for a time lose his character; he went to another place, where, by the grace of God, he redeemed his character. During a long probation, he had shewn not only that he was a respected minister, but that he was a faithful minister and an exemplary Christian; and what, he would ask, should they do? Let the members of the Presbytery of Elgin, let the members of the Presbytery of Forres, let the members of the Synod of Moray, do to that reformed as well as repentant brother what the officers, even though not Christians, would do,-hold out the right hand of fellowship, and rejoice that a brother had been saved and won. (Applause.) If the right estimate of discipline be such as seemed to be conveyed by some, then he misunderstood what Christian discipline was. He understood that discipline was not for the destruction, but for the restoration of the sinning and the fallen. (Hear, hear.) He understood that, while it had to maintain the purity of truth and morals, it had also to hold forth the hand of welcome; and this was the highest vindication of morality and truth to the repentant and reformed sinner; and never did their blessed Lord so exhibit the purity of His doctrine, and the purity of His house, as when, after having reproved, He gave the charge to the repentant Peter-"Feed my lambs"-(applause)—and, in the spirit of their Master, he would desire humbly to say to Mr Mackay, who had proved himself repentant after his lapse, "Feed Christ's lambs;" and he admired the moral courage of the man who, instead of fleeing from discipline, as he had been represented at the bar of this Assembly, -instead of skulking from discipline and from observation-was willing to go out and in among the very people who were familiar with every minute incident in his past history. (Applause.) And instead of that knowledge being a reason why he should not be translated, in his opinion it was rather in favour of his settlement; for they were not calling an unknown man, they were not doing a deed in the dark; and, after the raking up of charges, after reviving the whole of this sad story, which should have been buried for ever in oblivion, the people of Jedburgh now knew of these charges as well as those of Rafford, and they might not have the same disposition to welcome him as those of Rafford. The vote was then taken, and the motion of Mr Nixon was carried by

93 to 16.

MR ALEXANDER CAMERON, PROBATIONER, STRATHY.

A petition and complaint by Mr Alexander Cameron, probationer at Strathy, was taken up. It prayed that the Assembly would investigate the state of Strathy and Halladale congregation, and, if need be, own their claims, accept of the petitioner's confession regarding unguarded declarations from the pulpit, and remove those prejudices which leave him in a degraded position.

Mr WILSON, Dundee, moved that the petition be dismissed as incompetent, as it had not come up through the Presbytery of Tongue, nor the Synod of Sutherland and Caithness. If Mr Cameron had any grounds of complaint, he must proceed in the regular form.

Mr DALZIEL, W.S., seconded the motion, which was unanimously

agreed to.

The Assembly then adjourned.

MONDAY, MAY 21.

THE THURSO CONGREGATION.

A memorial was read from the Presbytery of Caithness, relative to the liquidation of debt on the West Church at Thurso. This congregation originally belonged to the Original Secession Church, and joined the Free Church in 1852. A minority dissented, and claimed the church; and the law courts having decided in favour of the dissenters, the congregation had been involved in an expense of £900, besides a further debt of £900 in building a new church,—a debt which altogether paralysed the congregation. Parties having been heard in support of the memorial, the Assembly expressed their cordial sympathy with the congregation in their peculiar difficulties, and earnestly recommended their case to the liberality of those members of the Free Church who may be able and willing to assist them.

REPORT ON THE CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

Mr WOOD of Elie gave in this Report. (See Appendix.)

Mr WOOD said that Professor Smeaton was Convener of the Jewish Committee, but that he had found the duties of the Convenership incompatible with the duties of his Professorship, and had ceased to take an active concern in its affairs for some months past, on which account the Committee had requested him (Mr W.) to read the Report. He would now proceed to make a few remarks supplementary to the Report now in their hands; and, first of all, with regard to the station at Amsterdam. They had suffered a severe loss there in the removal by death of their revered friend Dr Da Costa. In 1849, when their Jewish Mission was first commenced in Amsterdam, Dr Da Costa warmly interested himself in its behalf. He was distinguished as one of the most talented divines and writers in Holland; and he used frequently to gather his countrymen together, and expound to them the Scriptures. He threw himself into our mission with all his soul. When the Herald newspaper, which is conducted by Mr Schwartz, our missionary at Amsterdam, was set agoing, Dr Da Costa at once assisted it with his pen. The very first article in the first number of that periodical, on the question whether it was proper and becoming in Christians to preach the gospel to the Jews, was written by him, and other productions from his pen speedily followed. On one occasion, when the authenticity of the narrative of Paul's conversion was attacked by a Jewish writer, on the ground of the discrepancies which seem to appear on the face of it, he wrote an able reply. Perhaps he might also mention, that when, some years ago, by the liberality of a lady in Amsterdam, some considerable buildings were placed at the disposal of the Jewish Committee for the purpose of establishing a seminary, the matter was reported to the General Assembly, and a Committee appointed, consisting of Drs Cunningham, Bannerman, Mr Moody Stuart, Mr Hawkins, and Mr John George Wood, to visit Amsterdam, and draw out a plan for the seminary. On that occasion Dr Da Costa came forward and lent very material assistance, by offering to deliver lectures on several subjects with which he was familiar. They would see from the Report to the General Assembly on that occasion, that he was engaged

