competent to us, for the restoration of the Hebrews to the city of the Lord, and for the conversion of the heathen over all the earth: Yet diligently persisting in abstaining from all manner of inconsistency with the designs of this covenant. 4. That, persuaded of the sovereignty of the Lord our God over all the earth, and believing that the Father has appointed the Messiah to be King of kings and Lord of lords, and assured that all nations shall serve the Redeemer, we shall endeavor, with faith and with hope, to maintain the doctrine of Christ's headship over the civil commonwealth, whatever the form of its polity and government; we shall strive, by our doctrines and example, to make every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord; we shall, with our prayers and our lives, endeavor the extension and the maintenance of all political institutions, favorable to knowledge, liberty, and righteousness, and consistent with the rights of God and man, thus promoting the very end of civil government, as the ordinance of God, and using means for its complete reformation, by rendering its constitution, its administration, and its laws correspondent with the laws of the Lord: in whatever land we live as visitants, as native or naturalized subjects or citizens; and in whatever rank or capacity, our allegiance to Christ, the Lord, shall regulate all our civil relations, our attachments, professions, and deportment; and by this our oath, before God, we are pledged to support whatsoever is for the good of the commonwealth in which we dwell, and which gives us protec tion, and pursue this object in all things, not forbidden by the law of

God, nor implying a confederacy with any immorality of the constitution or the existing power. We shall truly defend in every lawful form, according to our station and ability, the rights of our country against all disorder, usurpation, and foreign hostility or aggression; and we shall continue in prayer to God for the coming of his kingdom, in the overthrow of all systems of iniquity, and, in turning wars into peace, by the universal pacification of all the nations of the world.

5. Seeing that the church, purchased by the blood of the Son of God, sanctified by the Spirit, and elected of God the Father, is ONE, and that all the saints have communion with God and with one another in one and the same covenant; believing, moreover, that the churches of God in every land should be ONE in doctrine and order, that all schism is sin, and all sectarian practice is scandal, and firmly trusting that divisions shall cease, and the people of God become, according to the promise, one catholic church over all the earth, we shall not guaranty the continuance of ecclesiastical distinctions, but shall sincerely and constantly employ our best exertions to prevent additional schisms, to heal existing divisions and wounds, and to promote the peace and prosperity of Jerusalem; we shall endeavor to maintain Christian friendship with pious men of every name, co-operate with them consistently with God's law, in the extension of religious knowledge, pray for every part of the household of faith, inquire diligently what part conforms most to the Holy Scriptures, take our own stand in that communion

which is found most pure, and strive with patience and with perseverance to introduce uniformity in doctrine and in practice among all the ministers of Christ; and we shall accordingly in our several places and stations, encourage all such consistent correspondence, with the several ecclesiastical denominations around us, as may seem calculated to bring up the several churches together into ONE holy and faithful fellowship, maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

6. Persuaded, by the word of God, the everlasting rule of righteousness to man, that we are all accountable for the improvement we make of our light, and opportu nities; and that it is sinful to recede from a more definite system of religious truth and ecclesiastical order for a system more evasive and indistinct, while in true faith and sincere affection we extend to all the hand of union and of cordial friendship, who are striving to advance in the path of truth and order, we shall ourselves "whereunto we have already attained walk by the same rule and mind the same thing," without sectarian prejudice, partiality, or hypocrisy.

Trusting our strength and life, our worldly substance, and personal safety, and influence, and honor, to Him whom we have believed, we shall, in faithfulness to our fathers and our children, in love to all mankind, especially to them who are of the household of faith, and in obedience to the GREAT GOD the only Lord of the conscience, bear true testimony to every part of divine truth, and to every moral duty, especially to all VOL. I. MAY, 1831.

the ordinances of the New Testament; we shall tenderly, charitably, plainly, and decidedly oppose all and every heresy, vice, and neglect or perversion of divine institutions, as witnesses for God, and in maintaining the faith once delivered to the saints; following the cloud of glory which advances to the land beyond the Jordan, and compassed by so great a cloud of witnesses, who sealed, with their blood, the testimony which they held.

Finally, we take this our oath before the Omniscient God, and unto him as our own God in covenant, commending our cause to the Christian consideration of the intelligent, the candid, and the good of whatever rank or name; confiding in our God, and in one another by the will of God, on the true and sure basis of the common Christianity, and uninfluenced by considerations of any private worldly interest whatsoever, we make these declarations, and this league and covenant between dear brethren situated in different states and kingdoms, with a view to preserve love and union among ourselves, and to promote the glory of the Godhead in the creation and sustentation of this world, and in the redemption and eternal salvation of men, as the chief end of our being and our life.*

*This bond is designed to show more explicitly the UNION which has always been confessedly existing between the several churches of Europe and America, in the maintenance of the whole system of the covenanted reformation. It is not intended, either as an additional term of Christian and ministerial fellowship, or as a substitute for those already existing. No pain or censure should be inflicted for withholding assent from it: but re

commended by the several judicatories, it may certainly and safely exemplify the duty of covenanting, by all who voluntarily observe this once honored, but long neglected ordinance of God.-Ed. Am. Chr. Ex.

