and the testimony of Jesus;" who were seen by John in vision crying from under the altar, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth?" May their souls be living in us-their faith, their purity, their devotedness, whether called on or not, like them, to "resist unto blood, striving against sin."

Meantime, happily, suffering is not our immediate duty. This seems specially the time for action when at ease, hurt by no persecution, free from all oppressive restraint, prospered in our endeavours, and filled with the peculiar favour and goodness of the Lord. We have carried, I have sometimes thought, embarrassment into our views, from applying the principles of former times to altered circumstances. The illustrious fathers and founders of our Reformed Church were the first men of their age. The light brought out by the Reformation aroused and electrified men's minds, somewhat like the finding of the new hemisphere, or some unexpected and extraordinary discovery in science. All felt the concussion, whether they shared or not in the spiritual influences; and those who were leaders in the change, combining with their elevated character and dauntless courage the highest learning and attainments of their times, were naturally resorted to, consulted, and commissioned with the charge of public affairs. Christianity in its corrupt form had been the law of the land. Our reformers had influence to obtain the reception in its stead, of a reformed and purified Christianity, sound in Scriptural principles, suited to the circumstances of the people, and well adapted to all the purposes of good government. The system served its purpose so well at first, and at different times in its subsequent history-that is, we may say, whenever it had fair play, that it is not wonderful we should have learned to cling to it with unquestioning tenacity, and to look on it as possessing, not only in its leading but in its minuter features, that Divine and sacred sanction which all the great legislators of the earth have sought, or pretended, for the purpose of giving establishment to their laws.

Good and evil have succeeded each other in the experience of our Church, as in every other human system. No plan can be devised for preserving a pure administration under common human agency. Unfaithfulness precedes degeneracy and decay; corruption follows, invoking either ruin, or, through mercy, the revival and renovation of affairs. The civil alliance on which we hang for support, withdraws our trust from God, and attracts men to the ministry who have not the heart of Christ's ministers. The world gains the ascendant, and goes on to pollute the Church far more than the Church refines the world. The vessels of the sanctuary do not cleanse the hands that bear them; a sacred office will not convey the gift to exercise it aright; nor does a Church, though to a good extent efficient within its own sphere, renovate the state so as not to suffer from its contaminating alliance. A spirit of pride and self-confidence springs up in it, grounded on its honourable origin, the credit of its holy and illustrious names, the Pharisaic boast of occupying Moses' seat, with claims to the honour derived by inheritance from its better periods,the character of those who built the sepulchre of the prophets with the spirit that killed them. The Church of England is still, as occasion serves, held out as the Church of Ridley and Latimer; and our Church of Scotland, although we had left her honour unvindicated, and suffered the violation of all that exalted and made her name precious, would have still continued to challenge Knox and Melville for her own. But we have saved them from this disparagement. We carried, as it were, their statues with us last year-along with the truth for which they testified,-from the sanctuary that would have sacrilegiously detained them. We are, I need not hesitate to declare, the true Israel of our Church, "to whom pertain the fathers, and the service of God, and the promises ;" and we cannot regret that we are Free -that we have attained freedom from bondage-freedom from encroaching temptation-freedom from trammels and encumbrances-freedom to walk according to our consciences-freedom to preach Christ always and everywhere-freedom to unite ourselves with all that are his followers, of every country and of every name. We are gainers every way. We were not without our good times before. Vitality was in our body; we had discernment to see our danger, and on which side our safety

lay; but we waited God's time for improving our condition, and now would say to any situated as we were, Watch the leadings of God's providence, be ready at his call, and, "if ye may be free, use it rather."

