It was thought proper to publish thefe proceedings, and with them, "an addrefs from the fynod of Kentucky to the churches under their care."

Dear Brethren:

The address is as follows,

It is with much fatisfaction we inform you, that the kingdom of our divine Redeemer is extending its limits, and diffufing abroad its gracious influences. When we caft our eyes toward the eastern continent, we are revived with the profpect. Many vigorous and pious exertions are making in Europe, that the light of the gofpel may be afforded to the benighted corners of the earth. The Sun of Righteoufnefs appears to be rifing, with healing in his wings. In Africa, Afia, and the Islands of the South fea, the name of Jefus begins to be known: the standard of the great Redeemer is erected, and many are flocking to it. In America alfo, the Lord feems, in a remarkable manner, to be vifiting his heritage.

By confulting that part of the extracts of the minutes of the General Affembly, published with this addrefs, you will fee what strenuous, and unremitting endeavours, are making by that body, to promote the extenfion of the Redeemer's kingdom. (See No. 3.) God feems to be giving the heathen to his Son for his inheritance, and the uttermoft parts of the earth for his poffeffion.

We do with unfeigned hearts, join with you, to give thanks to Almighty God, that he has in fo remarkable a manner, vifited thefe parts of the earth where our lot is caft. That he has made the wilderness a fruitful field-has warmed the hearts of many of his people with his love; and brought many finners anong us to the knowledge of the truth. We now folemnly promise to you, and to each other, that we will unite all our endeavours, to promote the effential parts of this revival.

It is, however, with deep regret, that we are constrained again to call your attention, to that most unhappy divifion, which has taken place in the fynod of Kentucky; tending greatly to becloud this glorious day; divide the hearts of God's people, and damp the flame of Christian love.

We are fenfible, that the interest of religion, depends much. upon the harmony and unity of profeffing chriftians. Our defign is not to foment divifions; but as far as in our power, to establish the minds of fincere enquirers, on the firm basis of truth. Since the circular letter which was before directed to the churches under our care was written, the ground on which our fufpended brethren fland, is confiderably changed.

We therefore conceive it to be our indifpenfable duty, to give you a juft and true account of their prefent standing. They have now not only rejected the authorities of the Prefbyteries and fynod, and the pacific meafures pursued by them, but have also refufed to hearken to the intreaties and councils of the General Assembly by their committee, appointed for the exprefs purpose of bringing about a conciliation. They can now no longer, with any appearance of truth, publish to the world that they were illegally and untenderly dealt with; when the members compofing the committee of the General Affembly, have approbated the proceedings of the fynod of Kentucky.

We beg leave to refer you to their own words on this fubject— See No. 1. That you may be impartially informed of the prefent ftate of their minds, and also, the measures ufed upon this occafion, we beg leave also, to lay before you, some extracts from the minutes of the joint committee, with a view of the fubfequent proceedings-See No. 2.

Confider, dear brethren, the pernicious tendency of their prefent diforganizing plan. Under the fpecious pretence of honoring the facred fcriptures, they would perfuade you to reject all written or printed creeds and forms of difcipline, alledging that those who adopt fuch, fubftitute them for divine infpiration.

But, dear brethren, we prefume you need scarcely be informed of the abfurdity of fuch infinuations-You know that we; you know that you yourfelves confider them differently. Confeffions or creeds are only the doctrines which we believe to be revealed to us from heaven, collected from different parts of facred fcripture, and brought into one view:-Muft not all who read their bibles and believe them, form fome opinion of what is taught. therein? And where can be the criminality when they have thus fearched and collected, to publifh what they believe to be the truths of God?-In fo doing, we act in open day, as children of the light, and do not leave the world to conjecture, whether we be Pelagians, Semi-Pelagians, Catholics, Arminians, or Calvinists; or whether we differ effentially from them all. We do not leave those with whom we would unite in the most tender and endearing bonds, at a loss to know whether we believe or disbelieve, what they esteem the effential doctrines of christianity— Reject all written creeds! and why not with the fame propriety all verbal ones: What must then follow? Thofe who believe our bleffed Saviour to be no more than a mere man, and those who believe in his divine nature; thofe who believe that God will manifeft an eternal difpleasure against fin, and those who believe he will finally receive all wicked men and devils into his favor-In

fhort, thofe who believe the truth, and those whofe creed exhibits the most glaring errors and contradictions, may all unite together, enjoy the fame privileges, and furround the fame board of communion- Can light and darkness have fellowship together? Or can there be concord between Christ and belial?—Is there no neceffity for a people, about to put themselves under the pastoral care of a fhepherd, to know what kind of doctrines they are to be taught; or is it perfectly indifferent which of the above contradictory fyftems they receive?

But if we attend to their fentiments on church government and difcipline, we will find them no lefs anti-fcriptural, and fubverfive of all good order in Christ's kingdom. Their own decla

ration is, "Chriftians have no power over one another, to cut off, exclude, or unite." See page 84.

But it will be seriously asked, dear brethren, in what light these fufpended members are to be confidered?

