MU amur. 40 .11)J4Tritit, PITTSBURGH, MARCH 7,1857. $1.50, In silizouco; or im Clubs, :.sf. • 2Bp or, deliveitiNist reslilences of Subscri.. bore, $1.75. See Prospectus, on Third Page. REN NW A L S 'Should be prompt; a little while l!Perore the year, expires, Rota ,mia'e many tor b herds, supply. THE RED WRAPPER indicates that we . detlr• 'Wrens:mud: however, in the haste ,A 11 4 1 *.11111 shealdbaolifttftldiwa hops Ulft" ; Oland"will still !Setter/0i ns. REMITTANCES.—Sand payment :by waft handsoarisenuenvenient.. _Oa) .send by„ snail, enclosing with ordinary care, and troubling nobody with n knowledge of what you are &Meg.' lA* I large enieunt, send a - Draftier bin 41 1040.te5. , For one or two paper sound Daid tor,easell notes. , - TO MAKE CIidNGEO send postage stomps" or bettor stin t mend for AliOr, porno; ray $1 'rent . derontintonneref or $ll. rktartioilikeo ;lininboroe DIRECT all Letters .ssad•Comminutteationo to ARV. .Pittsburghi , . THE 13oktp: air TitusTKEs of Washing- ton Co4sgit ; stands 'adjourned to meet in Washington: on Tueiday, the 24th inst., ,nt 2 o'clock W. ATCHESOI4., Secretary. itEOEIFT /3 FOR THE BOARDS. Wil liams.and Mr. Childs, reeeiving,,agents for Miasions, &0., have furnished their . state= meats forlast:month,.but the prise Of mat'. t i er on hand 'defeiti,their 1;1'11)110k:inn till next week. . Donations to DaaviUe. The Pres tyteria;l I,:ireraid 'tells us of a egaiy of twenty to thirty thousand dollars, loft.to the, Seminary of. Danville, by Judge H. P. Brodnax; of Russelville, Ky.; ti,nd , of ten thousand acres of Arkansas land, worth fifty thonsand ' dollars, donated by E:H Porter, Esq., of .Me.mphia, Tenn. 'The evi dencefor the latter is giett as statements " floating through our secular. exchanges." We shall , bc pleased to learn that the Semi nary,Will receive both theie stuns; Men who love the 9hirch, and love their country; can not easily find a better use for . their orplus .funds,lhan in promoting Christian educati on. Reldvaist The church of LITTLE AIIGWIOK, at Shade Gap, Pa., has been 'enjoying a 'very gracious visit from the Ler& It was,grant ed under . the ministrations of neighboring laborers, the pastor, Rev. Wm. S. Morrison, being from home . ; on account of ill-health. There were fifty-two inquirers. More par 7 ticulars will be giyen.nex week:" jEASEY SHIM; PA.—The church at this place, under .the pastoral bare of Rev. Joseph Stevens, is enjoying 'a precious re vival. There have been about a kindred inquirers . , after, the way of life, of whom about fifty had obtained a tope and entered the communion of the church. May their all, and many others, their associates 'till lately in sin find a joyous 'home- with' the people, of ,God. , . tiAMBRIDGS, Orno.---See, in another oltunn, a notice of God's grace to his peg ,the gutpouring of his Spirit, and in .presenting to , his Beivice a new house`, wheretonieetliirvrotabipliere:-- rolitiaiti coiiitithOn. • • The readiness with which men- , even these who in general appear to be honest— will violate all the.principles of morality, in their • political transactions, is, adapted to amaze, us. .Ilow, is it , possible Congress men, State Legislators, Judges, Executive officers, 'down to stations the very least re munerative,' seem to' be 'infected, as: 'though the 'very-atmosphere' ofpolities were corrupt- ' even' the look of - desire toward offi cial position were tainting to a degree that few conld endure, without being eonta minated. The. late ,election, in Philadelphia, is, we fear, no more than a bad specimen, and not the worit4.either, of what occurs at the very fountain head of RepUblican, - freedorn —the chdice of rulers by, the, suffrages of the ,pitiple., Transactions., at that election have been-subjected to legal investigation, and the results are humiliating and Ellerin ing: The !Presbyterian' says': We hare seldom been more sensibly" impreised with the deipiaVity of the huutan heart than by a perms' of the evidence which, for a'week , or two past, has been elicited in one of the Philadelphia Courts, , in the investigation of alleged election frauds. ,Not in ,a single case',Merely, but in a multitude of cases, it hes bee made to appear that false naturalization papers, were manufac tured ; tax receipte_forged; false oaths taken; fictitious votes .reeeiied and recorded; mere boys, contrary' toplaw, admitted'' to vote; double ' and tripple votesgiven' by- the same 'person, and even the tames of dead min recorded as, voting. To all this the officers having charge of the polls, and sworn.to perform their duty faithfully, must . have been`privy, if, indeed;they ,werenot active in bringing about this state of things. The things noted. are certainly an evidence • of the deep depravity of the human heart; but why does depravity break outgo violently iii connexion -with the: particular L subjeet of polities? Itethereany defeot on the part - of the teachers of - morality ?' Ara Ged, and • his Word, and moral responsibility exeluded ,e,ntirely, from. political affairs ?, In