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of young people. These valuable works of Mr. M'Master, have a tendency to strengthen the hands of the orthodox in the Synods of Albany and of New-York.

Dr. M'Leod has lately published a volume of Sermons, entitled "True Godliness," which though, like those of Dr. Romeyn, not of a controversial character, but designed for the promotion of holiness, by the direct inculcation of gos pel truth, nevertheless strike at the root of the prevalent heresies. These works have not been permitted to pass without attack. A series of anonymous essays entitled “The Triangle," are now publishing in New-York, in which the most virulent attacks are made upon Dr. Mason, Dr. M'Leod, Dr. Romeyn, Dr. Milledoler, Dr. Miller, Mr. Ely, and others. Its pages are replete with all the Hopkinsian peculiarities, not excepting their high pretensions to metaphysical reasoning, and the style in which they are conveyed to the public, dishonourable to the Christian name, so far as any thing in that way may be esteemed dishonourable to that holy appellation. Men have a taste for what is personally abusive, and love a well told falsehood; all are curious; many are fond of errors; and the friends of truth wish to know what its enemies are doing; hence this work is read by hundreds. In the revivals of religion, as they call them, the clergy who are of the northern school, put this most unchristian and indecent publication into the hands of those who have their passions and feelings excited by their pulpit exhibitions. Such are the ways of error, and the means by which it diffuses among the unwary, its malignant influence.

A question of great magnitude now presents itself: should the friends of orthodoxy, in the General Assembly, bring the Hopkinsian question to a speedy decision, even supposing that they were to calculate merely as human politicians. It is abundantly manifest, that their Confession of Faith, and Catechisms, with all the solemn promises that young men make to adhere to them at their ordination, do not form an effectual barrier against the assailing foe. It is truly deplorable, that men of whom we would fondly entertain a favourable opinion, do not hesitate to swear a belief in those instru

ments, while they hold and teach opinions, hostile to both their spirit and letter. But we have daily evidence that they do so. However they may satisfy their consciences, by the help of subtle distinctions, and forced explanations, this affords no relief to the friends of gospel truth. Error spreads, and the great interests of the Redeemer's kingdom are compromitted. Gentle measures have been tried and have failed.

It may be thought the theological seminary will correct the evil, and no doubt it will counteract the operations of errorists; but its progress will be slow; and it is even possible the Hopkinsians may obtain its direction, for an unwise policy called peaceful, has already given Mr. Spring, Dr. Richards, and Mr. Hillyer, a seat in the board. In twenty years, it will not, without a very great increase, supply more than three hundred ministers; and twenty years ago there was scarcely one Hopkinsian, in the bounds of the assembly. Will not the same causes, which have lately multiplied them, continue to operate? The churches in the north are generally supplied with ministers, and when the young men of Andover complete their studies, and seek for settlements, they travel to the south, where there are numerous vacancies. Their settlement is not merely a numerical increase of the forces, on the side of error; they are active in making proselytes, and though few of the old clergy embrace Hopkinsianism, yet the minds of the young, whose knowledge of polemical theology is limited, become, in many cases, enamoured with specious subtilties, which are mistaken for solid reasoning.

By being long habituated to philosophy falsely so called, we often come to regard with indifference, opinions which at first shocked every Christian feeling. It was thus that the whole of the Reformed church, in France, became gradually corrupted, its foundations sapped, and its ruin finally completed. The events which took place, in that church, hold up to all posterity an example that false doctrines should not be treated with compassion or lenity, when first introduced; otherwise they will gain possession of the garden of the Lord, and, by their noxious shade blast and wither, if

not the trunk, at least the leaves, fruit, and limbs of the trees of righteousness. There is indeed no tyranny in America, such as that which crushed the church in France, but the Head of the church never can want instruments to punish those particular sections, which by a relaxation of discipline invite an invasion from Satan's kingdom of darkness. The question must come to decision. The day of the church's glory approaches, and the Redeemer will not permit the wound of the daughter of his people to be healed slightly. "Error must be grubbed up by the roots." Let the pulpit, the press, and church discipline unite at once in contending for the faith, and the strong holds of error will be battered down. Light must dissipate the darkness.

