ness of purpose with which they pursued their object-their persevering and self-denying labours-the simple and naked manner in which they presented the truth of heaven-their honest and fearless appeals to the conscience their broken-hearted dependence upon God-the union of affection and effort which pervaded the ministry and the church-and the enforcement of the claims of God upon the sinner, requiring submission without compromise and without delay-then it becomes us, my brethren, to inquire how far the want of the same fruits under our ministry, may be owing to the want of those spiritual qualifications.

*

"2. This subject forces upon us MINISTERIAL DUTY. * If the pressure of duty and of souls were to rest upon us now as they will rest upon us at the judgment bar, how cheerfully would we sacrifice a multiplicity of minor objects for the one sole purpose of presenting the bleeding Saviour to dying men; how soon should we dismiss our indolence, and brace up every nerve and stimulate every muscle to labour for God; how little should we amuse ourselves or others with mere pulpit speculations; how anxious should we be to find, for the simple truth of the Bible, an avenue to the conscience and the heart; how should we lean upon God for a blessing; what a death-blow would be given to ministerial animosities; with what tenderness inspired of heaven should we strengthen each other's hands and encourage each other's hearts; and with what powers of truth and entreaty could we then come down upon our immortal hearers, whom we shall soon meet amid the dread scenes of another world.

*

"3. This subject furnishes motives to MINISTERIAL ACTION. Would we stand before God, in the great burning day, and lift up our hands in eternity's blazing light, sustained with the blood of murdered souls, we must resolve to do our duty! If we would mark our footsteps with usefulness through the world, as the first preachers of the Gospel, and give a grateful church occasion to write an affectionate epitaph upon our tomb-stones-we must begin anew the great business of being coworkers with God in the kingdom of his Son. *

"May these united appeals of death and heaven reach every Minister's heart, and every Christian's heart, and every impenitent sinner's heart, in this congregation—that when these heads of yours shall press upon their last pillows, we may look up and say, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.'-Amen."

These copious extracts will enable our readers to form an idea of the style of preaching in the sister-churches in America. We shall reserve to another opportunity some remarks that have occurred to us in the perusal of this discourse, bearing principally upon the contrast which it presents to the prevalent mode of preaching among ourselves. In the meantime we continue our narrative of the proceedings of the Assembly which was thus so auspici ously opened.

After sermon, the Assembly adjourned for a short time, to enable the clerks to examine the commissions of members, and make out the roll of meeting. On their re-assembling, they proceeded to the election of a Moderator:

The Rev. Dr. Hodge, of Columbus, Ohio, was first nominated; and after several other candidates had been proposed, all of whom declined to stand, he was unanimousÎy elected. The rest of the week was occupied in disposing routine business, and in preparing, by means of committees, the several cases of appeals, complaints, references, &c. for the consideration of the Assembly.

On Monday morning the stated Clerk, Dr. Ely, of Philadelphia, presented the Letter from the General Synod of Ulster in Ireland, addressed to the Assembly, in reply to their communication of the previous year, together with copies of our Minutes and the Code of Discipline. We are enabled to insert here a copy of this Letter from our church, as it has just been published in the Appendix tó our Minutes for the present year.

"The General Synod of Ulster to the Moderator and Members of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.

"DEARLY-BELOVED BRETHREN IN CHRIST,

"Your much-esteemed communication was presented to us at our Annual Meeting at Coleraine, in June, and afforded heartfelt joy to every member of our Body. We anticipate much satisfaction and improvement from the correspondence to which you invite us, which we trust will be blessed by the Great Head of the Church to be the means of increasing and strengthening that attachment to each other, which our common faith, and worship, and discipline tend to produce. It will give us pleasure to hear of the out-pourings of the Spirit from on high upon you, of your increase and prosperity-of your order and your joy-and to make known to you in return our state, and our trials, and our bless ings. At the time when our testimony as a Christian church can be unanimously given to the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, it is with delight we feel ourselves called on to join in closer bonds of fellowship with our brethren abroad.

