que(L'.!)n our rectitude-
injure only

ise

beajr any thing, , ^ it

ourselves, than complain. We caminot, ho>v«ver, be si}ent when
we see Christ wounded in the houo'e of His friends. We \sannot
glide down in the current of procedure Vhereby the independence^tbe
Church is sacriflced, and, principles putlforward which, although as tftere
llieones they may be harmless, yet, if reduced to practice would, in son*
circumstances, involve the people of God, in the loss of all their Christian
rights and privileges, and subject them, as they have often done, to the
violence of persecution. In oppositipn to the dogmas of men, of which
the prejudices of education conceal the danger, and to sophistries so
artfully arranged that even'those who use them are scarcely ,if at all aware,
we would, through evil report and good report, still cling with firmness
and serenity tothe immutable standard of the word of God.
After such a deliverance on the question of Government grants, i t wne

•nd last resolution, passed by the Synod on the evening of the 23rd June, 1846, vvhich rcfuMa
toentertain the prayer of the overtureg, and prohibits ministers and congregations of thi*
Church from taking government grants, the subscriber dissents from the four resoIutioiM
preceding it for Uic following reasons: —

He dissents from all Uiese resolutions, because the general decision of the Synod contained-
IB the last resolution, mighthave been carried unanimously had it been disencumbered ot then
ted because the passing of these preliminary resolutions, which were very unscnsonaLly in-
troduced, and hastily carried commits the members of court, not dissentini;. to the approval"
itfithe principle of« civil establishment of rcIigion,which there isfrciison tothtnk manyof them,'
MWell as the dissenter, regard ns anti-Chri.'^tiun, and as hrvingbeeu for mnny ajrcs, when-
ever reduced to practice, the fertile source of turmoil and strife in civil society, and of serious
■idinoalculableinjury tn the interests of religion.

More uarticularly ho dissents from the first res olution, because the sense in wliich thi»
Rynod holds Christ to be King of nations is unwarranted by Clod's word, — as the term
nations both in the Old Testament and in the New, where used in connexion with4b»
flaviour's Kingly ollioc, is the fame with what is translated Gentiles or heathen, and
MUinot bo understood of the gcogrnnhical divisions of the earth into Nations or Kingdoms^
M the resolution supposes, but of the world as distinguished from the Church. In prooP
of whicheven Knglish readers, butmoro especially Hebrew and Greek renders, are refen-e4:
to the following passages, viz.: — .Icr. x. 2---7; xiv. 2:2. I'salm ix. 19, 20: xxii. 28; xlvii. B,
l<uke xxi. 24. Acts xi. 18. Rom. ix. 24. Matt, vl 7; xviii. 17. Gal. ii. 9. Luke xii. 30.
Aetsxiii. 19. Uev. ii. 36.

lie further dissents from this resolution, because Christ is King of Nations, that is, of
vnconverted men, not in the same sense, and with the same de»ign, that he is King of tim
Church, which is his proper kingdom ; htit ns forming a part of his subsidiary kinedom—
placed in ^ubjeotlon to nim for n time for the good of nis Church; nnd becaucc. till uiey ar«
brought under the influence of iho Gospel, the iinlions in the .'^ciipturc teuee of tlie word have
••either the privilege nor the honour of having any service required of them to Chriet or
nis Chiiri-h.

Ilodifc^ents from the second resolution; because in his opinion, the question of chil
mdowmcnts, although in some lonce of eubonlmnto importance, is neverthclc-'ri, one on the
flcriptural derision of which depend.^ in a great measure, the peace, purity, progress, and
ttnol gl(>rioU8 destinies of the Christian Church; and because the civil eetiibliabment of
religion at any ]ieriod, by the magistriitc, is an iuvadion by him on the royal p:e-.'cg.itiveB of
Chr<«t whil'-t the aeccptnnoe in i. ;y circnmptanccs, of countenance of this description, from
the ,. miigi^trate, by the Church, is to supercede and violate an express ordinance of
Christ iihd, at once, toinvolve herself in scriuus guilt and peril.

He disseuts from the third resolution, because the endowment of the Church by the ch'U
magistrate is unscriptural, ajid, therefore unlawful at all times, and because, in no give*,
drenm^itances can it be his duty to grant such eudowinent,or theChuroh's duty to accept of
it, and becHUF.e this grave question ought net to bo determined on grounds of Cbriatiut
ocpedieiicy, but entirely by th« Word of God.

Hedisnents from the fourih resolution, because all the reasons assigned for not acoapttof
Oldowmeutsin present ciicumstances, which reasons are, howevoif^more or less applicable t«
•II times, the principal rcaroiLs why endowments rhonld now t)^, and should have always
been rejected and repudiated by the Churcli, are entirely overlooked, namely, that they
■re (nibversive of the civil rights und liberties of men, that they are contrary to' the geniiw
and requisitions of the Gor^pcl. that thev have uniformly proved the source of nersecutioD
fiir con icience' sake, that they have alwas tended to weaken, corrupt and degrade the
Church, and that they have ever been highly derogatory to tho honour and glory due !•
Cbrist as the great King of Zion."

•Tlift is in lonnistency with our having joined thia Church with the exceptions mentioned,
9d of course with the understanding that tho question of Establichmchts wat to be k matter
ti^ forbearant'o, which these resolutions refused.

if:

€HKIST WQUND£D IN THE

frir.

«■«!»'•-

mocfltery to Intradncelhe subjeel; of union wilb tiie United Preabyterhn
<?hurcb. But introdttced it was by the very penon* who is unde^
-stood to have fraemed the Resolutions on the Government grants. It
may be said to have been maciaJed by him with dexterity. His speech
on the occasfon j[^^ delivered with calmness and seriousness. W*
eanriot supp^ ^dj|,f u that he spokie as he thought, for we believe him ts
be thoroughly conscientious ; and there was much seeming plaiisibiliQri
and much calculated to deceive a stranger, in his statements. But they
formed as gross a misrepresentallioo, irawever unintended, «f the viewt
of the United Presbyterian- Clu^rcfai, les can weH be conceived^* and be
was followed by otbera who oeven wifastioned the correctness of what
was expressed. Dr. Burns eucceeded with a speech, elsewfaeve
noticed, in which he brought out the marrow of his ravings in the Man
Magnum controversy, and not only grossly misrepresented, but disgust-
ingly caricatured the United Presbyterian Church, as holding viewa
opposed to national subjection to God, to the sanctificotioo of the Chris-
tian iSabbath, to the imposition of oaths and the law <]£ marriage, and
also tending to infidelity. These hackneyed assertions^ of which vn
have had a sickening abundance, it is not our object to refute. Those
who make them should first try to demonstrate them to be true ; and
tho sober and serious people who hear them should class their utterera
with the detestable retailers of scandal and forgers of lies. But surely
in such circwnstances we would have been inexcusable, if we had not
expressed our sentiments as directly opposed to those who took th«
lead in this matter, and as in accordance with those of the United
fresbyterian Church, which they had grossly maligaeri, and by doing
which Christ had been grievously wounded in the house of His friends.
We stated our conviction that on the whole the views of this Church on
the point of difference, we were sorry tc say, were unscriptural, and
that on the other hand the views of the United Presbyterian Church
were, in our opinion, agreeable to the Word of God, This was rather
a sweeping charge, it is true, but circumstances warranted us to make i^
and we are of the same opinion still. We felt at the time, and we feel
still, that it ill became this Church, which was but of yesterday in its
origin, and which had little experience in the practice of unfettered
Christianity, to pretend even to judge of, nnd much less to condemn,
the thoroughly matured sentiments of a Church which had the exper-
ience of more than a hundred years. What would you think of tba
lately liberated Slave who presumed to judge and decide with more wis-
dom on the principles of freedom and social oi'der, than the enlightened
Legislator who had always moved in the region, of liberty ? We had
the satisfaction of obtaining the approbation in private of some of ths
members of Court, whose modesty prevented them from speaking, who
said that we had not only spoken their mind, but had made a stand for
Christ's cause, and Christ's Kingdom, which if it did not meet with tha
approbation of men, would doubtless be acknowledged and rewarded
by God.
Ithas been said that the first Fathers of the Secession Church of Scotland
were men of enlightened and liberal views, but that soon their <;hureh
was reinforced by Ministers, who, though excellent, were contracted In
their principles, and whose influence soon gave a sectarian character Id
the Church from which it was long before it obtained full emancipatioD.
If there bH any truth in this, it seems also to be marking the early moved
ments ofthe Presbyterian Cliurch of Canada. Setting out with sentiments
fraught with Christian charity, they soon left their first love, we should
•ay perhaps their firat light, and in the course of a few years have shut
the mselves up in the dark nftd dreary prison of sectarianism, from whii|h
*1%«R«T. John Baj-ne of Gait. ■' '

■■>.

leech

House of his friends.

|iew«
and

\\ tuny be long before they make their escape. What the Head of thtt
Church, iu His mystei-ious suvereiunty, may intend by permitting this
it is Dotfor ua even to conjecture. But we hope and pray that light may
brenk in upon them, as suddenly and unexpectedly, as this cloud has
«omeover them, and that erelong at least the vaiious Presbytenan.
denominations among us may sen eye to eye.*

Where are now the prot'assionsof the PresbyteriaU Church of eatholic
principles, and their re8oluti||is to organize a Church adapted to Canada 7
Where now those aeutimetits of forbearance by which ihey entice
strangers, whom they would atterwards deprive of Christian liberty, o^
threaten with their soverost vengeance, if they ventured to express their
conscientious convictions and suytiiin them by the Word of (iod.

Bigotry, prejudice, and sectarianism are fur more powerful than
reason or sound princi()le. Those who are under the influence of such
baneful feelings are strangers to thf nisolvcss, and not aware how far
they are misled; and how much they are blinded, by tlieir pre-cODceived
notions.

Accustomed to cherish forbearance with Christians of every name, ou
points of subordinate character, we nover imagiued that men of a spirit
«o seemingly exoollent as the Ministers of the Presbyterian Churcn of
Canada, could materially ditl'ei even in circumstantials from what Mre
liad been accustomed to consider sound views of divine truth. We con-
ceived, and still think, that it is only in words and phrases, to which
different shades of meauing are attached, that the (titi'erences lie. No-
thing after all is necessary for complete and immediate union but for*
bearance on the Estal)lishment principle. Vet it is too soon, it seems,
from these recent deliverances, to expect this from a Church which has
so lately emanated from the fetters of the State.

It was now the Synod proceeded to further illustration of its sectarian-
ism, and to show, by coinnienciu^ a process against us. that freedom of
speech is denied in their Court, unless it be in supporting and reiterating
the narrow and selfish views of a few who assume the lead in its admin*
istrations.

It is not necessary to go over that course of procedure, and of attempt*
ed inquisitorial scrutiny, wliich the Synod now instituted iu reference to
r^ur views.

First of all it was unnecessary, for, ou the subject, our mind had been
long matured, aiul wo considered every endeavour to shake us . from our
principles as but the fighting of one that beateth the aii. Again, it was
uncalled for, seeing the question of union was before the supreme court,
and we had an equal right to give our sentiments with the others. If
we had acted the hypocrite, by expressing concurrence in their views,
they would have caressed us. It was our honesty and conscientiousness
that exposed us to their hostility. We knew of no limit in a fkeb
CHUBCii where our sentiments were known, by which we should either
have been restrained from speaking, or have no: spoken as we thought.
We did not know that this Court would threaten its members with cen-
sure if they happened, in expressing their candid sentiments on any

" * On this occaaiou we proposed Uie t'oUowing motion in the Hynod, which although lost,
may be preecnted here an it exhibits the only terma ou which union is ever likely to take
place between the.«c Churches : "That the riynod approve of the diligence of their commit-
tee in this cause, luid express their sincere tuunks for the long and faithful attention they
' have given to the subject ; and timt they now relieve them from this service, and appoint
another Committee to meet any Couunittce of the United Presbyterian Church, with
Instructions to them to propose that all points reij^nrdinaf tho power of Uie civil magistrata
iihould be matters uf mutual forbearance, and to form a basis oftinion to be submittM to the
dilteront Synods on the ^reut points of Christian doctrine and duty on which they are ninreed :
end that this Synod pledge tliumselves thnt wluttuver views they may entertain as inuividii^
els, on the subject of the maj^istrato's power, they shall not divide the church by roduoiaf
theih to practice, and, in particular, that they shall act im tho principle that it la inexpedient
' in Ac present state of the Church aad the World for mioistera to occept of any aid from oivll
GovenunQnta."

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

subject which carae before them, to difTer from their brethren. But it
was especially uncalled for in the present instance, where it appear^
evident tlxat the Synod were trying to force ou the church principles
which had no existence in the standards,, and to overlook, if not oppose
principles which these standards contain. Again, it was a breach of
good laith with us. We had entered the church on the general principles,
already mentioned, not intending to controvert or expose the Establish-
ment principle, which we knew the most of them held, but certainly, at
the same time, not expecting that they would misrepresent and ridicule
any principle held by us, or by the United Presbyterian Church. If the
views of that church, and our ovyn views, had been fairly stated, we
would have had no occasion to say a word ; but the matter was very
different when the Presbyterian Church did justice neither to the United
Presbyterians nor to themselves. It would be found on enquiry, that in
the resolutions and deliverances they had now given, they were not only
fighting against the Uiuted Presbyterian Church, but were palpably de-
parting from their own standards.*

We have never done more than stood on the defensive, as we would
think it wrong when wo were in connection with this Presbyterian
Church to make any attack upon its peculiarities. But the conscientious
resistance, which we were surely entitled to make to the misrepresenta-
tion of views held by ourselves, has brought on us the hostility of the
rabid defenders of tho Establishment principle. By blunt hints, and
harsh language, some of them endeavored to provoke us to withdraw
from their Church of our own accorti — a step, however, in which we
determined not to gratify them. We knew well that they wished this
only to save themselves the odium of our ejection. But that odium, or
honour, if tl.ey think it s:.ch, we resolved to give them, and there-
fore wo have uniformly endeavoured to follow the course whinh Pro-
vidence opened.

Before it broke up, the Synod of 1848 appointed the Hamilton Pres-
bytery to enquire into our views. Had this Presbyteiy acted honourably
they would iiave declined the appointment. They would have told the
Synod that they had admitted and inducted us on our own principles ;
tHat they knew these and forbore with us ; that it was too late for them
to interfere ; that if we held views which the Synod could not tolerate
they must blame the Presbytery of Hamilton for it ; but that seeing we
hacl been admitted not only with the consent and approbation of this
Presbytery, but of all the P'resbyteries of the Church, it would be better
to let the matter drop.

The enquiry came to nothing ; and having from time to time presented
garbled and unintelligible Reports of their procedure i«i the Ecclesiastical
Record, they at length remitted the whole matter to the Synod. In the
meantime, from the misrepresentations which had been made, we felt
it necessary for our own vindication to publish our views, and we
endeavored to do so in the Christian spirit.

The Synod condemned our Pamphlet without reading it, and it was
remaiked by many after it was read, they found nothing in h to condemn.
But it was apparent that aUhough they could do nothing in the way of
positive accusation, for they could fix on no expression, and on no senii-
inent which they could deliberately challenge as unscripturaU yet havia^
gone so far in this matter it was necessary to do somethmg in the way" of
vindicating themselves from the charge of absurdity, or of undue or pre-

* Ree Towisr of Babel, where it is shown that the doctrine of Christ's Headship orar tha
Mtiona U not specitically mentioned in tlieConfessiun of Faith; bnt.Ht variance wiu tba view*
of the Free Church, is summarily and orthodoxly presented, and brought down to the caps-
dty of children, in the answer to th« question in our shorter Catechi sm,— How doOi OlKiit
execute the oflice of a king t '

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

cipitato rigour. After a few speeches, therefore, in which much
eloquence was expended, without tc johing the plain subject before them,
they pretended to come to a deliverance whereby certain extravagant
findings are alleged against us, and the matter was devolved on the
Commission to meet in October 1849, with power to them to bring it to a
final issue. Whether by these alleged liudings they intended tp frighten
us, as well as blind the public is unknown. But desirous to make
another effort to bring us round to their viev/s, they appointed a Commit-
tee of their number to go to llamiiton to meet us before the time of
the Commission.

The following are the findings of the Synod : — " The Synod find that
the views set fo/th by Dr. F. are in various particulars inconsistent with
the doctrine of Christ's supremacy over nations and civil governments,
as held by this Church,* and that any exception taken by him to the
usual formula at his Induction, and which, it appears, so far as conceded
by the Presbj'tery, was understood by them to respect only the legal or
compulsory maintenance of a Gaspel Ministry,! cannot be allowed to
cover the latitude he claims in impugning the great principles of national
duty and responsibility,t in its other niumenlous bearing. But as he
disclaims any desire to disturb the harmony of the Church, the Synod
with a view to all possible removal of misunderstanding, appoint a Com-
mittee turther to deal with him, and to repoii the result to the Commis-
sion, that shall meet in Octobei, who are hereby empowered, if they
deem it for the intei-ests of truth, and for edilifation, to bring the matter
to a conclusion, having respect to the harmony of the Chur'.h and to the
testimony to whicli thu Synod adiieres for the principles of divine reve-
lation, and of the Christian law, as of authority to men in their collective
and national, as well as private relations and actings."

