they could spare to our share, that Cambridge and we might support one in a settled way, which would make it much more comfortable both for a minister and for us, but this I find they can not do unless the Synod can send them some more help. It is of the Lord's mercies that matters are not worse with us, but I think it is amongst the evil signs of our times that there is so great a backwardness to come out to the help of the Lord against the mighty; there seems to be no want of help on the side of our opposers, they come from the General Assembly in shoals.

Mr. McDonald came, and left wife and children in Scotland, and looked out for a place in the city of Albany; Mr. Proudfit can divide the pulpit and day with him: but our friends seem very backward: if they would come and see, I dare say they will find there is work enough for them in the ministry, and if they can not live by it, I hope they may find means to get home again. I think, however, there is as good a prospect that way as when Messrs. Arnot and Galletly came over; and bad as our times are, I hope they will find as many friends too. All they will have to fear now more than in former times, will be from the new sort of enemies who are gone out from us.

Since, through the goodness of God, by means of the Synod, there has been some to support a testimony for truth, since the time that the first of their missionaries came to this country, I hope they will not be a wanting now. Such indeed, who wish to roll in ease, and seek great things for themselves, can not be expected to enter willingly into that part of the Lord's vineyard, where the walls are much broken down, where there is much rubbish, and the strength of the bearers of burdens much decayed, and enemies upon them from different quarters, all which will be found, I think in

our case.

But to a man endued with a suitable measure of the spirit Nehemiah had, such service will be undertaken and labored in with some cheerfulness, although there should be many reports to discourage them from enemies, and Gashmus to back these reports.

REV. MR. HENDERSON.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN FOSTER,

(L. p. 79. )

The following extract of a letter written by Mr. Beveridge

to the Rev. A. Bruce, of Whitburn, Professor of Theology for the General Associate Synod in Scotland, during his first visit to the State of New-York, and which was inserted in the Christian Magazine, Edinburgh, 1799, p. 347, is a striking specimen of the quickness and accuracy of his discernment, the correctness of his observation, and the candor of his remarks:

REVEREND AND DEAR SIR,

You will hear the state of our affairs from some papers which will be laid before the Synod; as also from the letters which have been sent to sundry persons at home.--I left Pennsylvania two months ago, and arrived, after a very long journey, at the upper parts of the State of New-York, where I now am, forty-eight miles north of Albany. I intend to return in the spring. Learning is at a very low ebb here. The war has hurt this, as well as other things. Nothing is wanting, however, but good teachers and proper institutions. The people born here are beings just like those born in Europe. That the climate makes any alteration as to the natural abilities of men, is an idle dream of ignorant philosophers. The people here are as ingenious, as persevering in what they apply themselves to, as any other class of men. It is surprising to see how good mechanics some of them are, without having serv ed under any master for instruction. They would be good scholars, too, if the means were in their power, and if they were directed to give proper attention to study; but one may sec numbers commencing lawyers, physicians, ministers, upon one or two years study: this persuades others, that more is needless. There are also few or none in any line of life who are not either concerned in land or in trade; and you know how impossible it is for men engaged in these pursuits to make any figure in learning. The books most common here are generally of the more modern and flimsy kind: old books, in which the more solid materials are to be found, are very scarce. Farming seems to be necessary to the subsistence of ministers here: it has hurt many, and ruined some of them entirely. I do not think the people are niggardly or ungenerous; I imagine that the fault has rather been in the ministers: had they contented themselves with small farms, somewhat like our Scotch glebes, and attended more closely to their proper work, they would have been more respected, and perhaps more handsomely provided for; but people seeing their ministers good farmers, and employed chiefly in that business through the week, are apt to think that little is due to them.

Though New England is not what it once was as to religion and sobriety, yet it is still preferable in these respects to the other States. Rhode-Island is and ever has been a wicked place. The other New-England governments are no wise like it. Their laws against Sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, swearing, and idleness, that forerunner of other vices, are excellent; but the war has prevented the execution of the laws, and occasioned a great overflowing of wickedness in some places. The laws of this State of New-York are not much calculated to restrain vice. Those persons who are at the helm of government are said to be wise as to mere worldly things, and manage affairs so that the people are not much burdened with taxes: but very few of them seem to mind any thing farther. I can not, however, but observe, that where the great Lord of heaven and earth has been acknowledged, temporal blessings have followed. The New-England States have but a confined territory, and a poor soil, compared with some others; yet they are still in a great measure the srength of the land. None of the other States are so full of inhabitants, so industrious, and so happy in their way of living.