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As private chriftians, we hope you will efteem them just so far as their fentiments and practice correfpond with the word of God. But they are not to be confidered by you as clothed with any ministerial authority, or legally qualified to administer any of the ordinances of God's house-Of fuch authority thefe men give no evidence. As to an internal call, God only is judge. The external evidence, by which alone the world can judge, is the teftimonials of licenfure and ordination, "by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery," 1 Tim. iv. 14. It is true, these men were once fet apart to the ministry, in the ufual way; but it is likewise true, that feveral Presbyteries conftituted into a synod, have fufpended them from the exercise of their ministerial function.

That God has invefted the church judicatories with fuch a power, is evident from the holy fcriptures.

The keys of God's vifible kingdom are put into the hands of church officers; and they have power, not only to veft men with authority, but to fufpend, depofe and cut off, when their fentiments and conduct are contrary to the word of God and the received doctrines of the church. "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition, reject." Titus iii. 10.—The evident defign of church cenfure, is to reclaim offenders, and prevent offences in those who have not yet tranfgreffed. “Them who fin, rebuke before all, that others may fear." 1 Tim. v. 20-And in order to produce these effects, the members of the church are commanded, in the name of Chrift, to withdraw from fuch as walk disorderly, that they may be ashamed-" Now we command you, brethren, ip the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that ye

withdraw yourselves from every brother who walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us-and if any obey not our word, by this epiftle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed." 2 Thess. iii. 6. 14.

It cannot be reasonably denied, that it is disorderly for any perfon to preach the word, or adminifter the ordinances of the gofpel, who is not clothed with minifterial authority.-Compare 2 Chron. xxvi. 18. with Heb. v. 4.

To attend, therefore, upon fuch miniftrations, is at least to encourage diforder. Such conduct is a breach of God's law, and is a moral evil. If it be admitted that God has inftituted the exercife of difcipline as a mean of reclaiming offenders--those who take perfons under church cenfure, into their bofom and carefs them, defeat the intention of the ordinance of God, harden fuch offenders and endanger their fouls.

Dear brethren, we are very unwilling to fay any thing refpecting their great zeal, and apparent engagedness in preaching the word and adminiftering the ordinances.

But, however difagreeable it may be, yet a regard for your fouls and the caufe of truth, obliges us to obferve, that gravity and apparent zeal, have been usually attempted, to gain the ear and confidence of the public, by a great variety of fects that have fprung up in the Christian church, fince the reformation.

We apprehend, many honest persons among you have great difficulties in your mind, arifing from your former attachment to the men who have been fufpended. You are anxioufly defiring to obtain liberty to commune and hold Chriftian intercourse with them.

-We would wish to gratify you in this particular, could we, without violating the precepts of the gospel; we refer you, upon this fubject, to Matt. chap, x. and Rom. xvi. 17, 18. together with the paffages of fcripture already quoted, and to the uniform practice of all well regulated churches.

Dear brethren, as we take no pleasure in depreciating the cha racters of others, we forbear to make further remarks-but entreat you, in the name of Jefus Chrift, to remember, that the men who have renounced the jurisdiction of the Prefbyterian Church cannot, with propriety be countenanced by, thofe who are friendly to order, and confequently, those who attend on their ministrations, must be confidered as opening afresh, the wounds with which the church has been made to bleed, and caufing the children of God in many parts of the world, to weep in deep distress. Grieve not your aged brethren who have long borne the burdens of the church, and laboured to maintain peace and unity therein. Be

ware left you wound the Lambs of Chrifl's flock, and cast a stumbling block in the way of finners. Let us not tear down the barriers by which order has long been preferved. Open not the door by which men of corrupt principles may enter, and diffeminate their poisonous fentiments among our unguarded youth, who are by nature, more prone to imbibe error than truth. We therefore

pray you, dear brethren, as you regard the glory of God, the peace of Zion, your own comfort, the falvation of your dear offfpring, and the happinefs of your fellow men, that you do not countenance or aid in any way, what may appear inimical to the peace and profperity of Zion.

"Now, the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jefus, that great Shepherd of the fheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant-make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his fight, through Jefus Chrift, to whom be glory, forever and ever Amen."

JAMES KEMPER. Mod.

JOHN P. CAMPBELL. Clerk. It appears that this meeting of the fynod and the Affembly's committee, took place at an unfavourable period; and when it was too late to effect a conciliation. The diffenting brethren had already taken their ground. They had declared and published their fentiments: they had erected their standard, and enlisted a number of zealous difciples. It was a time when the public mind was greatly agitated and divided on religious fubjects; and a fpirit of difputation greatly prevailed. It was the opinion of many that the diffenters had been at great pains to counteract the influence of the committee, before they met on this business. They had appointed a Camp Meeting (fo called) the fabbath immediately preceding the meeting of fynod; and given notice of it in the public papers. This meeting was appointed at a place called Bethel; and the reafon affigned for appointing it at this place was, that it was central to three States viz. Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. It was also stated in the publication, that the Lord's fupper would be administered; their fentiments explained; and that a number of preachers were expected. A vaft concourse of people affembled. Numbers came from the distance of between one and two hundred miles; and encamped on the ground for feveral days. The Lord's fupper was administered to a promifcuous multitude; and nearly to all who defired to participate. This extraordinary meeting, however, was thought, upon the whole, to have operated against their caufe. The more judicious