in the delivery, and was heard throughout with unwearied attention. It was distinguished by a tone of uncompromising faithfulness. The preacher spoke, like an ambassador for Christ, with authority. And it is no mean evidence of the state to which the Synod has been brought, that such a discourse was delivered at its most public assembly, and favourably received. It has been stated, that the sermon was unpopular with the Synod, but this is untrue. In a discourse embracing so many important topics, some of them very new besides, there might naturally be expected some things on which there would be opinions entertained different from those expressed by the preacher; but upon the whole, it was received as a production of decided ability and faithfulness.*

After the call of the roll and the election of another Moderator, the following resolution was unanimously adopted, before proceeding to the public business of the Synod.

"That, as this Synod has much cause to remember, with gratitude to God, the seasons devoted to devotional exercises at its last annual meeting; particularly, inasmuch as it pleased Him, in answer to the prayers of His people, to remove the afflictive pestilence which at that time prevailed in the land; and as such exercises are obviously the duty and privilege of the Synod at all times, this practice shall now be continued, and the Synod shall meet at six o'clock in the morning, during the period of its present sitting, to offer up thanksgiving to Almighty God for His great goodness, and to solicit His blessing and direction."

These morning meetings for the exercises of devotion were attended by a goodly number of ministers and elders; and it was pleasing to see some ministers who lodged at the distance of a mile or more out of town, regularly attending in their places each day at these early devotional exercises. The meetings however might, and ought to have been, still better attended; nor shall there cease to be cause of complaint so long as any member of the body absents himself from them. They are, in every view, of the highest importance. They are such a recognition of God as it is the duty of the Synod to make on the daily opening of its business; they exercise a most happy influence over the tempers and discussions of the members throughout the entire day; and they afford an example to the laity of the church, well fitted to recommend and enforce the duties and exercises of devotion. What a change, in this respect, has

*We have heard with much pleasure, that, at the request of many of the brethren, Mr. Brown has consented to permit his sermon to be published.

taken place in the Synod! Such a scene as it once was, when the man of pleasure had the pre-eminence above all his fellows! During the reign of Arianism in the Synod, the man who would have proposed a meeting of the body every morning, for exercises of devotion, would have been laughed to scorn. Such a thing, we apprehend, was never thought of; but now, as if by a common impulse, as soon as the Synod opens, these are the exercises first appointed, because felt to be most important. We may well adopt the beautiful language, and the still more valuable sentiment, of the 133d Psalm, "behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

The next subject which we shall notice is the spirit in which the reports of the Presbyteries were received. This exhibited many features of a reviving and reforming church. It is competent to any member to make such inquiries upon these reports as he judges proper. And what we were led particularly to observe, was the growing attention to the discipline of the church. Wherever zeal for the doctrine of the church revives, it is followed by that for its discipline. So it is now obviously in the Synod. No minister or congregation can hope to escape observation, if neglectful or unfaithful. And while every needless exposure is to be avoided, still it is only the legitimate exercise of Presbyterian government, when every minister and his congregation pass under the review of the court, and when all the members thus provoke one another to good works. It is hoped no attempt will ever be made to prevent this free observation, inasmuch as it can never be hurtful to the faithful minister, and may correct the erring and quicken the slothful. Presbyterianism stands thus distinguished above all other forms of church government, that it can at once extend the exercise of a faithful and impartial discipline to all its churches and their members.

The Theological Examination Committee has this year been placed on more stable ground than ever before. There had been notice, from the preceding year, that the principle of the measure should be fully discussed. And an opportunity to do so was given to any who desired it. Very few, however, embraced it, for it had fully established itself in the confidence of the body. A slight change was made in the mode of nominating the Committee, viz., that it should be done by Presbyteries, each returning two or more members, according to

its numbers, instead of the appointment being made in open Synod. This change has some advantages, inasmuch as it will cause the Committee to be a more full representation of the Synod; and yet none of the advantages of the former plan are lost, for it is still competent to any member of the body to object to any person who may be nominated on the Committee. The good which has hitherto resulted to the body from this appointment is incalculable. It is far beyond what its most ardent friends ever ventured to expect. Its influence has been great in separating heretical and unworthy persons from the communion of the church, in advancing the candidates for the ministry in theological knowledge, in promoting personal piety and practical godliness, and, in one word, elevating the ministry of the church far beyond what could possibly have been expected. We have been remarkably struck by the advantages of this measure when we have attended on the examination of candidates coming over to the Synod from other communions. With few exceptions, these have, in theological attainments, fallen far short of the Synod's own students. One cause of this, we have no doubt, is the efficient instruction delivered by the Synod's professor of theology; and the attention of Presbyteries, we know, has also been much directed to this matter: yet we are convinced it has been owing, in no small degree, to the prospect of examination by the Committee, by which our students have been stimulated to unusual diligence in the study of the Scriptures, and of the standard writers on theology, and of their own hearts and lives. We do not wish to disparage any other church; yet we cannot but press the fact upon their attention, that, generally speaking, no students have passed through the examination of the Committee with the same success as our own who have been accustomed to look forward to it and prepare for it. Our experience enables us to recommend to all our sister-churches the establishment of a similar committee. It has a happy influence not merely on the students, but on ministers themselves, who are thus led to make the examination of candidates a subject of attention. They hear one another examine, and are thus profitable to each other; so that the influence of the Committee goes down into all the departments of the church's discipline, and elevates its knowledge, its piety, and its practical godliness. The Theological Examination Committee has been to the Synod of Ulster the great means of its revival in sound knowledge, pure doctrine, fervent devotion, and real godliness.