In regard to this document, to which we shall altervvards have occasion
further to refer, it is all gratuitous assertion without a shadow of proof,
and it could easily be shown to be all contrary to fact. How unworthy
ot a Court of Chri-«t, and how severe a wounding of Christ, in the house
ot His friends, was it for this Synod to imitate the Saviour's enemies in
laying to our charge things whicii we knew not ! Why wrap themselves up
ill a cloud of obscurity, in their attempts to criminate, when the only
crime, which even tiiey are ashamed to call a crime, is that we are of
voluntary sentiments, and only wnat they know us to be when they
received us; and when we adhere in every iota to the Westminster
standards, with the single exception of the power there given to the
civil Magistrate in matters of religion, from which this Church as might
be shown now take exception in a more excep: lonablc form.^ Why thus

* We hold the eupremacy of ChriBt over imtious and civil governments to the utmost
•stent, but we deny tliut it U held correctly by rlie Kroe Church ; for, f)rofedBing to hold this
doctrine, they iieutrulize and vitiute it by rcuuiving entire the ConfesHion which ascribes to
nations and civil ^overnmeuts a buporiurity ovur Chriet uud His church.

t How could that bo when eccordinj; to them this is not even mentioned in tho
Standards t

I What are these great principles, and wherein have they been impugned by us 1 They
cannot tell.

§ The United I'resbyterian Church gives no explanations of the obnoxious passages in the
Confession, l>ut leuving every individunl to judfjU vf their meaning for himself, tney taka
their exception to the cliiu.-ui in ijoraeihiug like the modest form which follows : — " We re-
tain the Weetininster Coiifttii^^iou cf I'uiih, with the Larger and •^hi;rter Catechisms, as the
eonfesiion of our faith, expressive of the scuRe in whicli we understand the Holy jr^criptures;
it being always undcr^toud. however, that we do nut approve or require an approbatiun of
any thing in \iieio booJit*. or iu any other, which tenches, or may be thoifffht to tt»ok,
compulsoryor port^ecuting and intulcnint principle.-* in matters of leligion."

But the i'rciibyterinn Cliurch explain the passages tu answer themselves, forgetting that
we have no right by any explanation of ours tu put other meaning on language than what
its author meant.

Tlte Confession says, " The civil maglBtrate hath authoritv, and it is his duty to take
order that unity and poace be pre.-crved in the church, that tho truth of God be kept pure
aBcfeutiro, that all bla»phcmi3s and Imretiei be suppressed, all corruptions and abuses ia

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

>. *■

keep by vague generalities, and accuse and condemn us, for something
■which they cannot name, which they cannot describe, which thoy can-
not point out, and which probably has no existence but in their own
imagination? Never condescending to toll what our alleged errors
really were, the Synod seemed by a blaze of words, and by this fortnid-
able array of findings, not from anything we said or published, but fA)in
their own imaginations to determine to make the most graceful escape
from the awkward predicament into which they had brought them-
BeJves.

The Synod's findings are perfectly ridiculous. Where did they find
them ? Was it in any paper of ours ? No. Was it in our Pamphlet ?
No, for that had not been considered ; and that Pamphlet disproves tho
npplicalion of every one of the findings. Wtis it by a compaiison of
our seotimeDtB with their standards that the findings were obtained ?
No, for the stnodurds are all held by us excepting the compulsory power
assigned in them to the civil INIngistrate, which the Presbyterian Church
also professes to refuse to him as nppenrs by the preceding note.
Where then was it that these fiudnigs were found ? It was only in
their own heated imagination. Of course it would never have done
to have condemned us without finding something, and therefore
because they could find nothing that was tangible in anything said
or done by us, they create findings to suit their purpose by the vagaries
of their own fancy, and the flights of their digressive eloquence. Is
this worthy of a Court of Christ ? Is this like conscientious and hon-
oarable Judges in the alTairs of the Church 1 Was not this a wounding
of Christ in the liouse of His friends ?

Of the Committee appointed to meet in Hamilton none came hut four
of the strenuous defenders of the power given in the Confession to the
Civil Magistrate, and who probably thought that the lower of Babel
was erected to assail their bulwarks. It was of no use to converse with
men almost all of whom were under the influence of unconquerable
prejudice.

The October Commission came next, but for reasons assigned, instead

woiyhip and discipline prevented or reformed, and all the ordintoico* of God duly settled, i
tdndniatercd, and observed."

The Presbyterian Chiirch of Canada explain the sense in vi'hich thoy receive this by iay-
ing :— " We hold that the ci\-il magistrate has no supremacy over the church, nor any
power therein." U'liis is just telling ua that Yea means Ko.

Again, the Confession gaya : — " The magistrate hath power to call Synods, to bo present
at them, and to provide that whatsoever is trunt^actcd m them be according to the word
of God."

Explaining this, the Presbyterian Church says : — " Wo hold that the civil magistrate hath
BO right to convoke, or fireside in, or dictaro to. the Atsenibliet- of the (,'huroh, or to regulato
or review their proceedings in matters ecclesiastical." Tliis again is litcrqlly contradicting
the meaning of language.

Now theiM aUe(;ed explanations contain what we think correct views. — the views said to
be held by the Presbyterian (,'hurch, and the views itolly held by the United Presbyterian
Ctturcll. But we deny that they are explanetidns of the jia.-"Hages in the l.'onfefsion 1'hey
are liie substitution of other sentinientB in their place. They are the aii<)j)ticn of ^what is ci
trutb-for what is error. 'I'hey are an attempt to liiid the vciy peiitiuicnis ol the Voluntarica
(as if they were not their sentbnents) where they are not to be found liut in doing thi»,
they proceed in a way of which we cannot approve. It ie done by eva^ivCf we might say'
bydiihonoBt, means ; and those who silently aesent to the second question of the formula
under such interpretations appear to us to act either without judgment or hypocritically.
We can subscribe to the general i^entiments contained in these alleged cxplanmions of the '
Confeflsion. But to call them explanations, and to reqnire an astent to them ae tuch, appears '
to tis lo be a very fraudulent and culpable way of getting over a difficulty. If this is to bo
practited in the Presbyterian Church of Canada, well may other churches speak of them as
time-senrers and hypocrites, and hold them up to scorn and ridicule. The Unitarian might ■
aubscril>e to the Confession on the same princijile ; for we have only to allow him to expl^n
the sense in which he receives those pascages which present difficulties, as lor instance bjr
dedaiing that the passage which ttuiches the doctrine of the Trinity, does not mean thai''
there are three distinct persons in the Godhead, and that those which teach the divinity aud^'
atonement of Christ, are not to be understood as teaching Uiat Christ is a Divine person, cir
tiiat His death is a vicarious sacritice.

HOUSE OF illS FRIENDS.

«f

or goins to Toronto, we preferred sending a letter, nnd lonving the mAt-
ter in tneir hands. As this letter has been wron{(i'uIly kept back, and its

Ittain meaning made the subject of unnecessary diflicvlty nod dispute,' li
I proper to give it a place here. The following is a copy : —

Caledonia, 18th October, 1849.

BRBTHRRTf,^ — In partings with the Moderator in Hamilton, I asked 'if
he thought it would be necessary for me to be in Toronto at the meet-
iog of the Commission. He siiid he thought not, but added that it would
be more respectful to be there if possible. It is quite inconvenient for
me to be there at present, yet I would have overcome this inconvenience
but fbr the impression that I could transact with more apparent respet!t
for the Commission by being absent. For whilst, whether present or
absent, I bear them the most profound respect as a Court of Christ, I
could not be present without very decidedly expressing my refusal of
every finding against me in the Synod's motion, and more strongly still
my disapproval of the tenor of the Committee's report to the Commis-
eioo. 1 shall reserve nil this, however, till afterwards, should it be
necessary, which I hope it will nut, tor I am di^jjosed to forget and for-
give what is past, and I fear that I might say something in the Conuiiis-
eion were I there, which would rather widen than heal the breach, and
tl)is I am yory unwilling to do, when I see so much of a conciliatory
epirit from ditferent quarters of the Church. There seeihs to be some
profdigious mistake iu the whole ot this matter in magnifying our real or
flupposed differences to an unreasonable degree, when the fact is I agree
to every iota of the Standards, with the single and slight exception of
refusing to the Civil Magistrate the compulsory and persecuting power
which they seem to me and to many to give him, and which power even
the Presbyterian Church of Cnnadn seem as strongly to object tOj aa
myself, with the only (HiTerence ihiit they think it not in the standards':
of Course the difference one would think must after uU be only In
V^ords.

From the kind conciliatory stntemeuts in some late numbers of t^^
Record, and I trust the exidteneo of a growing desire in both the Fr^-
hyterian and the United Presbyterian Churches for Union, I am now
moi^ than ever disposed, and I trust the Commission are equally disposed
to waive the further prosecution of this vexatious discussion, which
should never liave begun, and which would sooner or later end only
where it begun. I simply present to them the following statements and
for tiiu prt'!>i>nt leave the mutter in their hands, reserviug the privilegp
of ussonliiig to, or dissenting from any deliverance to which th.,^ may
come.

1. That in joining this Churcli it was plainly declared and tuHy undeiV
Btood l)y the Subscriber, and he thought perfectly known to the Presbjl-
tery ot Hamilton, and others, that he held the principles of the United
Secession Church of Scotland, in which he was reared, and of ooorsb
the views of that Church on the power of the Civil Magistrate in mattere
of Piiligion, and it was in particular distinctly stated that he was opposed,
like must of that Church, to civil establishments of religion in evirjr
form, and to the very principle on which they nre based ; and iiiMj'to
prevent all possibility of future misunderstnnriing, he wishes it to bio
publicly known, us he here most solemnly declares, that his priocipl^e
ore the same as ever, and that the longer he lives he is the more COJJ-
firmed in the belief that they ore thoroughly sound and scriptural;. ■"'.

2. That as he fully understood the Presbyterian Church of Canada, to

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

with them on the grAnd doctrines of Ginco. nnd hnd no intention to
insist on his own pecMliiiritics, he concuivpd tliiit Union with tiieni wap
practicnblo, not only an fni* as hu was cuiicornud, but with uii of siiuilur
sentiments with himself.

3. TImt it appoiirs from recent proceedinfiR thnt the difference between
the Presbyterian nnd United Pictbyteriiiii CliurclieH is, nfter nil, more
in words than in sentiincutB: iuid tlint ii Union niiglit very f>Hsi)y b6
eflected, to theunspealiiible ndvuiitii^^e of llio Province, were both pnrliee
to lool( to the gretit yeneiul piiiicipleB on mIJcIi tliey ii^ire, itnd out cf
some of which wiicn unneceitstiiily produced, their ditl'erences Hrife;
and he hereby dechires his cordial mid lull nsuent to tiie views of Dr.
Stevensun> hs given in the Record for August lust, and proposed th«ress
a resting pliice where all parties might InirnioniouHly unite, uod lie nlio
declares his assent in general to tlie explanation of the obnoxious . passa-
ges of the Confe«8ion ut° Faith, given by our Committee uii Union, with
this understanding that he coiibidert* it no explanaliun of these passages,
but an independent decliiraliuu of the genuine sentiments of tliis
Church.

4. That he has no wish, and no intention, to diifturb the harmony of
this Church by broaching Imm own peculiarities, which he has never yet
done but in repelling tlie obtruuinn of upposite views, hut it. must bo
understood that if tho Hiimu system uf midrepiesuntation of any views
held by him, or by the United Presbyteiian Chuich, shall bo practised
by individuals of this Clinrch, or if tliis \h countemmced in any measure
by this Ohurch, he will feel liiiiiself iit perfeet liberty, if not in duty
bound, to expose and re|>ei all such uucharilable pruceedingii.

And 5. That having for four years employed all hia time, energies and
influence, such as they are, \;\ promoting the interests of the Presby-
terian Church of Canada, he v/ill continue to du !io, and is willing to, co-
operate with them in harmony and love on all the great principles of
Christianity, agreeing to differ as they nniy un liie circumstaniiala of
religion, nnd seeking diligently nnd fuitlifully with them the glory of
Christ and the peace, purity, progiL'ss, and i)ruspurily of his Church,

A F.

How absurd was it to contend about the monnin;,' of this letter, which
is quite plain and simple, and how unciinJid to present their quibblingu
and opposite viewa about it, witliout giving it to ttie public at once us it
is, and as we understand oue ol tiie liberal members of the Comaiission
proposed, and thus havo put a stop to the uurio,-<ity or siiapieion they had
excited, and kept up so long, by vague ctatemeuts. A sensible olhce-
bearer of the </iiarch remarked : — " We heard often in the Record of
Dr. F.'s case, but never from any tiling that was said could wo possibly
conceive what it was. Is it possible that it was on!y the Voluntary Ques-
tion that they were making such a mystery about / Wliy not plainly,
and at ojnce, say 80 ? Ah! that would not do, that would let out the
whole secret to the public, and were it thought to be nothing but the Vol-
untary, Question we would be laughed at foi our pains, as tliat would havo
led to the conclusion that it was all a farce together, — no matter "bout
which so much work should have been made, — only the Voluntary '.ques-
tion on which nine-tenths of the people would say the Doctor was rights
and that the. Synod were befooling themi^elves by making so much ado
about it," Yes, the Synod know veiy well that we havre the people's
side of the question, and, therefore, voiy ingeniously, they have ot late

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS. H'

Christ's Hendship were diffttrcnt, no far at, we hnvc handled it^ from the
Vuluntary Question. But let none be deceived by their words on this
subject. It iH Htiii the Voluntary Question, and nothing more, although
they now dignify it by calling it the Headship of Christ about which we
differ from tiiem. Our viewd on the Headship of Christ, whether as
King of the Church, or a^ King of N;.tionK, are precisely those of the
standards. But we regard it hh a gross purvereiion of all rpason, a violent
torturing of sill language to interpret the third section of the twenty -third
chapter of the Confession, and Ino other disputed passages, as present-
ing a Scriptural view of Christ's Headship over the Nations. It is pre-
cisely, we might say it is profanely, the very opposite. Yes, the Church
is broug' . under the power of the State, or the power of the Civil Magis-
trate, and thus the Civil Magistrate, instead of being directed by Christ's
Law to what is just and right, as he oug-ht to be, directs by his own law
the affairs of Christ's Church, and thus would arrogate and'exercise a su-
periority to Christ himself.* This is no exaggorution of the language
of the Confession. Explain it as you may it eomes to this at last. It
was well remarked in an Address of llie English Independents to Dr.
Chalmers on the organization of tlio Fiv<« Church : — «' You must rejector
amend the Confession of Faith, Dear and honoured Sir, the tnith must
be told and you must hear it: either renounce the Confession of Faith,
or renounce your claim to consistency. You hold that book entire, un-
modided, and unchanged. Nay, you and your friends professed through-
out the whole of your conflict witli t\w State to have been contending
simply for the doctrines of the Confession of Faith. But if there is mean-
ing in language that book is utterly fatal to your claim of spiritual inde-
pendence."

Notwithstanding the slight difference of view between the Fresbyter-
ian and United Preshyteriim Churdies on the sufyect' the Magistrate's
power, and on Christ's H r^adsliip over the nations as conneeted there-
with, ni'i^lit they not lorbenr and be united? ••The only nppnretit
hindrnni e of any conspquonce is the inipnrinnce nttacfied by the Free
Church to the principle of estiiblishnients, niid the ncknuWledgment
demanded from nil its office bearers of that Piiiici|)Ie by an unqualified
subscription of the Confession of Faith. Happily this fact does not pre-
vent co-operation. Even on the Establishment Question it admits of
Union in maintaining that the Church, established or unestablished, must
be free; and that all Christians should combine in breaking the fetters of
enthralled Christiaiiit}'. But is this all that can be done ? If we were
in earnest about Union could we acc(nnplish notliing more T Perhaps it
niighr befound. in a friendly cnide'ence, .that the (iiffereoce was not so
formidable as has been sometimes alleged; thnttlie Free Church mno hss
no wish t(» secularize religion by connecting it with theState,aiid theVoI-
untnry Chu*-chman just as little design, through n dissolution of this
connexion, to make Governments infidel. On both hands it might be
nil > w 1 1 that Christ is Head over the Nations : and that if there b^ any
question it jdoes not respect the fact, but only the mode of His rule. It
might be conceded liiat supposing the twenty-third chapter of the Con-

* Some ofthe bretbreii were much surprised when we told them that their vit-w of Christ^!
HoMthip wa«not in the .Standards; others actually eearchcd tor it there. b\it could not find
it ; others have acknowledged that wo are perfectly right. One learned brother pointed
to th« twenty-third chapter of the Coiifei^eiun, and said " There it is." But if it be there,
which we deny, it must be the vary principle of compulsion and persecution from which wr
diiMUt. No, it is not there, the rovorae is there. There we liave the Headship of tl|a
Nations in uieir civil rulers, over Christ, and Ilis Church, not the Headship of Christ over
the Nittloiis, The truth is, that what the Presbyterian Church of Canada calls the Headshipl
of.CMst over the Nations, is neither more uor less than the Cstablii-hment Principle qader
•nothar name. ' We do not think that by such a subterfuge any one of them i* capable of
wiahing'by good words and ^ir speeches to deceive the licarts of the aimple, and we are
ghid Uiat our esteemed friend, the Kev. Professor Esson has lent his valuable aid, by hie
Jnidttdotti and aeAaonable pamphlet, last year, to put tho Church right in 1M» particular, as
waU as OB other pointa to which they have too long been etrangcri.

t l!'