exclud ing the: Pulpit, and the Christian, ministry, and the Religious press---4s they are most excluded=-from:justly party and paitizan polities,bavethese coniervators of the itrity , • of the social rust* ceased, in their inet,r -: , tionsi to apply moral rrrinciptes to this, par ticular bran& of human interests ? The subject is. Worthy of being investiga ted. the pnlpif has iightfay teak.' iiith ,every ; Llrg that matt, dPeablin that aspect in 'God.,teigju4ge ,This conduef--rin, 'the moral , aspei3t;3as , under:the moral law. -,. Are • reinistersfaitliftilin their nivn properephere ? And 46811 'itady, in political affairs, to do a all to the glory of God ?" Let •the man who would cherish the , Chris- tian's impe, be a`,CAristjap, man of p#noi ple, everywhere. .ohristianity hive more intnence,in may 'Social. , affairs, govern mental as well "as , those Lrelative to trade of dOtolied people. = Hcme and Foreign. Record. The March number of:our Official Church Journal, is before,us. We always look for it with interest, that we may learn what our Ageneies.A.re doing, ,and what they pro pose to do, and how zealous the pastors and congregations may be in' striving to furnish them with the capability of doing, by men ,and DOMESTIC MISSIONS The Record before us, presents very little to this''important Board. An in teratingletterfriiii Mr. Wells, Dubuque, is the 'only - missionaryintelligenee. ' - The leading thought urged by the Secre tary, in the February number, was the making Uf 'REPORTS by the Missionaries. This du ty should be promptly and fully discharged, and we commend the olheer -'who requires it. The - benefit of such 'Reports consists, not merely in the full statement of,facts and doings, by which • we, become acquainted with the value of the Scheme, but also in impelling the Workmen to be more diligent, pore observant of theinikence for good of 'the, means they use, and hence ,inore , zeal ous to improve and inore_ Useful in their, Work: ,A thorough system 'of reporting, will ever - lead' to. systematic operations and aealons industry. . . RECEIPTS in• January,. at. Philadelphia, .$5,618 ; at Pittsburgh, t,p6o ; at Loaisviile, $l,lBB. There were received in December, at Philadel phis,.sloos7B ; at Pittsburgh; 4825 ; at Louie s42B2. - • 't , ' tc , • ED` TCATICiN The need Famisis the'absorbing theme . in this Board: It used to be, the need of men, andthis need is t still, great, even more. SO thaw formerly .; but;this defect has, come to be less spoken of, 'since the churabeshave shown such a sinful 'penuriousness in con tributing to the sustenance of the compara tively, ,few who- are willing to consecrate themselves to the ministry. _We have:just -been devoting: a :dray to.instruction and' pray er, on this subject. May the Lord cause 'his' churches to feel the influence of the in strustion, and make , : thetnto , act in accor-' dance with the petitions they have presented.' It is not by Miracle that he answers , prayer,. ~ but by 'blessing his appointed- means, to the aeComplishing of their apPropriate end. RYCEIPTS .in jappary, at AilOelphii; $2,248 ; at Pittsliurgla, $207 , ; Rt Loa . isville $39. '"ln. I Dieifither there were received; at Philadilpida, $5;038 ; Pittsburgh, $306 ; at Louisville, $l5. FOREIGN MISSIONS Letters from India, 'Siam, and the Indian Tribesirepresent the missionary operations as about in their usual 'state.' The Chinese Miasions are thus spoken of Our letters are dated at Cantor!, November 13 ; Shanghai, November 5 ; Ningpo, Nivember 8. The destruction of the mission property at Can towis one of the -immediate vesulte of the out break between the British and the Chineseat the city,. a. matter . doubtless ,alreoy known to our readers.. The.mission houses, which were, held on a lease from a Chinese landlord, but had been rendered suitable for the' 'regidence of foreigners, at considerable'expense to the mission, were both' consumed consumed by fire,. communicated from the burn ing of one of.the gates of the, city. The furni ture, books, and other personal property of the missionaries, as well as litioks and other things belonging to the Beard,_were all destroyed. The pecuniary loseis considerable, probably between `54,000 and , $5,000; but the real loss is much more ,serious, ,as many,of the books, and especially., of the manuscripts, Wereofsneh a nature as cannot easily, be replaced ;'While the schools; , hespital and chapel services Were all broken tip, and the - missionary work at Canton engreli-ausaatuita. - ....Tha...b...0....m-nart-reznoved - re - Macao, where they ;had rented a honseas it was _considered quite uncertain when they would ,be able to' resume labors 'Canton. ' They hoPad to -remove 'seine of their scholars .to Maeda._ from the :missions at the North,"welhave . also discouraging :news, though of a different kind—Abe failure _of .health and,probable return of severelmembers of 'the ,missions at Shanghai and Ningpo to this country.'lt: as expected' that Mr. Wright; Dr. 