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the miracles by which they attested their mission? Can you strike a fraudulent Ananias and his confederate imposter to the earth in their iniquity? No; the whole pretence of succession is an imposture and a lie. Neither the natural nor the spiritual successors of the Apostles are ye. Even Peter's residence at Rome is an unsupported conjecture. The succession of Popes is interrupted by a Pope Joan. Nor has the Church of Rome any better claim to the title of the Mother of Churches, than her Bishop to that of the successor of St. Peter. Boniface III. was the first who assumed the title of Universal Bishop. Never before did Councils or did Fathers speak of the Bishop of Rome otherwise than as the Bishop of that See. The usurpation was itself the act and the stamp of Antichrist. I want to establish no new sect. I wish only to recur to the Bible, to open the Bible to my flock, -to obtain for myself and for them, each and all of them, the right to do what the Reformers did,—to embrace and profess such doctrines, and such doctrines only, as we find there. The advocates of Rome remonstrate with me. They tell me of the multiplicity of sects among Protestants; of the union of the Church under one head, the Pope. I answer, that the one undivided head of the Catholic Church is Christ; that the divisions within the pale of Rome, are more numerous and more bitter than those which reign without. Witness the contests of the Dominicans and the Franciscans on the immaculate conception; of the Jansenists and Jesuits on faith and works. In the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, at least, all Christians agree. The Romish Church has them too. I deny not that she maintains the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, and, nominally, the atonement also; but she neutralizes and destroys them all by the accursed system of moneymaking idolatry which she has invented, and which pervades each and every part of her practice. I deny not that the Roman Church is a true Church; but she is sick and corrupted, even unto death. A man lying helpless and prostrate on a bed of sickness is yet a real man, feeble and infected though he be. So the Church of Rome retains the lingering vitality of a true Church, though diseased in every feature, joint, and limb, by the consequences of her great apostacy. Where," her advocates ask us with an air of triumph, "Where was the religion of Protestants before the days of Luther?" How easily can we at once answer, and retort the question. Protestants possess no religion but what may be found in the Bible,-while the Bible has existed, then, Protestantism must have existed with it. But, where was Popery before the Council of Trent? Popery with all its corruptions and all its intolerance,—with all, in short, that makes it distinctively Popery? That is a question less easily replied to. The religion of Protestants is confined within the covers of the Bible. The diffusion of this sacred volume forms one of the most important features of the change in progress at Birr. Three hundred copies I have already distributed. Several Bible-readers are in constant employment; and in public worship reference is, in all occasions, made to the Bible, for the text or passage quoted. Such is the nature of the change I have been the humble instrument of working at Birr. I hope and believe that a similar change may be widely spread throughout Ireland. We wish not merely to erect a chapel for the accommodation of our present congregation, but to collect Burke, Nolan, and other priests who have abjured the yoke of Rome, and to employ them in missionary labours among our deluded fellow-countrymen. Our motives are, surely, beyond suspicion. We ask nothing from the Church of England, or the Church of Scotland. No; these Churches are adorned with their proper

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luminaries, and need not our aid. But in our own sphere, from which we have no ambition to diverge, we may, we hope, do much good. But to do this, and to add that all-important appendage, a school, to our chapel, we appeal to you for aid. We ask no alms. For ourselves, person. ally, we ask nothing; we want nothing. We have, indeed, reduced our revenues, by the surrender of mass-money, and clay-money, and similar sources of fraudulent extortion; but we still have enough for ourselves. I repeat, then, that for ourselves we ask nothing. I myself will touch no penny of your contributions. You have before you the Trustees to whom it is to be paid, and you can judge whether they are men likely to see it appropriated as they profess. I believe that to you, the Protestants of Ulster, we shall not appeal in vain. You have ever been foremost in every good word and work, and if you, our countrymen, do not endorse our claims with your approval, how shall we appeal to the English or the Scottish public. I thank you, most sincerely and most gratefully, for the patience with which you have heard me. I have spoken to you feebly and imperfectly, with diffidence and hesitation; but I have spoken from my heart. I have said nothing that did not issue thence, and that will not bear reflection on my part, and examination on yours.