On the subject of national education the mind of the Synod remains unchanged, and has been so expressed. An extraordinary attempt has been made to misrepresent the Synod in this matter. It has been openly stated, that it has ceded the principle for which it so long contended, whereas it never expressed itself with the same fulness and determination before. On no subject, perhaps, has there ever prevailed the same unanimity in the Synod as on that of the new Board. We do not believe there is almost a single member who is not determinedly opposed to it, and whose opposition has not increased. It is the same with the church generally. The following are the resolutions that have been adopted.

I.-"That after examining the various documents in which the new system of national education was originally described, and subsequently modified, the mind of this Synod concerning it, as expressed and embodied in the resolutions of January and June, 1832, remains unchanged.*

II. "That we feel most anxious to obtain from His Majesty's Government such modifications of the system as may enable our ministers and people, without compromise of principle, to avail themselves of Government aid, in the establishment and support of schools.

III.-"That having considered the three propositions submitted to His Majesty's Government in London, by our deputation, in May last, and approving and adopting the principle of them, we agree to submit them anew in the following modified form."

Prop. I. That the ministers and people of this church, without the necessary concurrence of the ministers or members of any other church, shall enjoy the right of applying to the Board of Education for aid to schools, by a statement of the constitution and regulations of the schools, accompanied with an engagement to adhere to them. But in this proposition, we recognise the right of the Board to consider the regulations, and decide accordingly.

II.That it shall be the right of all parents to require of patrons and managers of schools to set apart for reading the Holy Scriptures, a convenient and sufficient portion of the stated school-hours, and to direct the master, or some other person whom the parents may appoint and provide, to superintend the reading.

III. That all children whose parents and guardians so direct, shall daily read the Holy Scriptures, during the period appointed; but that no compulsion whatever be employed to induce others either to read, or remain during the reading.

IV. That every use of school-rooms be vested in the local patrons or committees, subject, in case of abuse, to the cognizance of the Board.' Resolution IV.-"That our Moderator and Clerk, with Drs. Hanna and Cooke, Messrs. John Brown, Sen., Stewart, Hay, E. Reid, Park, Morgan, Gray, and Barnett, be a commission, to submit these propositions to His Majesty's Government, and respectfully and earnestly to urge their consideration.

V.-"That whilst we entertain a well-founded hope, that His Majesty's

* See Minutes of Synod for 1832.

Government will be pleased to adopt the modifications proposed by this Synod, we do, in the meantime, and pending the negociations, exhort our ministers, elders, and people, still to abstain from all connexion with the Board and we do hereby declare, that whilst we desire not to interfere with the private judgment of individual brethren, yet no member of this Synod, at present connected, or that may, in the meantime, connect himself with the Board, is to be understood as acting in our name, or under our authority and sanction.

VI.-"That should His Majesty's Government be pleased to accede to the modifications suggested by this Synod, our Moderator and the Committee are to take the most efficient measures to communicate the same to our several Presbyteries.

VII.-"That the Committee above-named be also authorized to prepare and forward to both Houses of Parliament, petitions founded on the foregoing resolutions-that to the Lords to be transmitted to Earl Grey, and that to the Commons to the Right Honorable T. Spring Rice, accompanied with letters, entreating their countenance and support."

We confess, while we transcribe these resolutions, it is with no small degree of satisfaction and honest pride. The Synod of Ulster has done itself immortal honour by the part it has acted on the subject of education. It has earned the character of a faithful witness for Christ. Had it not been for the noble stand which it has made, we have little doubt our national schools would this day have been deprived of the light of God's word. By its faithfulness, however, there is now some prospect that the Government will yield. Some of its most distinguished members have allowed that the principle for which the Synod has contended is the right one. Among these is Mr. Spring Rice. A deference is now paid to the opinion of the Synod which, a short time ago, was not at all to be anticipated; and only let it remain firm, and, we have no doubt, its just demands will be granted. Nor is it a small gratification to observe the influence which the example and conduct of the Synod appear to have had on other religious bodies. We may be mistaken; but our fear is, that if the Synod had yielded, they would not all have kept steadfast. Whether this be the case or not, it is now, however, delightful to behold that testimonies have been borne to the necessity of a scriptural education, and, consequently, to the condemnation of the Board by almost all the Protestant Churches in the three kingdoms. Will the Government be so mad as to withstand such a testimony? We think not. They have learned that it was no political feeling that animated the Synod of Ulster, but that it was a deep-seated conviction of the anti-scriptural character of the Board-a conviction neither to be frightened into submission, nor flattered into compliance. We must add also our unfeigned gratification