'aid Mrs. McCeitee, and Mis: Nevins would soon embark on their voyage home. :Mr. and Mrs. Nev insha.ve consented to , ,this -temporary separation, under a deep sense of duty in view of the missionary work at their station, but yet feeling tacistleanly 'the trier. She have the enrol/any: howeVer, of her-missionary-friends , on board the ship ; and it is ,hoped the voyage will remove the bronchial ,complaint, so that she may soon go back to Ning po v ‘ otheferise, Mr.' Nevins will _return to -this country.., Dr. MeCartee's health. has been so much impaired by his long residence in China, that a, visit to this country could . mot longer ho -deferred witheafety... Mr. Wright's health con ;timies,to be feeble, yet he was able. to do, some work, .. and would not, leave. his station if he _could remain; his return was nod decided On, though hiS physician adviked it These dis :conraiemitite in the Missions to China :fall upon .the Church, perhaps--to rebuke her past bike. Itarmness, and at any rate to call forth her prayers. In the end it will appear, we . trust, that poorpurPoseln them is . a gracious' one to'the 'poor Chinese. - May the - peeple of Ood be led to thel'a deeper concern , for their salvation I ''DONATION to the -Board. in , Jetruthr y, $22,285 ; in December, $9,586. • ' PUBLICATION. This Board is devoting its energies, with commendable alacrity, to the• impiovement of, its ,stock of Juvenile- books, including Music books. In our Literary Notices, from week' to week, • may be found 'their names , and character. We de not ask' the Board to do everything in a day, but • trust thatt the time. is not far distant, when we shall be furnished with a neat,' < cheap, and good. edition of our Confession of Faith; also, with , . , a Commentary, cipecially on the New Tes. Lament, adapted to our Church's wants;'raki, with a truly excellent,Reference Bible,suc ae some industry and a sound judgmen. could readily furnish. ' These are a few O II the,,clesiderala, at :present . _ - , DpNeTtoys from .Tanuar , #.lsth to February 13th $1 . ,457 ; proceeds of sium in:J'anuaiy; $2,031 CHURCH EXTENSION The one page in the *Record, allotted t this new.but important Agency, •is well fil ed.' We wish every Christian would givq something—it may; be only 4 little—but something to build houses where God an men may meet; to his praise'-and thsir in j struotion, and regeneration, and growth, an j JoY RECEIPTS in Asuery, at st. Louis, $451 at i'hiL adelithis t $801; at Pittsburgh, $172, An Improvement. - A now ,Apiscopal church. has been or; ; ganized-,in.. Philadelphia, to .be under th; t i `pastoral charge'of Raw Dudley A.`. Tyug. notice of the projected building says : 4. To afford permanent accommodations to a is 'enterprise 'e`ommenced 'under inch ifavoiali , ; auspices, it is proposed to erect church in ti Western part of the city, capable et c9mrta:tabi seating about ;three thousand, persons. No„aq tenipt §e made, at arelitteetnral display,tan the' lauds usually 'expended ',in oiimmeritatiet brill ` be disposed in making' the building:equall; -attractive all :parts, and to preserying a largil portion of the seats free.' " • .• • ThII3WO 'rigar4 - as quite , an imprdventen in church anihitatture=—Vrovided'anly Oa .111 E- SB V T.: . .iIiTA:N - 77131N7N.k.k - AN - ii"005010 kl: the size and arrrangements shall be such that all may sit comfortably, and hear dis tinctly. Splendid churehes—" first class," if you please se to call them—nurture pride, cherish alienations, exclude the poor, and, prejudice the masses. There should be, always, good taste and arrrangements `for comfort; excluding meanness and parsi mony ; but things : should , be so ,that_ the poor and the rich would Meet - together in true Christian fellowship. We are not so much in favor of baying a Vasa of "free" seats, but neither shoUld there be " pur chased" seats. • The bttilding - Should be a frze-will offering to the Lord, and the expense of maintaining the worship 'should be duly apportioned, that each -might give as the Lord bad prOspered• him. A oerifenie4 way, and liable to perhaps as feiv objections as any o her-which is practicable in our ina 'perfect state, .is, to have' the necessary an nual cost of Maintaining the ordinances, as sesied on the seats; the' amount varyiiig from a pretty high rate'en a few, to a very low rate on many.; 'or'tho Preibyterian banner axid•Advocate The •Prinoeton Review on Infant Mem- bership. [We 'give' a large portion Of ourr editorial columns this week, to an article of vital im portance: Does our correspondent rightly . understand the reviewer? If he does, an. erior`laa leen broadhect in a high quarter. But, whether 'there be in the Review. or not,' , there 'error in a qixititer still higher --error ln'; the Church, •in the pradtical treatment and woful 'neglect' of. her baptized - children Discussion is needed. It Inky, lead to an - awakening.