a part of these three chapters of the Confession of FaithMr. Mair, an Associate minister, in a sermon of his entitled the Babbler, asserts that this is babbling with a witness, and while disingenuity and perjury are crimes, they never can be held innocent. I would advise people to peruse carefully the Collection of Confessions, upon that point which is now cut off. I shall mention the particular places where that subject is treated of, where their testimony may be seen, with the word of divine truth adduced for its support. First, the Geneva Confession, page 21st; second, the Confession of the Faith and doctrine believed and professed by the Protestants of Scotland, page 48th, article 24th. Third, the first Book of Discipline, article 3d. Fourth, the second Book of Discipline, chapters 1st and 10th. Compare these with the Westminster Confession, chapter 2, section 4, chapter 23, section 3, and chapter 31, section 2, and try our new Constitution by them. Need I advise any to compare it with the Judicial Act and Testimony, and the answers to Nairn's reasons of dissent? I am indeed surprised how any can come forth so barefacedly against the church of the Reformation, and destroy what they themselves had formerly wrought, by this heretical Constitution; for although they may set "Associate Reformed" at the front of it, it places its adherents in the same standing that the sectaries held in Cromwell's time against the Presbyterian party, and in the same place the Indulged held in the second king Charles' time: it also takes the side of Lithington against John Knox. I think that scripture is but too applicable to the Associate Reformed Synod and its adherents: "And the Lord said unto me, a conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem; they are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah hath broken my covenant which I made with their fathers." (Jer. xi. 9, 10.) And Isaiah, viii. 11, 12, I think may be a warning to such as would not desire to slip in the defection. I think it is dangerous meddling with those that are so given to change. I make no doubt but that the adherents of this Constitution may charge me and others with pride and contention, as the reasons why we oppose the deed of a Reverend Associate Reformed Synod. The scripture says, "by pride cometh contention;" this I had cleared to my satisfaction, by a member of the Associate Reformed Synod, in a note of his sermon, where he said, "that the pride must be on their side that make the defection." I think the charge can not be justly laid to those who adhere to the church in her standards, in her best reformed times, where they have plain scripture to support them, and stand against a new Constitution that does not give one text of scripture to support the change. This generation must be easily seduced who change thus. I heartily pray that the Lord may open the eyes of this Reverend Associate Reformed Synod, that they may see their sin and folly and turn from it; and save from seducers poor unstable souls, and not shun to declare the whole counsel of God; and that poor people may escape the danger of the snares they are surrounded with, and that truth and peace may yet flourish in our day. This I humbly offer, and request that it may be marked in the records of the Session of the congregation of New Perth. (H. p. 66.) [The document intended for insertion in this place, has been mislaid.] (I. p. 70. ) To the Rev. the Moderator of the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, to be communicated: With the greatest cheerfulness, I embrace the first oppor tunity of transmitting to you, the following minute of the Associate Reformed Synod. "Agreed, that Mr. Logan write an affectionate letter to the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, with a copy of our minute, appointing a committee to draw up notes, upon the Confession of Faith, &c. and inviting them to a friendly commnuication with said committee, in order that by the blessing of God a foundation may be laid for our happy union." The minute referred to, is as follows; "Whereas, we have declared in our second article of the Constitution, that public and explicit covenanting with God is a moral duty, under the gospel dispensation, to which we are resolved to attend as he shall be pleased to direct: and that we will avail ourselves of every call, to bear a pointed testimony against the errors and delusions which prevail in this country; and whereas we are bound to satisfy the just demands of the people committed to our care, by carrying these resolutions into execution; the Synod therefore resolve, that a committee be appointed to prepare short notes for illustrating the Confession of Faith, Catechisms larger and shorter, Directory for Worship, and Form of Presbyteri 1 Church Government; and for pointing the truth exhibited in these tests of orthodoxy against the errors of the present time; and also for ascertaining the views the Synod have of the National Covenant of Scotland, and the Solemn League and Covenant of Scotland, England, and Ireland, more fully than has been done in the Constitution; and to prepare the form of a solemn covenant, suited to the circumstances in which God has placed us. Ordered, that Messrs. Telfair, Mason, Smith, and Jamieson, be a committee for the above purpose, and that the different Presbyteries or individuals be requested to make such communications to the said committee as may tend to further the execution of the business to them committed." The committee meets at New-York sometime in October next, but to my remembrance the precise time was not determined. I may further inform you and the brethren, that if the plan above mentioned is well executed, the Constitution will of course be suspended, and so no longer a bone of contention between the Synod and you; therefore I would beg you would take the matter under your most serious consideration, that if possible we can see eye to eye in the things of God, and strengthen one another's