The ecclesiastical intercourse which subsists between the General Assembly and the Eastern General Associations has now become a matter of regret; because the delegates from the Associations are congregationalists, and therefore cannot be very well qualified to judge about questions of presbyterial order: and because the ministers whom they represent, however Calvinistic some of them may be in other respects, with almost a perfect unanimity reject the doctrine of an atonement exclusively for the elect. The number of delegates which Vermont, Massachusetts, NewHampshire and Connecticut may send to vote and determine in all matters is twelve, of whom eight or nine are commonly present. This is a greater number than is frequently present from some of the distant synods that belong to the assembly. Were they like visiters from a neighbouring family, to advise and maintain social intercourse, without interfering in the government of the family by a vote, the relation would be less objectionable. It may be said, that the Delegates from the General Assembly enjoy an equal representation and influence in the Congregational Associations: it is true: but in either case it is indelicate and improper for persons of different sentiments about government and discipline to interfere with each others family regulations. The door should not be kept open by the Assembly for the introduction of teachers and principles which have

a tendency to disorganize and distract the churches under its care. It may may seem unwarrantable to declare, that this clerical intercourse ultimately embraces the Arians, and Socinians; but it really does, for the members of the Ge neral Association of Massachusets belong to the Convention of ministers, that annually assemble in Boston; and so the association becomes a link in the chain which con nects the Convention, at which a Socinian often presides and preaches, with the General Assembly. The Association • is the middle person of three, who have joined hands, that the electrical fluid of heresy may be conveyed through them all, from the grand battery in New-England.

No such union as that which we have described exists between any of the other Presbyterian bodies in the middle. states and the northern associations. Until lately, the Associate Reformed synod have had no ecclesiastical connection with any other denomination, in America. Various propositions have lately been made for forming a connection between it and the Reformed Dutch church; and many of its ministers and people partake of the sacrament of the supper in the congregations of that body, as well as of the General Assembly. Dr. Mason was the first who introduced this intercommunion. His congregation and that of Dr. Romeyn sat down to the sacrament together. For this departure from their established order, Dr. Mason's conduct was investigated before the Associate Reformed synod at various sessions, many of whose members were warmly opposed to such intercommunion. The principal opposition was from the western and southern clergy, who were so much dissatisfied that they withdrew their support from the theological seminary, over which the Doctor presides. What they contributed to its funds did not perhaps exceed the contributions of Dr. Mason's congregation. The affair was never brought to a decision, and had it been, Dr. Mason would probably have been victorious; for most of the ministers, who had received their education in NewYork, entered into the views of the professor. The peace of that branch of the church has been disturbed, and almost

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destroyed; and harmony in their counsels has disappeared. In vindication of the course which he had taken Dr. Mason has published a book, which he entitles "Catholic Communion," the object of which is to prove that any Presbyterian who is known to any session as a creditable professor of faith in Christ in any denomination, ought not to be refused occasional communion in celebrating the Lord's supper, by the church under the care of said session. The of this church too has been disturbed in many repose instances, by a synodical permission to any church to use the Dutch psalmody in their congregational devotions. The act by which this permission was given, passed the synod in 1816, at its sessions, in Philadelphia; and appears to have had for its object a union with the Reformed Dutch church. The result of all these measures has been, that the Associate Reformed church draws near to its dissolution, and will ere long be merged, partly in the general assembly, partly in the Dutch, partly in the Antiburgher, and partly in the Reformed church. Mr. Matthews, the assistant professor, is already pastor of a Dutch churth, the Rev. Arthur Stansbury has joined the general assembly, and is settled in a congregation in Albany; and others of them have joined other churches. Hence, though the synod consists of upwards of sixty ministers, all orthodox, yet its influence in advancing the cause of truth is rather to be estimated from the effect which its members will produce in other relations which they may form, than from their own combined energies.

There has been one instance in this connection of a minister's embracing the Hopkinsian doctrines;-the Rev. Mr. M'Chord, of Kentucky. This gentleman entered into Dr. Mason's views of catholic communion, and received the sacrament of the supper from the hands of a Presbyterian minister in Lexington. He was aware that many of his brethren were exceedingly opposed to this measure, and he wrote a number of essays on the body of Christ, which he published in the Evangelical Record, a magazine edited in Lexington. These essays he afterwards printed in a volume,

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