those who are already members, or whether it shall be distinctly written and fairly exhibited in a book. There is no possibility of social union and action of any kind, without some understanding of the principles and rules by which the members of a society will abide and be governed. Every sect that calls itself Christian will subscribe to the Bible; and every individual who really deserves the name of a Christian, will admit that no principle which is not contained in and sanctioned by the Bible, is rightfully of any authority in religion, or in any way binding on the conscience. But when men come to say what the principles are which the Bible contains and sanctions, they differ as widely as the poles; they are directly opposed to each other; and to amalgamate them altogether, were it possible-as indeed it is not-would produce nothing but contention and confusion.

But suppose that a man has actually and solemnly subscribed to a confession of faith, or adopted a creed, and that he is now convinced that in so doing he did wrong, and therefore wishes to undo what he did-is he forever bound by what he did? Is the door of repentance completely shut against him? Or cannot he open it, without incurring the heaviest ecclesiastical censures? Mr. D. refers to such a case, in one of the passages which we have quoted, sensibly feeling, no doubt, that the case was his own. We are prepared and willing to answer him; and indeed we are right glad of the opportunity to give him and the publick our sentiments, frankly and explicitly, on this subject.

After an unhappy division, of several years continuance, among the ministers and members of the Presbyterian church, during which two hostile synods were formed, the disagreeing parties came together again in the year 1757, and specified certain fundamental articles of union. One of these articles provi

ded'explicitly, that if an individual member, or a presbytery, should at any time choose to withdraw peaceably, it should be done without censure from the body relinquished. Under this article, it is known to us, that something more than forty years ago, a number of ministers did actually withdraw from the presbytery of New York, and form a presbytery agreeably to principles which they deemed more scriptural than those maintained by the presbytery from which they separated: and this, according to the article to which we have referred, was done without censure. In the present constitution of the Presbyterian church, which was formed in the year 1788, there is no provision explicitly made, for relinquishing a connexion with that church; probably because it is not usual, in forming a constitution of any kind, to provide for its dissolution or renunciation. Yet, unquestionably, it is not only a right inherent in every man, to act agreeably to the dictates of his conscience, and a right secured to him by the free institutions of our country to do this without incurring any civil penalties, but a right which the Presbyterian church as now organized, recognising as it does the sole and supreme authority of the word of God in matters of faith and practice, would not refuse to any man; especially as the body out of which it was formed, had explicitly adopted the principle of withdrawing from it without censure-provided always that this be done peaceably, and without having previously acted in a disorderly manner.

Here then Mr. D., and all who think as he appears to do, have their complete remedy. They may repent of their sin in subscribing to the Confession of Faith,and leave the church which remains in that sin, as soon as they please; and certainly the sooner they do it the better, both for themselves and for the church which they forsake. But they ought

to remember that while they remain connected with that church, they are bound by every social principle, by every sentiment that characterizes honourable men, as well as by their own express and sacred engagement, to act agreeably to the known constitution and rules of that church-No association of men whatever can exist in peace, upon any system different from this. But Mr. D. has acted on a system, or in a manner, different from this. The sermon under review is a glaring proof of it; and we happen to know that he has given another proof equally strong, in refusing, as the moderator of the presbytery to which he belongs, to put to a candidate for the gospel ministry, the questions which are required to be put, by the form of church government which he had adopted, and under which he was then officially acting. As to the publication before us, what shall we say of the man who seizes an opportunity, given him without suspicion of his having changed the sentiments he had once solemnly avowed, to teach and inculcate tenets professedly hostile to those sentiments; and this in a direct address to those who still retained those sentiments, and to pupils in whom they wished to preserve and cherish them? Does he who in this manner steals a march upon his confiding associates, to attack them and their charge by surprise, act in a manner that is Christian, fair, or honourable? Does he not betray a trust? Is he not, in the strictest sense, a daring schismatick and disorganizer? Would any reasonable person censure a church that should deal with such a man, as a violator of obligations that he should have held sacred? We are willing to believe that Mr. D. has not seen that the course he has taken involves the absurdity and criminality which we certainly think it does involve, and which we have here pointed out. But we confess we are unable to discern how VOL. II.-Ch. Adv.

he can reconcile it with his conscience or his honour, to remain in a connexion which he openly professes to believe is unscriptural. If we could be supposed to have any influence with him, we would say leave the Presbyterian church, with as much speed and as little trouble as you can, and take with you, if possible, all who have adopted opinions similar to your own. After this, you will be at liberty to vituperate creeds and confessions as much as you please. In so doing, although we should still think you did wrong, yet neither we nor others could deny that you acted fairly and consistently. But to revile the standards of a church, while yet you belong to it, can never be justified, on any principle of common honesty, or of social or ecclesiastical order.

Mr. D. has intimated, in the quotations we have made from his discourse, that the ministers and members of the Presbyterian churchfor to them he plainly refers—are "virtually the legatees of a power that would dethrone the Redeemer:" and he asks-"who can now unequivocally declare the BIBLE to be the only rule of faith and manners, without falling under the most grievous suspicions, as though he had broken covenant with his God, and denied the Lord that bought him." He says farther-"To me it is matter of the purest astonishment to hear Christian ministers talk so untenderly of THE BIBLE, and speak so affectionately about their own STANDARDS." We have never had any intimacy with Mr. D. and do not know what company he has kept. We cannot therefore pretend to say what "talk" he has heard among his associates. But if he means to intimate, as he would seem to do, that the ministers of the Presbyterian church generally, or any of them who are in good standing, are in the habit of speaking "untenderly of the Bible," or of preferring the standards of the Pres

