Atheism. Such politics we reprobate as treason against the majesty of heaven! We acknowledge a higher code "The Bible is our system of politics;" and in obedience to its dietates, we fearlessly denounce every project of national education that excludes Christian principle, or controls its freeest operation.

The times in which our lot is cast require more than common firmness. We are pressed by irreligion on the one side and superstition on the other. We must defend our Christian principles against the deadly thrusts of infidelity, and our Protestant principles against the corruptions of Rome. We must guard the life as well as the purity of the truth. If we assert the heroic spirit of our fathers, and maintain the cause of God in the strength of God, then may we say with the psalmist, "We will not be afraid of ten thousands that have set themselves against us round about." But if we begin to compromise our principles, if we suffer ourselves to be awed or allured into worldly compliances, if we shuffle, and trim, and fashion our course to the ungodly standard of public opinion, then we may rest assured that the Lord will maintain his own cause, but not by means of us. At the present crisis we occupy a very important station in this country. In a political view we form the real bond of British connexion, and our devoted loyalty is NOW the best pledge for the integrity of the empire. But it is in a religious light that we regard our station here as peculiarly interesting. We are "set for the defence" of Protestantism. We are charged with the sacred duty of supporting the reformation standard, and bearing it forward into the dark confines of superstition and death. From Presbyterian Ulster the moral regeneration of Ireland must proceed. But never shall we realize this glorious hope, unless by a resolute adherence to our principles. It was not by the conciliation of error or the concession of truth that our hardy ancestors raised this northern bulwark of Protestantism, nor shall we defend it long by these profligate arts of liberalism. Popery must be subdued, not conciliated, and the sword of the Spirit faithfully wielded, will accomplish the work. But our success is bound up in our integrity. The faithful Protestant is a strong man armed;" but the moment he yields to the Delilah of liberalism, he is shorn of his strength, and gives himself up into the hands of the enemy.

As Presbyterian Protestants, we occupy vantage-ground either for the defence or promotion of truth. Blessed with a well-organized constitution and discipline, we are preserved

V

from those irregular impulses, those crude, uncertain councils that disturb some Christian societies, and therefore can prosecute our measures with consistency, firmness, and dignity. It is true we cannot boast the rank of our national establishment, but then we are free from its Erastianism, its political sirifes, its unreforming spirit, its invidious opulence. Clothed in the simple garb of primitive Christianity, "standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made her free," and armed with all the mighty energies of truth, the Presbyterian Church of Ulster should prove a distinguished and successful witness against abounding corruptions. And yet with all her advantages, how little has she accomplished! Where are the monuments of her zeal and faithfulness in latter days? When we compare the noble, arduous, self-denying labours of the venerable fathers of our church with the miserable scantling we have to produce, we are struck with humiliation and so row. Alas! "we have left our first love." We are fallen from our high estate as a missionary church and a witness for Christ. But whilst we mourn over past declensions, we would rejoice in the opening prospect of better days. A gracious revival is already felt and confessed: the dry bones live! May we not address our church in the inspiring language of the prophet-" Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee!" Purified by "a fiery trial" from her grosser corruptions, she has come forth with brightened zeal to the Christian warfare. She is resuming her proper station among the churches of the empire, and pressing onward to the foremost ranks of honourable exertion. We rejoice in her growing prosperity, for well we are assured that all her zeal and faithfulness will soon be required to uphold the cause of God in this land. A dark, portentous cloud is gathering over us. The enemies of truth are assuming a fiercer, more determined aspect, and urging forward their destructive projects with all the virulence of malice, the zeal of faction, and the confidence of success. The struggle may, indeed, be terrible, but we fear not the issue, for the Lord is arbiter in his own cause. "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." The truth of the everlasting God is pledged for the safety of his church; and "though the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, his kindness shall not depart from her, neither shall the covenant of his peace be removed.” But while we rejoice in the promise, let

us tremble at the threatening" If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Let us hold fast our integrity, and bear an unshrinking testimony for God and his truth. This is not the time for halting indecision or timid halfmeasures. When "the enemy comes in like a flood," we must "lift up a standard against him." "Having our loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace-above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and prayer, which is our first comfort and our last hope, let us go forth under the Captain of our salvation, and we shall prove more than conquerors.' May the Lord prosper his own cause until every error and wickedness be utterly consumed.

C

J. D.

MISSIONARY ZEAL.

"THE conclusion of the Anniversary of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Hamilton, (United States,) was rendered deeply affecting by the following circumstance. William Brown, son of Dr. P. P. Brown, appeared before the society and related his experience, and his conviction that God required him to labour in Burmah. He is now fifteen years old; his exercises on this subject commenced immediately on his becoming interested in the Saviour, which is four years since, and he is now fully determined to live and die, if God will, in Burmah.

"The peculiar circumstances of his father not allowing him to give the lad such an education as was necessary, he, after his son had ceased speaking, 'Gave him up to God, his cause, and his people. At this moment, Deacon Jonathan Olmsted came forward in the fervour of Christian philanthropy, and declared, in the presence of the people, that he adopted the lad as his son, to educate, and so far as human means are concerned, prepare him for Burmah, and hoped hereafter to meet him and many of the Burmans, who should be converted through his instrumentality, around the throne of God. The scene was touching beyond description, and by many, while memory retains her seat, will not be forgotten.'

