succeeded in getting up a Conference between some of the members of the two bodies. This meeting was held at Donegal, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in August of this year; three years after the constitution of the Reformed Presbytery in this country. Few members attended, and little more was effected at this meeting than an agreement to meet again in March, the ensuing year, at Pequa, also, in Pennsylvania. This meeting was attended by Messrs. Proudfit, Clarkson, Smith and Murray, with elders from their respective congregations, of the Associate Presbytery; and by Messrs. Cuthbertson, Linn and Dobbin, with elders, of the Reformed Presbytery.

At this Conference a greater difference of sentiment appeared than had been apprehended. The members of the Associate Presbytery themselves seemed not to be of one mind, respecting the obligation and nature of public covenant engagements. The members of the Reformed Presbytery, also, began to defend their peculiar views concerning the origin of civil magistracy, and the qualifications of civil rulers; which views, it had been thought, they had wholly abandoned, in their submission to the newly organized government of the United States; for in this governinent no particular religious belief was required as a qualification for office. But notwithstanding the diversity of sentiment that appeared at this meeting, there were still some resolved not to abandon the scheme of a union. After much disscussion, certain propositions capable of being construed to meet the views of the different parties in the conference were drawn up, and it was agreed to meet again on the 29th of October the same year, at Middle Octorara.

As yet the consideration of the union had not been introduced into the Presbytery, all that had been done was extrajudicial. But at a meeting of the Associate Presbytery, at Tohikan, Bucks county, October 21st of the same year, the following Overture on this subject was introduced by the Rev. Mr. Murray,

"That this Presbytery expressly nominate and appoint some week hereafter, as soon as convenience will permit, to take into serious consideration, the subject of the proposed union with the Covenanters: and to confer with them in an amicable manner on the same subject, in order to try whether or not a coalescence can be brought about, in a consistency with the glory of God, and the cause of truth, and the comfort of the Church. And for proceeding in this matter with greater regularity, it is further proposed, that this Presbytery

set apart one of the days of the week, that may be nominated for the Conference, for the purpose of conferring together by themselves, on the subject of the proposed union, and for solemn prayer unto God for his special direction in this matter." The design of this Overture was to prepare for the meeting of the Conference on the ensuing week. The Presbytery, however, did not agree to the proposition contained in the Overture, but appointed their next meeting on the 27th of the same month, two days before the meeting of the Conference, at the same place Middle Octorara. This meeting of Presbytery was more fully attended than the preceding. There were present, the Rev. Mr. Murray, Moderator, and Messrs. Proudfit, Henderson, Marshall, Rodger, Smith, Clarkson and Logan, ministers, and Messrs William Moore,* James Brown, Robert Thomson, William Finley and Alexander Moor, ruling elders. There were present, also, the Rev. Messrs Mason and Clark of the Associate Presbytery of New-York, who had come with a view of attending the Conference, and who were also allowed a seat in Presbytery. The principal subject of discussion at this meeting, was, respecting the propriety or impropriety of holding a Conference with the members of the Reformed Presbytery at present; a motion at length prevailed to meet with them next day at 10 o'clock, A. M. Messrs. Rodger and Smith were appointed a committee to prepare the subjects to be proposed for consideration at the Confer

ence.

On the next morning, the committee gave in their report, specifying subjects for Conference with the Reformed Presbytery, viz:-"Redemption—the origin and channel of civil government—the moral law-the kingdom of Christ—the qualifications of civil rulers-the obligation of our solemn covenants-the lawfulness of civil establishments in religiontheir (the Reformed Presbytery's) Testimony." This report was agreed to, and Presbytery adjourned to meet in the afternoon, immediately after the Conference.†

The members of the Reformed Presbytery being present, the Conference took place. After some time had been spent in an interchange of sentiments on the above subjects, it became evident that the two bodies were not of one mind on most of the points proposed for discussion. A diversity of

* I visited the widow of this man in 1828, in company with the Rev. James Pringle. She was then 106 years old, had still a sound mind and retentive memory. She had a distinct recollection of the principal tacts connected with the union.

+ Minutes of Presbytery as published in Marshall's Vindication, &c. pages 10 and 11.

opinion, however, prevailed among the members of the Associate Presbytery, respecting the importance of the points on which a difference of sentiment appeared in the Conference. Some considered all prospect of a union hopeless, and were therefore inclined to drop all further attempts to accomplish it; while others more sanguine, or attaching less importance to a difference in those matters, resolved to prosecute still fur ther the proposed union.

During the sitting of the Conference, the following proposi tions were hastily drawn up, and, without discussion, proposed for future consideration, as an Overture of a basis of

UNION.

"1. That Jesus Christ died only for the elect.

"2. That there is an appropriation in the nature of Faith. "3. That the gospel is indiscriminately addressed to man kind sinners.

"4. That the righteousness of Christ is the alone proper condition of the covenant of grace.

"5. That civil power originates from God as Creator, and not from Christ as Mediator.

"6. That magistracy in respect of its sanctified use, is dispensed by Christ, to whom the kingdom of Providence is com mitted. in subserviency to the kingdom of grace.

