Namur gukcate. PITTSBURGH, DECEMBER 27,1856 TERMS... $1.511 9 in advanee; or in Clubs, $1.25; ors delivered at rsiddenees of Subseri. berm, 01.75. See Prospectus, on Third Page. REN EWA LS should be prompt; • 1 Ittie while beton the year expire., that we may make full arrangements for a steady supply. trim RED WRAPPER indicates that we deetroAFeatearal. If,showevery in the haste , ef 4 11111'1'111gs this signal should be omitted* we hope our friends will still not forget us. RIGNITTANCIDII.—bend payment by safe handy when convenient. Or, send by mail, enclosing with ordinary care, and tronbaug noliodywith a knowledge of what you are doing. For a largo amount, send a Drift, or large notes. For one or two papers, send Gold or small notes. TO MAKE CHANGE, Send postage stamp', or better still, send for more papers; my $2 for Sev slaty numbers, or $1 for TlartywOuree trumbem. DIRECT all Letters and Comnannlcatlonn to REV. DAVID noICINNEY. Pa. OUR LoNDON LETTER has not reached us, the America beingdisabled by a storm, and obliged to• return to England. TEMPERANCE. CoNvßwrioN.—The New York State Temperance Convention at Al bany, last week, determined to prosecute their labors for prohibition. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.—We received, last week, five dollars additional, for a Bell at the Mission Station of Rev. Mr. Guthrie. We need a few more such, to complete the amount requisite. 'rah ,WESTERN UNIVERSITY.—,This liter , ary Institution, in our city, is increasing in favor and promises great usefulness. The University has met with several reverses; fire especially having been its foe. The Faculty are--President, Dr. M'Laren; Professors, Messrs. M'Donsid Griggs, Griersoui and Dense. The President has been engaged in his work since Oct. 1855, but his formal inauguration bad been deferred. It took place last week, with appropriate ceremonies. THE PRESBYTERIAN QUARTERLY RE VIEW, for December, is on our • table. This is an excellent number of an ably conducted journal. The articles are all readable, and some of them are the result of much inves tigation. They are, I. Athanasitts in Con test-with the Arians ; IL The Westminster Review and Christian Missions (this is a capital article), 111. Dueling; IV. Life arid Times of Nicholas de Clemengis; V. Recant Poetry; VI. Literary and Theologi cal Intelligence.; VII. Notices of New Books. Oatechetical Exposition of the Romans. The writer of this interesting series pro poses to suspend his contributions for a time. His object has been to present a brief but clear exposition of the text, in a form adapt ed to arrest the attention of the young, and attach them to the truth. If an exposition of the Epistle, on this plan, should be called for to an encouraging , extent, the author could be induced to prosecute the work. A Church Destroyed. On Sabbath, the I4th inst., a severe storm . . was 'experienced at Island Creek, Ohio, which irreparably injured the Presbyterian Church, of which Rev. M. A. Parkinson is pastor. The gable end opposite the pulpit was blown in, breaking through the ceiling, and smashing a number of the pews. The money loss to the congregation will be less felt,, from the fact that they were preparing to rebuild, next Summer ; but they are, by this event, deprived at 'once of a place of worship. But a few persons had assembled at the time, ,and hence • but little personal injury was sustained. One only was hurt, and that but alikhtly. Revivals. SALEth,VA.—About forty persons are re garded as 'hopefully oouverted,and as many more inquiring. PITTSYLVANIA, VA.—The Central Pres byterian tells of a meeting in progress, of great promise. The Church was crowded, and very many attended the inquiry confer ences. CciVINGTON, XCY.—In the pastoral charge of Rev. J.ll. Woriell, it is stated that eight persons have been received on examination, and that others are inquiring. JAM E 81313110, N. J.—A gracious manifes , tation of God's Spirit has been enjoyed in this church for some weeks. Nineteen new members were received on profession of their faith, on the 7th inst. MANALAPAN, N. J.—Much interest on the subject of religion is spoken of, as mani fest in this church,for some time. -Upwards of a hundred at a time have attended the in quiry meetings. There are estimated above sixty hopeful conversions: Modern Spiritualism, or Spirit Rapping. We had suliposed this silly but hurtful imposture well nigh dead. But it seems that it still retains many deluded follow&s, and that its consequences are no less ruin ous than formerly. Last week the New Ter); papers reported the death of a young man of, fine culture, intellect, and promise, bisenicide, owing to this insane delusion. That city appears to be the, principal seat of the operations of the spirit-rappers at present, as it has been ever since the Rochester excitement on •this subject, some years ago. So serious_ has the matter be come, that not a few of the clergy have felt it to be their duty to expose and denounce the `.whole system. Two discourses by the Rev. Dr. 