"We consider it to be one of the distinguishing features of the present times, that, awaking from the slumber of ages, Christians take an inte rest in the state of those who are ready to perish around them, and in lands far distant from them; and that churches, holding the same important religious doctrines and the same views of church government and discipline, feel themselves drawn by the bond of Christian love to seek a closer connexion with each other, than they have hitherto done. Here we see the doings of the Lord preparing the way by the increasing intercourse and more zealous co-operation of his churches, for the destruction of the strong-holds of error and sin, the enlargement of His kingdom, and the manifestation of his glory in the world. The sameness of feelingsof desires-of enjoyments-and of hopes which must ever prevail among all those who are truly united to Christ, should teach us that all the members of His elect family on earth, though far separated from each other, should consider themselves brethren and sisters in the Lord, and should endeavour to become fellow-labourers in promoting each other's edification, and helpers of each other's joy.

"We have derived much encouragement from hearing of the success with which it has pleased God to crown your labours in the wide-spread field which is placed before you on your continent. We have no doubt it will gladden the hearts of many among your people, who look to Ulster as the place of their fathers' sepulchres, to hear that the Lord has merci. fully begun to revive his work among us, and that the churches where their ancestors, worshipped are beginning to cast a broader and more refreshing shade around them. Our people have hailed with joy, the intelligence that you have invited us to cultivate a closer brotherly love and a more intimate fellowship with you. There are few familes among us who have not dear relations in your country. We have no doubt, that, on many family altars here, and with you, dear friends are offering up supplications for each other, that these meet before the throne of Jesus, and, through Him, are accepted and answered. May our mutual prayers for each other, as churches, be heard and owned, and bring down upon us an abundance of Grace, Mercy, and Peace from the Lord!

"We rejoice, brethren, to hear of the number of Synods-of Presbyteries of churches-of communicants-of Ministers of Licentiates-and

of Students, which are under your care. The Lord hath done great things for you, whereof we are glad!

"It has given us sincere gratification to learn from your narrative of the state of religion among you, that in some of your churches the work of the Lord has been marked and powerful; and that in others, the Spirit's influence has distilled like the dew, moistening the roots of piety and fertilizing the fields of Zion.'

"From the present state of the parent Presbyterian Churches in Scotland, and from the number, the harmony, and order of your churches, so widely spread over your vast continent, we learn the excellence of our form of church government, and its tendency to promote spiritual edification-restrain vice-advance holiness, and preserve the spirit of unity in the bond of peace. Hearing of the revivals of vital godliness in other Presbyterian Churches, and visited in our own with tokens of love for good,' we 'thank God and take courage.'

"In the account you give us of the number, variety, and extent of your religious institutions, we mark the effects of divine grace, in producing those fruits of righteousness which, in Christ Jesus, are to the praise and glory of God.'. We are following you, and the churches in England and Scotland, in these works of faith and labours of love. We have al

so among us, our Bible Societies, our Religious Tract Societies, our Sabbath-school Unions, our Infant Schools, our Home Missions, and our Auxiliaries in aid of Missionary Societies, which send the Gospel to heathen lands.

"Temperance Societies have also been established among us. There are above 300 Societies of this kind in Scotland, containing 44,000 members, and having enrolled among them 190 Ministers. In Ulster there are 150 Societies, containing 15,000 members, of whom 160 are Minis

ters.

"Notwithstanding the late separation of seventeen Arian Ministers, we continue to have under the care of our Synod 216 Ministers, 212 churches, 47 licentiates, and, according to the best calculation we can as yet make, considerably above half a million of people.

"We thank Almighty God that, after the long continued struggle for the truth in which we have been engaged, we have not been left wearied

in well-doing; but we are endeavouring to stand in that watchfulness, and advance in that life and vigour which should, at all times, characterize the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. A healthful change, both of feeling and of action, has begun. Admiring the form of your statistical returns, we are taking means to introduce a similar system among us. The education of our candidates for the ministry has attracted, and is continuing to receive, an increase of attention. New churches are springing up within our bounds under the most favourable circumstances. No less than forty-two new congregations have been erected, and have obtained fixed pastors, within the last fifteen years; while in the majority of the congregations, whose Ministers have recently withdrawn from our communion, a goodly number of the people have remained faithful to the truth, and still form congregations under our care. Annual pastoral addresses from the Synod to the people of our communion have been resumed; and we have also seen cause to renew the godly practice of recommending to our churches days of public humiliation or thanksgiving, according to the circumstances of the times, and the aspect of Providence.