I would not be mistaken, my brethren, as under valuing the benefit of a rightly constituted and scripturally principled Church Establishment. We have enjoyed comforts and advantages under that arrangement in time past, and much regret that our country was not enough enlightened to know the Church's proper sphere, or rightly appreciate the benefits she ministers to society. We bless God for civil government, for magistrates appointed as "a terror to evil doers and a praise to them that do well." It belongs to us, as good subjects, to support God's ordinance, and those whom it enjoins to honour his laws in their public capacity, to cherish and protect the faithful in the land, to countenance and support God's worship and true worshippers; and this, we all allow, may be done rightly under a particular form, provided it be such as is consonant to Scripture, settled on a constitutional baisis, and not forced on the consciences of the people. No Establishment in Christendom was, I believe, more irreproachable in these respects than ours. It was planted by true Christian reformers, genuine successors of the apostles, with the concurrence of the great body of the nation of all degrees, and became the law of the land by the settlement of the supreme legislature. It has served its purpose, and has, as I have said, often worked well; but, like other human institutions, it has lasted its time, grows old, and is ready to pass away. Our laws have lost their character under a changed administration. We must not expect God's work to be done by secular hands. Investing with an office which enjoins the spirit of truth and righteousness, will not convey that spirit, nor the power to perform its duties aright, any more than an army can be converted, as has been pretended, by passing them under the water of baptism, or a true defender of the faith raised up by imposing the covenants on a Charles II. Our predecessors suffered from this mistake in both parts of the island. Looking to the State and to ungodly statesmen for the support of religion, and to the nominal Church as still the real one, and finding nothing under any name free from blemish, or fit to represent the great body of the faithful, they have yielded, and we with them, to the corruption of the times, nor have found out, till forced to it, that the remedy lies in separation. The Church has been in a state of nonage ever since the great apostacy sprung up-feeble, supported by crutches, and afraid to let them go. The time approaches for her props being taken from under her, and then she will come to her strength, when God and his upholding are her sole dependence. Our country lies within the empire of the ten-horned beast, and must share, more or less, in its overthrow and desolation. Let us not cleave to that which must be destroyed. The Church of God is safe, which he hath purchased with his own blood." No storm, earthquake, or convulsion can overthrow it. If our lot be with it, we need not tremble for the fate of degenerate and corrupt Establishments. The crash of Babylon's fall will not overwhelm those who have made their escape from her; her domes and towers will not fall upon them. Much of the precious seed is lodged every where in the devoted Churches. God will call them out in his own time and way. Happy are those who walk in the truth, and keep their garments white,-alive to the stirrings of his Spirit and the calls of his providence. I cannot but view our separation as a probable way of escape, provided in good time that we may make progress in the Lord's work, and prepare many to meet his will who shall not be amazed at the fiery trial that may try them, nor be ashamed before the Lord at his appearing and his coming.

Our work at present is made plain and easy to us. We have a price put into our bands to get wealth—a marked-out field of labour, free from the geographical boundaries that used to limit our operations. We must do good in our own land, and see that the land reaps the effectual benefit. And may this be "a year of the right hand of the Most High," and this day's anniversary one of high congratulation! I cannot but hope ere then a great increase of glad tidings; aud that the question will not then be, how shall we awaken interest and win attention? but how shall we direct the interest already excited,-how cary forward the work every where prosperously begun? If, happily, under Divine influence, our aims, prayers, and endeavours are all

As a

centred in this object, we may look on it, in a manner, as already attained. vessel well rigged, manned, and stored, starting in fair weather, with wind and tide in its favour, may be considered as already well sped in its voyage, we could wish no more favourable sign of God's gracious intentions than the impulse simultaneously awakened in so many minds.

We have ready materials in the gifts, attainments, and zeal of our ministers, if themselves and all these be baptized for their work with the fire of the Holy Ghost. It is by whetting the edge, I would say, rather than by putting to more strength, that our tools will do their work. Our preaching has materials of study, but wants the glow of love, the fire that penetrates, the faith in its power as God's instrument for convicting and converting, for holding up Christ so as he may be received into the soul, for piercing as a dividing sword, for passing as God's own emissary from the speaker's tongue to the hearer's heart.