*ii CHftlST WOUNDED IN THE

fesaioti should admit of a good ineaniog, it ia injadiciously and MngdBto* '■-
ediy worded, and that a good opportunity is hence alforded tor bringing /
the whole subject of it under review. It might appear that if neither tbi>
EstHbiishment Principle nor the Voluntary Principle were made a term
of office, a mutual forbeartmce respecting them, would not obstruct the ;
discharge of any present duty."* A

The deliverance of the Commission in October 1849, was considered^ ^

by us and all our friends as final, and although it was by no means satis-
factory, and might have been remonstrated against as unworthy of the
Court, yet all thoughts of tliis were abaudoiieu in consequence of a new*^ ^^
arid extraordinary turn being given to the v/holo matter, and one which
has both to ourselves and the Congregation brought about what we trust
is an auspicious revolution in Ecclesiablical connexion. The occurrco- /
oes which fall now to be noticed, have rendered this revolution in no res-
pect our own doing, but entirely His work who can bring good out of evil.
In the whole course of events we have the satisfying consciousnoss of
having never out-stepped,but always followed tlie openings oil'rovidence;
and. so unexpected and surprising has the cliange been, yet so accopta- ,
ble, that we were ready to say with the returning Jews, — " When the
Lord4urned again tlie captivity of Sion we were like them that dream."

This event, although of little importance to any but guraelves, yet,
from the causes aud occurrences which have led to it, is entitled to tlie
candid attention of the Christian Public, especially of ♦ho.so who boluag
to the .Presbyteiian and United Presbyterian Churches, as strikingly il-
lustrating the narrow, sellish, hurtful and unchristian policy, of tiie for-
mer, or what is comraonlv, though very improperly, called the Free,^
Church ; and the superior adaptation of the United Presbyterian Cliurcii, ■
(from the perfect security it a'Tords for civil and religious liberty, as well,
as its thoroughly Scriptural constitution,) lo the condition aud necessities
of this rising Province.

We have been cut off from connection with the PresbyteriL.i Church
of Canada in a manner the most arbitrary and tyraunioaJ, merely, it
would seem in one view, to gratify tlie pride and spleen of a faction of
our Congregation, deserving of the scorn and reprobation of the C'luuch
Courts, which our Session, in the conscientious and faithful diticharge
of duly, had treated with the greatest tenderness when they incurred the
censures of the Church ; and this has been done, as will appear, under. j
a false pretence, and on grounds entirely beyond the powers with which
the Commission that brought about the crisis was entrusted by Ihe Sy-
nod, by which it v/ill appear, in another view, to have been a purpose,
if not a plot, of the Chnip.h judicatories.

The history of the faction, and the unmerited patronage it received
from the Ecclesiastical Courts, in opposition to all truth and justice, to-
gether with the narrative already presented, are not honourable to tliis
Presbyterian Church ; and certainly, wherever they are known, are suf-- '
ficientto lower it in public estimation and confidence, to make its min-
isters feel that they are in danger when, with impartiality and faithful-
ness, they endeavour to discharge their duty, and to occasion tegret
uniong the godly that, by the reckless procedures of this Church,
Christ should bo so seriously and so often wounded in the house of Hi»
friends.

But for the better understanding of the matter, it may here be remark*
ed in general that certain leaders in the Synod, seemingly determinedr
if possible, to keep back the progress of liberal sentiments, appeared to
be exceedingly anxious to find some pretext for excluding us tiom their
Church, and to have felt that as this had not been accomplished by the

* fiee E«uy oa Christian Uuiuu by tho Bcv. David King, L.I1.D., Grey FrUra Church,
Qlasgoir, Scutlaud,

HOUSK OF HIS PRiEiVDS.

•25

jed
lis-
Iha

-n-V

iS-

of ^

Sapreme Court in June 1849, nor by their Commission in the October
following, there was little chance of attainin;:» it without some underhand
pl-ocedure. With this view '' some members of Presbytery in Hamil-
■Tdh>" we are informed, although we are unwilling to believe it, encour-
aged the faction, advishig and directing their leader in the course he
{iUtsued,* in which he had the vanity to believe, and to make them be-
ieve, he would r(;adilv bring the wiiole Congregation to concur ; and this
'it was thought would be an excn.se for sepuratnig us from om flock, and
in consequence, pei"hap.s, Irom the Presbyterian Church.

With this view the Congregation v.ere to be assembled to pass a vote

of w^nt of contitlence, bc^cunse we did not, like most of the Synod, hold

'the principte of an Establishment. On this, it is understood, was to be

• founded a complaint to the Presbytery, with a view to revive proceed-

i'ings against us; and because they had not succeeded by fair means to

'bring ua over to their sectarian notions, to accomplish, if possible> by this

new scheme, our ejection froui the Church.

What secretly induced the Faction-leader to move in this matter is
.test known to himself. But whatever it was he seems to have felt it ne-
^cessaffy to fix on some reason, not real but ostensible, that might have
! weight in some quarters, or perhaps, we should say, to have found it con-
;.venient to adopt readily the course suggested by his friends, the *• mem-
, bers of Presbytery." The independent course which had been uni-
formly pursued by the Minister, in the dil'^jent discharge of his Pastoral
'duties, made it impossible, we trust, for this disturber -f the Congrega-'
tion's peace, or his advisers, to start opposition b)' an honest and hon-
ourable course, and, therefore, like the Presidents and Princes of the
Court of Persia, in leference to Daniel of old, they perhapi^ felt that they
could find no " occasion" against the Minister except they found it,
♦'concerning the law of his God."

It would never have done for the agitator to go forward to this cour»<»
nbruptlyt or«ven avowedly, as nothing was known in the CongregHMon
btit prosprtrity and peacef ; and therefore, lie attempted it by double-
dealiag and deception — for so it is with corrupt human nature that that
of which we are ready to accuse our neighbour is very often something of
which we are guilty ourselves, t

Acfcordingly in the month of January, 1850, pretending to wish to
nrrnnge pecuniary matters before enteringthe new Church, which could
have been finished in a week, but the finishing of which had been
purposely delayed, he proposed a meetinj^ of the Congregation. At this
public meeting, which sooti took place, to the astonishment of those
present he burst upon thein with a series of unmannerly resolutions,
cHlumuiating the Minister, and especially wishing to carry the motion
of want of confitJenco, to get them to disown him, and to withhold their

* Vr'e would be llie last to f-u-pect uiiy of our brotlireii of sue. boMeness, and we still
cndenvour to biinisih tho lUouglii from our mind. Hut it whi» the Faction-losder who
cbart|sd thcin, and it If not chhv to explain, on any other uuppoHitiou, the contidence of
finocei!! always indicated by tliis individual, when all knew him to be guilty, and the uianner
in which the rft i4un i.iui (;on!,'rcOTfioii were treated, tirst by tho Pro-sbytcry, and atterwards
by tho Commission of t^ynod. The hii.guage of this individual both in the public meeting
of th«i Congregation, and to persons in private, was to the crt'ect that he haa not taken his
coune " unadvisedly," but had tlie lulvico of " ^Members of tho Presliytery."

It .8 said that tlie Trosbytery and l-^ynod were led to believe that Caledonia congregation
would stand or full with this individuiil, and that he had the vanit}' and assurance to boast
of this. At all events it is supposed that he cherished the idea, and led others to believe
it true, that he could easily turn the people to auy purpose he might suggest, as they wer6
all Blraplc minded nicn.led by a Baptist and an Episcopalian.

1 It ought to be distinctly noticed that »ill .lanuary, IP.'jO, nothing but harmony and love
p revailed, when witli the suildennoss and fury ot a volcanic eruption, audwitnuut any
visible cause, the attempt was made to sow the seeds of animosity and strfe.

* This was the nccuuation which the Faction-leader brouaht against his Minister, double-
dealing and insincerity, because be held Voluntary principles, and yet wa« a ftioister of
die Presbyterian Church.

26 CHRIST WOUNDED IN THEf

support because beheld the priociples of the United Presbyterian dnHtth
on the Magistrate's power in matters of religion. But to his great
mortification, the good sense and christian feeling of the people spurned
at his proposed resolutions, and they were all put down by the iadigninf
and almost unanimous voice of the assembled Congrdgation.-

He and his adherents had further determined to diseontintte theiir'
a ttendance on ordinances ; in short, had determined virtually to cut
themselves off, thinking that their example would be ftilloWed by all. li'

' they had quietly done this without attempting to pollute the minds of the
people with their contemptible gossip and slander, it Would have been df
comparatively little consequence. But from their subseqacst conductt'
it became necessary, for the satisfaction and peace of the congresatioot
that the Session should take up the whole matter. Never w«(> tliere af
clearer case of necessity for exercising Church disciplinoir This 1001
of ''members of Presbytery," with two who joined hint,- ilvere dearly

" foundguilty, though in different degrees, and becanse they Would make'
no concession, but showed contumacy of behaviour, and eontempt for the
Court, and likewise expressed their determination to persist hi theif
unchristian conduct, were, in the meantime, suspended frotn their'
privileges."^ The Faction-leader, however, was notshakeil. He seemed
to know that his friends, ''the members ofPresbyteiy," WOOld bear him
6ut of this difficulty ; and although the honest >\nd unsuspeeting Session^
having done only their duty; considered that they had nothing to fear,
and nothing could they possibly have to fear from any upright Coiirt,'
whieh took the trouble to examine the case, yet this Faction-Header,-
although they know it not, aad oven after they were told believed it notf
was before them, and had full assurance that he would be sustftitaed. —
He and his two supporters appealed of course to the Presbytery.-

The Faction mixed up their reiisons of protest with false and sctknilous'
matter, for had their cause been judged as it oughtr by itv oWn ikieritSt'
it would not have stood a hearing. They insinuated that dissatisfisetion
had been growing in the Cotigregation since we hadpublished our pamphlet,'
and also that we had since obtruded our sentiments oi ihe Congregation^
both in public and ])i'ivate, not keeping good faith with .be (.-httreh.- Body
these charges^are directly contrary to truth ; andallthe people]wereready^
had nn opportunity been given, to shew their utter falsehood.- But these
f.nd other slanders, which the Session thought beneath their notice, were
seized by the Presbytery. Our Faction-leader, who most successfully
played u|)on the crodnlity of the Court, was hailed and encouraged there
as the redoubtable champion of Free Church peculitoritiesr and as the'
decided opponent of Voluntary Principles ; and although we hate reason
to know that he was not acquainted with the distinctive prineiples either
of one Church or another, yet now to serve an iniquitous purpose he'
pretends to wondrous zeal for the principle of a civil Establfehriienti of
Religion ; nay, from the correspondence he hod held with hib friends'
the "members of Proshytery," ho could predict all that would take place.;
Well might those who know him say, '"We never saw iton thisianhibn.''
" Is Saul also a:nong the Prophets ?"

It WHS the (.jiiiiion of the Session, igtiornnt inagrbat rtVeasUrdV iWfhey
were, that this movement was a deeply laid conspiracy agai^Rt the'
Minister, that the cuuso appealed would never obtain a hearing in the
higher Court, and that it would be remitted to the Setefon with instruc-
tions to preserve the usual order of the Church ; and* such we know
would have been the case in any Court that was impartial and uncom-

* This wuit considered the most lenient cenf»uve, iind it wnd not till every endeavour to*
avoid even this had i'uilod, that it wae inflicted. All that the Seieioii roquired Waa on)
acknowledgment from these individuals that they had acted wrong, and a ]^rbiiulM to j^fvMrvv
licace in future, and thcso they obstinately refused.

great
bunted!
ligDAAtf

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

nitted. But when it is known that the case was prejudged, and that
members of^the Court^were themselves implicated, what justice was to be
expected ? It was heard on all sides except the true one, but wherever
truth would have unfolded itself, and exposed the iniquity of the Faction
it was aot beai-d.* To the astonishment of the Minister and his Elder,
and several judicious members of the Cnngrogntion who were present
to bear testimony to the false representations of the protesters, but were
I'efused a hearing, the Presbytery never looked at the case at all, but on
the contrary seemed to h^^ perfectly prepared not only to vindicate the
canning and guilty protesters.f and tobear down the honest Session, but
to take the opportunity, from false and irrelevant matter, of again con-
tending with the Minister.

The following was their deliverance ; — " It was moved by Mr. Bayne,
and seconded by Mr. Kobb, that the Presl.ytery sustain the Protest and
Appeal, refuse the decision of the Jvirk-Session appealed from ; but
inasmuch as the documents and pleadings which have come before them
in the consideration oftiiecase, Imvo revealed the existence of evils in
the Congregation urgently calling for itivestigation with a view to a
remedy : and inasmuch also as these evils appear in a groat measure to
have originated in the result of the PrHsbytery's longdealing with Dr. F.,
on the subject of his views on the Headship of Christ, and tliut the carrying
out of the investigations and dealings necessary, would be better conducted
by parties who have not beei' directly involved in the proceedings referred
to, the Presbytery submit the case of the Congregation to the Synod
with a recommendation that they would appoint a commission of
Synod for the purpose specified and further the presbyteiy appoint the
Moderator, and the Rev. John Bayne, to state the reasons of this recom-
mendation to the Synod."

No protest was takent against the restoration of the three individuals,
because however unreasonable the reversal oftheSession's sentence was,
yet if this recommendation of the Presbytery had been faithfully followed
out. as was expected, all that the Session and Congregation could desire
would have been secured, as the only remedy for the alleged evils in the
Congregation was the excision of these disturbers of its peace, or their
submission to order. The representatives of the Session and congregation
present, knew that if an impartial and honourable Commission were
appointed by the Synod they would have no difficulty to discover where
alone thd evil lay, and that the Presbytery were under the delusion of
prejudice in tracing it in any degree to the cause they did. In short, they
were hopeful that the Commission, if appointed, would do justice to the
Minister and Session, as well ns to the Congregation in this matter, by
detecting and putting down this overbearing faction by which they had
been agitated.

* It ii not easy for strangers to form the least conception of the manner in which the
adherents of this Pution hod been conducting themselves before the session interfered, as
It wu less apuareM to the public eye. But after that it became more and more visible
•nd it is painful to state that during the three months before the Presbytery met. as many
of the congregation ein testify, they might be observed coming to the House of God, not
to worship but to mock, they might be seen indecently pushiT>^ themselves forward in the
time of prayer, aitting like statues during the whole service, evidently not onlv uninterested
but holding divine ordinances in contempt, and exposing them to derision, they might bo
•een conducting themselves in various ways with studied levity in the sanctuary, so as to
4irt«rb the worship of the godly, uud give occasion to the careless cr protane to speak
nproaehfully.

t AeeonUng to this Hamilton Presbytery, a Session has no right to challenge its member!
for alander and deceit, for disrespect to God's servants and God's ordinances, for contempt
of • aiHrltntl Court, and for a prood and obstinate determination to break up the peace of a
prmperous ooagregatioB.

X ttUhadbaea Aougbtthatthe Commission would have taken advantage of this, most
auuiedly a Protest would have been entered. But the proposal of a Gommiasion to enquiro
iato the itato of the eoagregation seemed to make this unnecessary.

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

The following is the Report of the Presbytery Elder on this deliverance
as nriHde to the Session of Caledonia and vicinities : —

"The Superior ('ourt instead of summoning the Session before it»
which a cause of such importance required, as it aifected the \vhbJ9
Congregation, and which their own, and the Congre.i;iition8' represeqta-^
tives were present to require, proceeded in the most purtial and sunmiary
manner, without ever looking at the merits of the case at all, excepting
where the protesters had distorted it, to give judgment ; that the
Presbytery seemed determined at all hazards to bear down the SessioOt
and shelter the Protesters ; that whilst they blamed the Session for b9ing.
hasty and cruel in their sentence, for which there was no foundation, they
seemed to be hasty and cruel themselves in reversing it ; that some leaders,
of the Presbytery appeared evidently to have committed themselves to the
Protesters in private, and had prejudged the cause ; that they took for
granted that the Congregation was divided, and would not hear its Com-
missioners who were present for the express purpose of shewing it to bd
otherwise; that the slang and gossip presented by the protestors, which
the Session considered beneath their notice, were eagerly seized on by the
Presbytery as an excuse for pursuing an object with which this cause has
no connection, excepting what the Pi'otesters by their misrepresentations
had forced on it ; and that the Elder and commissioners, who were
disgusted at the Presbytery's proceedings, and looked on it as an humbling
spectacle for Christian Ministers to exhibit, could scarcely fait to be
convinced that there must be truth in what was before reported that the
Protesters had been stirred up by individuals connected with the Presby-
tery itself to the course they had taken, and had acted under their advice.
In short, such was the manner in which the case was treated, that the
Session's representatives, as well as the congregation's Com mission erv,
felt that it was far better to yield to circumstances, than to honour such
disgraceful proceedings with an appeal to the Supreme court; and there-
fore they left the whole matter open to the proposed Commission, from
which justice was surely tobe expected, if it could be found at all in this
denomination."