=:;En.] ME. EDlToll:—The:importaitee of this subject, , and the idea of theChUrch in the article before ur; takerr 'connexion With , the source from'whiek it emanates, make it worthy the special attention! of your i ceders. If Eunderstand the doctrine, it is .that-the children of believers are not merely members of the visible Church, as"" born within its"-pale,", but are presumed to be ." members of the invisible Church," and are so to betreatect, and taught to regard themselves—" receiving Christian recogniiina" .as> such, &c.; p. 22. That their status of Church membership' is quite the) - same with , that of any professing= Christian, 'that is, they are to be "presumed to be regenerated'snem ber's of the invisible •Church, until theipriive by their conduct the contrary`; p. 22. And this is 'distinctly argued' on the principle that "'member ship, in the' visible Church is founded 'on a Pre sumptive membership in the invisible, (the case with adults) until its subjects, by, acts incom-: patible therewith, prove the contrary. The case is precisely analogous to that of adult pros: 'lessors ;" p. 23. But, 1. Can that be fairly said to be,:the pre sumption_ of the case which, so often is disproved by the facts ? 2. If 'they are presumed be regenerate, when: and how did they become so?'By Bap tism ? This leads to baptismal regeneration. This is not held by the writer. But 'holding, ths, first position, we. might be driven to the second, or 'might have to accept; it as substantially ;in volved. 8. What is to be the;effeet of teaching our chil4 Aren that they are presume& to - be members of the - instate Church; as - truly as -their Christian parents, or any' other` member, *holm:pier/oozed-to 'r;generate f Will they not; infer: "We Wive 'Abraham to.dur father," and spurn the the/light of any neceesity for_a_change of heart? le not - Jutiaizing ? Is not the whole tendeney''of thin doctrine to bring them to the Lord's table 'with no other 'qualifiCationg tint a knowledo'of the Catechism and' Creed, and a decent ex.: Whir ? The aniraus of the article to this effect is observable J p. 16., '',Our fbeology has tasked; and often exhausted itself on topics suyeetive, re- Alive to regeneration and - conversion, While it has been more , meagre in''reference to the objective, Divine and heavenly truths, which are -the ali ment of, faith-and-love." Have w's then, gone too far in questions of regeperatiOn and conversion, and does the, article propose to find out an, easier way, relaxing these vigorous,requirements? - Hence the, training here-held to be due to, our children, is to educate them to this Idea, that they and the children of God, and not " by nature children ;of wrath," (p.• 24;) "to think,-feel and act as the children of God "-=---" to bring them to a "conscioustual or their rank, obligation's and,privi leges• as -Members of the family of - God,- and-in moulding their habits of thinking, .feeling, - and acting into, harmony 'therewith," (p. 25.).. The ldeu'of the Church to Ofs . setae effect, is striking ly presented on p 22. "That'the true Church of God 'is 'made up of those whom he has chased with his own blood, And that:those who, to the eye of a jadicious charity, are of this num ber, are visibly of this Church, i. e. are the Church visible." Are then, all thoie who are in charity, reckoned to be regenerate; to be set;down as members of the visible Church 2 Where, then, is the .outward pale ? Where are the ordinances ? Does " a judicious charity," Then constitute men menihers of ,the visible, Church ? This does, in- Aced, ignore the visibility with a witness. And how are 'church meMbers unmade by this same idea of the Church We are •told if this pro feasion of religion- (adult) -be, accompanied by heresies or scandals, which render the profession of it .unworthy of belief, theti it does not•render those whomadeit,- visible Christians, or visibly :mem bers of the Church of "God." Is, then the -visible membership, that the connexion with, the visible Chui'eb, unmade , by, heresy or 'scandal, without' any formal action of the :Church ?. Then, indeed, Church meinbership is made by: judicious charity or unmade by scandal; .without any Chureb:'pale,• or' Chureh ordinatthe, and•ihe Idea '`af the 6:lure/ale redueed tortlie Church as an Idia! But furtbec Obi point; it is held, (2)`" tbose incapable of such. credible profession may be visibly members of the Church by virtue of God's revealed Covenant, or promise to be their God." But is this prBmise so absolute, that we are war ranted to draw from it the conclusion, or even the " presumption,", that all the children of believers are members of Ihe invisible Chitroh? Is it not rather that these infants are born .tutint hers of the visible. Church, and are infant members of the outward body, with promises of God specially made to them, which are to be regarded as their ,peculiar inheritance and, Christian - birthright; promises of God's blessing on their Christian train ing ;- of God's Special favor •to tliem,-,heash)g their early cry to hini, and speciallyready to:be sought' and found of .