ST

byterian church before it, we must and do regard him as a slanderer of his brethren. He brings against them a grievous charge, which we are confident he can never prove. And what does he mean when he says that we are "virtually the legatees of a power that would dethrone the Redeemer ?"-We profess we are shocked at this expres sion. If he means to explain it by what he immediately adds, that no one in our church can recognise the Bible "as the only rule of faith and practice without falling under the most grievous suspicions, &c." we can only contradict him directly on the fact. The very truth is, that he who should acknowledge any thing else, except the Bible, as "the only rule of faith and practice," would incur the suspicions which he specifies. Has Mr. D. in his zeal against all formularies of faith, ex cluded from his memory, for we doubt not it was once there, the answer to the second question in our Shorter Catechism-"The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, is THE ONLY RULE to direct

us, how we may glorify and enjoy him?" The third answer of the Larger Catechism is-"The holy scriptures of the Old and New Tes tament are the word of God, THE ONLY RULE of faith and obedience." The very same thing is more largely taught and inculcated in the Confession of Faith; and repeated with approbation and additional remarks in the Introduction to the Form of Government and Discipline. Surely the man who in the face of all this can affirm what Mr. D. has affirmed, may say any thing else without giving us much surprise. He cannot but know that we regard our publick standards in no other light than as an exposition of scripture, and as deriving from the scripture ALL their authority. On his principles it seems to us that he ought not to preach the gospel: for what is preaching-or rather what ought it to be-but an exposition, declaration, and enforcement of scripture truth? The sermon before us, is Mr. D.'s Confession of faithLong may he have it to himself alone.

(To be continued.)

William Darby, Esq. author of various geographical works of considerable merit as such, has undertaken a periodical publication with the title Geographical, Historical, and Statistical Repository. It will be issued monthly; and the first number, which we have before us, is fitted to create high expectations of the utility of this new journal. The first article is a comprehensive Geographical View of Pennsylvania, prepared from materials collected in the course of a recent personal survey of the interior of the state. The early history of this commonwealth is treated in the second article. The complexion of the whole is practical instruction is intended; and this will not, we trust, be rejected.-Nat. Gaz.

German Testament.-Not long since, Messrs. Moser & Peters, two enterprising Germans, established in Carlisle (Pa.) a foundry of stereotype plates, and commenced the publication of an edition of

the New Testament, in the German language, from the plates which they prepared.

in America, the operation of taking off American Surgery.-For the first time the thigh at the hip joint, was yesterday performed at the New York Hospital by Valentine Mott, the Professor of Surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. The patient was a boy of about twelve necrosis, or decay of the thigh bone. The years of age, labouring under a case of operation was completely successful-and was endured by the little patient with great fortitude. His symptoms since, have, vourable kind. as we are informed, been of the most fa

Mrs. Cutbush, widow of the late Professor Cutbush, of the Military Academy at West Point, has issued proposals for publishing by subscription, a new work by her late husband, entitled, "A System of Pyrotechny, comprehending the Theory

FOREIGN.

During the last month we have received from Britain the TwENTIETH report of the British and Foreign Bible Society; the TWENTYFIFTH annual report of the Religious Tract Society; and the EIGH TEENTH annual report of the London Hibernian Society. Of the last two of these important and interesting documents, we can give nothing beyond the most summary statement of their design, funds, and operations-Of the first, we shall insert the whole of an abstract, which accompanied the Report; and which we presume is the same that was read at the annual meeting of the society, in May last.

In our number for January last, we gave some account of the origin of tract societies; of which "The Religious Tract Society" of London was, we believe, the first which was instituted by the friends of evangelical truth. This society has already extended its influence and its operations into almost every region of the globe where letters are in use.-In Europe and in Asia especially, it has done much, and is preparing to do more. It also fosters institutions of a kindred nature in our own country, and is endeavouring to extend them throughout our continent. The number of tracts issued from the general depository during the past year is stated to be "TEN MILLIONS, TWELVE THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIXTY; being four millions, three hundred and one thousand seven hundred and sixty, more than in the year preceding. Those printed in other countries at your expense are not included." The whole number of tracts issued by the society is said to be "SIXTY MILLIONS, with many MILLIONS printed in other nations and languages." We cannot close this notice without urging, with all earnestness,

that tract societies be speedily formed in all our large cities, as they are in Boston and New York; and that depositories for tracts be established in all parts of the United States-especially to the west and south.

"The London Hibernian Society" was formed "for establishing schools and circulating the holy scriptures in Ireland." His royal highness the duke of Gloucester is the patron of this society; the marquis of Landsdown is its president; and its vice presidents form a pretty long list of noblemen, with some members of parliament. The contributions to this society, for the year ending in May last, a little exceeded nine thousand two hundred and sixty-seven pounds sterling. The number of schools was 1,072, and the number of scholars 71,554; three-fourths of whom were Roman Catholicks. The increase of scholars, in the year preceding the report, was 21,826. The society had received within the year 43,000 copies of the scriptures, as a donation from the British and Foreign Bible Society.-The Roman Catholick clergy in Ireland, with a few honourable exceptions, are represented as decisively hostile to these schools. Yet the Report affords the clearest evidence that no attempts at

proselytism have been made or permitted; and that the Roman Catholick peasantry in general are greatly pleased with the schools, and favour them as much as they can and dare.-It must, we think, afford great pleasure to every benevolent mind, to see that measures are in operation, which, at no distant period, promise to extend the knowledge of letters and of the holy scriptures to that large part of the population of unhappy Ireland, which has so long been deprived of both.