THE PRESBYTERY OF CONNOR TO THE PEOPLE UNDER THEIR CHARGE.

Dearly-Beloved Brethren,-As God has placed us, under a high and awful responsibility, to watch for your souls, we have, after much serious deliberation, unanimously resolved upon the following Regulations, for the better exercise of discipline, and advancement of experimental and practical religion among you; copies of which we now put into your hands, earnestly and affectionately beseeching you to give to them your serious attention, and assist us in carrying them into effect. We, in those regulations, have had solely in view our common and eternal interest. We hope they will approve themselves to your consciences; and are yours, in the Lord.

(Signed, by order,)

ROBERT STEWART, D.D., Moderator.
WM. M'CLINTOCK WRAY, Clerk.

I. That as the desecration of the holy Sabbath is a highly aggravated sin, calculated publicly to dishonour God, prevent the edification, and sear the conscience of the offender, cause scandal, and give serious offence to the pious and devout,-and call down God's heavy judgments on offending nations and Churches, the Presbytery affectionately warn the members of their respective congregations to avoid, on the Lord's day, all buying or sell

ing of bread, fruit, groceries, intoxicating liquors, or any article of merchandize; all journeying, whether for pleasure or profit; all servile or worldly work, except in cases of necessity and mercy ;-and direct that all persons who may be guilty of such offences, shall be visited with the admonition or censure of the Church, and dealt with as the Session may consider expedient, for the reformation of the offender, and the interest of religion in the congregation.

II.—That, for the better sanctification of the Sabbath, and the encouragement and growth of piety, each Elder be enjoined to take special cognizance how the Church members, in his district, attend public worship; and, should any individual, in health, absent himself for three Lord's days, successively, from public worship, the Elder shall call to inquire the reason, and, when he sees it necessary, report absentees to the Session.

III.-That as family prayer is a Scriptural duty, eminently conducive to the promotion of religion, and one by which our forefathers were highly distinguished, the Presbytery earnestly and affectionately recommend all the heads of families under their care, to collect the members of their household, on each morning and evening, for the worship of God.

IV. That as drunkenness, and profane swearing, are heinous, and awfully prevalent sins, the Presbytery enjoin Sessions, strictly, to exercise the discipline of the Church on all persons guilty of these offences.

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V. That the Session shall, by each of its elders in their respective districts, establish societies, to meet month

ly, for prayer and religious conversation; that all our peo

ple be recommended to attend these societies, and that the minister visit each of them, at least once in six months.

VI. That the Presbytery enjoin all their Sessions to hold monthly prayer meetings, at which they may communicate to each other, the state of religion in their respective districts,-take counsel together, and transact such congregational business as may come before them.

VII.--That as it is agreeable to our discipline that admission to the Lord's Supper should not rest with the minister alone, but with the whole Session, as joint rulers in the house of God,-it appears to the Presbytery, that Baptism, as a sealing ordinance, should be celebrated under the like sanction; they therefore direct that all ap

plications for Baptism be made to the minister in Session; and that in all cases, where it is practicable, Baptism be celebrated after public worship, in the presence of the whole congregation; or, should the Session direct the celebration of Baptism at any private house, public notice of the same shall be given on the Sabbath previous, and the ordinance preceded by a public lecture, or sermon.

VIII. That as the ordinary practice of observing wakes, by which large and promiscuous assemblages of people are collected together throughout the night, tends, not only to disturb that solemnity which ought to reign in the house of mourning, but, often, to the demoralization of society,-and as the distribution of intoxicating liquors, and other luxuries and refreshments, at wakes and funerals, is an unnecessary, and frequently a wasteful and oppresive expenditure, and leads to results most unfavourable to religion and decency, -it be earnestly and affectionately recommended to all our people, to cast off the bands of these pernicious customs; and as the practice of holding funerals on the Lord's day can seldom be absolutely necessary, it must, therefore, be considered a breach of the fourth commandment, and carefully avoided in all our congregations.