-theral And -is not the saving`resultmadw'to depend so.nraoh: MI the parental .fidelity during the: years; ow to make our - presumption able 'dependent gretitlyTon their faithfulness. (Bee the 'Doctrinet of ;`our Church.) By the right^ use ofthie E4dinanee,' the grace prombied is not only 'offered. bid really exhibited-and Conferred' by the HolY 'Ghost to eueh (*fiether of age' or infants) as - thgt'atace beiOngeth unto according tot7ee counsel of 'pod's in his appointed brad." Csinfesti, CIL 28. • question at isine - as to theiteituB, is quite the same as in the controversy witVadvoe a ,t s of baiktisinal feget(eration." It ''iiaition whither the' . ref4i4 to, are (spit / 40' m k orient/id, or wi l etliii; 64 are to taught:and trained with a view to their becoming so Y Now, _if we are to hold them, according to - the whole presumption of the case, " okildren of 'God," as well as children of the Church," we shall not teach them to seek a change of heart, for that , fir already epreiamed..-tWe shall mot-need -to grey for _thejy„ E regeneration, for, that has,prel, sum) tively taken place: • ' The writer of this article does not tell us -uhether. this-f .presumptivetnembership" of the 'C'harch. hue come from the bap ism, or from the parental connexion. If, from the bap tism, then, as we have seen, it inferehaptismal ;regeneration, or: leatis• directly to it. = But this is not taught. But, a doctrine more mischievous, baptismal regeneration, if we under stand it, is to be barred, for then they are born " Children of God,"Farei are not 1 4 by nature chil dren of 'wrath; 'evenus ethers.”. But does not GNPs • promise to onr.,ehildren in ,their highly favored position„ ctil i for the parental fidelityin regard to the ordinance, and in regard to the training which - theiAlxisinie engages: "Iknow Abrahain that he Will command his 'children and ids 'household after liiinouid they shall` keep the way of the Lord to din justice,andjudgment; that the ',Ord maybring. : upon •Abraham all ;that he hath proutieed.! 4 , Wei find on p.; 7; a very accep,- table statement Of : 401, aloft', though not at 'all in keeping with what fellows " These covenants and promisee are, that God Will be their'God ; that he will so put the blcss . ings Of salvation within their reach or possession, that they cannot fail of them, without first spurn ing and disowning their, birthright.". But this correct idea of the, status.at once becomes, con fused with the Other„ and, erroneous one that we ha;re noticed, addk, theee Children . are de clared 'tidy, which'implies that in their visible Standing and' external treatmhnt, they are to be accounted such,f till :t,hey prove , theinselies other. wise, and that ,henee' they are to ' be baptized." Does the' term ",holy!'. here, mean spiritually holy, as the author ,plainly understands that they are , to be accounted, or does it mean federal ly " " as, opposed to the contrasted term " unclean.?" The denhision appem4 again on pp. 23,'24, " All' tidal iniPerts nothing lesS than a presu4tionthat ttgiii Children of the March. lin, AND with. rnovs..ro ..2in ,, THE 'HEAL- CHIL,DREN 'OP Goo, until they dispel that presumptionby their own misconduct." *nt : on p. 24;. it would seem the. Presumption is, that the things sealed:lynx also be'"bestowed and aeceited—tili the contrary is shown-this is a different thing. Hew ddes'this future tense "win agree - with qbe present, "ARE, and will , prove be-Y" And isinot the i!„presumption," after all,: this, that God will bestow the blessings, no,t,thnt,,th.ey, have been bestowed and that the children aux regenerate—members of the invisible Church ? Of course it is not supposed that, the &latrine of from grace;' can , be held 'by the auther,"iis 'lteeMinting for the fre quent disproof lof this••prestiniption • abeut *the spiritual ,membershiP of infants. - On p. 3 we find "itlie view of the ritual school, ineluding Remaniats o and Romanizing Protes tants," stated as follows:.."Whoever is regener ate, and baptized, is a member of the Church, vis ible and invisible, to all intents and purposes. Il• . • , He is to be aCemined - and dealt with as such. He is `fully bound to' every duty, and entitled to every privilege inthe housed God, of which his age and eircumetance,s, •admit," Strikingly, like this, however, turns out to be the author's own,view,; that is, whoever are presumptively regenerate (as' the infant childrenothelieving parents) and baptized, are meinhers of the Church, visible and invisible, to'all intents' purposes. ' "They' are to be accounted and'thialtwith is such.'They are entitled.to every Privilege,:and bound to .every office of obedience,-&e,,, - which are appropriate to their age and cironmstances, as members of the Church ;" p, 22. author's position is hold to be supported, (1) ' - "liyithe l ftdmitted fact that the chiltlien - ot - ecor s'peopie;: Wh'e irrrancy; members of the ChitioiC: invisible, and- heirs of salvation." But, -if .this argument means any: thing, it proves too much.. It 'litres that; inas much as all the ehildren of believing parents if they die in infancy, are. Jtayed, ; (heiFs , of salve tion,) therefore, all" children' of Believing parents must bemetniciers 61 the invisible Cherch e., regenerate.' 