The Synod appointed n Commission, as suggested by the PresbyterV,
The folk>wing is their minute on this matter : — ;(*'';' '

"The Synod took up the reference from the Presbytery of Hamilton ,
respecting the congregation of Caledonia. Several Members addressed
the House, when, on the motiou of Dr. Willis, seconded by Mr.
McDowell, it was agreed, — ., ,

"That the Moderator, Dr. Burns; Mr. Harris, Mr. Ball, Mr»,
McMurray, Mr. McLeod, Mr. McKenzie, Ministers ; Mr. Osbpriie*
Mr. McLellan, and Mr. Blain, Elders; be appointed as a Commission of
Synod to visit the congregation ot Caledonia, and authorise them to meet
with the Minister, Session, and Cnngregation there, to enquire into the
evils alleged to be existing there to the hindrance of unity, mutual confi-
dence and edification, authorise them tu act with the usual powers of a
Synodical Court of Review, and if they fail in their endeavours to estab- ■'■
lish harmony in consistency with the finding of the recent Commission ,
Hs authenticated by this Synod, power is hereby granted to proceed to >
final judgment, according to the laws of the Church, notwithstandiufB;
any appeals that may be attempted to be taken from their finding. If
they see cause for libel, they shall commit the proceedure into the.hands
of the Presbytery of Hamilton, who are empowered, assisted by the
Committee, or any three of their number, to proceed to a judgtnen^lo,,
the case, staying nevertheless a final sentence In the case of appeals.'* " )"

On this deliverance, although it is rather obscure, and in sonrie parta '
unintelligible, the following remarks may be made; — . ■ ■ ,,^\,>.,.„„.,

HOUSE OF HIS FRIE.\DS.

lit.

larj
ting
(the
Ion,

i^ere

. I. It was passed in total ij^norance of facts, and, not.ody so,but ^ind^r
impressions which were precisely the reverse of truth, — it being after-
wards allowed, by some of the Commission, that the, Synod were u^der
the impression that the whole congreo-atiou at Caledonia were onthe sidt^
of the faction, and that the resolutions of tlie I'uction-leader had, all
carried.*

n. That there was no hindrance to mutual coiilidence and edifica<i<in
whatever, but sirnply the existence of a small faction, the ring-leade'f^
of which the Session had been obliged to suspend, — that this faction Was
headed by one man, without whom it i could not exist, and that even
this one man, as he confessed, was stiired nip and advised to his course
— and that whilst the source of allepjed evil, according to his confessioA,
which we were unwilling to believe, was in tiie '< Members of Prei^by"-
terj'," instigating this one man to stir up strife, the congregation at
large were innocent, were unsuspectiuir, were united among them-
selves, were vigorous in their collective strength, and were deter-
mined to proceed in an independent course of christian duty. '

HI. That if the Synod had been aware of the real state of things they
would never have given a Commission such powers as they did, or eved
thought it necessary to appoint a Commission at all ; but would only hav»j
supported and encouraged the Session m the firm and faithful discharge
of their oflicial duties. .

And IV. That without finding something new, which they could not,
it appears clear that the Cummissiou, even with the very unreasonable
power given them, had no riglit to proceed simply aud solely qp the
ground of published sentiments, none of which hud ever been shown,
or could be shown, whatever is pretended, to be contrary evpn to the
Westminster Standards, and much less to the Word of God. To jud'g0'
and decide entirely or nt nil on this ground was not comuiitCed to tbdm.
In doing it they out-stepped their prerogative. f

Between the announcement of this appointment, and (he meeting,
resulting from it, neitJier the Faction nor the Congregation were idia»
The former wore busy in their confident boastings of apccess, anticipating;
as they did, this visit as the climax of their victory, believing, aiv.1 telling
the people, that then they would have their willj; they would get dW,
New Church opened for all who joined them, and that the Minister aijid.'
his followers would be cut olF. How they were always so confident;
about the issue, is not now a matter of conjecture. Wo pity and forgivo
the Faction -leader. We forgive also his friends. " the menibers of prjeBrr
bytery," but we cannot too strongly reprohute their conduct. . '

The Congregation were also active. An Address of confidence in the,
Minister was prepared, and subscriptions from all quarters were adhibitejcl
•o it. It was so imrnei'ously signed as to make it believed an imposibility
that any Cour;, even a partial and unrighteous Court, could refuse ^

* Two weeltB Iioforc flie Commtsfinn met at Calcdonin, Ilr. Burns, tnefttlnfjr htmie'
gentlemen in Hamilton, one of whom bclongeti to the Caledonia congregation, was told::
distinctly that it wan the very reverse, — 'lliat the amendment by which the Kegplutiona
were all negatived was carried tinumphantly, and that the whole congregation. With fhe '
exception of the small faction, were determined to adhere to the Miniiittir. On t^eariBg' t^is
he lifted up his handn in astonishment; and mid tlint the Synod had been made to believe U,
to be qirite tlio contrary, and that on this account tliey had given the Comini»sioti encn''
unlimited powers. Tiiis is perhaps a liey to the whole conduct of the ComaAikan Kt.i
Caledonia, which we arc about to describe, and, at all events, it Kecnig to be one to the
deception practipcd by the Faction-leader, (^an this iicconnt liir the lact, that tfvhen the '
Commission found theycould not separate the Minister from the jjcoplo who wern feu Myoti^Vf :
united to each ither and to liim, that rather thuu lose iheir object they m^corciuotuiiusljrn
Beparated him from the Tresbyterian Church? ,..'.;

t This ie not our own opinion alone, but that of Ministrre nndnaombersof the Presliyteriah
Church who have expressed it to us, mid we believe it will b6 found the general 6]>ln!Dii'
where the Hubject is understood. . , -f

X In tbie, and many other manifestations, there was abundant evidcnco tlpat^abefaoi.'
in PrnahTtcrv imd tliR Faction were iu correi<iiondence. .,•***

- ,0;>ilHDltiiO:.i

the Preibytcry and tlie Faction were in correxpondence.

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

k<<

yield to its influence. 1 ideed, it was a complete and signal tiiu*nph
over the faction, inasmuch as it should have silenced their clamour,
Bhould have undeceived the Synod's Commission, und should have led
to the very opposife course from that wiiich had been meditated.

The meeting of the Commission took place on the 9th of July 1850,
at Caledonia. There were only four of them present, two ministers and
two Elders, (all, though from different causes, vt^ry incompetent judges.)
But such a meeting was never before witnessed by any who were present,
and it has sunk the Presbyterian Church in the estimation of many. It
was felt then, what it has siuce literally proved to be, as another Mare
Magnum^ headed by Dr. Burns like rbe former, in the luying of the
foundation of a New Church in Caledonia. The meeting, indeed, baffles
all description, but it has left impressions on the public mind which will
require a generation to erase.

The Coramission were authorized to meet the Minister nnd Session,
and then the Congregation. But instead of following the instructions

?iven them, not the Minister and Session merely, but the Building
lommittee and other parties were called in, und it was with difficulty
they would adniiS- the very elders who had been judges in the cause.

It was understood, it was reasonably and necessary to understand,
that the commission were to converse privately with the Session and
Minister, with the spiritual overseers ot the Congregation, who from
their position should have been confided in, an^l who from their thorough
acquaintance with the subject would have been able to set the matter in
a clear light before the minds of the Commissioners, and prepared them
to come to a righteous decision, showing that the Session nnd Congrega-
tion at large were only standing on the defensive, and seeking to discharge
their duty with fidelity. But this opportunity was not afforded, any
disposition by them, to speak on the subject was met by rude opposition
and false statement, and the Commission were no wiser when they ended
than when they began. It was perfectly evident that tbs Commission
bad made up their tninds to a course which they were determined if
possible to follow, nnd that they were unwilling to receive any information
or hear any argument, which might drive them from that course. It
was quite apparent that they studiously shut their eyes to every fact nnd
particular which might have shown them that they were favouring the
disturbers of the Congregation's peace at the expense of the orderly, the
peaceable, and the conscientious.

In this preliminary meeting the Commission, with nil their deeply
rooted prejudices, with all their seeming eagerness to entrap and snsnare
with all their visible terror to look at the real grounds of difliculty and
agitation in the Congregation, and their manifest determination to turn
aside from the straight course, and take up irrelevant matter, entered not
on the object for which they were sent at all, but endeavoured to quarrel
anew with us on points which should have been settled elsewhere, and
which it was the Synod's own fault that they were not tully settled.

When the private meeting was over the commission adjourned to the
plats of worship. Dr. Burns opened the meeting with prayer. Soma
papers were read as before, one with a variety of questions of no impor-
tanoti and trifling charges all founded on gossip and misrepresentation ;
•nd inother about the Sabbath School, which the Faction had lately got
npt and seeming to be a piece of deception from beginning to end. Dr.
Bums then proceeded with an Address in which he stated what had
been done at the private meeting, and then went on with a long harangue, .
in which it was his evident design to tty to draw off the affections of the
yople from their Minister, and to endeavour to produce a want of
confidence, as if almost convinced already that the allegations of want of

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENBS.

iph

|our,

led

sion,
lions
Idirig
bulty

Confidence were false, and thus indicaring also his learniag to tljp lide of
the disturbers of the Congregation's peace, and his desire to support and
bear them out. He had taken fur g'-anted, liko the Presbytery, that those
disturbers had a good cause, and must be vindicated, and his great aim
seemed to be to divide the ranks of the people, and to draw them over to
thesideofthe Faction. Instead of trying to investigate the causes of strife
or division alleged to exist, Dr. Burns' objection seemed to be to stir up
strife and division where there were none. As the people justly remarlied
it seemed to be his intention to induce them to quarrel with their Minister.
His design was so marked that the people felt themselves insulted, and
the very opposite effesta were produced from what were intended.—
He made, and could make no impression of the kind he wished. The
people saw his drift and despised it. They thought he took ■ most
extraordinary method to discover the causes of trouble in the Congrega>
tion. for finding them sn fumly united to their Minister, and to each otheiri
he seemed to try to create trouble and discord among them in order to
have the merit of discovering it.

The whole purport of his speech, as in his Mate Magnum reveries*
Was to make it believed that we held very exceptionable sentiments on
the Establishment Principle ; and, in particular, as connected therewith
on the Headsliip of Christ, which according to recent developemonts of
the Synod, is only another name for the Establishment Principle.

He further attempted to show that our views on this subject Were
widely different from those of the Brethren of the Presbyterian Church,
and asserted that there was not a man &> ng them throughout the
length and breadth of the hind, who held thb.>. but ourselves. Thbis
known to be incorrect. Not to sny that a good many of the Ministers
hold similar views, we have the Pamphlet of the Rev. Mr. Essoo. The
same ciews are exhibited there by this learned and excellent Professor
in Knox's College.'* It is an outrage on cool judgment and reasoning, it
is a disgraceful violation of the principles of integrity and truth, for any
man to present us, and hundreds of thousands who think with us, m
holding principles opposed to the Word of God, or even to the West*
minster Standards, with the solitary exception always understood.

Did Dr.Burns really suppose that he,a stranger,and not presenting himself
in a prepossessing attitude, would mislead or deceive the people of Cal-
edonia Congregation by such extravagant representations ? What did
the people care about him, or his uncourteous and extraneous declarations,
in comparison witli a righteous adjustment of the grounds of alleged
strife in the congregation, which the Commissioners .were there to inves-
tigate, but on which they never en<^ered ? This harangue had no con-
nexion with the business assigned to the Commission. The Congrega-

* We regret thnt this valuable iVnct is not better known. It presents our viewa witll
power and plaiuness, anil in a spirit the most conciliatory. How the Synod can consiatently
forbear with this author and others who advocate our principles, they arc best able to explain

The following are u few quotations:—

" The mighty heresy, the Magnum Mare of voluntary unbelief, seems to be neither mure
nov less than the inssting upon the previous necessity of imparting faith and spirituid belief
to the souls of men of the world— men out of (.'hrist— before we go on to exact from

Go; el rovelntion. whose language is 'believe and live'— ' believe and do* — 'believe and
profess ; but to reverse this order and fay, first profess and then believe,— recognize the
IIcad.»hip of Christ over the Clmrch and over the nations, before ye have known Him whom
the Father hath sent, or believed in Him, and mbraced Him as the one mediator between Go
andman, is absnrd, is a real practical contradiction. Here, letit be observed, lies Uie whole
ground and stress of the heavy charge of social infidelity, of unchristinnizlng nations and
rulers — that has very unwarrantably, and, we must add, somewhat rudely and indecently
been thrown upon the volimtaries. Do they oppose the conversion of the world t Do they
frown upon Vne cause of Miisions t Are they less zealous than their breOiren who hold tlie

3(2

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

tjqn. had been insulted, ami unjustly used by a, facitioii headed by onef
rn^g.. , T^lH' CorumiiiHiun came to unqun'e itilo the facta uf the case, and
ta^elUne distuibiinye; but instead of tiyiiii^ to do this, which would
hai,Vij byen aii or.tiy mattur, thoy trit;d all tliuy could to divide and stir up
st^'jifo wlii^re thtifo was none, and to oncouiii'^o and patronize this one
ra^, aaul tliose who, with hina, had attempted to injure or destroy the
(^'ongregation.

'.When it was ufiirnicd tliat want of confidence existed towards the
IVJinister, in the absence of all proof, T?nd in the face ot multifarious and
powerful disproof, and when tliero cuuUI not be more than tliree persons
presjent,, in a very crowded mnetiii^r, who would venture to maintain it,
ity,ppeared to bo believed by the C^omrnission, and although the whole
Cpngregation besides denied tiie fact, and called for proof, and offered
fuvliief refutation, they v/ere disregarded.

,Frt>m the commencement of the meeting the people had both visibly
and audibly indicated their firm adherence to the Mniister, in opposition
to this paltry faction ; and had the Commission not been blinded and
iniitfiiated by prejudice, they would not only have acknowledged it, but
liav© thereby been restrained from tlieii procedure ; and they would
ha,vt(fi-vetl at once on the true and only originator of the alleged strife,
and d«alt out to him the faithful and indignant reproof which he deserved.
The Comrtiission, indeed, weie obliged at times to a;^knowledge the
aii«)utionate and faithful manifestations of the people — '* 0, we like to
see* and cannot restrain such indicalions," said the Chairman, "of
attaoli^ment to your Minister. He is worthy of them all. But, but, but
he;i3: a Voluntary !■'*

f-A^ain tind again it was asked, in wliat were the sentiments of their
Minifeter, ditierent from what they were when he w-as received and iu-
(incted. Again and again it was affirmed by persons present that they
had hea»d him take exception to the Confession of Faith when the
second question of the Formula was put, and ihat the Presbytery had
ex|>i'es8ed' their approbation of the answers he had given. Again and
again ^ was affirmed that there was no want of confidence, but the
reverse, and that they had never heard a word, either in public or private^
from hiin of his views as diiierent from those of this church. Again and
again it was stated that from the vory time that want of confidence was
said to: Dfegin, the Congregation had doubled its strength and had been
ever since steadily and progressively increasing. Again and again it
wis stated that the Congregation was collected from Presbyterians' of all
denomihations, and were cliiefiy from the United Presbyterian Church.
And again and again it was declared that they had not come there to
discuss the Voluntary Question, but to have the cause of division, if
division existed, ascertained, and the distubers of their peace detected,
exposed, and, punished as they deserved, and that it was known, and
visible to a demonstration, where alone the evils liad originated, and to
Avhorn they were confined. But all these efforts of a generous

insulted people
missidn.

were met with evasion and disrespect by the

but
Com-

* We do liotvouch fur the exact words, but this was tlic spirit of them.

KstWblighment principle in Reeking to win boiiIb to Chriat ? Is this the Magnum Mare ol
their infidelity, tbnt thoy believe that t'^c (JoBpcl of Chr:st is tkepower as well as the teitdom
o/O0«I unto «ai«ataon, to every one ttiai. jelievoth? That its own spiritual energy, andttw
mijflity power of (lod's tipirit workiiis tkeftin, thrreteith, thereby, is Hbleexcccdiu^abiindMltly
to ovorcoiue the world — to become more thim victorious over it and all the enemieB of Ohristt
That its ownspiritnal armoury is an eshaustless mairazino of itself, abundautly suflieientfor
tlie aubievcmeiit of its final iiud universal triumph ) ('onvert the princes, rulers, and
law-<rivcrs of this world, and then, niidnot till then, expert them to become true and trust-
worthy prptectcrs and patrons of the Church. The kings and rulers, the states and
parliaments, (if tljis world, mUst first be made kings and priests unto God, and bis Cbrilt

fixed oa this ^»"-" g^ ,^^11 list ^va9 haueu .= » ^'-^^^^^ent was pre-

lor itssaUe. . ^^ B^t w^^^^ "^ "PT?"'' I'^'f' w^r^^^ i" *^^ Minister,
the Commi?3ioi'- B"^^^^^^^^^^ ot full SSutidred signatures^

eented, w^h resistless aeiT^^^^ ^^^03 and tow ^.^,^ ^ad

anifirm^c'HerencetoMm.Dyu ^y^^rge, to which, ^^^'^'^-btained, ex*
of persons all ""^«J,K'Xi names tnight have b^" ^^^ j^^e
fen'^^ mSs t ir de^^ ^vaded ^^

?Slf clia We had the assurance to try ^___________

in'rts an argument. ■ — ■ — TTTwdu To invite or

>,«?S^" ^-^ "''''^P'thlir Vi^converted state, what is it but
teUr mere i- 01 t e w ^^^ ^tate . ' ^^^a or patrc

at least, ^l"'* ^^ft^e m'S'^^'"*'^' ''^'^^^MrtMonaUt and. r^M. J^^^ it»holy pre««P«J

Tule antt sta»d»r*

corrupt her puvuy , -^- ^^,,g to ^avm, ■.-■■;- -^ ^f ciod tj>e.«\'P^''Sere there i« «« "S,"!!

at least, ^l"'* ^^ft^e r^'S'^f'"*'^' ^° ''jro^etftir rea*o»«W« ««/ '^cLoraXe it»holy pre««P«J

•• To require ol ttie "" ? ^ions, is ot'oi?*'" „,,i,.p of him to ""'°'^P „"i.-„rce by hw offloiw

Tuthp'iJin.c recepti^^^^^ Divine ord.nu.cc.. capacity, or M

«,ei:rto?L coinmon-^^^^^^^ „„, , «,"e' »ue trti of a chri^;^ »nd ^^ heads^p in

pV«. Mahomrnda". "^j^^^io*;,, and ahcve a -^. ^ i««='r„'',^''a free «nd abundant en»an«

34 CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

The following aie copies of the Address and Reply :—

ADDRESS.

