been put into their hands printed or written formularies of abbreviated creeds, from the following Presbyteries, as approved by them and recominended to the churches under their care, viz: Geneva, Buffalo, Cleveland, St. Joseph, Monroe, Ottawa, Peoria, and the Northern Assoriated Presbytery. Also from individual churches within the Presbyteries of Wilmington, Montrose, Columbia, and Maumee. The commissioners from Crawfordsville, Marion, Union, Holston, and French Board Presbyteries have informed the committee that there are no creeds other than the Bible and the Confession of Faith in use in the churches within their bounds. These Presbyteries and churches, be it observed, are from widely distinct portions of the Presbyterian church. But still the number of Presbyteries that have reported upon this subject and the number of these creeds received by the committee is obviously too small, for the committee or the Assembly to form any intelligent or just judgment in regard to the character of such formularies as may be in use in the great majority of the churches that employ them in admission of members. Your committee however, after a careful examina tion of all the documents put into their hands touching this subject, have come to the following results, viz:

"Ist. That, agreeably to the import of these abbreviated creeds, they are short summaries of the leading or more important doctrines of the word of God and the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

"2d. That these abbreviated creeds or summaries, as far as they go in the statement of doctrines, notwithstanding slight and unessential discrepancies in the terms nsed, are none of them at variance with the system of doctrine taught in the Confession of Faith. And although, in a few cases, they are not as full and explicit as might be desired, yet they are but summaries, and like the Confession of Faith itself, to be more fully explained and enlarged upon in the whole course of scriptu ral instruction in doctrine and practice.

"The committee therefore recommend the following resolutions for the adoption of the Assembly, to be sent down to all the Presbyteries.

"Resolved, 1. That from an examination of several abbreviated creeds or forms of confession from distinct and widely scattered portions of the church, being all that have been sent up, the General Assembly discover no cause thus far of complaint, alarm or suspicion in regard to the use of these formularies in our churches.

2. That it be earnestly recommended to all the Presbyteries, to collect and send up by their commissioners to the next General Assembly, copies of all the abbreviated creeds or Confessions of Faith in use by the churches under their care, that a more full and complete report may be had upon this subject.

"3. That it be and hereby is recommended to all the Presbyteries, to take special pains to have the book containing the Confession of Faith and Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America more generally circulated among the churches under their care."

"Some discussion arose on this report, in which Messrs. Waterbury and Vandeman, Judge Darling, Mr. Frost and others participated. The only point of difference of opinion was in regard to the best method of carrying into more complete effect the object aimed at in the resolution

of the last Assembly. A unanimous feeling seemed to prevail, that the disclosures so far made were most gratifying to all who love Zion and "hope all things" for her."-N. Y. Observer.

ART. V. Act of the General Assembly (Orthodox) in relation to the further Reformation of the Presbyterian Church.

Report of the committe on the state of the church, as adopted May 30th, 1838-The church, led and supported by the God of Zion, has, within the last few years, commenced a great reform, which had become indispensable to its very existence, as organized on the principles of the doctrine and order of its own constitution. The General Assembly of 1837, carried forward this reform, in several measures of great and momentous importance, for the details of which we refer to its records. The voice of the church uttered in a multitude of forms, and especially by the commissioners to the present General Assembly, is clearly and decisively in favor of consummating the reform thus auspiciously commenced. But a portion of the Ministers and Ruiing Elders, sent to this Assembly, forgetting or violating, as we apprehend, their duty to God and to the church, and choosing to depart from us, have, in connexion with other persons not in the communion of our church, constituted a new ecclesiastical organization, which they improperly and unjustly assume to call the true General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. To meet the present crisis at once, with the temper and spirit becoming our high vocation, and to preserve in it, and carry safely through it, the church committed in so great a degree to our guidance, in times of so much trial and disorder, the three following acts are now ordained and established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

ACT I.

Sect. I. That in the present state of the church, all the Presbyteries in our connexion ought to take order, and are hereby enjoined to take such order as is consistent with this minute, for the general reform and pacification of the church, and they are directed so to do, sometime between the dissolution of the present General Assembly, and the fall meetings of the Synods; either at stated or at pro re nata meetings of the Presbyteries, as shall seem most advisable to them respectively. And those Presbyteries whose commissioners to this Assembly have united with others in the formation of another Assembly, in the presence of this, and with tumult and violence in open contempt of it or who have advised the formation of said body, or adhered to, or attended it, as members thereof, after its formation:-or who, without taking any part therein, have, after its formation, renounced, or refused to recog ize this true and only General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, are hereby required to take proper order in regard to their said commissioners.