'Nit,- if thin so, 'Marty of them, who do not comet° Jive as, Christians in adult life, must .have fallen _from. grace., And this is precisely tie .shift to which " the ritual school "'are are driven, to, itivid, Die absurdity of baVismal regeneration—or on infant measure of regeneration—" according to age and eireum- Th. author;: in; t aosistr , ', piiisiagee ' interspersed throughoutEnliAtb, ~lhpidit:•rfgc n orrect views. But they are mixed throughout with 'very crude and incorrect notions, as wet7fink , as though he were writing on' both tides' of "'tie question. We are willing to take high views of infant member ehip,Ahlt they . are-" children of the Church," awl** parental ; fidelity may be expected cer inhdi. to become "the children of God." We are willing to hold that in their minority they are *kded and treatedin their ,parents, and that *here' they die in infancy they are saved in the "covenant relation. Bid this hi' quite a different thing from the presumption Of4their being mem bers of the Church invisible;,the. same as in 'the case, of any Christian,..i.,;.&, i . etigenerated: The presumption of this would lead in the wrong di rection, both in case of the child and of the parent"; leading both to settle detiii upon the idea of the status, as presumplfivekreette already, in stead of leading,te,mast he - pail; and earnest . la bor, to,that end, j: Our.,Standt i tida declare that they are " bora loiV/ir/ : fts oak of the,, visible Ohureh." Thiti This articl e hOlds ble Church—that Vs; ittliese profeasing parents are believers. And' to 'evade • the , natural conse ,quence of administering to,them the,Lord's Sup per, it is held (p. 22,) that they . are ,memhers of "the invisible Church only after thpir.measure—just as they are members of " civil society " without yet being entitled to vote • Of t e,o&-Sei then,"ib4 'come to the- i)faduie ineinbeisbip by'oge,' and 'corne to the Lord's table at mattirit3i, not because, of a change of heart, but:because of a change of age. . ; . . • This is the naturalism of this doctrine. The writer takes the ° declaration of our Confession, that thoiare'honi Within 'the i?istible Inds, as „tire supposing that they are' born Witfibi the invisible Lpale ! p.'22. That is, their' viable membership implies, presumptively, their • invisible member ship'; and.they. aro baptized .beequee• they' are Tre s/Ted to be regenerate;" or, rather ! holy by birth-- nRt federally holy; but members of the invisible 'Church !' Instead of teaching regen eration; it would 'seem, at timeli;tilat`the Church .visible, •and 'its ordinances; do not enter into the writer's Account ; and the idea, ?of-the Church is, therefore, that of, the Chnrckinvildble, which is quite a different ," idea," front,,that found in our Standards, on this subject., ; . 0 4 1 ‘otteir , AtitfOrY ' (it; p. 2to more oleixl,T the :Eame .l 136i411.418;'i;' • assertinrit46 . dutY; &rid priiilege', , 'on reaching, the yews, .of discretion, to come to the 'Lord's table, • ,nnleas by heresy,Agnorance, or scandal, they, rebut this prefflunptio,V'r „Bat look at the paragraph . Children born Ttildn the pale . ' of vzsintx Ciruice, and to ,God in bap - tiara:l:re under the itiaDectiai - and itivernTent• of the Church, and are to tukaubit : to read, and repeat the Catechiste, the APostle's gie,Lord's Prayer ; ,ta ; ,pray, ami•to abhor el.niit?.teitrAilool, and obey the t .Lorcl i 4esue °bruit. And ariwn • they come to years of &sore- Vett, triey from oceillial; ippiar sober and steady, and to Harr, SUFFICIENT NNOWL !MOB TO =SW - RN THE LORD'S BODY, (not Cate ohetical knowledge alone; - but eiperiMental, of course, he s me as is required:of adults,) they ought to be informed it is their duty and rzivi lege to. come to the Lord's Supper?' — Dees the. Directory presume any such , thing as that they are - menibers of the invisible Church by birth? It presum:fs no such thing, bht rather the con trary; ; and direct to such,hopeful training as shall' make them to bdcome each with God's prom ise I blessing. To this end it regards the seal- of his covenant, as the precious encouragement of the belieirer, confirming to us his prthnise as good for 'our c ildren, if we be faithful and believing; Mid regarding their position `bi - thiliostun - of the" visible Church, as of the highest benefit for this end, and 'warning us against any such , tg presump tion "- as that they are born members of the,in visible Church, it warrants, us to ,expect that God bless our Christian training, and even the ordhance, if he please, for their satiation. 'The doctrinequestion' is notthat Which Irma taught by ''D ~ ootor'' Miller. (See Miller on Pres. and Baptism, p.4s.)'And we are constrained to say, that it makes out the status of the, infants of believers to be the very same as is held by the "baptismal .regeneration" school, with their , practical proviso for the presumption of the case, Ora falling fromgrace: 'Only; instead of treeing this. presumed membership. of the'invisible Church to the ordinance of baptism, it broaches a still more nn-Scriptural and absurd" theory;that it comes try birth. What next , A. 8.. , I'. S.