cal Churches and associations engaged in the same good work, as well as with those with whom we then co-operated. Reckless as Christendom guiltily was for ages of the conversion of the Jews, and ignorant a few years ago as the Church confessedly was of any hopeful field of labour on which to enter, and sent out there, as some were, to make inquiry where, if anywhere, such a field could be found, the time assuredly is now come, in which, from the greatness of the work to be accomplished, one member of Christ's body, the Church, cannot say to another that is united under the same head, I have no need of thee. Already, but for this Christian brotherhood and co-operation, a school for the spiritual instruction of Jewish children would have been dispersed in Constantinople, and an institution and dispensary would have been there unheard of to this day; a Hebrew press would not have been formed in Smyrna; and a thousand Bibles, in two languages, now circulating among the Jews, might have been lying unbound in Vienna; and a Jewish missionary from our sister Church in Ireland would not have been this day in Hamburgh. Men at the same work, in the service of the same Master,-cannot be any longer strangers and foreigners when unity becomes a matter, not of speculation, but of action.

"But your Committee look, through the mercy of our God, for greater things than these as the result of Christian union in this holy enterprise. The British Association for the Conversion of the Jews, in connection with this Church, has England at present for its special field; but hopes and expectations are cherished that its field of operation, together with its means, will speedily be enlarged. The Committee has been in active co-operation with their brethren of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and of the American Board of Missions in Boston. Conferences have been held with the Rev. Dr Symington of Glasgow, and the Rev. Mr M'Crie, as the representatives of the Churches to which they belong, respecting the establishment by them of missions to the Jews; and an interest in behalf of Israel has been manifested by the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales, and also by other evangelical Dissenting Churches in England.

"The Committee rejoice in the facilities which, at the very time when enemies are uniting, the God of Israel is imparting, for an united Christian assault on the kingdom of the prince of darkness, where his proud dominion has been so long maintained over the once chosen people of the Lord.

"Notwithstanding of all these encouragements, your Committee might well be appalled at the greatness of the work, and their hearts fail them at the thought of this mighty responsibility, did they not know that the cause is the Lord's, and that the promises pertain to Israel. We look in hope to the prayers, as well as to the contributions, of the many and the multiplying associations throughout the land,-to the supplications of the closet, as well as of the sanctuary,―to the fellowship of Christian Churches, ranked under the same hallowed banner, that bears the crown as well as the cross, we look for the efforts and the sacrifices of Christian men; but, through these things, and above them all, as in them all, we look, as the fields are fast ripening for the harvest, while the labourers are few, to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers unto his harvest, and that he would pour down abundantly the grace of liberality on all who love Zion's King, and seek the peace of Jerusalem, that they may be sent ; and we ask in faith, nothing doubting, for we know assuredly that, even as his name has been blasphemed because of them, God will yet be glorified in his people Israel, in the gathering of the first fruits, as finally in the plenteous redemption. By appointment of the Committee, "ALEX. KEITH, Convener."

Mr EDWARDS, one of the missionaries at Jassy, then addressed the Assembly with reference to the state of the missionary operations in that quarter. He mentioned that at Jassy one important impression had been made upon the vast body of Jews residing there; and it was this, that instead of believing as formerly that all Christians were of one type with the Greek and Roman Catholic Churches around them, they had at last come to know that there were essential distinctions between them, and that Christianity, as preached by its Founder in the New Testa ment, was not necessarily idolatrous. They were also impressed with the fact, that the Bible was the only standard of appeal. These important truths were widely diffused among the Jews in Moldavia, and might be expected to produce very favour

able results. To such as might be disposed to inquire why the station at Jassy had not been given up, seeing that the circumstances connected with it were so long of a discouraging character, Mr Edwards begged to say, that he and his colleague could not conscientiously remove from that station. There had been from the first a few poor inconsiderable souls, undoubtedly; but still, those who had been moved and brought to inquire after the gospel, continued to hang about them; they kept on inquiring, and from time to time made advances, until two of them had been actually received, after three years' waiting and learning, into the Church of Christ. At Jassy, also, the Bible was extensively read by the Jews; and when one considered how often the Jews had been brought to the gospel by simply reading the Bible, a station where hundreds of copies of the Bible had been distributed and read, could not surely be called a hopeless one, however long they might wait for the fruit, and however much patience they might have to exercise. (Hear, hear.) Mr Edwards also stated the impression which had been made upon his mind by the Jews throughout Germany, which was upon the whole favourable. He stated, that in general he had found them affable, ready to receive the advances of Christians, and that he thought was a great point. Their unbelief, too, he had reason to believe, arose from ignorance more than from depravity, which was also a hopeful fact.