'Gordon, of that city, have been published on the general subject. It was announced that in his discourse on last Sab bath evening, he would establish the fact that," The spirits of the dead cannot, com municate with the living nor re-visit the earth, until the second coming of Christ." How true is it still, " To the law and to the testimony ; if ,they speak not according to, this word, it is because there is no light, in them." The North British Review, Dr. Chalmers, and the Theology of Scotland. The number of the Korth British Re view for November, commences with an extended and elaborate leader on the works of Dr. Chalmers. This article is in many respects one of the most extraordinary and significant which has ever appeared in that miscellany. Popularly, the North British is recognized, as the organ of the Free Church of Scotland ; but if anything were required in addition to the late disclaimers which have been put forth on this point, to satisfy the community that the popular creed is incorrect, that evidence is afforded in this review of the works of the latest of Scot land's worthies . If such an article had been written ten years ago, in an Irish or American journal, it would have aroused a storm of indignation all over "braid" Scot land. Had such assaults been made in any ' periodical published out of Scotland, on the mental characteristics, the attainments and principles of Dr. Chalmers, together with the Standards of the Theology of the, coun try, the 'moorlands of the South, and the hills of the North, would have bristled.with warriors, starting forth to avenge the insult. Had any English writer put forth such an analysis of the powers of the great Scottish preacher, it would have been attributed to the influence of an aristocratic and prelatic education, had he been a Churchman; or to the jealousy and the narrow-minded sec tarianism engendered 'by Voluntaryism, had he spoken from the ranks of the Dissenters; while a similar criticism, if from an Irish source, would have been attributed to vanity and mortification, in view of the recognized greatness of Scotland's worthies. We may be mistaken, but we apprehend that the review in question is from the pen of a Scottish writer; and if so, it clearly in dicates that the mind of educated men in Scotland, is beginning to drift away from those ancient moorings, which were so long recognized as a place of safety. It is a matter of history, that in England when a latitudinarian tendency in theology began to appear among,the later Puritans, the great men of that period foresaw that a prevalence of such views would speedily divest their sanctuaries of all their glory. The same feeling prevailed in Ulster, when it was per ceived that the principles of Mylne in Glas gow, and others in Scotland, had been adopted by those who were to become the teachers of the Irish-Presbyterian people. And so, also, at the present time there are many in New England who foresee, with re gret and sorrow, what the desolating effects will be on the Church, if a swarm of pastors are to be spread over the country,' infected with the idealism and unsubstantial vanities of philosophy, falsely so called, instead of being the heralds of the old and unchange able Gospel of Christ. With a similar feel ing of apprehension, we doubt not there are many in Scotland who already, as watchmen on the walls of Zion, are beginning to blow the trumpet, and to proclaim that an enemy is at the door. Our readers will be able to judge as to whether or not there is cause for anxiety, when they are supplied with a number of extracts frcm the review in ques tion. Our space will prevent us from com menting on these selections as we would de sire. After characterising Chalmers as a man great in action—as the man to give the needed and an irremstable impulse to what ever he applied his Herculean shoulder—the writer describes him as Wanting almost entirely, as we shall have on casion to show, the analytic faculty—wanting also the severe critical faculty, and wholly want ing that melancholic element which leads minds severely reflective, to distrust obvious conclusions, and to scrutinize all things that are offered to their assent, Chabiers sent down his line into no abyss. . He had no sympathy with minds deeper rooted than his own, or more discrimina tive, or more exact, or more analytic, or more scrupulously honest toward their own misgivings. Such minds, in approaching-his, would-quickly discover that from him they would not receive the aid they needed. Elsewhere, in speaking of his adopting and following the ideas of others, it is added . : But these legitimate borrowings are also char acteristic of Chabner's order of intellect. Bold, large in his grasp of subjects, statesman-like, business-like, prompt to seize the salient points of an argument, and singularly firm in his logical hold of whatever he, held, he was not a sugges tive, explorative, penetrative thinker". His in tellectual habit was not that which impels or which compels a man to pass his entire' material of cogitation, even every atom of it, through his own mind, and in doing so to make it his own." Again we say, that if a few years ago any except Scotchmen had put forth such in sinuations, in which not only the acumen of this great man is depreciated, but his moral honesty is to a certain extent impugned, we can imagine what excitement the literary world of Scotland would have displayed. There are weightier matters yet in store, in which the cause of Gospel _truth, as well as the characteristios of Dr. Chalmers are in terested. Adverting to certain chapters in the treatise on cc Christian Evidences," we are told that, Coining, as they do, from a mind