Our Saviour, in performing a cure, believed in the efficacy of his own word; the sufferer who desired the benefit, looked sometimes, perhaps, with trembling expectation; but when he felt the change was wrought in him, no doubt remained on his mind of the power that had effected it; a corresponding faith sprung up, responding from the sinner's to the Saviour's heart. The power we want is, no doubt, of God, and not at man's disposal; but on whom does he confer it? By whom does he perform his work? Is it not by those who are "strong in faith, giving him glory," using their gifts as his, and renouncing all claim to share with him in their effects? Are they not the lowly in mind, the poor in spirit, whom he fills with good things? Are they not the self-devoted, who count not their lives dear, but spend and are themselves spent in his service, laying out their souls in wrestling, their days, and even their nights, in labours and endeavours? It is often remarked that the most useful evangelists are not the men of greatest intellect but of deepest devotion; those who most honour their work and God in the doing of it. We want greater simplicity, nearness, and intimacy with God, and confidence in his instituted means, together with the freedom and ingenuity which a strong desire to be understood and believed puts into the manner and the words. What adaptation was there in the discourses and parables of our blessed Saviour to those to whom they were addressed! He could not speak without being listened to, nor be heard by men of honest minds without being understood. We have in the New Testament no sermons that are elaborate without being instructive. They come from minds glowing with the sacred subject, from hearts that overflow. They are not the produce of pain and weariness in the composition-their virtue does not lie in their length. The exercise they call forth in the hearer is not that of patience or unedified attention. We stand at too great a distance from our hearers as well as from God. If we loved and trusted both more, we should get nearer to them, and put forth a warmer and more prevailing influence. If we were more genuine in love, and more at home,-if I may be understood,-in our intercourse with God, we should know more of his mind,-our prayers would be of his prompting-the Spirit would make his own intercessions in us. In that day, in a sense, we should ask nothing of the Lord, for the Father himself loving us, all that he has would be ours; our work would be of his own appointing, our place of his choosing, we should learn from himself what he would have us to do. I have known two individuals eminently blessed in revival work,-the one in Wales, the other in America,-who at first shrunk back like Moses; but God fastened it upon them. They were holy, devoted men, who had made sacrifices, and would have shunned publicity and distinction; but God singled them out. They were quiet, unobtrusive men, who thought a bumble station in the church best befitted them; but they did not resist God when he surprised them by an unexpected shower of his mercy. When we would pray for anything of a special nature, let God awaken the desire in us, or, at any rate, give us leave to entertain it. If we would know what the Spirit says, we must sometimes be silent, that we may hear his voice. It is in vain to set out in an undertaking, which he only can make successful, without his instigation and concurrence. Can we convert the heathen? Can we recover the Jew? Can we plant heart-religion in town or village? Can we savingly impress the soul of

our friend and brother?

In all this his eye should show us direction; we should work under his hand, "who alone worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure."

I know it becomes me here rather to learn than to teach; and I would not at this time seem to take on myself the minister's office, but that, if possible, we may edify one another. Our hearts were warmed and elevated this day week, till they burned within us with longing desires after the exaltation of him whom we call our Lord; and after the fulfilment of his will in the ingathering of his people. We would desire that the impression might be revived, and that each minister of his, and son of the prophets, when he departs, should carry hence with him a coal from the altar to kindle a sacred flame in the hearts of his people. Oh, let us strive together for ourselves and for each other, that Christ and his cause may be great in our eyes, dear to our hearts, ever in our thoughts, always advancing and finding place in every region of the earth! Let our rejoicing be, not in our good frames, not in our successful studies, not in our creditable performances, not in our people's love poured out upon us, farther than as these serve the cause of Christ; our glory. ing must not be vain glorious, but such as can be offered without impairing our service. "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