Dr DUNCAN said, he was anxious to have taken an opportunity to urge upon the Assembly the importance of laying hands upon ordained ministers of the Church, who were peculiarly fitted for labourers in this important field; but as their time was short, he would not then occupy the attention of the House. But he thought the subject a very important one.

On the motion of Dr CLASON, Seconded by Dr WILSON of Bombay, the Report was approved of, and the thanks of the Assembly were tendered to Dr Keith by the Moderator for his services in this important cause.

Dr CANDLISH then moved the re-appointment of the Committee, with the usual powers and instructions; the Rev. Dr Keith to be convener, the Rev. A. M. Stewart to be vice-convener. He also reminded the Assembly that there were several young men of the seed of Abraham now studying at the Divinity Hall of the Free Church in this city-students, he was happy to say, of a high order, both of intellect and morals. These students were expected to be ready in the course of the ensuing year to receive licence, and he begged to propose that the Committee should be authorised, if they saw cause, to apply to the Presbytery of Edinburgh to take them upon trial. Of course he did not wish that this should be left entirely to one Presbytery of the Church; but he proposed that in the event of such an application being made to them, the Presbytery might report the same to the Commission of the Church, who, at one or other of their diets, would give the usual permission to take these students upon public probationary trials. (Hear, hear.) If these students were ready towards the beginning of next season, it would be very much to be deplored that they should be obliged to wait till next Assembly, before they were sent forth into the missionary field. It had not been the practice of the Free Church, he took leave to say, whatever might be the practice of other bodies, to lay hands suddenly upon the labourers in this field. (Hear, hear.) They had sent forth two converted Jews, after long experience of their piety and worth, not in the capacity of missionaries, but simply in the capacity of assistants to these missionaries. One of these was Mr Philip, who was along with Mr Edwards of Jassy, and the other was Mr Daniell, who had been sent out to join Mr Davidson, who was employed by the Irish Presbyterian Church. But in the cases to which he had referred, they would soon have three young men, possessed of a good academical education, learned in the universities abroad, and learned in the theological school at home, having attended three full sessions at the hall in this city; and after the Church was satisfied of their qualifications, it would be no rash or premature step, but one that was wellconsidered, and well-weighed, to send them out as missionaries to their brethren the Jews. Dr Candlish also moved that the thanks of the Assembly be tendered to Chevalier Bunson, plenipotentiary to the King of Prussia at the British Court, and Mr Eichorn, minister of religious affairs at Berlin, for their prompt and seasonable interposition in removing the difficulties which had arisen respecting the settlement

of a Jewish missionary of this Church in Berlin; all which motions were unanimously adopted.

The Assembly adjourned about half-past five o'clock, till seven.

EVENING SEDERUNT.*

The Assembly called for the

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED FOR CORRESPONDING WITH FOREIGN CHURCHES AND AIDING THEM IN THEIR EVANGELICAL OPERATIONS AND TRIALS.

"Your Committee are anxious to spare the time of the house, by reporting as briefly as possible. They can do so with the less disadvantage, that, during the year, they have availed themselves of various channels of communicating with the Church, -Meetings of Commission, Public Lectures, and the Press. What they have now to state may be regarded rather as a summary of topics, intended to recal the remembrance of the Church to what has been already submitted, than as detailed statements of new operations, whether at home or abroad. For the latter, they trust to the oral representations of esteemed Continental brethren now present, which, doubtless, will be more interesting to the Assembly and the Christian public generally, than any detail at second hand. At the same time, it is due to the cause, and to the foreign correspondents not present, to quote a few extracts from their letters. These, however, shall be brief.

"In giving in this their First Report to the Assembly, however, it is impossible for your Committee to do so without expressing a feeling of blended gratitude and solemnity; gratitude for the blessing with which the Great Head of the Church has been pleased to honour their humble instrumentality, a blessing which is proclaimed in the awakened and growing interest with which Foreign Churches and Evangelical Societies are regarded by the friends of the Free Church, far indeed surpassing what, twelve months ago, even the most sanguine would have ventured to anticipate; and solemnity, when the Committee think of the responsibility which this entails. How unworthy are they of the Lord's goodness, and how ill prepared to meet or direct themselves and others in regard to the great events which, with accelerated speed, seem hastening for development on the Continent of Europe!