hands in the work of the Lord; all of us may see what direful effects division among church rulers produces, and these are the more dreadful, as they carry along with them their influence to succeeding generations. In the present case I would suggest that it is not the plan to enquire, who is in the wrong, who is in the right? perhaps neither of us can sufficiently vindicate every mode of procedure; if we can agree in the truth in the execution of the above mentioned plan, it would be a desirable event unto many, and might greatly promote the Secession interest in this large continent, and on this account generations yet unborn might praise the Lord. It will easily seem to you, that the Presbytery may either appoint a committee to meet with the committee of Synod, or make what communications they think proper. I would therefore beseech you, in the bowels of the Lord Jesus, that you interest yourselves in this matter in a proper time; if this plan be well executed, so that you and we can be united, we might still maintain all necessary connection with the Synod in Scotland. In the mean time what injury would the Presbytery sustain, by appointing a committee to meet the other? If the matter is not done according to your mind, your hands are not tied from taking such measures as to you may appear most consistent with truth and duty. Wishing you the direction of the Holy Spirit in this and all other things that concern the welfare of Zion, I am, R. D. B., Your respectful humble servant, PEQUA, June, 1785. To the Rev. Mr. JOHN MASON, Minister of the Gospel at New-York, to be communicated to the Associate Reformed Synod, at their next meeting; or to any committee belonging to that Synod, which may be employed in the business to which this refers. REV. DEAR BROTHER: We have received and considered the letter which Mr. Logan, by order of your Synod, wrote to this Presbytery. We could not answer it sooner, as our first ordinary meeting after the date of it, was on the third of this month. We are not informed by Mr. Logan of the precise time when your committee meets, and therefore could not address our answer to it. The brethren of the Associate Reformed Synod may as sure themselves that we are resolved, the Lord assisting us, to continue in the confession which we have made, and do make, of the name of Jesus. Our solemn engagements made with an uplifted hand to the Most High God, will be a witness against us, if we are unsteadfast and unfaithful in the cause of Christ. By the first of the two Minutes transmitted to us, we are invited to a friendly communication with a Committee of your Synod; and by the last we are informed that this Committee is appointed "to prepare short notes for illustrating the Confession of Faith, Catechisms larger and shorter, the Directory for Worship, and the form of Presbyterial Church Government, and for pointing the truth exhibited in these tests of orthodoxy against the errors of the present time; and also for ascertaining the views the Synod have of the National Covenant, &c. more fully than has been done in the Constitution; and to prepare the form of a solemn covenant, suited to the circumstances in which God has placed them." We are at some loss to know what our brethren mean by a friendly communication with them. Do they wish to know our principles? These were never a secret. Do they wish to know our judgment about the confession which the church is at this time called to make of the truth, in opposition to those who slight or deny it in this land? It is to be found in the Narrative, Declaration, and Testimony, agreed upon by this Presbytery. Are there any other matters relative to the interests of religion about which they desire to know our mind? Let these be named, and we shall endeavor to communicate our sentiments with all plainness and readiness. As to the proposed scheme of notes for illustrating the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, &c., and for pointing the truth exhibited in these against the errors of the present time, we do not well know what our brethren intend by it. If adherence to these notes shall be made a term of communion in their society, then they will be an addition to the Confession of Faith; and however proper an enlargement of that Confession might be, yet in the present state of things, we judge it best to let it stand as it is; proceeding no farther than to a vindication and defence of it, and of the rules and customs of the church of Christ, according as we find these agreeable to his word, in a separate work. If adherence to these notes shall be no term of communion among the ministers and people belonging to the Associate Reformed Synod, we do not perceive any considerable benefit the church will reap from them. A variety of authors have attempted to illustrate our Confession and Catechisms; and some of them have done so to as great advantage as we can reasonably expect the Committee of the Associate Reformed Synod will do. As to pointing the truth contained in the Confession, Catechisms, Form of Church Government, and Directory for the Worship of God, against the errors of the present time, allow us to say, that we have little reason to expect this shall be plainly and faithfully done by the Associate Reformed Synod. The adherence of this Synod to these acts of the Westminster Assembly is extremely vague. On this we need not say, any more than we have already done in the tenth chapter of our Narrative. But as an amendment of this article of their Constitution makes no part of the scheme proposed by our brethren, it is not easy to imagine how such a vague adherence to the truth is consistent with a due application of it against error. Besides it is manifest, that though our brethren should make a loud cry against some very gross errors; yet others less dreadful, but very pernicious, are not much feared by them, or they would not appear so much inclined to enter into church fellowship with societies in which various articles of |