such as that of Chalmers, they give weight and urgency, to the demand of this present moment—that the doctrine of inspiration should now at length be set clear of the many confusions which still attach to it ; and that this work should be so done as not to leave staggering difficulties unnoticed and un heeded; while a genuine and untroubled faith in the authority of Scripture is brought to rest upon its true grounds. This is a work for the under taking of which'neither was the Christian world in his time prepared, nor was Chalmers himself specially .qualibed. It might be asked, is the Christian world, even at this time, prepared for entertaining, intelligently and reverentially, free ly, boldly, and religiously, that great and ar duous argument, which has so long stood waiting its time, and which is to determine what we mean by the hackneyed' terms, 'Revelation, and 'the Inspira tion of Holy Scripture? The italics are ours . , but we specially d o _ sire attention to be given to the solemn character of the charges which this extract involves. It would seem that not only Dr. Chalmers, but also the great body of the Church of Christ is in a fog and mystery on the subjects of Inspiration and Revelation, not really understanding what : is , a Revela, lion, and. what is not, and consequently 'geing on from century to century, believing anOintini, and yet in ignoiance as to the foundation of „, Christian faith 2 In other passages the author speaks out more ;dis. , . tine*, and as in the extract already given, THE PRESBYTERIAN 3ANNER AND ADVOCATE. he puts Dr. Chalmers, and the great body of professing Christians, into the same category, and charges them equally with ignorance of the truth, and even an unwillingness to learn it; so, in the following passage, what is affirmed of the man, must be held to be true of all in the Church of Christ who are described as agreeing with him in sentiment. Again we have ventured to affirm of Chalmers' doctrine of the Inspiration of the Scriptures, that it is crude, inadmissible, unintelligible. This is not all ; for it is such that, if it be insisted upon, we must needs give in to the frivolous cavils of writers like F. Newman, and must admit them to be conclusive against the Divine origination of the Bible. It might, perhaps, puzzle the writer to tell why any one should yield to a frivolous objec tion ; but after having described the views of Chalmers on the subject of Inspiration as unintelligible, he' yet asserts that ire was the man—every intelligent hearer felt it with force, and 'every such reader of his Discourses must feel it in measure—he was the man, and why should we hesitate in saying it 7—who was sent from above,' to revive, to restore, and to re-establish, the Christianity of Scotland?' And to swell the coatradiction to the greatest magnitude, he says, in the next paragraph— Chalmers, as a preacher, was a great preacher in this sense—that (for the most, part,) he occu pied himself with First Truths, and treated them with a boldness, and a force, and a largeness of apprehension, which were in keeping with their intrinsic importance. If Chalmers and the Christian world are in ignorance as to what is or is not a Reve lation, and in confusion on the fundamntal question of Inspiration, we should like to know how he, or any man, could legitimate ly, be said to know, with any accuracy, what were First Truths, and what were of sec ondary importance. His mind must have been filled with doubt and anxiety if he rea soned at all ; or if he adopted popular ideas without any solid foundation, he only sub jected himself to another difficulty equally grave in its character. The most significant part of this article, and that part of it which bears on the The ology of Scotland, remains to be noticed• It occurs in the portion which is devoted to a review of the "Institutes of Theology," and the "Prelections" on Butler, Paley, and Hill. The author proposes to answer the question, "What is the bearing of this body of Divinity upon those Three Forms of Christian opinion which, for some time past, have been, and are now at this time, com peting among us for the uppermost position ? or, to be more cared, we should say, one of them for continued existence, and the other two for supremacy." We are left in no doubt as to the essential character of these three forms; for, in the next para graph, we are informed that they are these : First—and it is the elder of the three—Logical Theology, or Christianity drawn forth into propo sitions and into inferences, thence deduced by methods of formal reasoning. The second . . . is Philosophical Theology, or Christianity fash ioned into conforinity, as far as possible, with the notions and the tastes which distinguish Modern Thought. The third is, or more ,properly it is coming to be—Christianity derived ingenuously and fearlessly from the Bible—Holy Scripture re garded as the source of belief, and as the rule of life. By, the term, Logical Theology, the au thor means the system of doctrine which 4s. contained in the Westminster Standards, and while he has no love for the second form, which he elsewhere shows to be a negation of all that is valuable in Christianity, he shows by his definitions of the first and third forms, that he believes the system of doctrine taught in the Scottish Standards, not to be ingenuously and fearlessly