Sect. II. In case the majority of any Presbytery whose commissioners have acted as aforesaid, shall take proper order touching their conduct in the premises, and are willing upon the basis of the Assemblies of 1837 and 1838, to adhere to the Presbyterian Church in the United

States-then, and in that case, the acts of their said commissioners, in advising, creating, or uniting with said secession, or in refusing to attend on this Assembly, as the case may be, shall not prejudice the rights or interests, or affect the integrity of said Presbytery, or its union with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, as an integral portion thereof.

Sect. III. In case the majority of any Presbytery shall refuse or neglect to take proper order in regard to its seceding commissioners, or shall approve their conduct, or adhere to the new sect they have created, or shall decline or fail to adhere to the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, upon the said basis of 1837 and 1838, for reform of the church-then, and in that case, the minority of said Presbytery shall be held and considered to be the true Preshytery; and shall continue the succession of the Presbytery hy its name and style, and from the rendition of the erroneous and schismatical decision, which is the test in the case, be the Presbytery; and if sufficiently numerous to perform Presbyterial acts, shall go forward with all the proper acts and functions of the Presbytery.

Sect. IV. In case the minority of any Presbytery should be too small to consti ute a Presbytery, and perform Presbyterial acts, said minority shall still remain unattached in its existing state, until the next subsequent meeting of the Synod to which it properly belongs, which will then take order on the subject. Otherwise, there is a possibility that several Synods might be unable to constitute, if majorities of part of their Presbyteries should adhere to the secession, and the minorities attach themselves to other Presbyteries, or several unite into one, before the Synods meet.

Sect. V. The principles of this act shall be applied to churches, with their majorities and minorities-and to church sessions, as far as they are applicable. And the Presbyteries are hereby required so to exercise their watch and care, that, as far as possible, all the churches may be preserved: and where unhappily this cannot be done, then that the minorities in the sessious and churches shall be cared for, and dealt with on the general principles now laid down.

The Assembly is fully sensible that in divided Presbyteries and churches, every thing depends, under God, upon the promptitude, firmness, wisdom, and moderation of the friends of Christ, in this great crisis. In this conviction, the whole of that part of the subject which relates to churches and private christians, is especially commended, to the christian zeal, prudence, and fidelity of the Presbyteries and church sessions. In regard to the temporal interests of the churches, and the difficulties which may arise on their account, the Assembly advise that, on the one hand, great liberality and generosity should mark the whole conduct of our people, and especially in cases where our majorities in the churches are very large, or our minorities are very small while on the other hand, it would advise, that providential advantages and important rights, ought not, in any case, to be lightly thrown away.

Sect. VI. It is enjoined on the Synods to take order on this subject -to see that the principles here laid down are duly enforced-to take care that the Presbyteries act as truth and duty require in the premises -to make such needful modifications in the Presbyteries as their altered circumstances may require-and to promote, by all proper means, the speedy pacification of the churches, by delivering and saving them from the leaven of heresy, disorder and schism, which having so long

worked among them, is at length ready, by God's mercy, to be purged

away.

Sect. VII. The Synods in all cases shall be considered law fully constituted only when formed by or out of those Presbyteries recognized as true Presbyteries by this Assembly, according to the true tenor and intent of this act.

ART. VI. Reformed Presbyterian Synod in Ireland.

We have lately received several numbers of the COVENANTER, a very interesting Periodical, published in Belfast, Ireland; from which we extract the following:

