the way of duty made plain before the eyes of all the other Churches there. With their present limited information, however, and in ignorance of the motives. that may have weight with particular Churches, the Committee cannot presume to sit in judgment on them, or to summarily condemn them in this matter. The Committee would bear in mind, that while slavery prevailed in the British dominions, the British Churches, both at home and in the colonies, found it no easy matter, in practice, to determine how they ought to deal with it, especially in reference to the exercise of discipline, and the communion of the professing people of God. They would not, indeed, be understood as intimating an opinion that the British Churches did all that it was their duty to do against the system of slavery. They believe the reverse. Nor do they mean to indicate any disapprobation of the rule or principle on which some of the American Churches now act in opposition to that system; very far from it. All that they intend to suggest is, that the matter admits of and requires deliberation, and that the American Churches are not to be hastily condemned, especially by those of Britain, because they do not all of them adopt the same practical course of procedure. Most affectionately, however, and most earnestly, should this Church represent to those Churches in America with which she has been brought into correspondence, the great risk and damage of partaking in this evil, the duty of considering seriously in what way a stand may best be made against it, and the importance of a general united testimony, and united action, among all the Churches of Christ. Nor may it be out of place to represent the vast influence which the Christian faithfulness of devoted men had in bringing British slavery to an end, together with the hindrances put in the way of this result by the vacillating and uncertain conduct of not a few of the ministers and Churches of Christ. It would be a great matter to have the serious attention of the American Churches called immediately to this whole subject, with a view to vigorous, prompt, and decided, as well as temperate and judicious measures. Delay in this case can scarcely be productive of any good. What the Committee would most anxiously desire is, not that this Church should prescribe or dictate any particular line of conduct to the sister Churches of America, in ignorance, to a large extent, of their circumstances and views, but to see these Churches themselves, calmly and deliberately, in brotherly love and fellowship, considering the whole matter in all its bearings, and setting themselves to inquire what is the will of God, and their duty, in the very peculiar and trying position in which they are placed.

"In conclusion, and referring to certain questions which have been raised as to the subsisting intercourse between this Church and the Presbyterian Churches of America, the Committee are of opinion that, so far as the Church is at present advised, there is no reason for interrupting the friendly intercourse so happily begun, and cultivated by reciprocal visits and good offices, but, on the contrary, that with a view to this very end, viz. the exercising of a mutually beneficial influence by the Churches on one another, through friendly council and sympathy, and, if need be, admonition and encouragement, in reference to difficult questions of duty, all opportunities of drawing closer the bonds of fellowship ought to be embraced and improved; -they would merely suggest, that in any communications from this Church, faithfulness and love require that we should represent to our American brethren the views which we entertain, and to solicit their earnest attention to a subject which excites so strong a feeling in the minds of British Christians."

The following is the deliverance of the Commission of the General Assembly on the subject of the above Report.

"The Commission approve of and adopt the Report as regulating the general principles of the intercourse of this Church with the Churches in America, in reference to the subject of slavery.

"The Commission farther resolve, to request the Moderator of the late General Assembly to address a friendly letter to the Churches in America, expressing the deep obligations under which they have laid this Church, by the manner in which they have received the deputation from this country, who have lately visited the United States, and that he communicate to them the Report which has now been adopted by the Commission."

VOL. XVII. NO. IV.

24

Letter, from REV. HENRY GREY, Moderator of the General Assembly, to the
American Churches, enclosing Report on Slavery.