"Your Committee endeavoured to fulfil the instructions of last General Assembly, by opening up a correspondence with leading friends of evangelical religion in Piedmont, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, and Germany. The answers received express cordial gratitude for the letters of the Free Church,-warm sympathy with her in her great movements; and pointed out various modes in which the Free Church might be most useful to the cause of Divine truth generally, and particularly the spread of the gospel by evangelical societies already in operation. The letters also bore testimony to the solemnity of the present condition and prospects of evangelical religion on the Continent,-to a decided revival in many quarters, unsurpassed by anything which has appeared since the Reformation, combined with a revival of Popery in its most formidable aspects, which fills the intelligent and the good with serious alarm. The appropriateness, in point of time, of the desire and effort of the

The excitement occasioned by the visit of Dr D'Aubigne was very intense. As it had been known from the beginning of the week that the distinguished individual was to address the Assembly to night, the demand for tickets of admission was unprecedented since the memorable day of the disruption. A great number of strangers were added to the multitude previously in town, and many hundreds of applications for tickets were made unsuccessfully. More than an hour before the adjournment of the early sederunt, people began to take their places for the evening, and long before the Assembly met, all the available space allotted to the public was densely crowded by ladies and gentlemen, and the benches of the members, and the passages leading to them, were also occupied fully. In fact, the magnificent hall presented an unbroken mass of human beings. The Rev. Frederick Monod of Paris, and the Rev. Mr Alder, one of the secretaries to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, took their places on the platform early. Dr D'Aubigne entered the hall along with Dr Chalmers, when the Assembly were about to engage in devotional exercises, and took his seat beside Mr Dunlop, in front of the Moderator's desk. Madame D'Aubigne was accommodated with a seat amongst the ladies on the platform.

Free Church to render their services to the Continent, was universally felt, and likewise her peculiar facility and advantage for doing so with effect.

"Refreshed with the interchange of sentiment, and affection, and love, to a common cause from abroad, your Committee appealed to their fathers and brethren at home, for the means of aiding the faithful on the Continent; and it is matter of devout gratitude to God, that, during the year, the entire sum which has been put into the hands of the Committee, for Continental objects of religious usefulness, amounts to L.1600,-a sum by three or four times exceeding the largest contribution, which, it is believed, even in the most prosperous year, was ever sent by Scotland for the same objects. This sum is independent of another of L.400, (together L.2000), raised by the Rev. Theophilus Marzials of Lille, among the members of the Free Church, which, though for a more private destination, may with all propriety, and agreeably to his own wish, be classed among our contributions, both from its religious character, and from an association of the name of M. Marzials with the ministry of the Free Church, at once generous and new. The result is the more remarkable, that no general collection was appointed by the General Assembly for the objects of your Committee. All that the Committee asked, or expected, or indeed received, were small contributions at extra services,-evening sermons and prayer-meetings. While the sum received, though vastly larger, would afford no ground for boasting, but the reverse, it is most gratifying, as indicative of the reviving religious interest of Scotland in behalf of their Continental brethren, an interest which glowed warmly in other days; and as indicative, also, of the intelligent appreciation of Scottish Christians of the movements of Divine Providence on the Continent, and of the high duties to which, as witnesses for Christ, they may speedily be called. Plainly the gratifying result is not of man, but of God.

"Knowing the pressing need of the friends of evangelical religion labouring on the Continent, your Committee did not feel themselves warranted in retaining the sums placed at their disposal till the meeting of Assembly. They had power to distribute them, and they availed themselves of the power. It may be interesting to the Assembly to be informed generally how the sums have been allocated. In some cases this was done by the donors themselves.

The Vaudois, or Waldensian Church, for library, students, educating
at Geneva, &c.

France.-Evangelical Society of France, Toulouse, and Lyens,

Geneva,

Rev. M. Marzials' Schools at Lille,

Belgium,

Balance,

L.584

338

200

400

50

465

"Without occupying the ground which is appropriately reserved for our foreign friends now present, the Committee may be permitted to state, that the Rev. Mr Stewart, late of Erskine, on his way to Leghorn, has been requested by the Committee to visit those quarters of France where the recent religious movement has been most marked, and report the fruit of his observations. Mr Stewart has also been made the bearer of the contributions of the Free Church to the Waldenses, the far larger part of which was raised by his own indefatigable exertions. The Rev. Mr W. Makellar has, in a letter just received, contributed interesting information of their visit to the districts where the religious revival prevails.