to deliver a course of lectures on the Greek New Testament, and his services were of unspeakable value to the institution. Many will remember that Dr Da Costa visited the Assembly in 1855, and was introduced by Dr Cunningham as one of the most distinguished converts ever made from Judaism to Christianity. On this occasion he gave a vidimus of the business of the seminary, from which it appeared that the share of lectures that fell to Dr Da Costa was no small one. He delivered lectures on "Symbolical and Typical Theology in connexion with the Epistle to the Hebrews;" on the "Exegesis of the Epistle to the Romans;" on the "Popular Exposition of the Bible," and a course of lectures on the Romish controversy. He might dwell at greater length on the services rendered to evangelical religion and to the Jewish cause by this admirable man, whose loss they now deplored, but time would not permit. About years ago he was visited by a severe attack of illness, which caused great anxiety to the Church; but God was pleased to deliver him so as to enable him in a great measure to supply the place of Mr Schwartz, when that gentleman was disabled by the blow of an assassin. About six months ago he was laid aside from active labour, and, after severe suffering, borne with exemplary patience, he has departed to his rest, his loss lamented by the whole Churches of Christ, and by none more sincerely than by the Free Church. He had received a letter on Friday from Mr Schwartz, in which he stated that Da Costa was the greatest poet in Holland at the present day, an excellent historian, and accomplished theologian, possessing a gift of eloquence which enabled him to use his talents and acquirements for the development of orthodoxy in the Netherlands. This became manifest at his funeral, where the most influential ministers gave testimony to his gifts in the hearing of the

three

assembled thousands.

For his own people he cherished the warmest affection, earnestly desiring their return to the God of Israel; and shortly before his death he addressed to his friend Schwartz words which may be taken as his dying testimony, "It is written that they are enemies for the gospel's, but beloved for the fathers' sakes. Leave it to others to shew the reality of the enmity, but do you yourself loudly proclaim, 'Beloved for the

fathers' sakes."

Mr Schwartz also states that the 28th of this month was fixed for the baptism of a Jewish mother and her daughter, who, he had every reason to believe, had been savingly brought to Christ, and that very shortly another Jew would be also baptized, and received into the Christian Church. These tokens of the Divine favour were very cheering under the bereavement with which the station had been visited.

In regard to the station at Breslau, he had an important communication to make. On Tuesday last, two days before the meeting of the Assembly, a letter reached the Committee, in which Mr Edward, the missionary there, resigned his connexion with the Committee. The letter recently, and was so entirely unexpected, that the Committee

had come so

had not yet had time to give the matter any consideration.

With regard to the station at Pesth, the attendance at the services was numerous and regular, and the people heard the word with great willingapparently interested in the truth, and there were tokens that a quiet work was going on in the souls of some. Many suggestions had been made to the Committee in regard to increasing their influence

ness, and were

in Pesth. These had not been abandoned, but they had necessarily been postponed on account of the state of matters in Hungary.

In Constantinople, Mr Thomson's house had been burned down, and there was a strong feeling amongst the Jews against the missionaries, so much so as to give reason to suppose that the fire had been the work of incendiaries. It appeared impossible that Mr Thomson could procure a house there; but this feeling had subsided, so that Mr Thomson might have remained had not Mrs T.'s health failed, and obliged her to come home, so that there was no longer a home for a female teacher, and the station at Haskioy was thus necessarily to be discontinued. Mr Thomson was requested to visit Galatz for a time; but the Committee were extremely unwilling that the preaching of the gospel to the Scotch and English residents, which had been one of the most important and useful departments of his labour, should be discontinued; and they asked him to take this subject into his consideration upon his return to Constantinople. However, this letter from the Committee was crossed by one from Mr T., stating that he had received an appointment from the British and Foreign Bible Society, as their agent at Constantinople, and thus the wishes of the Committee had been realised in a way which they did not expect. The intercourse of the Committee with Mr Thomson had always been of the pleasantest and most agreeable character, and would no doubt continue to be so. There had been one baptism at Galata, the details of which were given in the Report.