derived from the Bible, and, therefore, these Standards do not point out a correct rule of life. Indeed, we are free to admit that there is a candor and distinctness of utter arm on the part of this writer, which we often look,for in vain, even in the contribu tors to the Westminster Review. The lit erary stair, of that organ often deal in insin uations, in vague generalities and sugges tions of, doubts; but here all is plain. Not only are we to believe that the Standards of the Scottish Churches, and consequently of the English, Irish, and American Presby terian Churches, are not deduced from the Bible ingenuously; but we are to receive it as a fact, that these Standards are' becoming obsolete; for, says this writer, " We have alluded to the bearing of Chalmers' writings upon the Three Theologies which now stand in view of our British Christianity, namely, the superannuated Logical, the modern Philosophical, and the future Biblical." We might here be permitted to ask the author of this article, and the editoi of the North. British Review, how it has come to pass, that the doctrinal statements of the Westminster Standards have become -super annuated ? Is it a fact that the statements contained in the Confession of Faith, and in the Catechisms, on the Being and Attributes of God, of the character of the Moral Law, the condition of man as a guilty and corrupt sinner, his need of salvation, the work of Christ 'for the salvation - of sinners, and his work in them by the Holy Spirit by which they are sanctified—is it a fact that the doctrines in the Confession on these points are superannuated, or that they are disingenuously deduced from Holy, Scrip ture? If we are to believe this writer, such is the case; for he further says The Creeds and the Confessions of the Refor mation era were, indeed, with scrupulous care, based upon the authority of the " Holy Scrip ture ;" and, looking at them simply as they stood related to the manifold corruptions of the twelve centuries preceding, they might well claim to be Scriptural. But in what manner had they been framed ? A certain class of texts (the italics are the author's,) having been assumed as the ground work of Christian belief, then a scheme of the ology is, put together accordingly, whence, by means of the deductive logic, all separate articles of faith are to be derived. As to any passages of Scripture which might seem to be of another class, or, which do not easily fall into their places in this scheme, they were. either ignored, or they were controlled, and this to any extent that might be asked for by the stern necessities of the syl logistic method. • Three things we have to say relative to this extract. First, We protest, with up lifted hands, againe the monstrous, the out rageous attempt which is here made by a nameless writer, to blackeu the reputation of men profoundly learned in theology— men famed for their holiness sand integrity as well se for their attainmente--nien who had no etude or unintelligible ideas of what Inspiration and Revelation meant, and who would have trembled at any idea of ignoring, or controlling, or dealing falsely with Tan WORD OF GOD. We protest against this aspersion of character, and assert that the statement thus recklessly put forth, is un founded in fact, and cannot be sustained by any adequate proof. The writings of the Westminster Divines; their annotations; their published works, and the literature of, the age; all unite in showing that they neither shut their eyes to any of the.con tents of the Sacred Volume, nor did they dare to ignore any of its teachings. They knew that there was a system in the. Bible. There is a system in Creation, a system in Providence, and there is a system, in the the economy of Redemption. If the Bi ble contain a Revelation from God, it must contain a system of Divine Truth, for the Holy Spirit cannot, and will not, contra dict himself. That the Standards of the Presbyterian Church do contain a faithful and clear condensation of the system of Truth which is contained in the Bible, may, be argued, not only from the fact that the statements of these Standards are in accord ance with the portions of the Word of God which bear on the points defined, but also from the fact, that, when the Bible, was opened to Waldensians; to Germans, to Frenchmen, to Dutchmen, as well as" to British and American "Christians, theiryead ing of the Sacred Volume, as expressed in the symbols of their respective Churches, was found to be uniform. Our second ob servation on the above remarkable extract is. this: We never have known an errorist, nor a latitudinarian,' who did not dislike logic and logical theology. We have never I met an Arian or a Socinian, nor a person who had loose views on Justification, or the work of the Holy Spirit, who did not dread logic. All Such men prefer holding to a few isolated texts on which they affix a meaning of their own, and then they boast that their faith is founded on the Word of God. Our third' remark is, that the con structors of any Creed, or Confession, or system of Articles, must do what this writer appears to condemn. They must take certain portions of Scripture as a ,basis for their definitions on theological tenets. They must collect the passages of Seripture, for instance, on the attributes of d-oq, and according to the , obvious meaning of these passages, the