The Scots are possessed of a great degree of national vanity; they think no body so good as themselves; and their own peculiar customs and modes of living, are, they think, preferable to any other in the world. Hence they are not always the most contented people here. They are full of the greatness of their families, the goodness of their country, the excellency of their laws, and the martial power of their nation. For my part, there are just two things which draw my heart to Scotland, though a poor country: It is remarkable as a seat of the church; there lies the dust of many of the Lord's saints, and there is a seed still serving him. For this cause I love the place; if I may use the expression, it will be much celebrated in the annals of heaven. Another thing which often carries my mind to the other side of the Atlantic, is my dear brethren in the ministry. I should love to live and to die among them. I have indeed been very happy in those who are here; but they are few. As to the people of Scotland, and all its goodness, customs, laws, and glory, I do make no great account of them as preferable to the people, &c. of other places. I find the natives here as agreeable, when they happen to have a tolerable education, as any other people. I will not, however, affirm, that I am quite free of nationality; for I have felt the disease working at times, and do not know but at some period I nay fall under a greater degree of it.

Dear sir, how glad should I be if ever you were to come over to our assistance. I suppose your wife and family would not stand in the way. I never heard that they opposed your will. But you do not love this country; perhaps you would be better pleased with it than some of those who have fondly admired it at home.

*

*

I am, &c.

NEW CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 30, 1784.

( M. p. 106. )

T. B.

Act of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania,

Agreed to at New-York, Sept. 29, 1796.

"Whoso.

The Profession of our Faith is no light matter. ever (saith our Lord Jesus) shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my father who is in heaven." It is by our so doing that we declare ourselves to be his servants and witnesses in the midst of an evil generation. As many are enemies to him, and others are indifferent about the things which are his, it becomes us to show our esteem for him, and our regard to all things which he has commanded, in the most solemn and particular manner we can.

Four things are required of us as to this Profession of our Faith:

The 1st is, "That it be the very truth we profess." Nothing being admitted in that profession save what is agreeable to the word of God; either directly expressed in it, or by just consequence deduced from it.

2d. "It is necessary that we believe with our heart what we confess with the tongue :" Otherwise let our profession be ever so good, we in making it, lie unto God with false tongues. It is the want of truth in the heart that leads men to indifferency about the truth they profess, and by degrees to apostacy from it.

3d. "This profession we make ought to be so stated as that it may, as far as possible, distinguish us from such as are enemies to Christ, or affect to be neutral in matters of truth and duty." If this expose us to reproach, it is the reproach of Christ, and we need not think it strange if we be, as he was, reproached and hated for testifying against the world that its deeds are evil. The more plainly we thus tes

tify against the world, the more vehemently will it be set against us. It will make little complaint of such as make little complaint of it.

4th. "We ought to be steadfast and consistent in this profession of our faith." It is to be, as it verily is, a matter of great weight; in which the glory of God, the edification of others, together with our own comfort and advantage, are deeply concerned. Light-mindedness and wavering in this can not be pleasing to God; nay, it must bring some tokens of his displeasure on us, whether we see them or not.*

It can not be denied by any who know the signs of this time, that there is a prevailing indifferency and coldness about the truths of Christ, and that this issues with many in damnable heresy or horrible infidelity. The church is in consequence of this so wasted, that it can no more be said to "look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;" (Song vi. 10 ;) but rather as described in Psalm lxxx, it is like "a ruined vineyard, enemies laugh at it, wild beasts devour it, and all who pass by make a prey of it."

We, who profess to join in testifying against the common

There are two things we are to adhere to, and persevere in, which yet the most people think needless: and these are, 1. The PRESENT TRUTH; and, 2. The

LEAST TRUTH.

1. The PRESENT TRUTH is what we are always to adhere to and persevere in. (2 Pet. i. 12.) There the apostle speaks of being "established in the present truth." If a man do not adhere to the truth that is at present in controversy in his day, he will adhere to no truth at all. The best evidence of integrity, is freedom from the present corruptions of the times and place we live in, and adherence to the present opposed truth, so as to swim against the stream when it is strong. Some think-what need we trouble our heads with a truth that is controverted among great and learned men? Really, sirs, there is hardly one fundamental truth in religion but has been controverted by the devil and his instruments; and if we will not cleave to opposed and controverted truth, we must renounce the truth altogether. Nay, the more that Christ and his truth are opposed, the more we should stand firm for him and it

2. "The LEAST TRUTH is what we are to adhere to, and persevere in, if we would be stable in the faith. He that is content to part with a hoof, is content to part with the whole of religion: as the true obeyer has a respect to all God's com mandments, so the true believer has a respect to all his truths. The least truth of God is a beam from the infinite Truth; and the man that will not adhere to the least truth of Christ, will adhere to no truth in the day of trial for the truth." (Ralph Erskine's Works, vol. 5. pp. 420, 421.)

"This stability in the faith excludes a doubtfulness and hesitation about the truth that we stand up and adhere to in a time of trial, (Rom. xv. 5,) 'Let every man be persuaded in his own mind.' A man will never firmly adhere to, or suffer for, that which he is not fully persuaded is a truth. I defy you to be a cleanly sufferer for the cause of Christ in a day of Scotland's defection, unless you can say, that you are really persuaded, that the covenanted reformation, doctrine, worship, discipline and government of the church of Scotland, is the work of God, and founded on the word of God, and you have no doubt in your heart to the contrary." (Ibid. p. 422.)