rally known, or not duly considered; and let me now be permitted to crave the reader's patience till he has heard me to the end.

Now then, to return to our subject, the presentation of Mr. Van Dyck, by Dr. Milledoler, to the Board of Superintendants. The evidence has been adduced, from which the writer has drawn the inference, that Dr. Milledoler was determined to prevent that young man from being recommended by the Board for a Professoral Certificate, or if he should not present himself to the Board, that he should be branded as a heretic and a fugitive from justice: and I have also endeavoured to show that clergymen, and those of good characters too, are capable of doing worse things than these; and that they have actually done them. These pains have been taken in order that the Doctor, or his apologists, may not content themselves with merely throwing the weight of his character and office into the scale against the facts and reasons adduced to prove the charge exhibited against him.

SECTION III.

Proceedings before the Board, with Remarks.

"The bigot theologian-in minute

Distinctions skilled, and doctrines unreduced
To practice...... in Christian love how cold!
His vain conceits were orthodox alone!

-he made trifles seem

The marrow of salvation; to a word,

A name, a sect-gave value infinite;
With mortal heresy denouncing all

Who in his arguments could see no force."

Course of Time.

We are now prepared to enter upon the case of Mr. Van Dyck, as taken up by the Board of Superintendants in July 1827. No sooner had they assembled than Dr. Milledoler's Report is laid before them: the matter was referred to a special committee of three. That committee had a conference with Dr. Milledoler, and in that conference he could not deny, that the deportment of the young man had been throughout his theological course, respectful and exemplary. They state in their report that having called Mr. Van Dyck before them, he had conducted himself with decorum, with candour, and affection:-that although upon the explanation of the standards of our church, given by the committee on the subject of his doubts, he was in some measure relieved, so far as to be able to retract some expressions in his written statements, yet he retained his doubts on the eternal generation of the Son, and of the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit; and was not sufficiently explicit on the atonement: that he wished to be admitted to his examination with his Class, and submit to the investigation and decision of the Board of Superintendants. The committee farther say, they are aware of the caution and discretion which should be exercised in the reception of candidates for the ministry, especially when the developement of facts suggests them. Yet upon due consideration of the modest

and affectionate conduct of their young brother, the committee say they could see no weighty reasons why he should not be admitted to his examination, and why the whole subject should not be left to the discretion of the Board. This report was adopted, and the different classes were then examined. This examination continued from Wednesday till Friday, and it does not appear that during the course of it, any thing was elicited from Mr. Van Dyck, that gave a different complexion to his case from that presented by the committee.

Now, by adopting the report of the committee, it seems very obvious that the Board then saw nothing in his case, as presented in his papers and by the committee, that ought to prevent them from recommending him to receive a Professoral Certificate. If they had seen it, it was very strange, as well as very unkind, to amuse the young man with a three days examination, and then to bring him forward to the exhibition of a public exercise in the church. This course, it is evident, would be calculated only to wound his feelings the deeper, and render his rejection more notorious. The Board certainly then knew from his papers, and from his declarations to the committee, that he did not assent to the doctrines of the eternal generation and procession. Will any one say the Board might hope that he would yet yield those doubts? What! if the Professor during three years' tuition could not convince him that the Bible declared these doctrines, do they suppose that he would become convinced by the examination in the presence of the Board ?--It would be uncharitable to suppose that the Board hoped to coerce him into acquiescence, by increasing his anxiety during the progress of the examination, and as the annunciation of his doom was drawing nearer. do not believe that such calculations were made by them. The committee, it appears to me, were prepared in the feelings of their hearts to have stated in their report-“We cannot find any authority in the Word of God, to reject such a young man as this, although he cannot assent to our entire standards." The student thus came before the Board, from the hands of the committee, in a more favourable light than from the hands of Dr. Milledoler. And the Board, when they proceeded to

I

act on the report of the committee, are not found prepared to reject the student for his doubts on the two doctrines specified. That some of them were prepared to sacrifice him upon the spot, can scarcely be doubted, when we look at their subse quent conduct at the same meeting, and their conduct at the meeting in New-York. But the leaven had not diffused itself sufficiently through the mass, on the first day of the sessionThe examination would last some days, and might be spun out, by the Professor of Didactic Theology, to any extent of time, until all things were ready; and that examination he might so conduct, as to forward the point in view. Meanwhile, he could have opportunities of frequent intercourse with the individual members of the Board, and by the various means at hand, such an esprit du corps might be excited, and increased, and the courage of the fearful so strengthened, and all things so managed, as to make that tolerably easy, which now would be attended with much difficulty. As has been before mentioned, the examination lasted until Friday morning. The room was then cleared of every living soul, except the meinbers of the Board. After the lapse of some time spent in secret session, the Board put their intentions in regard to the unfortunate student, into the shape of a resolution. Reader, look at it" Resolved, that Mr. Van Dyck be called before this Board, and asked whether he has any remarks or explanations to make, on the papers which contain his views and difficulties on certain points of doctrines, as maintained by the Reformed Dutch Church, and whether he is prepared to subscribe, ex animo, the standards of the church."

How different the tone of this resolution from the Report of the Committee adopted by the Board on Wednesday!What produced this difference? Did any thing transpire during the examination, to show that Mr. Van Dyck differed more widely from the doctrines maintained by the Reformed Dutch Church, than his papers purported? No; this is not pretended: for he is to be called on, not to make remarks or explanations of any thing he said in the examination, but to be asked whether he had any remarks or explanations to make on the papers.

The resolution of the Board was intended to finish Mr. Van Dyck; they knew it must have that effect. They unlock the door of the gloomy Hall, and the young man on entering, meets the looks of some dozen or twenty reverend clergymen, on each of whose countenances his doom might with ease be read. The question was stated to him in due form-Have you any remarks or explanations to make on the papers you handed Dr. Milledoler, containing your views and difficulties on certain points of doctrine, as maintained by the Reformed Dutch Church? A pretty long question, and embracing several ideas; well calculated to embarrass a young man in such company and under such circumstances. He, however, answered as the Board well knew he would answer, unless his mind had become disposed to yield to the power of coercion, or out of complaisance to the Board. He answered, that the

last paper, handed by him to Dr. Milledoler, fully expressed his views, that is, he still doubted the doctrines of eternal generation and procession ;-he still adhered to the distinction between natural and moral inability; and his mind was not more settled on the atonement, that it was when he wrote that paper. Well then, sir, are you prepared ex animo to subscribe the standards of the church? Understand us, sir.-We do not ask this question in a general sense, but we ask you whether you are prepared to subscribe to the 10th and 11th articles of the Confession of Faith, and the 13th Lord's day of the Heidlebergh catechism? Here the student began to muster courage to inquire whether the Board had the right to put these questions. This presumption was instantly put down by the remark, that had it not been a proper question, it would not have been asked him. Of course, it would have been open rebellion to have demurred any longer.-Well then, sir, the 10th article of the Confession of Faith asserts that Christ is not only the Son of God from eternity, but begotten from eternity. Now you state in your paper you are not convinced of this doctrine; and you have just told us that that paper speaks your mind. Now are you prepared to subscribe the article, which asserts that which you say you are not convinced to be true? I cannot, says the student.-Here we