sees them not in America, is so far unable to discern the signs of the times. The opposition to the cause and testimony of our Lord Jesus, is the same here as in Scotland; only it assumes a different form, according to what the leaders in it, taking every advantage from the circumstances of time and place, judge most effectual for promoting their own ends. The testimony, we and our brethren in Scotland maintain, is the same; and the great design of it is the preservation of the doctrine taught in the word of God. We regard Confessions, Testimonies, and Covenants, of former and present times, only as subservient to that design.

We have been, and expect to be, reproached as narrow minded and uncharitable. But this ought not to seem strange to us, or to move us from our duty. The way the Lord approves is scarcely ever fashionable; and those who walk in it are, so far as they are known to the world by an open profession of the truth, a party every where spoken against. We are not conscious of being narrow minded, while we approve all that we can see good in any; nor of being uncharitable, while we regard all those as Christians who trust in the Lord Jesus alone for salvation, as he is made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; and who manifest the truth of their faith by a conversation becoming the gospel. In refusing to enter into church fellowship with such of them as hold principles we cannot approve, or oppose what we believe to be duty, we cannot see that we act uncharitably towards them. An opposite conduct would confirm them in what is wrong, and hurt us; seeing, in the present state of things, it would be considered as an evidence that we were gone into the prevailing indifference of the age, esteeming all those truths, which are subjects of controversy among Christians, circumstantial, or small matters, not worth contending for; an opinion which we judge contrary to the word of God, and exceedingly pernicious to his church. To do any thing which implies a disregard to the truth, is not the way to bring others to a proper acknowledgment of it. To give countenance to corruptions is not the way to remove them.

Whatever expectations have been expressed by some who do not wish well to the cause in which we are engaged, that it would come to nothing in this part of the world; and whatever such have done to place it in a contemptible light; yet, persuaded that it is the cause of truth, we are not afraid nor ashamed to appear in it; if it were to fall, better to fall with

it, than to rise upon its ruins. They have much to answer for, who, by their deserting and misrepresenting it, have brought it so low.

We have, in this narrative, and in the testimony which follows it, studied, according to the solemn engagements we are under, to discharge our duty in maintaining that banner the Lord has given, to be displayed because of the truth. In this course we desire to persevere, depending on the Redeemer and Head of the church, who giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might increaseth strength, and from whom alone is all the success which attends the labours of any in the service of the gospel. May his kingdom come, and the promise be further accomplished, that, from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, his name should be great among the GENTILES! AMEN.

DECLARATION AND TESTIMONY,

FOR THE

DOCTRINE AND ORDER

OF THE

CHURCH OF CHRIST,

AND AGAINST THE

ERRORS OF THE PRESENT TIMES.

THE Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, having found it necessary to state the Testimony they maintain, for the Doctrine and Order of the Church of Christ, in such a manner, as would render it more plain to people in this country; better adapted to the circumstances in which they are placed; and more directly pointed against the errors of the present time; did in May last, enter upon that work. And, having had several meetings for prayer and conference upon the subject, in the course of this summer, a draught of this work was presented; which, having been considered at several meetings, was at last finished. On this and the preceding day, it was carefully read by paragraphs; then the question being put, "Approve of the Declaration and Testimony, for the Doctrine and Order of the Church of Christ, or not?" it was carried, unanimously, "approve :" Wherefore, the Presbytery did, and hereby do, judicially approve this Declaration and Testimony, as containing their views of present truth and duty, and as a Confession of that faith to which, through the grace of our Lord Jesus, they are resolved to adhere. This, by order of Presbytery, is signed,

Extracted by

WILLIAM MARSHALL, Moderator.

JOHN ANDERSON, Presbytery Clerk.

Declaration and Testimony.

PART FIRST.

Concerning God's goodness to his Church, and the Testimony for Truth maintained by her.

I. ONE generation shall praise the works of the LORD to another, and shall declare his mighty acts;* the fathers to the children shall make known his truth. Instructed in our duty, and encouraged to study a faithful performance of it, by these and other like precious promises of the great Head of the church, we publish to the world, this TESTIMONY and DECLARATION of our principles; in which our design is, First, To express our thankful remembrance of what the Lord hath done for his church in former times; especially what he hath done for that particular church with which we are most immediately connected, and concerning which we may say, O God, we have heard with our ears; our fathers have told us the works thou didst in their days, in the times of old. Secondly, To declare our adherence to the testimony maintained for the truth of the gospel, by the churches of the reformation, in the confessions of faith, especially to the testimony maintained by that particular church with which we are most immediately connected, in its best and purest times. This adherence is not, however, an implicit assent to all that any church has said or done; it is not to be considered as extending beyond what we do in our testimony assert. Thirdly, To vindicate the truths expressed in our Confession of Faith; particularly in those articles of it which have been perverted; and of which the plain and genuine sense has been denied, by some who profess to receive it, as the confession of their faith.

II. We being, therefore, authorized by the commandment of God, encouraged by his promise, and moved, we trust, with some degree of zeal for the glory of his name, do make this joint, open, and express acknowledgment of the truth revealed in his word, and of the loving kindness manifested Psalm xliv. 1.

*Psalm cxlv. 4. † Isaiah xxxviii. 19.