At the last Annual Meeting of the Reformed Presbyterian Synod in Ireland, an adjourned meeting was appointed for disposing of unfinished business. This meeting was held at Cully backey, on Tuesday, 10th October, [1837,] and subsequent days. At twelve o'clock on Tuesday the Synod met, and was constituted by the Moderator, the Rev. SAMUEL CARLILE, with prayer. There was a good attendance of ministers and elders. The first subject in the unfinished business was a petition from the congregation in Linen-Hall street, under the care of Rev. John Alexander, Belfast. The first part of this petition, relating to the fourth term of Communion, had been disposed of by the decision of Synod at Moneymore: the two remaining parts contained requests1. That in one of the questions of the Formula, proposed to Licentiates for ordination, instead of requiring the approval of all the Acts of Assembly, from 1638 to 1649, the statement should be as in the Scottish Formula, "the Acts confirming Reformation;" and 2. That the Synod should direct petitioners whether the 23d and 31st chapters of the Westminster Confession are to be received according to the words of the Confession, or according to limitations mentioned in the Act of Assembly of 1647. A discussion ensued, relative to the expression of the petition, and to the objects which it contemplated. It was shown that in both items, the petition was chargeable with inaccuracy. The petitioners appeared not to have been acquainted with the Scotch Formula, as, after some inquiry, the expression in the question was ascertained to be the Acts ratifying and approving the Reformation." It was, moreover shown, that the Act of 1647 makes no mention whatever of the 23d chapter of the Westminster Confession, but only of a single article of the 31st chapter, which it limits; and that, consequently, when we adopt the Confession, the 23d chapter is to be taken as it is, in the plain and obvious sense of the words. After some discussion, a motion was unanimously agreed to, which had been proposed by Mr. Dick, and seconded by Mr. Fullerton-That a committee be appointed to revise the phraseology of our Formulas, proposed to ministers and elders at ordination; and the understanding of Synod was declared by the Moderator to be the Acts confirming and approving of the Reformation. The committee was afterwards named to consist of Messrs. Stavely, Ewing, Hawthorne, and Dr. Paul-Mr. Stavely, Convener. We regard the course adopted by the Synod, in this case, as proper and judicious, since experience justifies the remark, that changes, however slight, in ecclesiastical documents, which have been

long in established use, should be made after due deliberation. precipitately in a matter of this kind, affords occasion for suspicion, and may lead to dissatisfaction and schism. Every needful improvement should be adopted; but when it is known that, in other sections of the church, organic changes have been effected by means of changes in testimonies and formulas, we think it wise to act with much caution. In the present instance, while we freely admit that the change in the question of the formula is of little consequence, if the terms are rightly understood, we think good may be accomplished by the labors of the committee.

On Wednesday, the second day, the Synod was opened at 10 o'clock, several additional members, ministers, and elders, having come forward since the preceding day. The next item of unfinished business which occupied the attention of the court, referred to a decision of the Synod last year, upon a memorial from the congregation of Knockbracken. From the minutes of Synod of 1836, the object of the Memorial, and the Synod's procedure thereon, may be fully scen. The memorialists had expressed deep concern to witness, in some quarters, principles avowed, which appear to be opposed to the great doctrine of a national establishment of the true religion, and which have a tendency to draw the members of the church into an approval of the men and measures of the present civil administration in these lands. They had, also, "greatly lamented the prevalence of a report, that ministers of the Reformed Presbyterian Church should of late have joined hands with those who impugn the doctrine of a National establishment of christianity-and, moreover, ministers of the church have been publicly declared to be engaged in conducting publications, in which portions of our Westminster standards are directly denied or turned into ridicule— in which sanction is given to gross libels on the standards and practice. of the Reformed Church, and the article of a National establishment of true religion is opposed. For these reasons, "Memorialists earnestly request Synod to make a Public Declaration to the church, and to the world, of the doctrine of the church respecting the duty of nations and civil rulers, to whom the light of divine revelation comes, authoritatively, to establish the true religion, and to protect and support the church of Christ." In relation to this Memorial, the Synod, on the motion of Mr. Dick, seconded by Mr. Smyth, had agreed-" that our religious profession and ordination vows imperatively demand of us, in the present circumstances of the church, a distinct and solemn declaration, that while we decidedly disapprove of existing civil and ecclesiastical establishments in these lands, we cannot make common cause with any of the political parties of the day, or with such as deny and oppose the principle of a National establishment of the religion of Jesus Christ. That we refer this petition to a committee of Synod, with an express injunction to endeavor to have in readiness a matured report upon the subjects to which it relates; and that we affectionately beseech and warn all members of this church to abstain from all acts contrary to the spirit of the foregoing Declaration." This motion had been agreed to with much cordiality by the Synod, and a committee appointed in terms of it, Drs. Paul and Henry, and Messrs. Alexander and C. Houston, with their elders, alone having dissented and assigned reasons.

Mr. Dick, the convener of the committee, now presented a Declaration in accordance with the motion which was read by the clerk. As this Declaration, with the Synod's corrections, is given in another part