—Since writing the above, we have 'deed the inquiry; of ‘" M.," in the Preabiterian of Feb. 21st, expressing tite — sante' sUrpritie as Our= seitres, at the ilectrine of the article. Andin re=- ply to this inqttiry, lave 'just' read. in' the Presbyterian, ; of ~ F eb. -28th, it:most remarkable "Explanation," by the Amnon. It shows awon derful facility of taking both sides of a question; or else of writing With astonishing ambiguiti. SUrely it'is net 'thus that we'are tc; git light'ort solreat a subject, 'When a loie'article is needed to expound the terms' of `the first, so•that they shall not convey. to the common reader, , a thictrine the Very opposite to, that which the:writer. holds, But this attempt is utterly futile to explain away the position of the first article. In . the Review, , (p." 28; last-line,) he says, " All this imports nothing less thana„PrasuMption, thatthe children of the Church ARE,, AND. will; to-be,,the real children of:God; untirthey dispel that presump tion by their-own misconduct. The "Explana- .. flan" says, at the outset,, that "the article in the Review founds the membershiP of the children of Christians in the visible Church', on the pre f3umption that they are;'ds, will proire to be the •children' of God, or - members of• the invisible Church." Are these positions identical•? Can ; the author have failed, to apprehend the differ ence?: Can he have eld V h, both He probably holds`to the latter. But it is perfectly plain that heWrote his article establish the former—con.' trary to the true doctrine of the Scrip't'ure, anii of our Standards, and to the plain . facie of the' 11. No one doubts that . Anfants are capable of Regeneration:, But the _author's , grievous error is in presuming them Yo be'regenerate by virtue of their believing parentage ; in, holding "the presumption that they air, izndwilt - Pito*E'them.`" - eeivee TO -BE the real children of God." " M." drew. a correct inference ; • because, if -they were born sinners, though of, believing : parents, the whole presumption is, that they continue so, un til therels some evidence to the contrary. For their iegeneration; therefore, we lahoi and pray, present theth in baptism;and plead God's prom.: ises`to the, children , of 'the covenant," in the hope, all along, that they uriabecome regenerit but not in the " presumption that they ARE, AND will prove themselves so." lirs do wit hold themes aliens, but as, in the' pale of the visible Church, 3 0t,h_ s p ec i l 4 sidvautames-tizidiAligatiens. 111. The burden of the explanation, however, • tarns upon the antlior'a "logical" ' use' of the terms, " prestniptive," and " . presumption." In his usage; the word "presUmption" is not cor respondent in meaning with the verb "prettime;" that 35, the preauetirt,g ,of:;anytking' does not amort , to the same thing as the presuTption, it; saki that is,,we are to understand by his pre : snniPilcin, (in thia - alum) oily " men(." But hoW muck'doeethiaineid the doe- • trine of the R,evieta 1 which" is "nothing less thin the presumption, (or: charitable. JudgmentAl) that the children •of the Church axe% AND wutl , PROVE TO BE, the real childjen of God?" • T,i4 is not merely the slip of a conjunction mad" .; for' : " or ;"" feir herein' tke vertpoint of, the first article. He itiote'i Dr: 'liittis; *(To: line four,) to show that by " presninptiOn," , he mean ".supposition." Le:this, then, we ask;the ." pre sumption " s or.-1 , . supposition," that these children Aix, and will preys to be, regenerate, That the author has seen hilmistake, and would explain it away, is apparent in the labored exposition of the language used;. wherein the•dieVidue'Of' the Re= view is, if possible, to be explained away with the terms. Now,. "the presumption." means "snch a charitatile,,judgment as shall lead us. externally to treat and deal with them, as if,,upon theproper, discharge of parental vows in , due Christian training and nurture, THEY • WOULD, ' TLIBOUGHI6HABE: ' form to -the principles of Christiatirti, till' the contrary appears." This is certainly a very difl ferent ,doctrine from • that maintained in the view, which makes the presumption of member ship in the invisible Church quite the same, in case 'Of theie infants, as of professing . adultsi that is, , of course, a presumption, ("II Charitable jinignient,") that they ARE REGENBEATE until they skew, by their misconduct, the contrary: • And, strangely enough, this is re-asserted-in the,Explana tion ! , Query-W hat status of the " author," on the statu.s'of • •"" A. B. • For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate. 'Testimonial. ' • ' . . 