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ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN.

No. XLIX.

OCTOBER, 1833.

VOL. V.

SYNOD OF ULSTER.

IT will be in the recollection of our readers, that, at the last anuual meeting of the Synod, it was resolved to hold another public meeting of the body in Dublin, on the second Wednesday of September, for the purpose of maturely considering its missionary operations. We had looked forward to this assembly of the church with much anxiety, and expectation, and hope; but our most sanguine expectations have been far more than realized. Our hearts were cheered by the meeting; it was truly a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and it has left an impression on the minds of many, which will not be soon effaced. It was opened on Wednesday morning, and closed on Friday evening. We had taken pretty full notes of the entire proceedings, with the intention of submitting them to our readers; but a measure has been adopted, which renders this, for the present, inexpedient. It has been resolved to publish the whole proceedings in a pamphlet; and as this will be likely to obtain a wide circulation, we will content ourselves with a mere outline of them. Such was the impression on the minds of the members of the Synod, and of others who attended, during the proceedings, that as soon as a subscription list was opened for the intended publication, about three hundred copies were subscribed for. It is intended to print a large impression; and it is hoped the expense will not exceed two shillings.

During the three days of meeting, five discourses were preached, the subjects of which had been previously assigned to the several preachers, with the exception of the last. These were the Rev. Drs. Hanna and Cooke, Messrs. R. Stewart and J. Morgan, and Dr. M'Leod, a minister of the Church of Scotland. The first discourse was upon the work of the Spirit, as it is necessary to the success of missionary labour. It was an appropriate and auspicious commencement. That Spirit, of whose work there was thus a public and distinct recognition, seemed to rest on the assembly; and we

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doubt not he was pleased to say, "This is my rest, here will I dwell, for I do like it." The second discourse was an exposition of the doctrines maintained by the Synod of Ulster. Its connexion with the former was close and natural. The Holy Spirit gives success to missionary labour; but the instrumentality which he acknowledges, is the publication of the doctrine of the cross. He will acknowledge nothing else; but this he will ever acknowledge, in proportion to the fulness, and clearness, and faithfulness with which it is declared. The principle is thus stated in the word of God, "We all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." While the attention is occupied with the meditation of the divine glory, as this is manifested in the cross, the Holy Spirit gives that doctrine power over the heart and life. In the third discourse there was a discussion of the Presbyterian government, showing its adaptation for carrying on the work of missions. In reality, whenever the missionary work is heartily entered into by any people, their arrangements are and must be made on the Presbyterian model. There is the Committee, the Auxiliary, and the Annual Meeting, answering to the Session, the Presbytery, and the Synod of the Presbyterian Church. Not only is this form of government the most scriptural, but it is the most reasonable, and alone adapted for vigorous and extensive operations. We would deprecate a spirit of narrow-mindedness towards other churches, and we would hold out the hand of fellowship to all who hold the Head, Jesus Christ; yet we should beware of fostering the latitudinarian spirit of these times, or of sacrificing those principles of Presbyterian order which appear to us to be essential for the prompt and vigorous extension of the Gospel throughout the earth. The fourth discourse treated of unity as it influences the missionary character of the church. The members of the church compose this great engine for the propagation of the truth; but as well might that mechanism be expected to accomplish its design, the different parts of which resisted one another, as that the church should succeed in its missionary undertakings, so long as its members were at variance with each other. They must be one in Christ if they would do the work of Christ in the earth. The subject of the last discourse was the reconciliation of all things unto God by Jesus Christ. That is the blessed consummation to which all the arrangements of the providence and grace of God now tend. For this end the Spirit is given,

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