Imatges de pàgina
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PREFACE.

THE following Report of the proceedings of the THIRD General Assembly of the Free Church has been prepared mainly, though not entirely, from the Witness newspaper. In many instances the speeches will be found altered and enlarged, and some are supplied which were altogether omitted in that publication. The importance of the subject which occupied the most prominent place in the Assembly's proceedings, namely, THE STATE OF RELIGION, is a sufficient reason for the documents which are introduced into the Appendix.

In reference to the whole proceedings of this Assembly, the following extracts from an article in a recent number of the Presbyterian Review, may be here inserted as an introduction to this Report.

"Our prosperity as a Church must not be viewed simply in the light of our success as a movement. Very effectual and complete has the movement been. It has passed through no stage of precarious infancy, or sickly childhood, but all as in a moment, it has clothed itself in the triumphs of matured and indomitable manhood. But how fares it with the inward progress of the body-is there as much spirituality as partizanship-does the Church arise and shine, while the tide of movement runs as strong as ever?

"This is the real point for consideration; and on which we would desire both friend and adversary to fix their eye. Unfortunately, it is a question which those who discountenance us will not answer, because they will not put it. But it is the only view of matters that a godly soul cares for; and it is likewise the subject in regard to which our third General Assembly furnishes us with the most abundant materials for judging. Nothing new as to our position or prospects transpired on this occasion; neither was anything new developed as to our plans and operations. Previous exertions had succeeded beyond all expectation in laying down the platform, and organizing our economy as a Church; and workmen, numerous up to our present means of using them, were ready for duty at their assigned stations. The engine was set up, and all in order. But now came the question under what impulse shall all this tremendous machinery be driven,-in what direction shall it move upon its way? Our constitution as a church was all we could desire; but our character as a church, what shall it be? Great is our influence-our force. We must tell prodigiously for evil, or for good. Whence, then, shall come the inspiration that is to guide usfrom the devil or God? This was the question which this Assembly had to determine; and it was an anxious-an awful one. On the answer given there hung the loss or salvation of ourselves and our posterity. The fortunes of Protestantism and Christianity were involved in it; and more than the simple event of the disruption, would it affect the interests of vital godliness in Scotland, and over the world. Bless the Lord, O our souls, for ever and ever! He who rescued us from the 'fowler,'even the devil,-gave us not over to ourselves. If we have had reason to mourn that, as to extensive revival, God was not in the earthquake' of our great secession, though it were his own doing; or, in the fire' of our indefatigable zeal, though it were all of his own kindling; surely, amid 'the stillness' of love, and prayer, and sorrow, vouchsafed at this Assembly, his voice' was heard, and it was then made evident that in spite of all her sore defection, he had chosen our Church as a polished shaft for the battle of truth and holiness.

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