20th April.

A letter from the synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ireland, giving an interesting and encouraging account of the present state and prospects of our church in that country, is received and read. The synod is much gratified with the friendly and Christian spirit which it breathes; and appoints the commissioner to the synod in Ireland, to acknowledge the reception of the letter, and the satisfaction experienced in court when it was read.

22d April.

The Rev. John Alexander, from Belfast, is present, and is respectfully requested by the moderator to take his seat in court; which he does accordingly.

Reported that a copy of the plan of study for young men designing the holy ministry has been transmitted to the synod in Ireland for perusal; and the Rev. John Alexander states that it had been received and submitted to presbyteries for consideration.

A letter from the associate synod of original seceders, in answer to a letter transmitted by this court, of date 29th April, 1829, to that body, is received and read. The court feels much gratified by the reading of the letter, which expresses a persuasion, that a friendly interchange of sentiments between the two synods may produce many good effects;" and the court appoints a committee to prepare a reply, to be submitted to a review of synod at next meeting. It is also agreed to, that, in the mean time, the committee transmit a letter of acknowledgment to said synod.

23d April.

An overture, unanimously transmitted by the Northcastern presbytery, recommending to synod the formation of a missionary society, in connection with the Reformed presbyterian Church in Scotland, is received and read. The overture consists of the following resolutions :

1. That as it is the first duty of a Christian church to promote the glory of God, by an efficient administration of word and ordinances among her own members, so, next to this, and like to it in importance, is the duty of diffusing the blessings of religion among all nations.

2. That no church can be indifferent or inactive in this matter, without disregarding the most explicit commands of the Redeemer, and the whole spirit and scope of the gospel.

3. That this synod contemplates with the deepest interest the exertions that are now making, by various churches and voluntary associations, to send the gospel to the people who sit in darkness; not only by furnishing them with the scriptures of truth in their own language, but by sending out preachers to declare unto them, with the living voice, their guilt and danger, and direct them to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.

4. That it is matter of regret and humiliation to this court, that the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Scotland, as a body, has not, hitherto, taken any decided part in helping forward the mighty work to which the Redeemer is summoning the churches, and that they feel constrained, by an urgent sense of duty, no longer to forbear from making trial what it may be in their power to do for promoting it.

5. That although the resources of this church are limited, and the present is a season of difficulty, yet there is reason to believe, that if the members of the church shall enter into this measure, in a dutiful and cordial manner, sufficient means may be obtained for supporting at least one missionary, sent out by this synod to proclaim the glad tidings of salvation in some destitute region where the gospel is not at present published. 6. That this synod affectionately and earnestly recommends to all the ministers under its inspection, to embrace an early opportunity for bringing this subject before their respective congregations, to show them from the scriptures, and from the testimony of eye-witnesses, the deplorable condition of those who are destitute of the gospel; to display the promises of God, which afford an undoubted certainty that the nations shall be converted to Christ; to mark out the place assigned to human agency, and declare what Christ expects of his followers in accomplishing this work; and to press upon them the pre-eminent obligations arising out of their own manifold privileges, and their profession of peculiar attachment to

the cause and kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

7. That this synod farther exhorts and intreats the ministers, by the mercies of the Lord, to institute among their people stated meetings for prayer for the spread of the gospel, as well as for the revival of religion at home; and to preside in these meetings as often as it may be in their power; and to induce those fellowship societies that cannot so conveniently come together to one place to devote a part of their time to those exercises that more properly belong to a missionary prayer meeting.

8. That it is recommended to form a missionary association in every congregation, having the usual office-bearers to gather up weekly and monthly subscriptions and occasional donations from the members of the church, and from all who may be disposed to lend their aid in this enterprise; that separate collections be made expressly in aid of the mission fund in all the congregations whose circumstances will admit of it; and that the free-will offerings of the people may be brought forward at the next meeting of this court, that it may appear whether the church will support the synod in a humble attempt to cultivate the barren waste in some destitute corner of the earth.

9. That as this synod believes it to be more agreeable to the scriptures, and the acknowledged laws of the house of Christ, that preachers should be sent out by churches, rather than by mixed. and promiscuous assemblies; the supreme control and direction of the undertaking shall be permanently in this synod, to which ex