dogmatic statement in the Creed will be framed: When we find this writer slandering the dead, we need not be surprised at finding him dealing unfairly with the living. It is a fact patent and notorious to any one in or out of the Churches of England and Scot land, who can read and understand the mean ing of their Standards, and who is con versant with the writings of Bishop Butler, that notwithstanding his clear-sightedness in the department which is covered by his "Analogy," yet his theology, so far as the doctrine of Justification was concerned, was of the most meagre' character. Indeed, the the term meagre is a phrase too soft and gentle to use in this connexion: Chalmers had spoken of Butler's " meagre and mod erate theology;" and this writer has the audacity to affirm, that an'apologist for But ler might retort against Chalmers, and de clam, "that the ultra•orthodox are wont to 'keep out of sight,' or to evade the force of those passages of Scripture to which their Arminian antagonists make their appeal. An exuberant or luscious orthodoxy is one extreme, of which the meagre theology' of the moderates is the other extreme ; our protest is for Christianity derived from a whole Bible.". Every reader of the whole article on which we are commenting, and all who knew the entire :candor and honesty of Chalmers' character, will recognize the injustice• and unkindness of the sneer; so far as he is concerned; while the evangeli cal writers and preachers of the present day, can, ask the editor of this Review, with abundant confidence, if his knowledge of the literature of the ‘Church justifies this author in asserting, and himself in publish ing, what we do not hesitate to denounce as untrue and calumnious. The article from which our extracts have been made, is in many places sufficiently laudatory of Dr. Chalmers' works, in cer tain respects; but his summing up yet re: mains to be seen. What do our readers think the ultimate judgment of this learned reviewer is of the value to the Church, in the future, of the twenty-five volumes which the great Scottish preacher left behind him Here it is His Sermons, his Essays, his Expositions, and his Institutes, might, to very good purpose, be looked into and explored by the younger minis ters of religion in Scotland, for the single purpose, (the italics are the writer's,) of gathering into one, the scattered' indications which they contain, of his strong feeling, and 'deep conviction, on this subject, namely, the too determinekve character of the Christianity of Scotland ; or that exterior rigidity which giires it an aspect differing by a shade or so from the breadth, and the moral beauty of the Christianity of the Gospel. Want of space prevents us from giving vent to the sentiments of just indignation which we feel at the perusal of such a scandalous passage. Happily, we are saved the trouble of comment; for the next para graph .but one supplies us with the following remarkable utterance : " Chalmers did not disallow (so far as we know,) any one of the doctrinal elements of the Genevan faith." Here we have this critic daubing and white washing, making charges and withdrawing them again. He feels that he contradicts himself; and his effort to save his consistency will raise him very deservedly to a position as lofty asthat which Dr. Bushnell has lately occupied. The famed distinctien of this Divine, on the subject of the theology of the intellect and that of the feelings, is not more nonsensical and absurd, than is the explanation by which this reviewer blames and praises Dr. Chalmers, and yet tries to save his, own consistency. Chalmers " felt," says this writer, " though he did not clearly apprehend the fact, that as the arti cles which are the distinctions of that faith, are worded pokntically, they are, thirefere, although true—true rather in the controver sial sense of an age of eager and desperate contention, than in a sense purely biblical I 1" On this extract, comment is needless. We must" draw this notice to a close: We had marked several other passages for quotation, but must omit them for the present, contenting ourselves with the fol lowing morceau: What, then, is it which we might have wished Chalmers to do more than he,has done? What is it which one who bad his ear Might have sug gested to Lim to undertake? It was this—we could have wished him to loosen, by a tittle, the tightness of those logical theologies, which, framed as they were in a disputatious age, have now the effect of debarring us from the free and fearless enjoyment of Holy Scripture. What we need is, not that minimum of belief which some ill-judging writers are now inviting us to accept ; but that maximum of belief which an ingenuous submission to the entire meaning of Scripture would give us. Will our readers believe, that after hav ing stated the fact that Chalmers heartily received the dectrinal Standards of the Church, the next sentence which follows the above is this : "This result Chalmers hon estly and fervently desired, of which desire the indications are frequent throughout his writings !" We shall wait to see how the Scottish people,. and the ministers and members of the Free Church, shall deal' with Professor Fraser, in relation to the insertion of this remarkable article.. Misrepresentation." Under this heading we gave, on Nov. 15th, a vindication of the General