CALED0NiA,|5th June, I860.

Rev. Sir,— We, the undersisrned communicants, ronnected with the
Con'rregation in Caledonia and vicinities, are of opinion that the present
posifion of the affairs of the Congregation, connected with recent event*
(which are now in a great measure familiar to all of us), think this tt
Huitable time to come forward and express what we believe we will be
borne out in stating, by the community at large, that we have the most
implicit confidence in you as a Minister oflhe Gospel, and we bear
willing testimony to your laborious zeal in the cause of Christ, and to the
great measure ot success that has, by the blessing of God, attended yo&r
ministry among us.

We would also avail ourselves of this opportunity of expressing to yoil
our heartfelt sympathy with yourself and family, in the very trying cir-,,
cumstance^ in which you have been placed by the acts of a few Individ- ,
uals, with whom wo have Ihtle in common ; and to assure you that you
may calculate on our adherence and support, irrespective of denomina-
tional peculiarities, as heretofore, as long as it may please the great Dis-
poser of events to permit your Ministry among us.

We, the undersigned, adherents of the Congregation of Caledonia and
vicinities, wholly concur in the statements expressed above, and we have
reason to believe that similar sentiments are held by the community at
large. '"

REPLY.
Salem Cottage, Near Caledonia, 5th July, 1850.
Dear Brethren and Friends, — With much pleasure lihAve hetened
to your very kind and encouraging Address, and I beg to assure yoj that
I nighly estimate the cordial expressions of respect and coutidence in
■which so many have combined, and the affectionate assurances you
give of your co-operation with me on principles so congenial to the spirit
of christian charity. Your appropriate and seftsonable communicaticn
is the more valuable and comlortiug, both as it is unmerited, and as it
was unexpected. It is indeeil matter of regret that a root of bitternese
should have sprung up in the Congregation, and this is the more my^te- ■>
rious as we cannot possibly conjecture what is its real origin, and how '
it should have so suddenly and unexpectedly burst out amongst us, and
presented so many features dis-similar to the Gospel of the meek and
lowly Jesus. But if that God who can make the wrath of man to praise
him, overrule these things for uniting us more together in the bonds of
Christian love, although we cannot but mourn over the fall of some who
■were once our friends, .and if he thereby prompt us to more combined
and zealous efforts for his glory, and our own salvation, there will be
abundant reason tor us to bJess and magnify His holy name.

Dear Brethren and Friends, I am sensible of many defects in dischar-
ging my ministerial duties, especially from the extent of the sphere over
wiiich you are scattered, and I seek your continued indulgence, and an
increase of your prayers. Bnt I can assure you that my heart is alwaye
whh you, that ray supplications are daily directed to God for your salva-
tion, and that I have much pleasure in my endeavours to labour, as grace
enables, for your spiritual good. May God unite us more closely by
spiritual ties on earth, and may we all at length meet around Immanuel'»
Ihrone in Heaven.

" The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make His faee to
shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His couii-

tenanco upon thee, and give Ihee peace."

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

With much gratitude lor yuur kind atttiutions lieretoforu, and for th«
encouraging a8surancL>8 you now express, and which I beg you will
communicate to thuae wiioin yuu represent, I remain,

Yuur airtictiunute Pa^tor.

ANDREW FERRIER.

The Addresss, with its lonaf list of names, was startling to the Commis-
sion. They were not prepared lor any thing of the kind, and appeared
not to know what to do. For, supposmg as they did, from the oHicious
niisrepresentationii of the leader of t!ie fuction, whom they had been too
willing to belieVe, that he was supported in ids attempt to carry his
Hcheme by almost the whole Congregation, this document ^as a com-
plete destrnclion of the hypothesis. fnd(!ed it presented the matter as
being precisely the levcrse of what they had suppo.-^d. The Address,
with 80 many signatures, should have sisted ail further procedure, and
turned at once the attention of the Commissioners to the real origin of
the supposed strife. Yes, if they had been sufHciently iionest, just, and
generous here — if they had not beoa determined on a purpose of their
own — they vV-ould immediately have turned upon the faction-leader and
liave said — '* Ah, Sir, you have deceived us, you alone are the cause of
strife in the Congregation, you would 3et us up against the Minister and
people, who are united in lore his as firmly as any Congregation in the
Church, when you yourself are the dctcctecl agitator of all this strife."
Biit no, this was too much, if not for the understandings and the hearts
of the Commissioners, yet too much for their prejudices. Yes, prejudice
— prejudice to the Establishment Principle — a principle not ot God but
of man — a principle not of religion but of the world — a principle not of
reason but of pride — prejudice destroys the generous feelings of the heart,
and the honest convictions of the mind.

It was almost amusing to look at Dr. Burns' countenance and manner,-
and at his dexterous management, when he read this address and reply.
*' Oh ! yes, yes" said he, •' this is very true. Your Minister is all that
is here slated. He is a sound divine. He preaches Calvinistic doc-
trine. He is no Morisonian. He is evangelical. But, but, he is a
Voluntary. He holds doctrines on the Headship of Christ which are
dilierent from us, and we consider our views on tiiis point as of essential
importance."

There was hefe a no\*^, an artful, a strenuously wrought atfem:pt to'
shako the conhdence of the people in their Minister, and to t«rn their
affections from him. But the people were firm like the rock, and mani-
fested an eagerness and resoluteness to bring tiie matter to a point— to
test by a vote their opposition to the faction, and they declared themselves'
certain that nineteen-tvventieths, even of Caledonia Congregation, were
determined to adhere to their Minister. This they indicated with an
interest and eainestnoss which, had the Commissioners not been under
the stjongest prejudice, and the deepest delusion, they would have
rejoiced to acknowledge.

Theto' was not a whisper of want of confidence at the time it wag saiid!
to begin, but on the contrary the place of worship was, every Sabbath,
then and thereafter, ct'owded to excess. Many had occasionally to
retire for want ofroom.bnt never did a single person withdraw from'
want of confidence. The idea was never heard of till nearly a year after
the publication, when it was expressed by the faction -leader, who, if he
felt It sooner, had been concealing it urider the mask of frieildship, to'
whom, till the time of expressing it, it was. so far as it was kndwn.
erttirely confined, yet who had the vanhy to think he could speak- for the*
whole congregation with the certainty of obtaining a pusillanirrious fei-
ponse. In opposition, nowever, to such an insinuation, arising ■v*'©know,
not from truin, but from deceit, not from principle, but from spleen, we

86 CHttlST WOUNDED IN THE

have the spontanoouii Addrflits of hundrHcLs, who unito with heart
and hand in expressing their full confiilpiico, and Iheir warmest love.*

One would have tiiought that with this palpable evidence every
attempt tg shutHo and to tamper would have (UMiNtnl, and that the Com-
missioners woold have turned the ed{jfo of their weiipoui* on the Hmall
faction creating thu» uniteecssarily so great a tumult to i(ratify only their
own caprice^ or rather, to teed and flatter the pride of one v.'orldly man,
for whom the unity, the streiifrth, and even the (existence of the C^jn-^re-
gation must bey sacriliced. Uut ito : although every thing they now did
appeared constrained and unnatural, yet the faction, eouHistinjr of, wo
may say, Residuaries, and even Voiuntariet*, and we (picHtion if there
be a genuine Free Church-man among tliem, art; regarded as the Synod's
friends, and the whole Congregation bosiiled inuat liave their rights and
liberties invaded.

Seeing now it was impossible to finish their business, the Commission
seemed disposed to wind up the matter the best way they could, and
close the meeting. The place had been crowded, and many had stood
at the door and windows who could not get in, but now there were not
more than twenty or thirty present, the mass of the people having by
this time retired in disj^ust. The few remaining became mipatient, and
wished the opinion of the house to be le^sted by ii vote. Uut this the
Commissioners had the policy to refuse, by adojiting in preference a
counter-motion, which the loader of the faction made, and who seemed
much afraid at tho proposal, being already greatly humbled and morti-
fied. The meeting was closed, although nothing was done: imd here
onded tliis extraordniaiy scene, the like of which Caledonia, and perhaps
no other place, ever witnessed before ; and which few, if any, would
ha\e anticipated from a Presbyterian court. It is hoped for the credit of
the Ministry, for the honour of the Church, and for the glory of Christ,
that such a transaction will never be witnessed hero or elsewhere again.
O! if it could be prevented we would say, — "Tell it not in Gath, pub- ^
lish it not in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of iho Philistines
rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

Many remarks weie made about Dr. Burns, and his manner of con-
ducting the meeting. When any of the faction spoke, ho was all atten-
tion 5 but when any rose on the Congregation's side, he began to shuffle
among his papers, anc' to seem to take no notice. It was was well re-
marked tjjat he acted in the whole scene as judge, jury, and witness.
He both put and answered the questions, lie listened indeed to the
faction, but he paid little or no attention the people. H« was almost
continually sjreaking himself, according to his well known foible ; and
in this case he was evidently desirous of kili-ng time by speaking. At
length the whole evening was spent, wilii'jii entering on the object for
which the Commission was sent. *' '''!ie'» Ministers," it was said,
" are excellent at special pleading, and \V( uld make capital lawyers." — ',
♦< Dr. Burns," it was remarked, ''was like an advocate who had the'
wrong side of the case, but who, having got a good fee, was determined
ii> opposition to all reason and justice, to gain the cause of his client."
Certainly such proceedings were unworthy of Ministers, or of any man
pretending to christian principle, or even what would bo considered
honoutabie conduct by the world. With one of the best opportunities
of giving an impulse to the interests of religion, and of infusing vigour
into their Congregation in this place, it was not embraced, and they did
all they could to bring discredit upon themselves, and expose the denom-
ination to which they belong. Many congregations, like our own, which
are greatly made up of United Presbyterians, may well take warning. [
from the overbearing; treatment which the Congregation here have re-
ceived from this reckless Commission of the Presbyterian Synod, a nd

* It is not denied that eome who subscribed the Address proved unfaithful— I. John, it 19

nOUSEOFUlSFlUENm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^.^

embassy to C'f ^" " 'V^^^^^^^^ in CakHlouiu, «''»^^' ^jX K°"'«'''^''

Aft«r tho «''^\^Xl Com. ssiou Ull tho Au«u-t "^""^V "\ ;'fi^^^Uton ou

liual Recoi-a uppeuioU, wiw J , uutliofiiy to mcoi m

or to meetut all i^ ^J^^/^J ,^,^ ,^,p,m.tcd ^^^^''^ ^^-Cfthey wer« here.
irt. ,va« culled. Ihcy ^^i .,i,\i,,y hud ""^^" 'Ji^^^^'^e m to have been
Calodo»ia Cougregauo j^^.^.^ ^,|,^.. But tftcy « jjjtioiml facta

and wUicU could bo dono n ^^^ ^^^^ ^?1 'Sato t\ieir siniater

alvaid to venture ^"Xcrn? which would tend t" ^^ f ='\\*;f/^^,nmi98ioa
might bo l-oed;i^ou them, ^^^^^^^^^'J;^ there, by

. purpose. Ihtv ;7" . jestiuo meotiuu a ll-i'^J^'"' L Popish than a
y.ethor, arvdjje d ^^^^^^ J"t^f t^^n than nnv'^deliveranc
«, an impious str«tcho l.o ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^''^'fion he v proceeded iu
' Protestant Court, lilv«r I H. ^^ could sanction, y^^P J(\,axt\, who

n
'ill

„\Srand especially of *°P™M»S-4iiU

SnSlu' *-••• -",«™ *t 1;:. a MluUler of .heir Church.
"•• This <l»livera»c. . ull circmr.ata.icta

The following is ..» leno •- reviewed !he whole P"»»«''T:

U.^..ThoCo,n.ai.»-"7i'"i?SrKe"U^^^^^ B-er. .hem fy ....

\tarXf>'-fi— ::;ssary.rere.heca.^-^^

timents aie uiatters ot p ^^.^^ ^^

^"•"•« .IW-That the sentiments in ^"estion^ are, in J^ ^^ ^^^
«i Second y—ii^a*-, contrary to the 7°^^ "t-eir character and
, the^ Commissioner ^^..,^^1^ pernicious, m their en

r,fendency! jj ^^f ^^^^ Srr\'ur'?i^to''Xr^^

!' .. Thirdly-That Dr. ^^ Standards ot that Churcti

be considered as adherin«

has sworn allegiaiice.l; ^ ^ .^o jeclare, ^hat "r- '

< Caledonia, next Lora s uay , ^j^

; of Canada.

*T^tbey dare not quote t^em. ^,^ ^^^a.

t What are tho sentimentB In q*^"^"; ' ^„^^ „„ ^legUnce to th>
^ „ MA 5» this BtBtement 1 . We "Wo™ „ b^ j^^ ^„,

--^ r

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

" They further appoint a copy of these minutes and iastructions to bo
sent to Dr. F., duly subscribed by the Chairman and Clerk, in name of
the whole Commissioners."*

This deliverance, with accompanying mis-representations, wns indus-
triously circul;ited,and acted on by the Commission and Presbytery, in all
the Congrej^utioiis of our charge, and published in the Record, batore it
was announced to ourselves.t When wo first heard of it we said in the
words of our venoraleJ counexion, that illustrious martyr, the Rov. Jamen
Guthrie of Stirling, when his sentence was announced to him — ^' May
this deliverance never aftect the Commission more than it does us."

* As soon PC tliia dcliverouce wan publicly known, the Kev. Tlioinas UickHon, a re8r»»''.t«.
Me, honourably minclud, and conscioutious I'reucher of the Free Church, addressed '. letter
to the Clerk of the Presbytery in whoso bounds he was, of which the following is t\e tenor—
"To the Rev. J.W. Smith, (irafton. Dear .Sir. In common vyith the United Presbyterian Church
1 continue to hold '-that Christianity fhoulil be loft to maintain and propiigato itself in the
world through the rnediii'Ti of the unrestrained exertions of those who belieye it, nccom-
pnuied by the pracious intluenoes of the Holy Spirit, exactly in the same way as it did during
ihe fir.^t three centurie!>, bcl'uro any civil establishment existeil." (Dr. McKorrow's history
of the Secssion Churoh.) The decision of the Hynod's Committee in the case of Dr. Ferrier
dehor.? nie froin continuinar in my present connexion. I therefore hereby withdraw from
your communion, and decline taking any further appointments iij the Presbyterian Church
of Canada. You will have the goodness to lay tUis letter before the Preshytery at your
farliest convenience. 1 R^?muiu,

Rev. Sir,

Cobourg, 27th AugUFt, 1830.

Your.^ faithfully,
(Signed)

THOMAS DICX30N."

Mr, Dickson was sonn after this received into the United Prcbytorinn Church, in connexion
with which he now labours with great acceptance and elficiuncy. lie is now under call
to CaledoT., where a wide field of labour is presented, and whore,"through GoC'b ble 'nfj,
he may bo tho instrument of good to many souls. It may be proper to mentioa
that prior to this he had hesitation about continuing in tbo Free Church, into
which it appears that, like ourselves, he had been I'dmitted taking exception to the clauses
in the Confes.iion which gives unwarranted power to the civil inagistratc in matters of
religion. Accordingly, he had addressed a lot» jr to the Synod at its meeting in June, 1$,50,
which was reported there, but owing to coriciliatory persua.-iions, and hopes expressed by
brethren, that t'le existing agitation on tlie question of the njagistn.te's power would soon
be satisfactorily settled, ho deferi-ed actinj.- on it till the deliverance of tho Caledonia
Commission was announced. The foUo" .j^ is a copy of the letter referred to :

"To the Moderator and other members of'iie Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, («
meet at Toronto on the 5th June, ISr J.

RkvjCrend Fatiiehs and Bkethren,

It is well known to many of the members of Synod, that I have been always strongly
attached to the great principle of perfect rcliarious liberty. I need scarcely say tliat Ihava
never concealed or compromised my principles in regard to this matter. Before receiving
license I stated to the Presbytery v^f Kingston that I could not approve of those parts of the
■Westminster Confession of Faith, which seemed to me to teach jompulsory, or persecuting
■J. ': intolerant principles in religion. I then felt, and I now f jel more strongly than eyer,
that my position in the Prcsbj lennn Church of Canada, is somewhut anomalous. 1 therefors
beg leave, with the greatest deference, to state to your reverend body, that Ifeel conatrained,
by the most solemn convictions of duty, to seek the renewal of ray connexion with a Church
[viz., the United Presbyterian] where harmony will not be disturbed by the expression of
my views. For these reasons, and others which might have been assigned, I hereby humbly
request that you would be pleased to furnish me with a certificate, or stacenwDt of my
•tanding in the Presbyterian Church of Canada. '

I nm, Rev. Fathers and Brethren,

Faithfully yours,
[SigncdJ THOMAS DICKSON."

