per on both sides, and measures have been arranged for a separation. The Presbytery of Armagh have, as a body, dissolved their connexion with the Synod of Ulster. At a meeting of the Presbytery, regularly convened by the Moderator, "for the purpose of taking such steps as the present posture of Synodical affairs may render necessary," and held in Banbridge, on Friday the 18th instant, the following resolutions were adopted, with but two dissenting voices, a Minister and an Elder: That the Synod of Ulster having refused to repeal what we conceive to be the unpresbyterial overtures of 1828, and return to the code of discipline unanimously adopted in 1825, we feel ourselves compelled, by a regard to Christian liberty, to withdraw from that body, and henceforth to decline its jurisdiction.--That we retire from the Synod as a Presbytery, retaining the name, and the records, and the privi leges of the "PRESBYTERY OF ARMAGH."-That any of our brethren who may decide on separating themselves from the Presbytery of Armagh, shall, at all times, have the same access to our records, anterior to this date, as we ourselves-That we, as a Presbytery, hold ourselves in readiness to co-operate with our brethren, the Remonstrants, in the consideration and adoption of any farther measures which circumstances may render necessary. The Relief Presbytery of Edinburgh have struck the name of Mr. Johnstone, the Minister at the Meeting House, in Roxburgh-Place, in that city, off the roll of the Presbytery, and declared him incapable of holding office as a Minister in the Relief denomination, for continuing to use an organ in his church, although he has the sanction of his congregation for so doing. Previously, however, to this vote of the Synod, Mr. Johnstone sent in his resignation. VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. Public attention has been divided between the actual state of Ireland, and the triumphant progress of the arms of Russia. The former has certainly not realized the wishes and expectations of the friends of the late Relief Bill; but it remains for circumstances to determine whether its present distracted situation be the consequence of the long delay of that measure, or of its actual accomplishment. It certainly seems not very reasonable to expect, that the evils and dissensions of centuries are to disappear un der the rapid operation of a remedy applied but for a few months, and, we' would add, impeded in its natural effects by the violence and turbulent misconduct of the Roman Catholic de. magogues and priests. We have seldom witnessed a circumstance more calculated to produce discord and animosity than the conduct pursued by the Rev. Mr. Spain, parish priest of Burrisakane, both in addressing the people assembled in his chapel, and in his inflammatory observations on the line of proceeding pursued by the Solicitor-General; while Mr. Shiel suggests, as the only mode of rendering the relief bill effectual, the propriety of filling the ranks of the Police with Roman Catholics, and placing at the disposal of the priests, the funds now devoted to the furtherance of education. We trust, on these grounds, a Protestant government and people will be firm in resisting aggression, and seeking to withdraw from priestly influence those who have been too long sub-. ject to it. Two different plans have been brought forward, for forming poor colonies similar to those of Holland, but both under, apparently at least, the stamp of party spirit, one being in the hands of Orangemen, and the other in those of the liberal faction, In the mean time, we rejoice to find the several religious societies active in their labours, and blessed by a gracious Providence with as much success as could have been anticipated. The harvest, which had excited considerable fears, has, we trust, been generally saved. In the East, the arms of Russia have been signally successful; the Balkan opposed no serious obstacle; Adrianople, the second city in the Ottoman Empire, has fallen, and it has been hourly expected that Constantinople would follow its fate. The last accounts, however, say, that the Ambassadors of Prussia, France, Austria, and England, have succeeded in producing an armistice, and eventually a peace. If this be true, it would argue great moderation on the part of Nicho las. Our Admiralty has made considerable preparation for despatching a large force into the Mediterranean. THAUMATURGIANA HIBERNICA, OR MODERN MIRACLES IN Ireland 344 FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE Italy. Baden. Bavaria. Switzerland. Sicily. America-Amuse- ments- Sunday Schools-Protestant Episcopal Convention. DOMESTIC RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE Ireland-Interesting and Affecting Contrast-Opposition to Scriptural Education Scripture Readers-Subscription for a Protestant Clergy-- man's Widow and Children-Candidates for the Methodist Ministry- Report of the Friends of Israel Society. England-Bishop Sumner's Charge-Church Missionary Society. Scotland-Gratifying Circum- NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received" Vindex," but must decline its insertion. It is obviously no part of our duty to insert animadversions on our reviews, except a fair case of mis-quotation, or mistake be made out; and although we have, in some instances, complied with the requests of correspondents, it was only on such a plea, and when they gave their names; any other rule would plainly lead to the occupying every page in our miscellany with the complaints of criticised authors and their friends. "Vindex" has made out, we think, no case for our publication, and indeed we should hesitate at giving insertion to an article which connects together as cause and effect the Popish priesthood withholding the Scriptures from the people, and the preservation of the Sacred Volume, and makes Paganism subservient to the spread of Christianity. We think that both "Vindex," and the author whom he defends, confound together the wisdom of God overruling evil for his own wise purposes, with the original cause of that evil. "Y. N.'s" observations on the attributes of God, we must decline inserting: even if the author's hypothesis was less startling than it is, the only result would be the revival in our pages of the Calvinistic and Arminian controversies, an evil sufficiently apparent from the feelings that have induced one who appears to be both talented and pious, to