"Many testimonies to the interest and extent of the work might be quoted. Your Committee confine themselves to a few sentences.

"The Messrs Courtois of Toulouse, of date 18th April, after acknowledging the contribution of L.30, and their warm sympathy and affection for the Free Church, add,- Our French Protestant Churches, so long the prey of false doctrine and indifference, are rising from their sleep of death. The pure and full doctrines of the gospel are rapidly gaining; and soon, we trust, if they are not received by all in heart, they will at least be universally proclaimed. But our struggles are great; and our Society, whose special mission it is to rebuild the glorious doctrines of the Reformation, has not met with, at least in the first instance, all the sympathy which it ought to have received. However, by little and little it has made its way, and

now an immense field of usefulness opens before us. We have placed about 400 religious libraries in different churches, and we have the most pleasing evidence of the good wrought out by them. In Saintonge, where a great movement is taking place, we have heard from our friends, that in the absence of ministers to preach, the books have had great influence, and have given to the minds of the people a character of gravity and solemnity which is truly rejoicing.'-(They have voted twenty more libraries for twenty parishes which seemed resolved to abandon Rome, and will do more whenever desirable.)

"Mr Fisch, pastor at Lyons, writes, that in that very city, where Popery is so powerful and prevailing, the Lord is making so extensive an opening for his gospel, that it is difficult to give an accurate idea of it. 'In a single street, one of our colporteurs has found, in a few days, eighty Roman Catholic families ready to listen to the word of God. We only need labourers to sow and labourers to water, for it is necessary frequently to visit these interesting families. Twenty-thirty labourers would be sure immediately to find a vast field for their Christian activity. It is the same with the surrounding country-(various prosperous stations in the neighbourhood.) In the Dauphiny many interesting revivals take place, but one was completely ruined for want of a labourer.'

"The Committee are extremely anxious to render whatever assistance may be considered most useful in connection with the present religious movement in the Popish church of Germany. While in its present state it comes short of what Evangelical Protestants could desire, and to which it may yet reach, the stir and inquiry which have been awakened, the earnest demand for copies of the Scriptures which has been called forth, and, as a whole, the sound Confession of Faith which, at least in many cases, has been adopted, hold out pleasing prospects.

According to the best information which your Committee can obtain, the movement is an extensive one, and daily increasing. Already it numbers eighty-seven congregations, and is stretching to the frontiers of Bohemia,-the whole the result of a few months. Religiously considered, it is of a mingled character. With many, including some of the leaders, it is rather hatred of Popery and love of liberty, than love of the simple truth as it is in Jesus. But with many others it is a decidedly evangelical movement; and great allowance should be made even for those who are as yet very imperfectly enlightened. The manly course which they have followed in abandoning a communion which they believe to be unscriptural and corrupt,—a course which not a few in the Church of Rome have not had the courage to exemplify, though, it may be, knowing more of the gospel than they,-is a testimony to their uprightness, and affords the hope that the Spirit of truth will lead them yet more and more into the knowledge of all revealed truth. Dr Sack, Professor of Theology at Bonn, writes,-

"Certainly we live in a very critical and important moment of ecclesiastical development in Germany, and light and darkness seem to be so strangely involved and intermixed with each other, that even more experienced believers in the evangelical truth feel themselves, for a certain time, not able to judge on what happens before their eyes. The movement which has taken place amongst a good many Roman Catholic congregations in Germany, till now, affords not, after my opinion, so much matter of joy and hope, as many too enthusiastic Protestants seem to believe. The newly-erected German Catholic congregations comprehend, undoubtedly, many persons who are not only weary of the yoke of Popedom and Romanism, but who are also desirous to serve the Lord after the purity of his revelation. But the leaders of this movement, as yet, do not manifest that spirit of faith, Christian experience, knowledge, and zeal, which alone could promise a true revival of Christian life in the souls of their fellow-Christians. The creeds which they have published are not consistent with each other. Some are more catholic, in the good sense of the word; others have a great taint of rationalistic error or superficiality; and not one expresses openly and clearly the great doctrine of justification by faith. The movement, however, is only in the beginning; and it should not be deemed impossible that more experienced and enlightened leaders might give to the modern Catholics a more decided evangelical character.