Toronto, C. W., 5th June, 1850,

These docunaents are most hononrnble to thnir writer, and shewhinj to be, what all who
have the pleasure of his acquaintance know, — a preacher of the Gospel of enliishtened viewa
and sterling consuientiousness. ITiero are others in tho Presbyterian Church, holding th*
same sentiinonts^ who would honour themselves and bonoui their Divine Master, by
imitating this example.

Christ has ol late been so grievously wounded in this House of His friends that It seems to
he no saf'i or comfortable rosidence iWr the^e who, rejecting the anti-Christian doctrine of
a eiril establishment of rcligii>n, would retain unsullied the Royal Prerogatives of Chrtst«
■ad the spiritual"" purity, and glory of His Kingdom.

1 W« exeulpats Dr. Sums here. He wrote a private letter annnuncins what wm i0M,
which prMbab'." he intended should reach us before the Sabbath, bur wnieh did not .«rHt«
till tho Wednesday following.

E'jEfiiasite

HOUSE OF HIS FKIENDS.

tail

Dry
ier
am

It appears from this deliverance that we are exelndcd from the Pres-
Jiyterian Church entirely on account of certain published sentiments,
"whicli are said to be contrary to the Word of God, and highly pernicious
in their character and tendency. Now let it be noticed that neither tuis
Commission, nor the Presbytery, nor the Synod, have ever pretended to
specify what these sentiments are, and that, judging from the vague
generalities in which they have ever wrapt up their meaning, they are
no» able to point out one sentence or expression, published by us, whi'^h
is not thoroughly sound and scriptural. We might well call upon then*,
to quote our words, and to do it fairly ; but this they cannot do, or the
•vtf'hole of enlightened Christendom would reprobate their conduct. We
are thus c ndemned without being convicted, and without even knowing
what it is, in our published sentiments, that this Church can possibly
challenge. We simply hold Voluntary sentiments. They knew this
when they received us. We an not diM'erent in any one sentiment now,
and they have exceeded their ^prerogative, and stultilied themselves by
excluding us from their Church for this. The Pn sbyterian Church
would be stigmatized as unjust and tyrannical were they to acknowledge
this to bo the ca.se, atid although it is nothing else, yet they try to mystify
the matter by a multitude of words, and to make it supposed that wo
hold pernicious errors. Some of their Ministers, in consequence, have
been warning our people to beware c f permitting their affection to their
Pastor to interfere with the Salvation of their souls. Really this is allow-
ing fondness for the Establishment Principle to upset their judgment,
and to pervert the best feelings of their hearts. We have ever been
acknowledged as a thoroughly Evangelical Minister, seeking to know
nothing save Jesus Christ and him crucified ; and it would be honourable
for this Presbyterian Church, it would shelter it in some measure from
the charge of wounding Christ in the house of His friends, to disclaim
its sympathy with the Commission in such groundless accusations, and
in the deliverance to which they have come. We defy every one of
them to show that we ever published error on any one occasion, except
it be an error to maintain that the Redeemer's Church is absolutely free
and independent, and that the civil Magistrate has no right to interfere in
his official < rapacity with its doctrines and administration.

In the minutes which accompany the report of this deliverance there
are several false statements, which nre not worthy of notice. But as
immediately aiuv this deliverance copies of these minutes, in a printed
circular, were industriously distributed throughout the difl'ercint Con-
gregations and Stations of our charge, being the same report of the case

. that is presented in the September number of the Ecclesiastical Record,
it is necessary to make a few remarks. We can conceive of no good
runson for dispersing these, but if it were from any desire to justify the
Commission in their "strnnge act," it seems to us to have been the
worst method of doing it. No document could have been brought befuru
the public better iitted to condemn their procedure, and none more

.; calculated to vindicate us and our Congregation. A passing view of
its principal references, so f.ir as not already noticed, will throw
odditional light on tho v-uole subject which it is the object of this Tract to

, present.

Tbe.Sftbbaru School Teachers are exhibited as disapproving of our

> vnnttments. This is not true ; nor is it true that the Sabbath School
"'''•achers gave in any paper. They had a paper but did not give it in,
for the matter about the Sabbath School, like that on other Congre-
gational points, was not taken up. If it had, the commissioners might
.have been confo in Jed and ashamed at having been imposed upon by the
insolence of those calling themselves Superintendent and Teachers of the
Sa'obath School. These were the Faction, or their folio wsrs, who had

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

seized the SHbbnth School Library, and in n profnne nnd disorderly
manner had formed on oiiposition Sabbnlh School of thoir o'vn, whilst
the regular Cougregntionul L''\bbath School was going nr. nnd flourishing.

At the close of the next puvhjraph it is said that we could not give the
persons concerned a place in our :\frections. This 13 not true. We nre
icommaoded by Christ to 'Move our enemies and to bless them that curse
us," and this we would wish to exemplify. We only said we would
read a document at the instance of the CLmmission, but, as we could uot
approve of its tenor, so we could not read it 'vith cordiality.

The Comaiissioner'a "opinion thntthe main cause of difl'erence in the
congregation was to be found in the publication of certain viewti of
doctrine by us, and our subcoquent actings tliere-ah^^nt," was completely
disproved, nnd their eagerness to hold this utter iaisehood, seems' to
show their settled determination to dart upon us on account of our views
on the civil magistrate's power in matters of religion.

On the next paragraph, referring to a letter to the Commission in
October 1849, it may be vema^Iied that that letter, which is inserted,*
is plain enough, and r. quired no such explanation as was sought. It
expresses no wish on our part to assert our views on the subject of differ-
ence, for we are not in the practice of doing this even in private, and
we have never done it in public. But as the Synod permitted the
principles of the United Presbyterian Church to bo attacked and mis-
represented (which we have never on any year been there without
witnessing) we hold it as our right, if not our duty, to repel and expose
all such uncharitable conduct. Was this not perfectly reasonable? And
does it say much for a Church which needs thus to be kf pt in check, or
which should think i^ mig'^be permitted to slander other denominations
equally honourable with their own, without being called in question.

Tbje next paragraph is true, and it is enough to condemn the Commis-
sion, We joined this Church, and were inducted, avowedly holding the
same views we have held for tliirty years. We could not certainly unite
with tnem, as they know well, where they differ from the United
Presbyterian Church on the power of the civil magistrate, and where
we conscientiously believe they are in darkness and error — although, as
we have always said, we do notregnrd their vit?ws of sufficient importance
to divide the christian Church. To hold their principles as far as they
are in unison with those of the United Presbyterian Church, is to go
veiy far with them, as far as was satisfactory at the time, and should be
•o still.

The Commission seem to be at a loss for matter of accusation, when
they bring in the Thanksgiving day appointed by the Governor, especially
at the instance of the disturber of our congregational peace. The
Congregation had held a Thankf^giving day, throughvirtUeof the Synod's
appointment, on the very week before, and we then presided in the
services ; but we never considered it our duty to obey civil rulers in
spiritual things. The Governor might os well appoint us and oi|r
Congregation to keep the Lord's Supper r.s to engage in Thanksgiving.
If, in future, he will simply recommend, wo shall promptly respond.-i-
The day in question was expressed as an appointment in the paper we
read. Some of those who brought forward this matter had their Stores
open all that day, and were known to be elsewhere giving orders to
their workmen in prosecuting their usual labour.

We were lieard, it is said, at great length on all the bearings of the case.
This is not true. We were not restrained from spenkiny, but we sajd little,
and scarcely a word on the bearings of the case ; for it was nevei* tak^u
up. The main drift of the Commission being to criminate us, we prjs-

Sea p. 20.

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS. -41

ferredtu imitate our Divine Master, wlio, when by fulse wittiesfies, lie
";wa8 nccused of nmny thiugs, yet '• answered notliing."

'' Tlie Commissioners were ail of one mind on every point*' So mtidh

ihe more to their disgrace, that not one of them had candour and

..'spirit to dissent from sucli sinister proceedings, which .any nu(|i njut

, Vlbt^'^i' debasing prejudice, and with but a spark of bonourdble dedisi^u,

'. would have scorned to sanction. '

Next in the ciicular we have the quotation from the minutes of Preis-

bytery in 1845 and 1846, referring; to our ndmistton into the Plesbj-

terian Church, and our induction into our pastoral charge. The comnii's-

■ sion could not have taken a more elFectual method, than by these quotn-
tions, to vindicate us, an J to expose and condemn the Presbytery ftiid
themselves.

It appears that the Presbytery at our admission, recorded •» their fbll
satisfaction ^yitb our Theological views, and that though we dift'ei-i^d

'somewhat as to the duty of nations and governments in regard to tlie

. support of tho Oospel, there was nothing in our opinion which Bhoijijd
prever, our being admitted." Here, then, there is distinctly

'finent'jned the quintessence of tlie Voluntary Question, in which we
differ from this Presbytery. We deny that it is rlie duty of nations ond
governments to make u cunipulsory provision for the Ministers of Clirist,

I'tecause this is the duty of the Church, anu not of the nation — that is we

.■■tlissent,as we told them, from those parts of theConfession of Faith which

would warrant this, and ofcoHrso as they well knew, from all the ciVil

■ interference with the Church which the sages allow to the Magistrate ;
and as Dr Burns told the Synod in 1849, it only showed the ignol'nnte
•of the IIcMulton Presbytery, if they did not know that tiiis involved the
whole question between tho friends and opponents of the civil establish-
jnents of religion. In nothing else did we differ, it it said, from thid
Presbytery. It ought to have been said, in nothing else did we diiSer
from the Westminster Standards. This was true then and is equally true
«U11.

Again • it appears, that the same Presbytery sooii afterv-ards lecorded

■ that there were '' satisffictory" answers obtained to the Formula. Now
the Presbytery know, the Congregation know, and the Synod in thedr
minute quoted in the circular allow, that we took exception to the usual
formula on the second question, which requires an unqualified assent to
the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith, by saying distinctly in the
hearing of the members o*' Presbytery, and of the whole Congregation,
tnat we received tho Wet'tmiuster Standards as the Confession of our
Faith, "excepting wlji^ie they taught, or might be supposed to teach,
-.ompulsory and persecuting principieri in religion." And y^t, accord-

. i. g to this minute, satisfactory answers were obtained from us. This is
ti 'rfectly ccnclusive. The two minutes of Presbytery are sufficient to
vindicate ns in preserving our consistency atthese times, and ever since,

Iwith our o.iginal ordination vows ; and ihi'y expose and condemn tho
Presbytery and this Commission, iu their laboured yet fuitless attempts
to throw blame on us. These minutes are viumphan*. at once in vinui-
<Jating us> which they are adduced to expose, nnd in exposing the Com-
mission, which they i! re now brought forwatd to v Indicate. More might

' be said on this subject were it necessary.

Bm now for tho Synod minute as quoted in the circular, ia which
these Commissioners expre-s their entire concurrence.* \' ;

We claim no latitude, as it supposes, in impugning great principles of
any description that are agreeable to reason, and the word of Ood, and
BO far t.s we know wo have never done this, and it is notorious that nei*

• Bn P«g« 19, where it is giren in full.

,42

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

fertile Synod nor.the Commission Imve ever siiown l)y any of our words
or sentiments tiiut we htivo. But we claim every lalilude in declaring
on nil pi'ope:' occasions the wliob counsel of God. It seems from this

, ininute that the compulsory ninintenancc of a Gospel Ministry is n mo-

, jiientousbenrlag of the great principle of national duty and responsibility.
V^lxii, its otVier momentous bearings are we are not informed. But if
jliey rank no higher than the one specified, if like this they have tHe
characteristics ot injustice and oppression, the sooner they areimpugned
nnd repudiated so much the better, God forbid that we should impuga
any good thing entitled to the great epithet of momentous. We have call-
ed for proof. The Syrodhave given none, we believe, because they can
give none. We have no fear of being thus challenged by a portion of
what may be considered enlightoned Christendom. As to theinterpre-
tiition put upon our exception to the Confession, we have only to reniark,
that we are not in the habit, like some interpreters of the Standards, of
Buying o«?e thing and meaning another.* Wo meantonly what we said,

/and the Presbytery had no riglit to understand it in any other way, —
That we receive these documents, excepting where they teach or
may be suppQsed to (each, compulsory and persecuting principles in

,'religioa. "",''.7,7,,,;.

I lu the preamble to the i iolution the Commission refer, the

second time, to the letter we of date 9tli August. It is strong,

indeed, but not more so than circu.,ibtapces warranted. Those Who h'sard
,it before it was sent, and liad witnessed the unparallelled scene of
jnjustice which it describes, declared it to be a faithful representation.
Tne following is a copy : —

To the Rev. Dr. IJurns, Toronto.

My Dear Sir :^ — Although L saw the notice iu the Record of the meet-
ing to which you refer, I did not mean to attend it, as I was not aware of
having any, pergonal case, as is tlieEo stated, the Commission being ap-
pointed foivthu Congreiiiition. By your saying that a few lines from mo
will serve nearly the same purport! as my bein<5 forward, I infer that
my presence is not leeessary, and }jerhap8 not wi.shed.f

It would bo we'x that the Commissipn had taken a deliberate view
before speaking ot taking •< a deliberate re-view of the whole matter.'*
For whatever may bo their opinion as to w.';;.t passed at Caledonia, it is
viewed by all the serious and conscientous among us, as one of the most
disgraceful proceeding'* in which any Commission could engage, who
acted in the name, of Christ; it is considered a.« a gross violation of all
justice, and a perfect burlesque on all religion. With one of the best
opportunities^of vindicating an injured Session, and an uisulted Congre-
gation, and tliereby giving an impulse to the interests of religion iu this
place, for a generation, you trampled upon, and were :eady ito sacrifice^
tiie rights of a (>hri»tian people, as firmly united to each other and to
their Minister as any Congregation in the whole Church, and this only to
gratify the pride, spleen, and malice, of a mere worldling, who, tvithall
his hypocritical: and decHitlul etibrts to injure us, has been able to mus-
ter but twenty, names of his own dependents and friends, against hun-
dreds who would steadily adhere to you, and not a few of whom have
fiuffeiedfor consci« ice sake, in siippdrt of your principles. You shame-
fully overlooked fa^ts which were brought foiward, and would not listen
to Others as startling, which the people were ready to adduce, and you
grasped at the falselioods of the whole case, by which the Presbytery
. and yourselvds have been hoodwinked. I speak not of myself, although
rtone could have desired to preserve good brotherhood more etaCredly*

' ' * f**i9 p. p. lA. fWftiot K'fito.
t See copy of ihe Utter to which this ia a reply in Note Tnge 50.

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

nince the subject of dilierence with the Synod has never once been hint-
ed at either in public or in private, and forms no part of ministerial
intercourse, although the contrary has beeji j^raluitousiy supposed. But
■ it may not be amiss to hint, in particular, thai the idea by which the
Presbytery and you have been so easily, yet so e^nej^ioasJy duped, cf
this stir having arisen out of dealings with mo about the Headship of
Christ, as il' our faction wore concerned about this, appears to us as one
of the most solemn pieces of mockeiy and ridicule that can well be con-
ceived, estpecially as the solitary disturber of our Congregational peace,
is not supposed by the public here either to know or care any thin,
about the doctrine of Christ's Headship, but Is believed, as has b
quaintly, yet perhaps justly rernrtrked, by oiip of your friends ii
Hamilton, to be seeking not Chrisk's Headship at all, but his own
being ambitious only to lord over and oppress thi^s pc^tion of God
heritage. ,.

r request, in tlic namo of my Session and Congregation, a ■copy of the
minute of your meeting hero, and a copy of your minute of the cbntem>
plated meeting in Hauiiitou. We wish to know exactly how things
stand, for this is a matter on ^vhich, if necessary, a strong remonstrance
will be made, and which, if not brought to a speedy and honourable con-
clusion, must become a stigma on the Synody ou represent, and an indel-
ible stain on your section of the Presbyterian Church,
I am, my Dear Sik,

Vours faithfully,

A. F.
Caleio-Via, 9th August, 1850,

This letter is said to indicate defiance of all Prcsbytcrial order and
control. There was nothing of the kind meant ; and it is easy to put
constructions on letters and other documents to serve a purpose, especi-
ally in seeking to escape from diliioulty and blame. The letter is
strong, indeed, but it is an unvaniiaheil, and, after all, a very imperfect
description of Avhat hap,,v;/ic'd ; and all who witnessed the meeting of
the Commission at CakHloiha, aiitl their actings there, if perhaps we
except the faction, will attest us truth.