I would venture a suggestion or two, in case they may fall in with the views of my brethren. Do we not find a great uncertainty as to the effect of our preaching, from having too little communion with our hearers in reference to what they hear, and generally as to the state of their souls? Except with young persons at the time when they come for admission to the communion, or those visited, or applying to us for special purposes, we find few opportunities of knowing their progress or declension. We want an agency to help us in this part of the work, besides our regular office-bearers. With much pleasure I heard the suggestion of our reverend friend Dr Chalmers, which was also repeated by the committee on the means of reviving religion, with respect to the desirableness and importance of employing lay agency; not elders only, but deacons, catechists, or plain private Christians, without distinctive appellation. There are hundreds of labourers, male and female, standing idle around us, who want to be enlisted in this interesting service. None should come into the vineyard to be idlers there; they are priests unto God. A useless Christian is like a cold fire, or a dark sun,-a contradiction in terms. We find people much more zealously interested in any proceedings in which they have the opportunity of being usefully engaged. Our public services would assume a livelier, more attractive character, whether they were long or short, and speak more to the hearts of our people, with less anxious preparation on our part. Why might not our hearers be called out, classified, and engaged in their own and each other's improvement? Under the best arranged Methodist system, every regular hearer of the gospel has a place as belonging to one class or other, and something given him to do according to his ability. He will rank either among the unawakened and ignorant, or with the serious and inquiring, or among the anxious and doubting; or he will be advanced among those who have obtained pardon of sin and justifying righteousness, or who have gained strength in the faith, victory over sin, and experience to edify others. "Little children, young men, and fathers," all have their position, and should be cherished and turned to account in the Christian family. Much benefit might arise from uniting our people in little associations, suited to each other in years, sex, and condition in life; care being taken that each class have in it a leader, or some of sufficient experience to edify the others. Where this method is tried under judicious management, great affection, mutual interest, and useful exercise of mind on Christian subjects, are called into play. Much progress might thus be made, with new experience of the promise, "On my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.'

Many are zealous for the sanctification of the Sabbath, which is in itself a very important object; but perhaps, in reference to its higher application, we do not go quite the right way to work. Our religion is too much kept for Sunday, causing stiffness and formality sometimes in that day's exercises. If we carried Sabbath feelings about with us, and brought them more into the week, Sabbath sanctification

would be secured; we should be livelier, more effective Christians, and our Lord's day exercises animated with a warmer, more elevated devotion. We seem at each time of meeting to have to renew acquaintance with the day and with each other before we are quite prepared to enjoy the holy intercourse. Would the Lord please to prosper us, and pour out of His Spirit upon us, our week days would become as Sabbaths, and our Sabbaths would be brightened with ten-fold effulgence. Then would the holy communion of the Supper, and all the means that quicken and refresh the souls of believers, be called into more constant and vigorous exercise. Without much effort or exertion in the matter of discipline, our communion would become pure, and the whole character of our Christianity reach a higher standard.

In another matter, too, I would suggest that we are behind most bodies of serious Christians in the little use that we make of hymns and pleasant music for edification out of Church. We all know that the songs of a country make a part of its national character. Times of revival have often been fruitful of new inspiration in this way; and Luther, both from his natural genius, and from the taste of his country, availed himself of that channel for spreading a gospel influence over all the churches and families of his native land. And the fruit still remains, I have understood; for when the true Gospel lamp has been extinguished in the pulpit, and shines little through other means, there is still a savour of piety kept up by the devotional singing of the peasantry and common people. Our old version of the Psalms, with the Paraphrases, seems, from long use, so endeared to our people, that it might not be desirable to make any innovation in our regular Sabbath day psalmody; but for family and social edification, and in the more familiar religious meetings of friends on week days, and in Sunday schools, it seems unnecessary self-denial to have so little benefit as we have from the sacred and often touching and beautiful compositions of Watts, Charles Wesley, Newton, and other Christian poets, who have provided plentifully for the Church's edification in that line. Those who deny us these helps to devotion, do not know their use. Our people sing very little in church, because they do not sing for religious purposes at home. Where wellselected bymns are in use, they gain the ear of the young people by their pathos and simplicity, and exercise the mind often in devotional feeling, at times when it is impossible to have the Bible in the hand, and when our Psalms would not be thought of. If some such collection were brought out, with the recommendation of the Free Church, I have no doubt it would soon gain very edifying popularity among us. I throw out these suggestions, not now in the form of recommendations to the Assembly, as the time of business is over, but for consideration, and, as far as they may be approved of, for application, among those who view matters as I do.

I have occupied you too long in this last day of our meeting; and now, with many thanks for the indulgence I have experienced in the office to which your kindness raised me, I take my leave of its duties. May the uniting love we have enjoy. ed together accompany us when we part, and the good fruits and seeds sown by this Assembly be found far and wide, spreading their influence over days and years yet to come. "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace."

The day of meeting of next Assembly having been announced (Thursday the 22d May,) the Assembly sung the three last verses of the 122d Psalm, and after the benediction, separated about 4 o'clock in the afternoon.