Assem bly against a charge, by the Reformed Pres byter27an, of " inconsistency" in its action of 1818, and of a "direct contradiction" in that of 1845 to that of 1818, on the subject of Slavery. The Editor replied,in December, with a commendable Christian spirit. The Presbyterian of the West, however, of Dec. 18th, publishes, with approbation and a flourish of wonders, an article which misrepresents us in the ease, even worse than the Assembly bad been misrepresented. We are not aware of having given any rea son to any one, for this attempt to render us odious. It may be that there is some jeal ousy, or some scheming, the successful pros ecution of which, demands that prejudice should be excited against us in certain quar ters. If so, we shall have to bear with it. Such things do occur. Efforts to exhibit a neighbor in an unfavorable light, however pure he may be, are no new thing under the sun. But it.may be only a misapprehension on the part of both the correspondent and the journal. We may not have spoken so lucidly as we supposed we did, and their extreme zeal for an important idea may have prevented their noting our true position. If so—if their love for truth in one aspect blinded them to our real sentiments, they will be glad to correct their mistake, and will excuse the plainness of our speech; and will forgive us, even though we should manifest some indignation at their utter per version of the manifest aim of our article. We may give a specimen or two of our as sailant's unfairness. He says, " Dr: McKin ney gives up entirely that - noble testimony of our Church against the evils of slavery." Now, this is altogether a misstatement. " Dr. McKinney" never did, and we trust never will, give up that testimony—not an iota of it. He always held to it; and has oft reiterated it. We published it to the world, with our approbation, when others were silent; we, in the very article alluded to, thank the Reformed Presbyterian for publishing it; and we there urge it—the whole of it—as " rational," " upright," thoroughly based on sound sense, and on the foundation of the prophets and apostles." How could any one then say, that we entirely give it up I Again, we' are represented thus "z "In speaking of the Act of 1818, he says, the Assembly did not say slavery;" it said the voluntary enslaving '," How could the man thus write, when it was as obvious as noonday, that we were not speaking of the Act, but of a sentence quoted from that Act. The Assembly there condemns a thing most strongly. What is that thing ? The As sembly does not call it slavery. It says, "the voluntary enslaving." Whether- the brethren of that day understood their moth er tongue, we need not affirm, but the truth fulne.ss,of our remark, as to the words they used, is indisputable. Why then pervert our words ? The 'Act speaks of two things. First, it speaks of the `"voluntary enslav ing" of men; the Slave-trade was then notvery long abolished; and the remembrance of it was fresh with every one. Tins it utterly condemn& It then proceeds to speak of slavery, it being an existing evil, which the Assembly deplores and' would eradicate, by the power of truth and love. The Assembly, as clearly as language can express ideas; speaks of two things, or of the same thing in two aspects. First, of the reducing of free - men to a state of sla very. This it calls a "voluntary enslaving," and describes it as " a gross violation of the most sacred rights of human nature; as.ut terly inconsistent with the • laws of God," and "totally irreconcilable with the sprit and principles of the doctrines of Christ." Now, could the Assembly tolerate in the Churchmen habitually guilty orsuch a sin— living in such a sin ! Impossible ! Then the word "slavery," as used afterwards in the Act, cannot be synonymous with "vol untary enslaving," as first used. The As sembly could not retain in communion, men horrible in sin, as first described. Why, even Congress, with all its faults, will not bear with such in the country—will not suffer them to live. The traffic, which stimulates to the habitual practice of that sin, is made PIRACY, and is made punish able by death; and in the whole House of Representatives, last week, there could be found but eight votes against its re.con demnation. And could the' Presbyterian Church tolerate, and regulate within her communion, and embrace in her bosom, men living in such a sin ' ! Shame on those who would charge upon hei such corruption.' And Warne upon the journsds *hit% *wild condemn as "hypercriticism" the clearing of her from that charge. The Assembly having thus summarily and most sternly disposed of the enslaving of men, proceeds to speak of the subject in its second aspect, that is of Slavery—Slavery as an existing institution. This it calls "a paradox. in the moral system," and goes on I for pages to deplore its evils, and to point out and enjoin remedies. Read the whole I Act, and note the consistency of its parts, and its conformity to right reason and the Holy Scriptures. Will not men discrimi- 1 nate ? Can they not bear to look at truth 1 in all her aspects ? What has blinded their minds ? Will they not allow the Church the use of language, and judge of her by I what she really says ? But possibly our contemporary regards our opinion as of very great importance. It would seem so from the editorial, and the communication, and