"I confess this was a spirit-stirring incident to me. It touched me exceedingly, and I rejoice from my inmost soul, that America has witnessed so interesting a sight.

"Reader! did it not make your heart thrill? Think of William Brown-a lad only fifteen years of age, standing up in a grave assembly, and declaring it as his conviction, that God required his services in Burmah, and there, by divine permission, he would live and die.

"And are there not thousands of young persons in Christian lands besides this dear youth, who at the age of fifteen have felt the love of Christ in their hearts have found the Lord Jesus precious to their souls? Yes;

and I firmly believe that many of them are ready to go, and serve Godin the Gospel of his Son, amongst the heathen; but they are young, and modest, and retiring. They would but cannot open their minds to any one on the subject. Now ought not every effort to be made to elicit this holy feeling? Should not our Sunday-schools, and our Bible classes, and missionary meetings, and missionary sermons, fan this spark into a flame? O my God! touch the hearts of many young persons who may read this, that they may feel a mighty working in their breasts to imitate William Brown, and break through every hindrance which has hitherto prevented them from making a similar profession.

"Youth is the season which affords the best capabilities for attaining an accurate knowledge of the language of the heathen, and for speaking it with fluency. Indeed the latter is seldom attained by those who commence late in life. This is a strong reason for urging our pious youth to decide early in favour of missionary work.

"The conduct of Dr. Brown, the honoured father of this youth, is calculated also to produce the most blessed effects. I am persuaded that few pious parents will read it without deep emotion. Some will feel the tear of joy start in their eye; others will feel a holy desire, like him, to devote their sons to God. Some will recollect that they have been guilty in keeping back their sons and their daughters from this glorious service. While others will perceive, that though they have one Isaac to offer, yet they love him too well to permit him to go. Not so Dr. Brown, he gave him up to God, his cause, and his people.' I imagine this was not the first time the doctor had made the surrender, I rather think he had done it a thousand times; and here is the grand secret. When this transaction becomes familiar with a parent, by its being his habitual daily work, then he can do it with joy; and it is well when it is so; for the writer is' acquainted with some painful instances where choice young disciples have been kept from the service, because their parents would not "give them up." We hope, however, that the scene is beginning to change, since Dr. Wardlaw, and Dr. Brown, and some other zealous ministers, are giving their children to the work. Now we may joyfully anticipate the day when hundreds of pastors at home shall have the exalted honour of furnishing missionaries to the heathen. In this we do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

"There was a third person mentioned in this spirit-stirring incident who must not be overlooked. How admirable is the conduct of Deacon Jonathan Olmsted! He rejoiced at the opportunity, as one who had found an invaluable treasure! He caught it as eagerly as most men do what they call 'a good bargain;' no sooner was the offer made, than it was accepted: 'I adopt him as my son, and shall bear the expenses of his education.' A happy moment this for Deacon Olmsted. Honoured man! I love thee. This is using the office of a deacon well, and purchasing to thyself a good degree.' May many other deacons be induced to imitate so laudable an example. Suppose it does amount to £50 per annum, for five years, to be sure it is more than a guinea a-year, the usual subscription; but it is for Christ, to whom both Americans and Britons owe their all. Besides, Deacon Olmsted did it in hope hereafter to meet William Brown and many Burmans, converted through his instrumentality, around the throne of God! Ought not anticipations of this kind to make us all more in earnest?

"O ye whom providence has favoured with riches, look out for such

devoted youths, and educate them for the Redeemer! Can you expend a portion of your property in a more glorious enterprise? In this way you will set an illustrious example to those around you, and greatly advance the work which shall fill the whole earth with the glory of the Lord. "R. K. Petersburgh.”

THE PRESBYTERIAN.

No. III.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ORTHODOX PRESBYTERIAN.

SIR, I LEARN with pleasure, from an announcement in a late Number, that you design for the future to devote one department of your highly useful periodical to the illustration of our church government. It is to be regretted, that many professing Presbyterians are utterly ignorant of the great principles of our ecclesiastical polity. I have often listened, with extreme pain, to the observations even of well-meaning persons upon this subject. How frequently may we hear it said,

that modes of church government are matters of indifference that the excellence of the system depends upon the manner of its administration-and that if a minister preach sound doctrine, it is of no consequence with what religious body he may be associated. Such statements are but the dregs of that liberalism which so lately threatened the destruction of our Zion. Not long since we were asked-Why should you wrangle about modes of faith? If a minister lead a moral life, why should you condemn him for his doctrine? Is it not the very essence of bigotry to think the worse of a man for his creed? We do not mean to say that the ecclesiastical constitution under which we worship is of the same importance as the evangelical doctrines which we cherish, for the doctrine is the "water of life," whilst ordinances are only the "earthen vessel" out of which it is poured. If, however, God has prescribed for his church a certain form of government and worship, we are bound to respect his institutions, and we are chargeable with impiety when we interfere with any of his ecclesiastical arrangements as well as when we pervert any of the doctrines of grace. We must honour the commands of Jehoval as well in the mode as in the matter of our worship. Then only can we be said to worship him in spirit and in

truth.

It is to be feared that such Presbyterians as attach no superior value to our ecclesiastical machinery, are aware neither