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auxiliary to the schemes, such as the Ladies' Association for Female Schools in India, and for the education of Jewish Females, the Colonial Association, and, in addition to these, sums contributed by friends in India for the mission, and disbursed there, the total for this year amounts in all to L.63,756.

Mission Funds of the United Presbyterian Church -The receipts for the General Fund during the year, as appears from the Report presented to the late meeting of the United Presbyterian Synod, has been L.6.676: for Calabar, L.2,266; for Caffraria, L.832, amounting in all to L.9,775, which, together with a former balance, makes L.15,336 at the disposal of the Board during the year. Of this sum they had expended L. 10,210, 17s 3d, leaving a balance of L.5,125, 6s. 3d. in favour of the Foreign Mission Fund. Altogether, the United Presbyterian Church have in various parts of the mission field, in America, the West Indies, Africa, Asia, and in the South Seas, at least seventy-four European agents, educated, pious, and devoted men, irrespective of female teachers, the wives of missionaries, and native teachers, artisans, and domestics, and a captain, and ship's crew.

Missions of the Presbyterian Church in England. At a late meeting of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in England, held at Newcastle, the report on missions, after referring to the appointment of the Rev. William Burns, as a missionary to China, intimated that the contributions received would warrant them in designating another missionary to that field, the donation of one friend being so munificent as to have defrayed the whole expense of Mr Burns's outfit and passage. On this branch of the Mission Fund, the Treasurer's account showed a balance in the bank of L.1600. The remainder of the report referred to the mission at Corfu, which is sustained entirely by ladies in Sunderland, Liverpool, and London.

London Missionary Society.-The fiftyfourth annual meeting of this society was held at Exeter Hall, London, on the 11th of May last. The report was read by the Rev. Mr Tidman, the foreign secre

tary. The number of the society's missionaries had received an increase of eight during the year; it now amounted to 173, exclusive of their wives and children, many of whom are most effective coadjutors in various labours of love. The number of native agents, including evangelists, pastors, and teachers, (so far as the returns had been made,) was upwards of 700. The aggregate additions to the mission churches could not be stated; but from the returns actually received, the directors were thankful in being able to state, generally, that the increase had been large; while the character of many of the converts, in contrast with their former habits, afforded a striking confirmation of the faithful saying, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, even the chief. The liberality of the Mission Churches supplied a decisive evidence of Christian principle, and afforded ground of hope, that, at no distant period, many would become selfsustained. For the last seven years, the amount of contributions raised at the several mission stations towards their own support, had exceeded L. 15,500 annually, being nearly one-fifth part of the society's income.

British and Foreign Bible Society.The forty-fourth anniversary meeting of this society was held at Exeter Hall, in the last week of April. The following is a summary of its operations during the past year:-The entire receipts of the year ending March 1848, amount to L.90,146, 8s. 4d. The total sum applicable to the general purposes of the society, is L.43,956, 16s. 11d., including L.31,303, 4s. 4d., free contributions from auxiliary societies, showing an increase in this item of L.451, 12s. 5d. The receipts from Bibles and Testaments amounts to L.46,189, 11s. 5d. The issues of the society for the year amount to 1,124,067, viz ---From the depository at home, 837,361; from the depots abroad, 266,706. The total issues of the society have been 20,865,837 volumes. The expenditure during the past year has been L. 105,042, 19s. Id., being L.14,896, 10s. 9d. beyond the receipts. The society is under engagements to the extent of L.41,800.

THE

ORIGINAL SECESSION MAGAZINE.

SEPTEMBER 1848.

DIALOGUE SECOND,

Between an Original Seceder, MORRISONIAN, Independent, and UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.

Original Seceder. I suppose it is understood that you are now to illuminate us on the superior claims of Morrisonianism.

Morrisonian. I shall, with the greatest pleasure, bear testimony to the truth; for the longer I consider the matter, I am the more convinced that our cause is that of God, and that all its opponents are enemies of the truth.

Orig. Sec. It is by no means an uncommon thing for persons to be surest they are right, when they are farthest wrong. Paul thought he was doing God service when he was "breathing out threatenings and slaughters" against His saints; and the Jews did the same when they were crucifying His Son.