"We transmit to your Clerk a copy of our code of discipline, which will now require several alterations to adapt it to the altered circumstances of our church, with copies of our last Pastoral Address, and of the Minutes of our Synod for some years past.

"From these you will learn, that while we have still reason to mourn over the things in which we come short, yet we have much cause to rejoice. The Sun of Righteousness has arisen upon us with healing in his wings. We trust the Great King of Zion will continue to bless us, and will soon enable us to take a place among the Presbyterian Churches in the world, as one holding fast the truth, and walking in the beauty of holiness.

"Earnestly desiring a continuation of the correspondence thus happily commenced, and fervently praying that the Lord may bless and keep you, and make his face to shine upon you, we subscribe ourselves, by order, and in behalf of the General Synod of Ulster, your brethren in Christ, "JAMES MORGAN, Moderator of Synod. "JAMES SEATON REID, Clerk of Synod."

The reading of this Letter excited considerable interest. It was referred to Dr. Beman, the late Moderator, Dr. Blythe, of Lexington, Kentucky, and Dr. Cox, of NewYork, to prepare a reply and report to the Assembly. During the same sederunt, the Assembly resolved to hold the ensuing Wednesday as a day of fasting and special prayer; and the following arrangements for conducting the religious exercises on this occasion, we lay before our readers, as an interesting specimen of the manner in which similar exercises ought to be conducted during ministerial meetings.

"The Committee appointed to make arrangements for the religious exercises of Wednesday, made a report, which was read and adopted, and is as follows, viz.:

"1. That the day contemplated be regarded as a day of prayer, connected with fasting.

"2. That it be recommended to the members of the Assembly to spend the morning of Wednesday, till ten o'clock, in private devotion and in religious exercises (so far as they may be found practicable and expedient) · in the families in which the members may reside.

"3. That at ten o'clock the Assembly convene in the place of their regular sitting, and enter on social exercises of devotion, in connexion with such serious persons as may choose to attend; and that the order of the morning exercises be as follows, viz.:-1. An introductory prayer by the Moderator. 2. The reading of the first two chapters of 1 Tim. and the giving out a psalm or hymn, by Dr. Martin. 3. A prayer by Mr. Hopkins. 4. An exhortation by the Rev. Francis M'Farland. 5. The reading of 1 Tim. chapters iii. and iv. by Dr. Colman. 6. A prayer by Dr. Richards. 7. An exhortation by Mr. Wisner. 8. The reading of 1 Tim. chapters v. and vi., and giving out a psalm or hymn, by Mr. Magie. 9. A prayer by Dr. Day. 10. Exhortation by Dr. Alexander. 11. The reading of the first and second chapters of 2 Tim., and the giving out a psalm or hymn, by Mr. Bogue. 12. A prayer by Mr. Gallaher. 13. The reading of the third and fourth chapters of 2 Tim. by Mr. Holmes, Elder. 14. Doxology and benediction by the Moderator."

On Tuesday morning, the following important overture, "on the appointment of a day of prayer for the conversion of the world," was introduced and unanimously adopted. We give it a place in this brief record of the Assembly's proceedings, in the hope that it may be extensively circulated among the churches in Britain, and that they will unanimously concur with their fellow-Christians in Ame- : rica in observing the appointed day.

"It being understood that Christians and churches, both in this country and in Europe, have at different times desired the public designation of a day to be observed by all Christians throughout the world, as a day of fasting and prayer for the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit on the whole family of man; and this Assembly being deeply impressed with the importance and high privilege of such an observance; and feeling urged and encouraged to more importunate supplications, in view of the recent revivals of religion in this land, as well as the signs of the present time in relation to the prospects of the church in other nations, therefore

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Ministers and churches under the supervision of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and the churches in correspondence with the same, to observe the FIRST MONDAY IN JANUARY, 1833, as a day of fasting and prayer for the divine blessing on the ministry of the Gospel throughout the world, for the revival of religion in the whole of Christendom, and for the entire success of those benevolent enterprises which have for their object the world's conversion to God.

"Resolved, That other denominations of Christians in the United States, and the Christian churches in all other countries, be, and they hereby are, affectionately, and with Christian salutations, invited to concur in the observance of the day above specified.

"Resolved, That these resolutions be published with the signature of the Moderator and Clerk of the General Assembly, for the information of such Synods, Assemblies, Associations, Conferences, Conventions, and