deny or question the omniscience of the Supreme Being. "Y. N.," as well as the commentator to whom he alludes, seem to confound together the manner in which power and knowledge are inherent in the eternal mind; power may surely exist, without being in act, but knowledge cannot be possessed without knowing. Such speculations, however, tread on the brink of presumption. Y. N.'s other article is under consideration. Another on the "C. A." An article on the "Restoration of the Jews." "Apocryphal writings." "The Labourer is worthy of his bire." "T. R. E." and Verax,” have all been received. We cannot insert the last without some alterations. Verax will understand us. We have before expressed our regret, that more accurate and consecutive memorials have not been preserved of the manner in which the Pastor of the Ban de la Roche effected the moral and religious change in his parish, which was the source of astonishment and gratitude to all who witnessed it. We have, indeed, interesting details of the full effects of his labours; we see the blessing which followed, and ever has followed, the preaching of the Cross, but it would have been most instructive to have marked its progress from the first awakenings of conviction to the full reception of the good news of reconciliation. We would not convey to our readers the impression that Oberlin's labours, whether secular or educational, were separated from the ministry of the Word; far from it, that he regarded as his peculiar privilege and duty-to that he directed all his energies, and, by the influence he acquired over the minds and consciences of his people, he was enabled to direct them to the paths of self-denial and industry. The excellent advice* given by his friend Stouber, soon after his arrival, formed the rule by which he walked, while the necessity of giving such advice proves that Oberlin was, at least in danger of giving an undue prominence to his exertions for the temporal *"God will, I feel assured, bless your endeavours, if you continue to maintain that devotedness of spirit, which your letter so sweetly and fervently breathes. But I must remind you, that, even when deeply engaged in good works, it is possible to depart from spiritual Christianity; and I would, on this account, urge you to maintain a constant guard over yourself. By being so incessantly occupied in the prosecution of your favourite schemes, and destitute of stimulating society, you may become cold and lukewarm in your religious duties, and less devoted in your service to God, even though busily employed in promoting the well-being of your fellow-creatures. I would, therefore, earnestly exhort you, my dear friend, to be always fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,' living only to, and for, Him. Thus you will be enabled to overcome difficulties; you will find comfort and peace in believing, and He will protect, guide, and bless you. Your work will prosper, not perhaps in the manner which you design, but in the way which God has prepared.”—pp. 50, 51. 6 good of his parishioners. Among other means of bringing home the great truths of religion, he seems to have annually addressed his flock at the commencement of the new year; and one very pleasing specimen of these tracts has been preserved, that on January 1, 1779, in which he pours forth his prayer for the spiritual good of his people, returns thanks for the mercies vouchsafed, and supplicates that the ensuing year might be distinguished by a growth in grace, and an increase in the number of the children of God. He likewise established societies for the mutual edification of all who were members; and when opposition and misrepresentation put down one, he endeavoured to establish others, in which the members were to meet for prayer and reading the Scriptures, and bound themselves to pray at stated times for the progress of the Gospel and the extension of Christ's kingdom-an interesting anticipation of these monthly meetings for prayer, which are found so essentially and spiritually useful in many parts of the Christian world. By his frugality, he was himself enabled to spare, and, by the influence of his example, to induce his parishioners from their poverty to set apart every week a portion of their income for pious purposes; and hence not only had he enough to meet the claims of benevolence in his own parish, but to contribute in no small degree to the extension of the truth in other parts. The following incident is peculiarly interesting, and reads a serious lesson to others. *" He had happened to read one day, with more attention than usual, the accounts of the tithes in the Books of Moses, and had been so struck with some of them as to resolve from that moment to devote three tithes of all he possessed to the service of God and the poor. "The following letter contains an account of the passages that struck him so particularly, and of the manner in which he set about the dedication of the dimes; I endeavour to devote three tithes of all that I earn, of all that I receive, and of all my revenue, of whatever name or nature it may be, to his service, or to useful objects. For this purpose keep three boxes;-when I cannot pay ready money all at once, I mark how much I owe upon a bit of paper, which I put into the box; and when, on the contrary, a demand occurs which ought to be defrayed by one of the three allotments, and there is not sufficient money deposited, I advance the sum, and make the box my debtor, by marking upon it how much it owes me. 666 By this means I am always able to assist in any public or charitable undertaking; and as God has himself declared that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive,' I look upon this regular disbursement of part of my property rather in the light of a privilege than a burden. "The first of the afore-mentioned boxes contains a deposit for the worship of God. "I put a paper, with the following verses from the Old Testament written upon it, into this box :- Levit. xxvi. 30, Mal. iii, 10. "I devote the contents of this box to the building and repairing of churches and school-rooms; the support of conductrices; and the purchase of Bibles and pious books; in short, to any thing connected with divine worship, or the extension of the knowledge of our Redeemer's kingdom. "The second box contains tithes for useful purposes, "I have written the following passages in it :-Deut. xiv. 22, 27-xvi, 16. |