At Galatz, Mr Meyer had commenced with every prospect of great success, which had been interrupted by the cherem of the Rabbis, who, however, as mentioned in the Report, ended with cursing their own school. Two converts have been baptized during the year, the second being a most interesting case, in which the individual had received his impressions fifteen years ago at their school at Breslau, under Mr Edward. Another convert had received baptism at Constantinople, and two more were probably baptized by this time. He believed he (Mr Wood) might say without presumption, that he had some considerable acquaintance with Jewish missions; and he ventured to say, on the strength of that acquaintance, that there was no Church, nor any Society for the conversion of the Jews, that was able to shew three such stations as they had at Amsterdam, Pesth, and Galata. At Pesth they had no missionary of their own, as the Austrian Government would not allow a missionary of the Free Church to reside in Hungary; but, providentially, M. Van Andel, who conducted their operations there so zealously and so ably, was brought under their notice. Their influence and usefulness at Galata might be much increased if they could obtain the services of a person who was able both to speak Greek and Turkish ; but such a person they had not yet been able to discover.

If Galatz was at present behind these sister stations, it was simply because it was only in its infancy. If they looked to the general result of the labours of the Jewish Mission Committee during the past year, he thought they would bear favourable comparison with their actings during any previous year. He knew quite well that the number of baptisms was no criterion of success, and that although they had been using every instrument and every diligence, yet. God might withhold the blessing which they so much desire. At the same time, when baptisms had occurred, it was a manifest and irresistible proof that

there was a good work being done. Accordingly, it was not often, he believed, that the Jewish Committee had been privileged to report that nine baptisms had taken place in a year under their care-six either passed, or having the days for them fixed, and three more of which the accounts are immediately expected.

Mr Wood concluded by stating that Professor Smeaton had found the duties of the Convenership incompatible with the duties of his chair, and had resigned. The Committee had applied to Mr Moody Stuart, and were glad to be able to say that he had signified his willingness to accept the office of Convener, if the Assembly appointed him. (Applause.) Mr Wood then laid on the table the names of which it was proposed the Jewish Committee should consist for the ensuing year.

Dr BEITH rose to move the adoption of the Report. He did so with much pleasure. It contained a clear, distinct, and accurate account of the present condition of our Jewish Missions, and also satisfactory evidence that the Committee in charge of this department of the great work of our Church are not negligent of their duty. To some it may appear that the Report is not so full in point of detail as it might be. A greater amount of detail may be desired by them. But it is to be remembered that the interests of the mission require that the Committee should restrict themselves in that matter. Our operations in Roman Catholic countries require the use of caution, even our operations conducted by our Home Mission Committee require the use of caution, as to the statements given to the public. Full details require to be avoided, that the progress of the good work in which we are engaged may not be interfered with. More than in all these, our operations among the Jews require such use of caution. Taking this into account, we may give credit for a great deal more of real work among the Jews than appears narrated on the face of the Report. (Hear.) It must be cause of rejoicing to us all to know that the Jewish Committee is still occupied in active operations; that amidst discouraging circumstances they still pursue their course. Hitherto have been with us but the "day of small things" in our work in behalf of the Jews. But instead of despising it, let us thank God and courage. We are sure it is a cause which, in His time, will become threshold of the sanctuary, which, at first but a rill not ankle deep, very great. It will prove like the waters which issued from under the became at length a mighty river,-a river to swim in, and not to be

it

may

take

passed over.

world must at all times be of the deepest interest in the minds of all those who watch for the coming of the kingdom, and who, believing the promise that He "who shall come will come," long earnestly for the revelation of His arm, and pray for His appearing in His glory to build up Zion. But in times of revival, such as that with which, in God's great mercy, the world is visited everywhere at present, it is particularly 80. In such times the heart is always filled with the hope that at length the Lord is about to "shake the heavens and the earth" for the last time, preparatory to the final establishment of the kingdom, that it may enjoy its glorious times. (Applause.) At this moment, amidst the threatening aspect of the political affairs of Europe, connected with the blessed outpourings of the Spirit, the hearts of Christian philanthropists everywhere are filled with hope that the time may be at length at hand when Antichrist is to be cast down, when every obstacle which

The question of the condition of the Jews throughout the

opposes the pro