the promise from each, of more such. It may hence be our duty to speak yet again, and very explicitly; and may be it will rejoice in an opportunity to give to its readers our sentiments, just as we state them. We shall try. We are not in the habit of concealment ; nor are we much troubled with fear, unless it be the fear of doing wrong. But neither do we think that a man should always prate; and especially we do not allow any one to dictate to us what we shall talk about, nor When we shall speak. " A word in season, how good it is 1" On the subject of Sla very, we gave our sentiments very fully, some time ago,' in a leading article. Then, on the 11th of October last, exciting as were the 'times, we, and we alone of all our Church papers, gave the Minutes of the Gen_ eral Assembly on the subject. Then, on the 15th ult. we defended those Minutes against charges made. That defense is now, most 'strangely, perverted into an opposition. To correct the perversion, and as most pertinent to the case as presented, we now say, that, as respects the Slave Trade, or the "volun tary enslaving" of men, the language of the Assembly, in the first few sentences of the Minute of 1818, expresses our views clearly. As regards Slavery, its evils, temptations, incidents, tendencies, the duties of parties connected with it, and of others toward it, &e., &0., the sentiments of the Assembly are ours. They are correct and, well ut tered. We hence adopt the whole Minute I in all its force. As relates to ecclesiastical duty toward masters, we approve of the As sembly's action of 1845. It seems to us Scriptural and wise. Next to the words of inspiration by which, in all their fulness, we would guide our faith' and learn our duty, we know of no language which better ex presses our views than, the documents re ferred to. Those who have not the Banner and Advocate of October 11, may perhaps find access to the Assembly's new Digest, by Rev. S. J. Baird, pp: 809-814. But, for a purer exhibition of our belief, we refer to God's precious Word, in Matt. vii.: 12 ; Luke xvii 7-10; ,1. Cor. vii : 21-24 ; xii : 13; Gal. iii : 28; Eph. vi : 5-9; Col. iii : 22-25 ; iv : 1; 1. Tim. vi : 1-8; Titus ii : 9, lir; Philemon 10-17; et, passim. Let the reader turn to the places cited. We do love to draw our principles from the Sacred Oraeles,.and to purify and confirm our faith by oft recurring thither. "To the law and to the testimony." It is the recourse of the man who loves light and truth. If this statement is not suffi ciently explicit, we know not what we can do more. Those who will pervert this, would pervert anything we Could say. Those who cannot understand this, have some failing about, their perceptive powers which it is not in us to cure; and for us farther to at tempt to discuss the subject, would likely be but- a war of words and a stirring up of strife, with no profit to Zion's unity, peace, and'purity. And now we request our con temporary, and our brother " Adelphos," and all others who may feel interested, to examine carefully the solemnly expressed and oft reiterated opinions of the ChUrch to which we mutually belong; and to read the Scriptures referred toi and to drink in the whole spirit of the Gospel. They will then know just what. we regard as an excellent expression of our sentiments, and will feel just as we wish to feel on this whole subject of human relations. The above paragraph is not so very, long but our contemporary, which hail shown so much interest in our opinions, can give it to its readers. Doubtless, we might say, it will be pleased to let them know just what the Banner and Advocate thinks; and, lest they might not have access to our files nor to the Digest, it may accommodate them with a full copy of the documents concerned; and then tell them whether it and its cor respondent believes also,- heartily, with the Assembly. THE BOARD OE DOMESTIC MISSIONS calls earnestly and loudly for aid. At the cry of the churches, the Board dispensed with col lecting agents. Now, see the result. Wants increase with the times, but the supply di minishes. What is to be done ? Pastors must bestir themselves. It is their work, and appropriately theirs, to have the thing done, and done rightly. Ecclesiastical. Rev. S. N. EVANS' Post Office address is elianged from Stillwater, Minnesota Terri tory, to Lane, Illinois. • Mr. WILLIAM B. CRAIG has accepted a call from the united churches of 13loomfield, Sherman's Creek, and Mouth of Juniata Pennsylvania. Rev. J. P. CARTER, hiving accepted the charge of the Ashman Institute, his Post Office address will be -Oxford, Pennsyl vania. Mr. J. R STRAIN was ordained by the Pres bytery of Carlisle, on the'9th inst., and installed pastor of the churches of Millers town and Ickesburg. Rev. A. W. MILLER, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has been called , to the Tabb Street church, -Petersburg, Virginia. Rev. Dr PALMER has " d his post slit The Closing Year. The year which is now drawing to a c' has been fruitful in great events. The tory imperfectly chronicled in our rr. during its progress, is more important th that recorded by the ablest historians other days. So far as history is the guide of our actions, those events are of Fara _ mount importance which are near to as ; and most intimately connected with the int.