"EDINBURGH, 28th October 1844. "REVEREND FATHERS AND BRETHREN IN THE LORD,-With much pleasure I obey the instructions of the Commission of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, at a recent meeting, in conveying to you, and to all our friends in America, our respectful acknowledgment of the deep obligations under which you have laid this Church, by your kind reception of our messengers who lately visited you, and your liberal contributions in aid of our cause. Amid much conflict and opposition, with many circumstances of an afflictive nature, we have certainly had large experience of the goodness of the Lord, and of the faithfulness of the promise, as thy day, so shall thy strength be;' and few things have been more gratifying than the kind assurances given, by numerous bodies of our brethren in Christ, of their approbation of the great principles for which we have been called to contend, and of our consistent adherence to these, though involving the forfeiture of secular advantages. I may safely say, that there is no body of Christians whose favouring testimony we more highly prize, than the Presbyterian Church in America, not only as having the same platform of government as ourselves, but as enrolling among its members a large proportion of Christ's true followers, in the called, and chosen, and faithful,'-while, at the same time, we duly appreciate the liberality of Christians of other denominations, who suffer not minor differences to interrupt the flow of Christian sympathy, or arrest the hand of friendly help. And though in the present instance, you have the advantage of us, since it is more blessed to give than to receive,' yet I trust that the Churches on both sides the Atlantic may be strengthened and comforted together, by the exercise and interchange of mutual faith and charity. The friendly correspondence that has been opened between us, will, I trust, prove beneficial to both parties; and, by fostering a kind and Christian feeling among the Churches of Christ in both hemispheres, may contribute not only to the revival of religion, which is our first great object as servants of Christ, but also to the preservation of peace among the nations. Connected, as we are, in respect of origin and descent, of language and religion, and, to a great extent, in habits and opinions, we ought to love as brethren;' and this royal law' we shall obey just in proportion as we are imbued and pervaded with the spirit of the Gospel, and find. in its Divine influence that bond of perfectness' which unites all in every place that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.'

"I am instructed to communicate the enclosed Report of a Committee appointed, in consequence of various overtures transmitted to the late General Assembly of our Free Church, to take into consideration the important subject to which it refers, and the principles which ought to regulate the intercourse of the Free Church with the brethren in America; and I most respectfully submit it to the serious consideration of the ministers and members of the Churches of Christ in the United States, especially in those States to whose circumstances it more immediately applies.

"I am confident that my reverend Fathers, and all our brethren in the Lord, will see in the Report the greatest candour and impartiality, united with the necessary maintenance of Christian principle, and I have only to express my hope and confident expectation that it will be received in the same friendly spirit in which, I venture to assure you, it was dictated.-I am, my Rev. Fathers and Brethren, with the greatest respect and esteem, your assured friend and fellow-servant in the Lord,

" HENRY GREY,

"Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland."

The above letter was transmitted "(1.) To the REV. GEORGE JUNKIN, D. D., Moderator of the General Assembly, Danville, Kentucky, United States." And

(2.) The REV. A. D. EDDY, D. D., Moderator of the General Assembly,

66

Newark, New Jersey, United States."

ANDREW JACK, PRINTER.

INDEX TO VOL. XVII.

Edinburgh Review, No. 159, Article Israel, the Land of, by Dr Keith, 125.

Luther and Calvin, by D'Aubigne, 417.

M'Donald's (Rev. Robert) Texts for the
Times, 398.

(Rev. J.) Memoirs of Isobel

Hood, 400.

Mackenzie, Memoirs of the late Hannah,
395.

Patterson on the Shorter Catechism, 394.
Pecuniary, Resources, Our, 370.
Pelagianism, Modern, 190.

Phillips' Glimpse into the World to
Come, 129.

Plea for Erection of a Church at North-
Berwick-Memorial of Martyrs of
Bass Rock, 134.

M'Combe's Presbyterian Almanack, 534. Poems by Wordsworth, 353.
Madeira, 273.

Madagascar, 147.,

Manual of Sacred Interpretation, 526.
Maritime Discovery and Christian Mis-
sions, by Dr Campbell, 198.
Massacre of St Bartholomew's Day, 135.
Mackay, (Mrs Colonel), Musings through-
out the Year, 131.
M'Cheyne's Memoirs, 219, 532.
M'Neille's (Rev. Hugh) Lectures on the
Sympathies, &c., of our Lord, 127.
Man-fishing, Soliloquy on, by Boston, 536.
Memoirs of Rev. Robert Murray
M'Cheyne, 219.

of Church of Scotland, by De

Foe, 261.

Polhill, (Works of Edward), 1677-82,

526.

Polynesia, 273.

Popery, Missions of, 198.

Popish Persecutions in Nineteenth Cen-
tury, 277.

Position, our Present, on the Chart of
Time, by Rev. J. Brodie, 384.
Prayers, Family, 269.
Presbytery and Prelacy, 1.
Presbyterian's Armoury, by Brown of
Wamphray, 532.

534.

Almanack, by M'Combe,

Priests (Irish) Resources of, 101.
Promised Glory of the Church of Christ,
by 'Bickersteth, 131.
Prophecy, Scott on, 461.

on the Mount, by Rev. Alex.

Dallas, 133.

Lectures on, by Rev. James