United Presbyterian. From your known sentiments, and from the temper you are both in at present, it is quite obvious that you two will never agree; and I would therefore advise you, my good friend of the Original Secession, to rein in your impetuosity, and to cease from controversy with him on this point. It is truly lamentable to see good men engaged in controversy with one another, when they might be more profitably employed.

Orig. Sec. It is indeed lamentable to see good men so engaged, because, wherever controversy exists, it is a monument of remaining imperfection and depravity; but, in my estimation, there is another thing which is far more lamentable, and that is, to see good men who refuse to engage in controversy, when it is necessary to the defence of God's cause, who, when His Sabbaths are profaned, or His truth is assailed, can look on in silence, and neither move a tongue, nor a pen, for their defence, and who endeavour to colour over and sanctify their unfaithfulness and pusillanimity by soft and plausible pretences about charity and peace.

United Pres. But is it not written, "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle toward all men?"

Orig. Sec. Though the servant of the Lord may not strive about his own things, is he anywhere forbidden to strive about the things of his No. XI. VOL. I.

21

Master? Is he not commanded, on the contrary, to "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints?" Is it not spoken of as the symptom of a most degenerate and degraded age, when few are "valiant for the truth upon the earth?" What is worth defending, if men can be careless about their Redeemer's cross, and can abstain from asserting and maintaining its claims as publicly and as energetically as they are opposed?

United Pres. I know your animus quite well: I know well your cacoethes for testifying: like a hereditary disease, it has descended among you from your ancestors of a remote era, and one could almost as soon imagine that the Ishmaelites might become peaceful, as imagine that the Original Seceders will ever give over their vile habit of "scrabbling accusations on other people's doors," as Dr Struthers so well expressed it. Orig. Sec. If persons of such enlightened minds, and such amiable tempers as Dr Struthers and yourself the flower of all the children of charity-if even you have had your good manners so infected and corrupted by our pestilential spirit, as to be unconsciously "scrabbling" the gravest accusations on your neighbour's door, at the very time you were holding him up to reprobation for a practice so odious, just as some people reprove swearing by deeper oaths, if such has been the result, it is surely high time that Original Seceders were thinking what they are about.

United Pres. If you would only open your mind to a little more enlargement of view, you would see the propriety of taking things a great deal quieter.

Orig. Sec. Perhaps it is owing to the narrowness of my mind, but really, I must confess, that I do not see any thing very enlarged either in the principles or the spirit of those who keep silence when the truths of God are assailed.

United Pres. Only consider how much more good you might be doing while thus spending your time in controversy.

Orig. Sec. It is not for us but for God to choose the manner in which we can do most good, and when he calls on us to defend any part of his truth, we ought to consider that by defending it we can do more good than we possibly could in any other way; and whatever else we may be doing, if this is neglected, we act a most unfaithful part.

United Pres. But have you really such a call? That is what I must be permitted to doubt.

Orig. Sec. In the parable of the man going down to Jericho who fell among thieves, and was robbed and wounded by them, and left bleeding on the ground, and which you know so well that its repetition is unnecessary, why, let me ask, was it wrong in "the priest and the Levite to pass by on the other side”?

United Pres. No doubt, because they refused their help to a fellowcreature in distress.

Orig. Sec. And why was the conduct of the Samaritan so much approved?

United Pres. Because though he belonged to a people who were at

variance with the Jews, he considered that every fellow-creature in distress or danger had a claim upon his sympathy and assistance.

Orig. Sec. Do you then consider that the mere fact of seeing a fellow-creature in distress or danger, constitutes a call from God to help him?

United Pres. Most unquestionably.

Orig. Sec. Then methinks, not less unquestionably, the mere fact of the truth being assailed and endangered, being robbed and wounded, and left bleeding on the ground, constitutes a call from God to come to its assistance, and all who " pass by on the other side," are just such friends to it as the priest and Levite were to the man who fell among thieves. And, besides, let it be distinctly kept in mind, that the friends of the truth were not the first to raise the standard of controversy, and to blow the trumpet of war.

United Pres. But though others be for war, why may not you be for peace?

Orig. Sec. It is surely both a new song and a new tune you are singing this evening about controversy. When did you become the opponent of free and full discussion? Do you not think that the vital truths of the gospel are as worthy of being contended for as is the manner in which ministers' stipends should be paid?