We wish we had a copy of the letter sent to this Commission by the
two individuals referred to in their report, as it would seive further to
show the state and feelings of the Congregation; but a copy was not
preserved by its authors. There was, however, a third letter forwarded,
being addressed to Dr. Burns, which, by some mistake, there is reason
to thmk did not reach him. But in order to show that the views pre-
sented by us are no exaggerated description, it is entitled to a place here.
It was written by a professional gentleman, who has the best opportu-
nities of knowing the mind of the people, and is well able to form an
accurate judgmeut of what has passed among us. The tenor of this letter
is as follows : —

Calkdonia, l2th August, 1850,

Rkv. Sir, — Your late visit to Ciiledonia must have convinced you tbnt
thft private and ex fctrte statements of individuals, however respectable
may lead to very wrong conclusions, and I have no doubt that you, and
every member of Commission, will in future rocmve similar testimony
cum grano snlis. You must now be satisfied that the members of
this Congregiition, who support and sustain their Pastor against the
.irtachiDations of a party among them, are not a set of ignorant and simple
Minded men, led by a Baptist and an Episcopalian. You must be con-
vinced ihat the celebrated resolutions, of a certain individual, wer« not
unanimously adopted by the CongregHtion, but on the contrary wers
mmnimously dipnpprovcdof. You must b«» sfttiaued that the fnctioB,aot-

'44

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

e.li

withstanding their great influence, could only muster twenty odd naiiie»
whilst the liiiptiAjt uud E])iticopuliuii ;>>>.: cy had enrolled three hundred
atid fifty. No doubt you were tujually surprised and i)ained to find your
pre- conceived opinions so signally at iiiult in many other particulars,
which it will not now bo necessary tu enunierato. I shall therefore at
ouce proceed to intbr:;: you of a few facts, whicli I think it is of some
importance thot you should bo made aware of, and which I am sorry to
Bay are not very cumplimentary to yourself. In the fust place you aro
considered by the people here to have been the last member of Synod
who should have been appointed to the Commission, and in our judgment
you jhoald have declined. No decision given by you can curry any moral
weight here, as it is well known that, on a former occasion, you wer^ u
'principal in a controversy in which our Minister had some participation,
And we have intelligence among us to be satisfied that the judgment
delivered, let it be what it may, will dilfer materially from that given by
the public in the controversy alluded to. Wo consider, from the
little pains taken to elict the truth by the Presbytery of Hamilton, from
their evident, and ill concealed prejudice against Dr. F., that we have not
the slightest shadow of a chance of obtaining a righteous decision, or a
fair hearing from the Comnussion ns constituted. We would wish you '
and the other members of Commission, distinctly to understand that we
are a united and pi'osperous congregation, who love and esteem our Pastor,
who has gained golden opinions from the community at large by his
luild and christian deportment, and by the firm stand he has lately taken
against a faction who have signally failed in their intentions of sowing
the seed of discord among his people. We also tell you, that after your'
signal failure in obtaining such testimony against Dr. F., as you were too
Bure of obtaining, previous to coming here, it would be in vain for you to
ciome again on the same errand. Take Dr. F., up at once on thqse
points in which you differ. Try him, and expel him from your body
and a great majority of us will be obliged to you for so doing. But do ^ot
expect hereto obtain anything to justify such a high-handed proceeding
in the eyes of the religious community. No Sir, we aire well aware that
yoiK expected to fmd sufllicient matter of accusation against Dr. F.,.to
justify you in removing him frop' his charge here, without falling back
upon the Tower of JJabel. You have signally failed in your expectations
and as far as my opinion is concerned, and that of those with whom
I have conversed, the Tower of Babel is your last resort. From your
extraordinary proceedings, it was obvious to every person who listened
to you, that the cause had been decided before you en me here, which was
made the raoi'o apparent by your invariable attempts to make it appear*
that discord arose with the publication of the Tower of Babel. Thid we
emphatically deny ; and the Faction signally fiiiled in their attempts
to prove it true. For months after its appearance none of the Congre-
gation absented themselves from ordinances, but on the contrary the
Congregation has continued since then, as before, steadily to increase ;
and even now, with the exception of the faction whom it was evident
you delighted to lionour, it continues united, as heretofore, in supporting,
k)ving, and esteeming their Minister, as a fui:.hful and zealous servant of
the Redeemer. We hurl back with scorn the foul insinuation of the Com-
missiou, as to the motive which influenced some of Dr. F's. friends. —
They are worthy of the individual with whom they originated, aud they
have signally failed in the eii'ect intended.

;. We have thus far, in an honest and straight-forward manner, charnc-
terised proceedings unpreredented in the annals of justice, not to mention
the annals of the Church. And, Rev. Sir, if t>^ v language is such as you
are qotia the habit of hearing, it is nevertheless true. You must hear
it, and io another shape it will be heard from Gaspo to Sandwicb* ojtxi it

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS.

mny be farther. Why have the Presbytery, why have the Commission
listened to ex parte statements ? But iibove all, why have they acted
upon these statements ns if they were liierally true? And why have you
unmindful of your sacred office, ns a Judge in Israel, expressed astonish^*
inent when contradictory and true srutemonts were told j'ou on a lBt«»
occasion in Hamilton ? How much more in harmony with justice would
it have been, had you taken the trouble to have privately lieard the other
side of the question, previous to meethig parties in public, or better still, tp^.
have shut your earstti what had been proven in your hearing to be utterly
without foundation 1 Are there not such things in the world as wounded
self-esteem, and over-weaning pride, combined with arrogance, repelling
by their offensive prominonte in some the food on whiv'; they delight —
the flattery and applause of men ? Might not some of the above amiable^
qualities, in full bloom, have something to do with the origin of strife jn
H peaceful community ? Yes, Sir, in the above category is to be found
the root of bitterness — not in Babel. W. McP.

On the three final resolutions in which tlie deliverance of the Commis*
eion is contained, we have already commented.

We have only to notice the parngriiph respecting the opening of th*
New Church. By this arrangement the Commission became guilty of an
act of deliberate and shameful ccclosinstical robbeiy, of which, in less glar-
ing form, their Church have often been heard loudly nccusing cthere.* It
should be known in this case as a warning to congregations like our own,
made up of Presbyterians of every name, to beware of deeding their
Cotigregntional property to the Presbyterian Church of Canada. For the
time mr.y ouo:: cfi'iie to them, as it has come to us, when they shall
bitterly regret such folly, and sufi'er. as the result of it. All the subscrip-
tions for our Church were given for a Presbyterian Church, which,
although to be occupied by a congregation in this connexion, was not
necessarily to be permanently connected with it, but would go with the
majority in case of a division. But our Faction-leader, advised, it is be-
lieved, by some Ministers zealous for the model-trust-deed scheme, which
vfB have been always opposed to, of investing all property to the Synod,
ort exclusive principles, got the congregation, on a sudden, without know-
ing what they were about, to agree to a change of tii's original arrange-
ment, whereby they bound their property to the Synod, and now twenty
individuals, and these mostly the censure-deserving faction, carry the
Church against all the rest ; and observe, that in our case the peaceable
majority liave paid for a ('hurch which they have never occupied and
which the Commissioners of Synod unjustly, ungenerously, and reck-
Icisdly give to the unworthy few, in opposition to the orderly and consci-
entious mnjority. This is a species of ecclesiastical robbery which
shotild brand with infamy nil who act in it, for which the supremp <,'ourt
ernploying such a commission are bound in honour to make reparation,
ntod from which every member of Synod should dissent, who does not
Wish to be charged with that from which even heathens vindicated the
first ministers of Christianity, (Acts xix, 37.)

The preceding arbitrary, unjust, and tyrannical deliverance, affecting
otir relation to the Presb yterian Church of Canada, waa concluded by a

* Not later than in the R'?cord for AngU't 1850, we hnve the follo\ving notice.

"PfcKdEctJTroN. — The adherents ot the •Scottish Eatablishment have driven the Rer. Mr. •
M9Vroet of Manchester, (England) and his Congregation, from their Church, which they
had built at n cost of about ifiOOO. The prosecutors :n this case had not contributed £57
totJitehuHding which they hove seized, and number only bIx communicants. Mr. M.'s Con-
gregation, when driven out, amounted to 550. They are now upwords of 600 communi-
cants, worshipping in the Mechanics' Iniititute. How monstrous, how unhallowed the injus-
tlceof exactinffsuch a riacriflco I"

■Triie Free Church of Canada should scarcely expose others for what they do themselves.
Tho scale jnay be smaller, but the principle in the same. If the case noted was persecution,
which we do not deny, they are themselves, by their Commission, in the case of Caledohia,
tnoatvtDlent and cruel persecutors.

ClilllST WOUNDED IN THE

Commission which had given evidence of utter incapneity for the bUfV-'
neas assigned them, nnd which, suiting that business aside, proceeded
in their mad career to thin abrupt and unwarranted issue — disgraceful
onlj' to themselvea, and of which tlieir own constituents, when they
review the matter, must necobsarily bo ashamed. Was it ever heard of*
tliRt when disappointed by finding it not true that there was serious
division in the congregation, a Commission appointed to enquire into
thiH, instead of rejoicing to (ind out their mistake^ and at finding it unne-
cessary to do more than bring the disturbers of tlie Congregation's peace
to due subjection and order, should take it upon tliemsolves, in oppoaitiott
to all reason, justice, and religion, to pr^end to vindicate the guilty ring-
leaders of misciiief at the expenan of llio peacofii! congregation, and
besides, should take up ground already abandoned by their constituents,
and at all events not assigned to them, as an excuse for a deliveranco'
affecting the minister, which although evidently the object of their ambi- .
tion, waa not within the limits of their Commission, and which, suppos. .
ing it had, was done in a manner not only incapable of satisfactory
explanation, but desei-ving of universal execration ? Was it ever known
that a Commission of scarcely a quorum of incompetent and partial
judges, should cut off a Minister from their connexion for alleged errors
on the civil magistrate's powers, which th^iir Synod had passed over
after sufTicient opportunity of judging, nnd evon do this without specifying;
in any one particular, the language in which the alleged errors were
expressed — when the Minister himself, nnd the whole Christian publio
are unable to conjecture what is meant, and when these Commissioners;
cannot give visible sha{5e to the grounds of their outrageous deliverance 7
The deliverance is indeed of little consequence except as it affects them-
selves and the Church for which they acted. To them alone can it be
injurious. To many it is the cause of rejoicing. As for us, though we
sought it not, yet we simn it not ; though we did nothing, so far as is
known, to bring it on, yet it is a consummation no way unpleasant, but
the reverse. It elevates our standing by freeing us from the trammels
of a Church still incapable of enjoying the liberty wherewith Chi-ist ha0>
uiac*e them free, nnd by preparing us for ro-inining a Church venerable
by age nnd experience, whitih has been signally distinguiahed'
for purity of doctrine and faithfulness and efficiency in administration,
nnd which probably approaches neo-er than any other to the apostolic
model. It is thus like the opening of Babylon's gates to enahle the i
captives of Slon, with joy and gladness, to return. .

" Upiight men shall bo astonied at this." For the deliveitmce of
the Commission is one in support of which no specific reason has been
given ; and for which it is believed no just and competent cause can be'
assigned. The whole matter was in our being a Scriptural Voluntary,-
which they knew we always were, nnd always plainly acknowledged
ourselves to be ; holding, as we conscientiously do, and have always done ,
the very principles which are held by the whole United Presbyteria»»
Church, not only here, but in Scotland, nnd in all parts of the world where'
it is planted, and the principles too of all American Presbyterians, and
uf almost nil evangelical denominations throughout the world; and tov
shelter themselves from the reproach of enlightened Christendom, they
pretend, with consummate arrogance, to find these wholesome principles
contrary to the Standards, and evento the Scriptures; and by digressiTflT'
words they vainly attempt to make them appear very diflferent from what
they are. But let the plain and simple language in which they are
couched be duly estimated and they will appear, notwithstanding all that
has been said and done, to be the very doctrines of Jesus Christ, by*
refusing which he is wounded in the houseof His friends.

In short nothing alleged against us can be proved by them* ThejE

HOUSE OF HIS FRIENDS. il

tidvef nttempt a proof. Thoy keep by diuk myslicnl insinuntion*, for
which there is iio fouinli'ition, but they will not condescend to specify.
Tlie Popisli bulwark of kenpiiii; the pooplo in ignorunce is tlielv bv t
Bepurity. but it ia one which ciinuot jirotoct thoni long. They indeed
state some things, not in our laiigungo but in thc-ir own, us alleged to be
held by us, all of which, howpvor, wo deny. They, tfil, in the tvny
that best suits their purposo. wliat thpy pretend our errors are, but tte
deny tliem nil, and miiintiiin tliut wo do not lioM fhono errors. Our
sentiments are all published on llio points of diflerence. It should
certainly be expected that irtiptritial and ngliteous judges should pfesent
these errors in our own words. Ijiit this) the}' never venture to do.
This they cunnot do. Not one of them is ahlo at this niomeb't to
shew that we hold any sentiment contrary to the Bible, or even contrary
to the Standards when properly understood. They speak of the
Headship of Christ as held by us; but were they to report whnt'^e
say on that subject in niiv own words, they would be obliged to admit,
ftt any rate tho public would soe, that our views, and not theirs, are
in precise accordance with the Standards, and with the Scriptures. —
The fact is, that our exclusion by this Commission is, so far as they '
can make it, the exclusion of tlio whole Presbyterian Church of Canada
from all practical allianco with enlii^litoned Chrislendoui. It ia the
concession by themselves, that they and their Churdi, so far as it Sihall
sanction such a deliverance, are nunuw and exclusive in their policy,
and in the strongebt sense — n Sectarian Church. It is as an attempt
to uncliurcli Christendom, whilst it only unchurches themselves. Itia
an arrogant assumption, in w)>ich none can second them, that they alQne
«• are the people, and that wisdom shall dio with them.''

In tlie present sUito of the Christian world, when the evils of Eatab-
lisliments'*' are so extensivety discovered, iuid when these, where tliey
exist, are tottering to their fall, it appears most unreasonable and foolish
to be contending for tho principle, for if the practice be wrong, so must
be the principle. One would almost fear that there is in the Free
Church still, "a longing, lingering look" for ondov«^ments, a hope that the
time may come when they, if not exclubiv?Iy, yet with equal patrona$;e
shall enjoy the Government aid in tho support of their ministry. On
any other supposition wo can liardly account for the maV<7eIlous tenacity
with which they adhere to this their favourite principle.

Entering this Church as wo did wi'.Ii all the views wo ever had, and
still entertain, on the subject of the Magistrate's power as limited by
the nature of his ofiico to things civil, and as having no official diities td
perform towards the Church, being not only tolerated, but welcomed by
the brethren on our own principles, we certainly cannot but look npon ~
all the petty eklrmishinjf they have exhibited on this subject as a wast-
ing of their ammunition in vain. It sliould surely not be considei^ed
wonderful that they could make no impression on our understanding, and
that their endeavours, whether by flattoiy or menace, could no wty
alter our course. Accustomed as wo have been to think differently, and
perhaps to attach different meaning to the same words and phrases, born
and reared in the atmosphere of Ecclesiastical freedom, is it surprising
that their arguments seesn fallacious, their reasonings inconclusive, their
inferences illegitimate, and tlieir eloquence powerless, in working con-
viction ? It had been better that they had employed tlieir time, and
turned iheh* energies on some more liopeful subject. How deeply

* It has lieen justly said thnt the ElctaWinhment Principle, pregnant with so tnsny evQ*, te ,
tlmt which has kept the Roman Catholic Church united for Twelve Hundred «nd .Sixty .
vears; and that it is the very same nnti-Christian principle which keeps Evnugelical Pre*-
bytflrians from nnitinij with each other, iu our own day. O, when will this enuumitg rpofc i
of Popery cease to be the instrument <if wounding Christ in the house of His friendi I

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE

rooted is prejudice ! How much mora powerful is it tlian rensoo
irself! , And liow dogmnticiilly persevering ! These veterans of tlie Ed-
tnblishment Principle would cumpnss sea nnd land to muke one pros'^V'

■ IB'rom whnt has occurod we nre almost forced to conclude that tl^o
principles of Christian forbearance are unknown in the Presbyterifili' ,
Chi^rch; "• Forbearing one another in love.' This one sliort precept, '
uniy^rsftlly obeyed, would sot all right, and reduce all to order. It would
npt jHt once reconcile all minda, but it would harmonise all hearts. It
would not nmnlgamate all Churches into an external uniformity, but it
would combine them all in the unity of the Spirit, and the bond of ,
peacp. It might not hush the voice of controversy, but it would take
frotn It the harsh dissonanco of human passion, and cause it to speak ia,
tho mellifluous tones of divine chority.*'* ,i

On Sabbath the 18th of August, when the delivernnce of the Com mis- ,
R)0O|WHS known, although not formally announced, a meeting of tha
Safsion of Caledonia, and vicinities was called, to be held on Thursday
the^2ud current, and thereafter a meeting of the Congregation at Caje-,:
dooia, meetings at the other stations were also arranged.

'■"The following minute of recommendations was drawn up by the
SMiion to be submitted to the dilTerent stations.

' '* Being cast out with our Ministerf from the Presbyterian Church of
Canada, by n decisiou of this Commission, appearing to us to be arbitrary,
vibjifet, and tyrannical in the extreme, and the grounds of which shall
bwiiftenvards more particulnrly noticed, we consider it our duty as o
Session, watching for the spiiitnal interests of the flock committed tO'
us, to recommend to the Congregation, in its Beveral stations, the follow-
ing fbfngs : —

'I.^^To regard the procedure of the Commission of Synod as null nnd
v6id'; but at the same time to decline nil further connexion with that
denbinibntion. i

^j-r-To vindicate themselves by a public exposure and conderonationV,
of i|i9 Commission's procedures^ ,j;

3,— To seek connexion, as soon'as possible, with anotlior denomination,;
that we may enjoy their protection and fostering care. ^.

4.— To consider how far it might be expedient to apply fox* admissioa^,
iato tlje United Presbyterian Church.

. A^Q, 5, — To appoint a Committee to carry oat the views of tho Con-
g^gatiop, and reduce them to- practice.