4EII cEDITOIi: —On the' occasion of 'the- recent .diatkof, b , student of the. Bit. Union- Seminary, the Prof essors and students appointed a Commit tee to draft the following Obituary notice, forlhi3 oolunms, of your paper's Dten--:On February Lit, 1857, of consumption, it 'the residenCe of her father, Mr: Moo* of Milton, Mahoning County, Ohio, Mrs: . Mani 'J. Turrasrox, in the twenty-third year of . her age. • Mrs. Thurston was the wife of -Mr. Thu rston, who also deceased some 'two years ago. Shelad been married only eight months, when ,she vitas left a sorrowing widow. Thus throirn Upon. her own.resources, she diligently'and Conecientionely sought an education, so that she might not only maintain herself comfortably and honorably by teaching, but also be the more useful to'tlie youth, that interesting portion of, sooiety,,who are v t.he hope of our country, the Church, and the world. She succeeded in the pursuit of seience, a de gtee satisfactory to her teachers and friends,:and encouraging to those , of limited • means . or of trembling heart ; and had success4dly discharg-, ed the duties of a teacher, when .disease of th'e lungs consummated its insidious ravages, and her regenerated spirit, long since dedicated . to the , Lord, was dolled-home-to alriunion with kindred hearts gone beforef, „,•-• While a•meniber o f the 13eminury, she wiiiihigli ly-resfeoWd by her tetiChaitilikr-fellovi;ititchiroti, who now deeply sympatkife with her friends and relati:es in their bereavement • ' -She was a faithful 'and, consistent mem - bei.' the, Presbyterian Church, and died in the! tri ,umphs of a living faith. Her confidence was Him who said " let.thy ' widows trust in .Almost her, last wordel4mere,,".o I Jesnis iscmy friend,!" Thus another aiforeditnd Witness Nas t ' teetified, even unto the , dyinglmoinenkto the .Irntlifubieis ,of the. Christian Religion, which alone eanslualify ne'fo Hie rationally, and to die in the h op e a a - better , resurrection. ' • 3 6 .111 E. ,Sec'y. , J. G. Wnsav o glivn,- 21rt. Unidn Sonftittry, Pe - 6. 28d, 1867. =a For the t Preabytertan Bander and Advocate Revival at Canibridge,.ohio. • Mirg.N.NEv tr . reshyterian Chureh of re ambridg6 4 llits been; and we trust is still enjoying some manifestations of ihelfteiallffeWertee God, which, we are happy to communicate, if it will be any cause of rejoicing, or ground of encouragement to Christians in general. This congregation erected a church edifice during the past year, and assembled on the third Sabbath-of January,l.Bs7,. to dedicate it to the worship of God. We were , led to continue meetings through the week, in view of a communion season on the follow ing Sabbath, -at which limoi•perceiiing a growing interest, we protracted the meet ings until the evening,of the first Sabbath:of February,. Which ;resulted in the receptio n . of twenty-six persons into the communion of thOehnich; 'twenty of whOrn'were received Upowthe - profession of - their faith in' Christ: The dedieation sermeu lvas 'preached by Rev, ,J. D.,„Smith„ of Columbus.,. , During the meetings, we, were indebted to, Rev. Samuel VindleY, Jr:;' and, Rev May= for'valnable aiii. Some are - still quiring "what tl3ey, ,muk to be saved ;" and we rejoice in ,this evidence that the work still, progresses.: For tie PielolBlllli Banner and Advocate - . M. EDITOR :“ . -Permit ice, through , the medium of your paper, to acknowledge, the receipt of a Certificate of Life-Membership of the Domestic Board of Missions; by the 'contribution - of 'Sid Second church, of Pittsburgh. 'Apart from, the imporpance of the objects contemplated. by this valuable branch' of Christian enterpritie, theta' is great, pleasure, „especially as:we grow being remembered by others, and inhaving i our Barites. `;.` associated with' efforts pit: c oinote' the Maetees cause..? .4 - AvD.-Castinnt.n. Aral* Grove, Marsh. id, 1857. Ecelesiastical. MR. G W. :31.icamiz was ordained and in 'stalled-osta' ortheuriited congregations of. Glade Run and Concord, by the 'Pres: . .'bytery of Saltsburgi at Glade Run, on the, 20th, of ,February. Rev. , J. rti , thers presided, proposed ,the constite 7 tional A uestions, aria delivered the charge te 7 the borigregatiOns."' Reir: Alor= gan- preached- the rsermen; from lank. v 5,6., Rey. F. . Orr gave: .the- charge to the pastor: 4iis Post Office address is Dayton Pa. Rev. Wm. MAYRARD's Post Office address is changed from Carnbridge Ohio, to Co lumbus, Ohio. Rev. JF N.vrcra - was installed pastor of Fall Creek 'lila North Hendertien chrirciP es on'the'l2th‘ arta ' ter,.1856; hy Conitoitteeof , I Presbytery, ,to wit.: Rev.- 1 1. N. , •Candee,;. D. D anthßev. Thomas S Vain. : Rey. ,W. J. ALEXANDER'S ,Pofit OffiCe ad-: dress is changed from ;Perry Venango County, Pa., to .Canonsburg, Washington County, Pa. gaiters Oorreafiondefice. ' - NEW Youß, Feb. 28,. 1857. - M t Enrron, :—The Burden ,case has directed 'attention "t 6 the looieriese of the marriage laws of this Btate, and a bill is already .before the - Legislature for-'their ` modification. 'As they now stand, ...parties can marry themselves by simPly, declaring their :purpose to be man .and "wife 'in the presenbe 'of 'a witnes s. This provision . was intended to