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"7. That the law of nature, and the moral law revealed in the Bible, are substantially the same, though the latter ex presses the will of God far more fully than the former, and that therefore among christians, magistracy, and the duties thereunto belonging, are subject to the general directions of the Holy Scriptures.

"8. That some qualifications are in scripture required, as essentially needful, to the being of magistracy, such as wisdom, justice and veracity, in due proportions; but the profes sion of the true religion is not absolutely needful to the being of magistracy, except where it is made by the people a condition of government, but it is at all times of great necessity to the well-being of civil government."

The Conference adjourned, after having agreed to hold an other meeting at Pequa, June 9th, 1779.

The proposed union now began to be much discussed among the people, many of whom feared that it would only be productive of evil. Accordingly a representation and petition from the Session, and other members of the congregation of Guinstown, was presented at the next meeting of the Associate Presbytery, setting forth their dissatisfaction with the scheme of union with the Reformed Presbytery, and praying

that their scruples might be removed. This meeting of Pres. bytery was held at Big Spring, May 26th, 1779, and with the exception of Messrs. Henderson and Marshall, all the members were present. The minutes of the Conference, held at Middle Octorara, were read and the minds of the members taken upon the above proposed BASIS of union. Propositions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, (which see above,) were unanimously approved of; but the following were substituted by Presbytery in the place of 6, 7 and 8.

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6. That the kingdom of Providence is committed to our Lord Jesus Christ, by the Father, in subserviency to his spiritual kingdom in the church. Magistracy, as well as other common benefits, he limits, directs, and overrules for obtaining that great end.

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7. That though the law of nature be the grand foundation of magistracy, and the only proper standard by which every civil ruler can be directed in the administration of his government; yet for obtaining the full advantage of the great ends of his office, the peace and happiness of civil society, he is indispensably bound to receive the aid that supernatural reve> lation (if in the possession of it) offers for the obtaining of that important end.

8. That some degree of personal qualifications, and that of a moral kind, such as wisdom, justice, knowledge, &c. are absolutely necessary, to render any individual capable of being invested with any civil office, and are absolutely necessary to the right administration of that office, is a truth clearly inculcated by the law of nature; and although the profession of the true religion, the practice of holiness, with other evidences of a person's interest in Jesus (all of which is the prerogative of scripture to reveal) are of great use to civil society, and the administration of civil power in that society, yet they are not revealed in the law of nature; therefore, are not the origin of civil power, nor the rule of its administration, but only for its advantage."*

These propositions embrace the points on which a difference of sentiment was apprehended, and as they present the principal subjects of discussion at the subsequent meetings of the two bodies, I have set them down at length. The Associate Presbytery seemed at this time to be guarding against a mere union in words, and not of sentiment. Hence in these latter propositions their object seems to have been to obtain a more

* Vindication of the Associate Presbytery, pages 12, 13.

explicit expression of sentiment on the points of difference, than the former seemed calculated to elicit.

The next Conference met at Pequa, on the 9th of June, of the same year. There were present of the Associate Presbytery, Messrs. Proudfit, Henderson, Marshall, Clarkson, Smith and Logan, ministers; William Moor, Samuel Harper,* and Robert Aitken, ruling elders; also, the Rev. R. Annan and William Gillespie, elder, of the Associate Presbytery of NewYork. The ministers of the Reformed Presbytery were all present, with elders, Messrs. William Brown, James M'Knight and David Dunwiddie.

Mr. Clarkson was chosen President of the Conference. The propositions drawn up at Middle Octorara, with the alterations made at Big Spring, were read. The members of the Reformed Presbytery agreed to the former but refused the latter. The members of the Associate Presbytery defended their alterations, not only as being agreeable to truth, but as more explicit, and less ambiguous, than the original propositions. This discussion brought under review the leading points in the views of the Reformed Presbytery, respecting the origin of civil magistracy, and the extent of the Mediator's kingdom. After a long and warm debate, Mr. Linn concluded his speech with the following words:-"We might agree to what propositions we pleased, but he would agree to none but with this interpretation-that all that power and ability civil rulers have, are from Christ the Prophet of the Covenant, and all that food and raiment mankind enjoy, are from Christ the Priest of the Covenant."

It seemed evident from this avowal of sentiment, that, though they should agree to "speak the same things," they would not agree to "think the same things;" nor would they be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment."

It was the opinion of some of both parties, that all further attempts to accomplish a union, should now be abandoned. Rightly judging, that where so much diversity of sentiment actually existed, any union that could be formed would be merely nominal. Besides a body thus composed would want

* Mr. Harper, whose name will frequently occur as a member of Presbytery, was a ruling elder from the congregation of Guinstown, York county, Pa., from which place he afterwards removed to King's Creek congregation, under the care of the Rev. Dr. Anderson; he was for a number of years an active and influential ruling elder, and died about 1813. He was a man of superior intelligence, and a decided advocate for truth in doctrine and practice. His whole life and deportment highly adorned his christian profession.