LITERARY NOTICE.

HISTORY OF REVIVALS OF RELIGION IN THE BRITISH ISLES, ESPECIALLY IN SCOTLAND. By the author of the "Memoir of the Rev. M. Bruen." W. OLIPHANT & SON, Edinburgh. p.p. 402. 1836.

THE report of the American Revivals, throughout this country, has, naturally, excited the attention of the religious public, and led to the inquiry, may not similar out-pourings of the Holy Spirit be expected here also? And this subject is a profitable one to engage the attention of the Church. It leads to a consideration of what is meant by a revival, and so occupies the mind with a most important, practical subject; it causes an examination into the reasons why the Spirit has been withheld, and thus leads to a thorough knowledge of self; it prompts to a consideration of the means by which a revival may be expected; and it sends the historian back to past times, to explore the dealings of the Spirit with Churches and individuals. It is this last branch of the subject that forms the subject of the volume before us; and it is treated in manner the most instructive, interesting, and profitable. Full evidence is afforded, that the Spirit does not confine his larger out-pourings to one continent of the earth. And, seeing what has been, we learn what may be; and we are encouraged to wait upon God in the use of all lawful means, until the Spirit be poured on us from on high, making the wilderness a fruitful field, and the fruitful field a garden. We earnestly

desire the extensive circulation of this volume upon British revivals, because it is well calculated to arrest the attention of a careless Church, to quicken its deadness into zeal, and animate the hopes of those who, in faith and patience, wait for the appearing of a brighter day. We regret that want of space prevents us, in the present number, from submitting any extracts from this valuable volume; but we shall recur to it, as soon as we have an opportunity.

TO THE READERS OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN.

WITH the present number, we close the seventh year of our editorial labours. In this apprenticeship we have served a good master, and we have found much satisfaction in his service. Our aim has been to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ; and, we trust, he has condescended, in some measure, to honour cur labours with his favour and blessing. The change that has taken place, during this period, in the Church and in society, is such as to lead us to ask, what hath God wrought! It may be questioned whether a greater advancement of truth ever took place, within the same term of years, if we except the age of the Apostles. And although it were great presumption in us to suppose that we had contributed mainly, or in any great degree, to this happy consummation,—yet we can sincerely say, we watched its progress with great interest, lent our aid wherever we could, and we trust we may add, it was not always ineffectual. Our little work commenced in the midst of a mighty struggle for the maintenance of truth, and when it seemed doubtful what might be the issue. But what is the aspect of affairs now, and particularly so in that section of the Church with which we are more immediately connected? A spirit of revival appears to have pervaded the entire body. There has been an unprecedented increase of Churches and congrega. tions, averaging not less than ten in every year; there has been a remarkable enlargement in the liberality of the members of the Church, pounds being raised now with almost as much facility as shillings were formerly; the Missionary spirit has extended every where, so that a Church without its organised Missionary Association, begins to be looked upon as a strange thing; there is a growing regard to the exercise of godly discipline; and the Standard of the Church, long trampled in the dust by the enemies of truth and righteousness, has been lifted up again, and established on a basis, from which, we believe, it will be vain ever to attempt to move it. We have had melancholy evidence of what the Church becomes, when the Confession of Faith is laid aside by its members; and now that it is restored to its rightful place, by the almost unanimous voice of its assembled representatives, in concurrence with the hearty desires of the great mass of our people, who never ceased to deplore its downfal, we may confidently hope, that, under the blessing of the great Head of the Church, it will be maintained in that position, for the upholding of his truth and honour. Much, however, as has been done, it is not to be forgotten, that far more remains to be done. The present age seems to be characterised by the extensiveness of its preparations for labour. As the world was prepared for the first coming of Christ, by the subjugation of almost all nations to one mighty kingdom, and the universal prevalence of peace, so that the way was open for the preachers of the cross, through all lands; so in these times the world seems ripening for the

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