The various Stations having met, they all unanimously agreed to adopt
tUe .foregoing recommendations, and a Committee was appointed of
persoas from all the Stations to carry out the vi^ws of the Congregar
tioD. •

! This Committee consisted of seventeen persons. Twehre of these, on-'
thf a4th September, 1850, appear<)d at the Bar of the Presbytery of Ham-"
ilton, iti connexion with United Presbyterian Church, and in the name^';
and by the appointment of three Congregations, and two Stations, inclu-*:
d^diiiuthe general Congregation of Caledonia and vicinities, presented a
reiprictful pi3tition to be received as Minister and people into fellowship'
with that Chnrch.

^ fteReV. John Angell James' Easay on Union.

t 8tnih waitthe-view taken of the Commission's deliverance by this people thmenelveK.-
It was the only ingredient of lenity in the procedures of this Commiision. " We respect,"
•«y8 Dr. Bums, announcing the resxUt to us, " as it bcoomos us, tbe attachment of your
'•"^[bearers and members to you, as their beloved and faithful Pastor, and we have done
nonup^fhirt may interfere with the ties which unito them and you together. This, however, .
ean&pt^e)ll)e reconciled with zealous endeavours, afterwards put forth, to divide thos*'!
••ItwaMjtswJiSre there, is not scope for two opposing stations.

ftOUSE OP HIS FRIENDS.

«r

The Presbytery, with much wisdom and kindness, considered the
application-v-noard with patience all the CommissionerH — put various
qaestions to them, to which suitable answers were returned, and then
expressed their own sentiments. Aitei weighing the whole case with
seriousness and deliberation, the Presbytery unanimously and cordially
agreed to receive Dr. Ferrier and liis Congregation into fellowship with
their Church. They then gave the riglit hand of Christian fellowship to
the Minister And the representatives of the Congregation, and finally
appointed two Ministers, one for the first, and the other for the second
Sabbath, to announce their deliverance at the different Congregations
and Stations, aiul to declare them received into the United Presbyterian
Church.

Those Commissioners who- were at this Presbyery, and had also been
at the Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in the month of May, and
who besides, had witnessed the proceedings of the Commission at Cale-
dt>nia, could not fail to mark the contrast between the Presbytery by
which they were now received, and the Courts from which they have
been excluded. It was like the unrufHed calm after the furious tem-
pest. From being treated with harshness, injustice and disrespect, by
those from whom they had sought and had' a right to. expect, to be
protected and vindicated, they now found an honourable Court which
would take no advantage of thaothers, but weighed the whole matter
with scrutiny, with impiutinlity, and with nfTecironnte wisdom, and after a
thorough and patient invesiigntion, gave it ns theii' deliberate and unani-
mous voice, that wo should be cordinllj admitted.

The United Prosbyterinn Congregntion of Caledonia and vicinities is
now our designation: and we shall never forget the overpowering emo-
tion of delight we fait when our beloved Commissioners, after being
kindly recogniKed by this Presbytery, spontaneously turned to their
Minister and affectionately congratnlnted him on - being restored to the
Church of his fathers and of his fathers' fathers.

The United PresbyterianCongregationnt Caledonialiave now to express
their gratitude to those gentlemen and friends in the neighbourhood and
elsewhere, who liave^ by spontnneous ofi'ers of sites, pnd materials, and
money, put it in their power to proceed, without delayi to the erection
of a commndiuus place of worship ; iii the progress and completion of
which they are liopeful Ihnt, from- the peculiar circumstances in which
they are placed, ns they will require, so will they obtain the countenance
and aid of Chvistiim friends. .

Tliey rejoice in their deliverance fi'om trouble and from troublers, and
whilst they would bear no grudge to those whb have fdrsakeu them,
but would rnther rejoice in their epiritunK welfare, they' trnst that being
now blessed with the enjoyment of perfect tranquillity air<ong themselves,
they will henceforward, through grace, continue to beef one mind, and
to live in peace, and that the God of peace shall be with them.

Our narrative is ended. We regret to~hnve had-fes much to sny that is '
noway creditable to Courts of the Presbyterian Church. We do not
attach blame to the Presbyterian Church at large, or to its supreme court
unless it homologate what its Commission have done. This they wiU.
perhaps not venture to do, unless, as one of their ministers told them
last year, they mean to " make themselves odiotiS wherever it is heard,
over the whole of *Christendonn'' One of the members of our owb
congregation, devoted to the Free Church, but who, from the outrageous
deliverance of its<(Sommission has bid them adieu, has said, and we trust
he is correct in saying, in reference to the Commission's procedure, —
<'This is-not the doing of the Free Church ; they would ne«er doevcb a
thing; it is'the doingofindivfduals^who are now carrying HMttera wtih
a high band ^: among them,. .but whose conduct, when detected by .the-

II J II i^ll

CHRIST WOUNDED IN THE ETC., ETC.

Supreme Coui-t, whoie undue confidence in them they hnve much abuiedf
must meet with decided nnd strong condemnntioii.*'*

We hnve cnuse to bless the Lord for making this Commission the
instruments of good to us, nnd so mnny of our people, in lending us to a
Church not nominally but renlly Free ; a revolution wliich ive had not
nnticipnted, but which wo cnnnot but regard, nftcr nil wo have seen, as
one of the hnppiest incidents of our life. We are now nmong brethren
whose sentiments nnd feelings are similar to our own, nnd with whom
we cnn co-opernto without the slightest resh'niiit, nnd with the delight^
fulconscinusnpss of seeking in unity of mind nnd heHrt, tlie glory of
Christ, nnd the best interest of the souls of men.

It is paitiful. however, to think thnt so small n flifTorenco should sepa-
rate two Churches which are one in evorythinin: rise, nnd especinlly that
the Presbyteiian Church should create so great a noise about n point on
which forbenraitce seems not onlyto be indisponsllile, but to bo obviously
incumbent, and easily practicable. If, hnwrv(?r, on this point wo must
diflTer, "Let us dilforon this side the grave, as those who look for speedy
and perfect unity beyond it; and stnndlng upon the bfach, not make too
much of ripplfs in the san»', which the first, wnvo of the eternal ocean
will sweep into utfw and everlasting oblivion. "f

* We ore of the natno opinion with our friend, for tho nobht siiinil mtuio by the Fr«»B
Church hoA aUvnya had our high ndniiration. liut it muHt be ncknowled'^od, that if Buch
proceedings aa are dci^cribud in this Tract are to be prnctisnil in any of her Courts, nnd cfpo-
ciftllyif they arc sanctiont'd by the Supreme Court of the Presbyterian Church of Canada
when it meets next year, they lay thoniselve* open to tlio centure of nil consietcnt and eerl.
ous ChridtianH', nay, if euch conduct is not condemned by tlmir Hynod, the enlightened
Christian Public mutt nocesutrily malie such obscrvationB at' the following; —

1. — That thiH Preabyterian Church of Canada nctB n most inconsistent part, as ahe ia bat-
tening on the Vuluntary Principle, and rtt the same time denounuiag it, by expelling from
her communion' men for clinging to it an a scripttiral principle ;

3. — That by ro doin j fhis Church otfer« insult to the Christian people in her commimioa
who ire able and willing to support the go.'ipol mlniitry, by virtiiHlly telling them that an
appeal to their liberality is only a dernier resort ; that were the civil government to its duty,
this liberality would be a work of supererogation, as the Minit-try would be enpported by
funds extorted from all and sundry. Will the Christian people really f ubmit to bo thuit
trifled with and ini?nlted? Will they continuo to give vohliitanly what thtir ecclesiastical
rulers sny should be obtained by compulsion ? And

3. — That now those Members of the Free Church who hold the Voluntary principle and
they are numerous, must feel tueir position to be paiufully iiicungnious, and altogether
incompatible with their honourable nnd scriptural principle-i. It is therefore surely high
time that they search anew for the path of duty aa rcgardn this matter.

t Lectures by U. Kibg, L. L. I).,in reply to Dr. Chalmers on Church Extension.

Dr. Bnrns' letter was no* given in the first Edition, which some of our
friends regretted. It was not forwarded in time to bo presented on page 48
of this EditioH. The following is a copy :—

Toronto, 8th August, 1850.

My Dkar Sir.— Ill case of any mistake I beg to say thnt your presence at
the meeting in Hamilton on the 13th, i» expected, or if this is not convenient,
a few lines frojii y<iu which maybe loid before the Oommissionern, will
Btryo neoily the same pnrpose.

The object of the meeting is to take a dnliberate review of the whole
matter, nnd particularly of what passed at Cnledonin. nnd to come to some
judgment which maybefiuul. May ALMIGHTY WISDOM directyouand us.

Mr Dkab Sir, wjjUj heat wishes for yourself and family,
':»jnti.f!j 'o;ii uj.n, . i*t : i,i ever yoUl!9i ; ■. ,

■3-Mii'>'.v i'r; . .(;il:;Ki,r',.ui J,. ROBERT BURNS,

.•ni^-.-nT:

'!. /.

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APPENDIX.

It i« onr intention in a short Appendix to dixabnae n portion o? the public
<miiid from t'lilau iuiprcssions whicli have been produced by hnsty stateineuta
in soino quarters where silciico wunid be more becoming, as to the real
state oi' the IJuitfd Presbyterian Ooii^regntiou'of Onledotiiu and Vicinities.
Our former friends, through tlieir various advocates, boust of their nnmbers,
and of their triiiinpli.o, and would wish to moke the world believe they had
succeetled «o " blut out our name from under heaven." Let them boast.
We imve not taken tlie trouble to coutrudict them, nor have we ever inter-
fered with th^ir endeuvourh and their interests here in the slightest degree,
although til .y hnvo carried tlieir misrepresentations into every humlet in
this region, besideo sounding their slanders throughout the length and
breadth of the laud. We have been proceeding all along in our usual Way
of nuisuli'ss diligence, as if nothing had taken place ; and by the revolution
in ecclesiastical connexion we have, through the blessing of God, not been
injured but benefited, and have had great cause of rejoicing. We have ob-
served u Haured silence ns to the motives, the movements, and the prosp«cta
oi our former friends in the uiidst of us. We envy them not: we bter
thein no grudge: and we would not degrade ourselves by imitating them
or their a^^'eiits in the nttornnce of ifalsehood, or in any dishonourable mean».
of muiutuiiting our cause. Ours is the cause of truth, of religion, of Christ.
It needs not carnal weapons for its defence, nor the tongue of calumny to
promote its extentioii. It requires nothing but Ccaudid hearing from others,
and the calm, and constant, and persevenng improvement, on our part, of
the usual means oi grace to secure its safety, its prosperity, and its triumph.
BouiC, i'ldeed, and among these some whom we did not expect, have deser-
ted our Standard. But others have taken, and many more ure about to take
their place. In January la^t when our statistics -were Inade np for the
rresbytery we wore only twentythree commuuioants short of what we had
before the division, since that time we have been steadily progressing and
we are stronger now than ever. We feel too tliat we are in a much better
working cdiidition than at any prrtnr period, and that Providence is opening
the field for us by unexpected facilities, nud with prospects of great increase.
We only hope and pray that in spiritual health and prosperity onr progress
may correspond. The whole charge is already too weighty for ourselves.
But in the meantime, " having obtained lielp of Crod, we continue unto this
day witnessing both to small and great."*

We have cause to express oar thanks to tiVtnd Providence, that nlthongh
we have been unjustly robbed of the Church at 'Caledonia, yet by our own
exertions and the aid of friends we have the prospect of getting another,
equally oommodious, erected in its place. Providence has also given us, as
the decided migority. the New Church in t-He fownsbip of Ancnster, where
our prospecta are good. In Oneida we havi|> no Church ns yet; but there
our nanus have been strengthened by the iMidxpected tind seasonable be-

auest, already known to many, of the late p&motic and liberal Rinded
>avid Thompson, Bsq M.P.P., who has giVb'tfbs (Hfe elegant place of wor-
ship recentlyereoted by himself in Indiana, VtlifeU iu4iononr ot the lamented
donor is called— -Thompson 'Church, and which isJbrthwith to be occupied
by our members and adherents, in and around llflH|^ce, who. have been
already organized by the Presbytery into a distMHHnnregation with £n&
couragins prospects of success. /'^Verily the limHp^^lioiie ^reat things

/or us, whereof we ai'e glads

APPENDIX

Dr Burna' " restless iron toiigus " is out upon us once more in the March
Becord. He seonis to be incapable of speaking or writing anything on this
subject that is true. For the present wo leave him t.» others wlio may per-
haps animoilyert o^i spm^ of his statements. When he comes forward in a
discreet and candid manner, although he may be as much under mistake as
in the p^per referred to, we may think of answering him. Under his pres.
eut delusions it would be wiser for hiui to look to his own concerns, and let
ours ainne. By making fonlish and causeless oqgreBsiiins, abroad, he may
endanger the peace and safety of his own citadel, and may. require on ,|
sudden to be re-called, — like Saul on oup occasion in tlio pursuit of David
when »i messenger came to him saying, "Haste ihuc, and come for tbe'.
Philistines have invaded the land."

On the whole wo would (jay thut the positioii of tlie Free Church, in this
Country, in iheir rigid adherence to the Staijlard^. where the Standards
tc'ich intolerant and persecuting [U'inciples, is one on wliich it is impossible .
they can long continue; aiiii the sooner they renounce it the better for them-
selves. After all it is not u reaJ but n nominal alherouce that they make;
and as soon as a few ministers of cool and deliberale judgment, free from the .
prejudices of e<luciiti<>ii,ii:id, of party, and of sterling rectitude and honour,
Avitii siiTiicieiit (irniness* bohlgess, and £nt(.'r[)ri.<e, shall rise up among them,
tlv?y must eifhur renounce their position, or divide their church. Alay the
L'.»ril over-rule thia,und everything else for the benefit, of religion, and for
His tAvn filtiry.

We have only further to express our th-inkd to vnnona Bditurs of Kcws-
papers for tto favoiirabl« notices they iuive taken of our I'-amphlet, and of
our cause,^ This Ciiuse, liowever, was neither begun, nor will it end, with
lis, and iafJmttit'nTe -ut« which tliey may still be IwiiDured to advance. Jtis
^Iro vas^(j^m'lifAjBhiU:feti, pure, and scriptural Christianity. Its triumph is
' ' |ih6l(^t)(?ii, is approaching; and when completed we shall'^all be
[>#Vch feelings of celestial joy, to> " uook upon Ziim the city of
KiW: our eyes pdinll see Jerusalem a quiet habiiati'tu, n taber*
_^--,' th&^ibiiH not be tak;jii down, «ot one.of the stakes thereof shall ever be
'Tf((ibveA, i^ither shall any of the curds thereof be broken."

>U'i»t

• ERRATA.

(From the hurry of the Press and the absenca of the Author, the
fpUowing have opciirred, which the reader will pleose to ccr.ect.)

— — 0- — -
Page 4, line 8, for, "TiDuJur^ble," read •' iticurable."
— — 13, — 1 of Note, foi:,<* pQssibly," read " principle."

15, — H,from foot of NotQ< insert "besides," after "because."

30, — 20, for « reawfiably," read " reasonable."

- — 33, — 26, from foot-of foot Note, for •♦in all its acts," read " all

its nets.*'
-rrr? 36, — 16 and Id, from foblt> for « without, entering on the^object
' for which the Commisiin was sent," read *< whilst the

Commissiptii had never entered on the object for which

they wej*#ejBl."
— — 40, — 10, for " Coajiniwiioner'si" read "Commissioners'."
_ 40, _ fool Nqt«*,fcf,*« p. 20 • read " p.p. 21, 22."

41, — 1 , for " oDpbOt'V read "opinions."

-— - 41, — 2^, for "tfi^eifin.^' read " these passages."
-c- 44, — 17, for "«Ucli^*gfad ••elicit."

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WORKS PUBLISHED BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

MEMOTRSof tlie PtEV. WILLIAM WILSON, A. M , Perth,
ScotlatuI ; OiK' ol'tlns "Fduc IJr(ttliieii." the FuU'idor.s of llio Secession
Cliuvoli, nni' Pro/essor ol"Tlit'olo<ry to tho Aasoc'ifite Presbytery; with
liiief Sketches of the Sfiite of Religion in Scotland for fifty years
posterior to tho Revolution.^ Pp. 368.

NERUCHADXEZZAR'S GOLDEN IMAGE : a Discourse
on Civil Estubliiihinonta uf KeligioR, from Damkl iii. 18.

HI.

MONTHLY RELIGIOUS ADDRE.SSES. Timo to be
improved for Eternity. Attendnnco on Divine ordinances, Parental
Instruction. Sabbuth Sanctificntion. d:c.

IV.

RELIGIOUS EXERCISES FOR THE YOUNG, in Tince
Sorlc6; adapted todilferunt ugos,in tho form of Questions uiid Answers.

EXERCMSE AND CONSOLATION FOR DISTRESSED
Souls. A Sermon on Keiigioua Reviviils, from Ps.\lm xxxiv. 6.

VI.

MEMOIR AND REMAINS OF THE LATu. REV.
William Ferrier, D. D., of Paisley, Scotland. Pp. 37.3

VII.

ADDRESS ON THE RANUC OF STUDY EMIIRACED
ia a Liberal Education, and liiu manner'of its cificient prosecution.

vn?.

THE TOWER OF BABEL ;pR*, CONFirSION IN
Lfiigiiagoon Points onnected with tho QiWli^n of Civil Establisl.ments
j of Religion ; a Fertile Source of Strife Uny«Divisipn in tho Cliristian
\ Church. . .

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