-r -ests of the Redeemer's kingdom. T hat kingdom furnishes the central idea in rela. tion to which the events of history are to b e viewed, and by which their value may i t determined. The philosophy of history. about which so much has been vaguely sa id , I is contained in that simple and sublime ger ,. eralization of the immortal Edwards, b, which he regarded the history of the 1 1,1 as the history of Redemption. In its t , the distinction between civil and religi, history disappears. Hence the histor : of the world must be re-written, if the rian would set forth the true cause 2 events, and the true end to which they tending. Thus the religious journal nishes to the present generation the 11.- A , important history, and to the future historiat the most precious materials. The two great political events of the pest year were the conclusion of the Russiar war, and the Presidential election. Thamah that war is a very bloody and painful chapter in the world's history, yet the result is a ma;- . ter of joy to the philanthropist and Chris tian. A check has been given to the ad vances of that colossal power, whose shadow gave protection to a superstition as baleful And intolerant as that of Rome. The pride of the followers of the false prophet has been humbled. Channels have been opened for the influx of European Protestant in fluences, which must more and more prop rt the way for the increasing success of missions whose continued existence is per haps the most interesting and important of all the consequences of the triumph of allied arms. Had Russia triumphed, our missionaries would have been driven from their fields of labor. Now, they are the hope of Western Asia. Let us thank God that blood has ceased to flow, and that the her alds of salvation are permitted to proclaim the joyful sound. Oar own country has passed through a conflict of opinion, interest and passion, unequalled since the formation of our gov ernment. Many feared that the result would be the dissolution of the Union. Many feared that the flame of civil war kindled in Kansas, would spread till it envel oped every portion of the land. All were called upon to mourn for American blood, shed by violence upon American soil. But the election has taken place, and order and quiet reign. To the asteni,h mant of the nations who are ignorant of the reverence for law and right which dwells in the hearts of a vast majority of the Ameri can people, the defeated party have promptly acquiesced in the decision of a constitutional majority. The waters of bitterness have, in a great measure, ceased to flow. Through out the country, there are unmistakeable signs that soberer counsels are destined to prevail, and that the fanatics of the North and of the South will have little influence in national affairs. There is good reason to hope that the in-coming administration will endeavor faithfully to uphold the supremacy of the laws, and thus command the api,ro bation, if not the active support of many who had no share in placing it in power. For our prospects for peace and order, and good government, let us render devout thanksgiving to the great Governor of the -Nations. - With respect to our own beloved Church, the retrospect of the past year is pleasant. No contentions haveldisturbed her peace, no departures from'the faith have given occa sions-for mourning. She presents her com pact, united, conservatively-aggressive front, and may thus be viewed in favorable con trast with almost every portion of the mili tant Church. True, we have to mourn the too frequent absence of the converting in fluences of the Holy Spirit; still, many precious souls have been gathered into the fold, and much has been done for the glory of God. Each family to which our sheet has been a visitant, has a retrospect of mingled jay and 'sorrow. Each family has bad a history unknown in a great measure to the wore without—a history of, the deepest interest and import. To some, it has been a year of joy. Pros perity has, waited upon their efforts. New relations have been formed—new objects of affection Secured. The family circle remains unbroken. The voice of gladness is heard in their dwellings. To others, it has been a year of sorrow. Disappointmentshave met their hopes. Sick ness has palsied the arm, and rendered even life a birden. Afflictions have caused weep and lamentation. There are vacant places by the fire-side. Voices sweeter than music to the ear of affection have been hushed forever. Let us remember that every event of Providence has a voice of meaning ; and a we call to mind all the way in which the Lord has brought us during the year; as n'e re-visit in memory the scenes of our and of our sorrows, let us inquire what duty of gratitude, or of humiliation, or subwis siou; or self-denial, or benevolence, the deal ingi' of Providence were intended to incul cate. If bounties bestowed upon us have been., wasted, and the afflictions sent us been lost, let us hasten to humble ourselves before him. Each one has an individual retrospect which will call for thanksgiving, and for humiliation. Before the year shall come to its close, let us carefully and solemnly review its record. How many occasions for graft tude will meet our view And yet, they passed, perhaps, without calling forth a sm gle expression of thanksgiving and praise. How wonderful the -mercy of Him who has
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