ry of Cumberland to preach the gospel, &c. the Commission of Synod prohibit, and they do hereby solemnly prohibit the said persons from exhorting, preaching, and administering ordinances in consequence of any authority which they have obtained from the Cumberland Presbytery." No further steps were taken by the Commission relative to the majority of the Presbytery who refused submission to their authority, but to cite them to appear before the next Synod, to answer for their conduct, and likewise to answer to a charge of common fame, for "propagating doctrines contrary to those contained in the Confession of Faith of the Presbyterian Church."

No appeal having been taken from the decision of the Synodical Commission, the parties said to have been aggrieved have never in due form been before either the Synod or the General Assembly. The whole case, however, and all the circumstances of the case, were in fact, at two subsequent meetings of the Synod and Assembly, calmy and deliberately reviewed, and the proceedings of the Commission fully and unequivocally approved.

The following extracts from the Report of the Synodical Committee of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, dated Russelville, Logan county, Ky. Oct. 22, 1823, will exhibit the present state of that Church as accurately as can at present be ascertained.

"No departures from the excellent standards of your church have been discovered, but a more marked attachment to those rules..

"Your committee think the doctrines of your confession, founded on the Bible, embracing the main points of doctrine believed by every christian denomination, and so congenial with christian experience, which always views, a fulness in Christ for all, and security to every believer: that an humble dependence on God will be succeeded by the smiles of a divine Jesus, notwithstanding you may be hated of all men for his name's sake.

"The heaven directed and highly approved method of promoting the work of God, by encamping on the ground four days and four nights in succession, which was introduced in the glorious revival of 1800, has been continued and owned of heaven. Very considerable accessions to the church have been made, and a great many candidates for the ministry received; there are many more on whom the church has her eye, who may yet step forward and take her by the hand. Many have been licensed, and a goodly number ordained.

"But be assured the fields are yet large and white already to harvest, and the demand for ministerial la. bours increasing faster than the labourers. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest that he may send forth more labourers into his vineyard.'

"Your committee are pleased to find the different Presbyteries attentive to the improvement of their candidates and licentiates in literature and divinity. They also manifest and inculcate that spirit which so highly adorns the character of a minister, and leads him not to preach in word only, but also in power, with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven, whose influence alone can add seals to his ministry, and be the best proof that he is

called of God to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ; and when he has done all to count himself an unprofitable servant, and give glory to God alone.

"Your committee think if there be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, you have much cause to rejoice.

"The number of conversions in the different Presby teries, and adults baptized since last Synod, who had not received that ordinance in infancy, is as follows:

500

Making in the aggregate 2372

"Besides a number in the Alabama Presbytery, of

whom we have no official account."

By this report it appears, that the Synod consists of at least nine Presbyteries. Not more than two of these, however, are in the state of Kentucky.

Creek, Ten

At a meeting of Synod, held at nessee, April, 1814, a revised form of the Confession of Faith, of the Shorter Catechism, the Form of Church Government, and of the Directory for Worship, was adopted. These revised forms do not appear to be dif

ferent from the old forms and doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, except in the articles of the decrees, and atonement, and the literary qualifications of candidates for the ministry. In the preface they say they have endeavoured to erase from the old Confession the idea of fatality only, which has long since appeared to them to be taught in part of that book.

In the Shorter Catechism, for instance, the following answers will be found to be different from what they are in the Assembly's Catechism.

Quest. 7. What are the decrees of God?

Ans. The decrees of God are his purpose, whereby, according to the council of his own will, he hath foreordained to bring to pass what shall be for his own glory. Sin not being for God's glory, therefore he hath not decreed it.

Quest. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

Ans. No. God of his mere good pleasure and love did provide salvation for all mankind, by giving his Son to make atonement for them, that he who believeth should not perish but have eternal life.

Quest. 31. Assembly's. What is effectual calling?
Cumberland. What is the work of the Spirit?

Answer the same with both.

Quest. 82. Assembly's. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

Cumberland. Is any man able perfectly to keep the moral law?

Ans. No.

It is presumed that this body of professing christians have already given up as impracticable and absurd one of the principal causes of their separation from the Synod of Kentucky. They certainly do not now admit men to the work of the ministry among them upon their adopting the Confession of Faith only so far as it appears to correspond with the Scriptures. Hence, in their Form of Church Government, the following question is directed to be put to every candidate for license and ordination, viz:

Quest. Do you sincerely adopt the Confession of Faith of this church as containing the system of doctrine taught in the holy Scriptures?

Hence, also, in the report of the Synodical Committee on the state of religion already quoted, we have these words:

"No departure from the excellent standards of your church have been discovered, but a more marked attachment to those rules."

By looking back to that report we find also that a very honourable testimony is paid to the necessity of Presbyteries being attentive to the improvement of their candidates and licentiates in literature and divinity.

Upon the whole, we are disposed to believe that the Cumberland Presbyterians have embodied with them a considerable stock of well informed active piety, and notwithstanding their irregularities and speculative errors, they hold the Head, and the gospel is faithfully and fervently preached among them, and the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit is known and felt in their assemblies, and we trust also that the time shall