United Pres. That matter was forced on us. We are aggrieved by the burdens imposed for the support of a system from which we conscientiously dissent.

Orig. Sec. But do you think we should be less sensitive about the truth of Christ, than we are about any mere money question?

United Pres. By no means; but I have said that the question about the payment of ministers is so forced on us that we cannot evade it with a good conscience.

Orig. Sec. And it is maintained that the open, public, and strenuous defence of divine truth is, at present, so forced on all the evangelical churches, that they cannot refrain from it longer without the greatest unfaithfulness.

United Pres. How do you make it appear that we are bound to oppose this heresy, if it be indeed a heresy?

Orig. Sec. If our friends here would indulge us by extending their exemplary patience a very little farther, I will endeavour to shew. Indep. This is a question in which you two are chiefly concerned, but we shall willingly hear you a little longer.

United Pres. Let us then hear what you have to allege in support of your assertion, that opposition to these opinions is forced on all the evangelical churches of Scotland.

Orig. Sec. Well, then, as you are aware, the orthodox ministry of Scotland were peacefully pursuing their labours, when these persons came forth with their pestilential dogmas, so ruinous to the peace of the Church, and so injurious to the souls of men. While mere sciolists in theology, they presumptuously assumed to be oracles, to whom the wisest and most experienced men should listen with implicit faith. Though raw, and immature, and inexperienced, they spake as if nothing had been known in the Church till they arose, as if the doctrine of the

atonement had never been understood till they explained it, as if the Reformation had been only a new phase of error, as if all the martyrs had died as fools, and all the saints that had lived in Scotland before them, had been no saints, but persons living and dying in gross delusion-for they did not scruple to affirm that the gospel was only preached by them; and, if only preached by them, it never had been preached in the land before. In addition to all this, in a low spirit of proselytism, they crept into houses and endeavoured to seduce the ignorant and unstable, and to lead away the self-sufficient and unwary. Now, I ask, what in these circumstances ought the friends of truth to do? Ought they, as you advise, to look supinely on, as those who have neither heads, nor hands, nor hearts, nor tongues, nor pens? While the emissaries of error are incessant in their efforts for its propagation, and in their endeavours to destroy the truth of God, and to alienate the population of the country from their wonted teachers, must we fold our hands, and look on in silence, if not with complacency, because, forsooth, controversy is undesirable? Never! Such conduct might be reckoned good policy, but it would shew little principle; it might be accounted prudent, but it would be far from being manly; it may consult for the interests of peace, but it would betray the interests of truth. Ministers are set for the defence of the gospel," and every one of them who would be faithful, is bound both to preach the gospel, and to defend the gospel which he preaches. To whom else than their pastors can a people look for light and direction in regard to perplexing controversies? That peace is either not the daughter of truth, or she is a very unnatural child, which can hear her mother publicly defamed without uttering a word in her defence. It is a paltry, a puling, a contemptible spirit, which, under the pretence of peace and charity, would lead us to refrain from opposing those who are undermining all that is dearest to our hopes as Christian men, all that is most vital and precious in the trust committed to the gospel ministry, and all that is most glorious in the work of our Redeemer.

United Pres. In all that you have said I perceive nothing calculated to convince a person of good sense, and a liberal spirit, of the propriety of this controversy. The precise and rigid views which you entertain about faithfulness, are a century behind. I have long since outgrown this kind of sentiments, which, however noble they seem in theory, are utterly impracticable. I am thankful, besides, that I have become weary of contention, and despite of your philippic, I shall take the liberty to believe that those are the best shepherds who are the most careful to feed their flocks amid "green pastures," and who cause them "to lie down beside the still waters," and those are the best husbandmen who deal more with "the ploughshare" than "the sword," and more with "the pruning-hook" than "the spear."

Orig. Sec. So you have grown weary of contention, have you? Take care lest you be becoming weary of well-doing, of which contending for the faith is a most important part. As to your shepherd and your husbandman, though it be the duty of a shepherd to feed his flock, would he be a good shepherd who should do nothing more when the wolf comes? Is it not one part of the character of an hireling that he does

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