part of the audience, difapproved of such disorder and confusion, and left the place difgufted.

This representation may serve to give some idea of the state of affairs in that part of the country when the fynod met. It will not, therefore, appear strange, that the endeavours of the committee to effect a reconciliation and restore peace, proved abortive.

Upon the whole it appears, that however the committee may have failed in accomplishing the great object contemplated by the General Affembly in their appointment; their miffion has not been altogether fruitlefs; but on the contrary, productive of feveral falutary effects. They met with a cordial reception, not only from the fynod, but also from all who owned the jurifdiction of the Presbyterian church in that place. It had a beneficial influence on the public mind; as it manifested the folicitous concern of the General Affembly, for a distant and fuffering member of their body. It had a happy tendency to reclaim fome, and establish others, who were wavering, and feemed to “halt between two opinions".

The above report having been confidered, the Affembly,

Refolved, that they highly approve the firm and temperate measures taken by the fynod of Kentucky and the committee of Affembly that met with them; and are of opinion, that the committee, befides the pecuniary indemnity affigned them; are entitled to the thanks of the Affembly for the diligence, prudence, zeal and fidelity, with which they appear to have executed their commiffion.

On motion,

Refolved, that this Affembly will, on Monday morning next, enter into a free converfation, on the general ftate of religion within their limits.

Agreeably to the order of the day, the Affembly proceeded to a free converfation on the general state of religion.

The Rev. Dr. M'Knight, Meffrs. Lyman, Blythe and King, were appointed a committee, to take notes of the information that shall be given; to digeft and form the fame into a connected report, and lay it before the Affembly, as foon as may be con

venient.

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The members being called, in the order of the roll, gave information on this fubject, as their local fituation enabled them

to give. Accounts were received from most of the Pref byteries under the care of the General Affembly; and some interefting details were given by the delegates from the General Affociation of Connecticut, refpecting the appearances of religion in that state.

The information which has been received refpecting the state of religion, within the bounds of the General Affembly during the last year, exhibits a variegated scene. Whilft on the one hand, it prefents many things which are just cause of gratitude and rejoicing; on the other, it brings into view fome, calculated to produce humiliation and regret. In feveral congregations, particu larly on Long Ifland, in the bounds of the Synod of Albany, and in the western parts of the Prefbytery of New Brunswick, there have been confiderable revivals of religion. The number of adults who have been received into the church in different parts, by baptifm; as well as those who have been admitted to the facrament of the Lords fupper, has been confiderable Such as have been added to the church, during the revivals which have taken place in times paft, have generally, and indeed almost univerfally, proved ftedfast in the faith, been progressive in their chriftian course, and evidenced the fincerity of their profeffion by the holiness of their lives and converfation; whilst inftances of apoftacy have been very rare. Praying focieties have been eftablished in many places, and generally well attended. In those congregations which enjoy the preaching of the gofpel, and the administration of its ordinances in a stated manner; there is generally manifested a growing attention to the things of religion. A more than ufual anxiety, and more vigorous exertions have also been manifested by vacant congregations, to have the institutions, of religion statedly among them. In feveral places the highly important duty of catechifing has been more attended to than formerly, and has produced thofe falutary effects, which, we have reafon to expect, will always flow from it.

The profpects with refpect to the Indians are highly encourag ing. A fchool has been established among the Cherokees, in the State of Tennefee, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Blackburn, with flattering profpects. Some of the Indian tribes to the westward, feem alfo favourably difpofed to receive the gofpel, and have expreffed an earneft defire to have schools established among them. The school among the Catabaws, established by the Synod of the Carolinas, is alfo continued. And feveral young men of different tribes have received, and are now receiving, their education under the care of the Synod of Pittsburg.

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Whilst there is very fatisfactory evidence to believe, that there has been a great and glorious work of God carried on throughout a widely extended portion of country to the fouth and weft, within the bounds of the General Affembly; and that many fouls have been favingly brought home to God; it is proper to obferve, that in general, this has been accompanied with very uncommon and extraordinary effects on the body. There appears also reason to believe that in certain places, fome instances of these bodily affec tions have been of fuch a nature, and proceeded to fuch lengths, as greatly tended to impede the progress and to tarnish the glory of what, in its firft ftages, was fo highly promifing. That God has all the powers both of our mortal and immortal part, absolutely under his direction and fubject to his controul; and can influence and affect them according to his fovereign pleasure, will not be doubted by any who acknowledge Hini as the framer of our bodies, and the Father of our fpirits; and that in Him we live, and move, and have our being.

Experience and the very reafon and nature of things alfo manifeft, that human nature may be deeply affected, and even overpower. ed by particular views and impreffions of fpiritual and divine things. But it is equally manifest that these effects may be, in a considerable degree, produced by natural caufes, or by the agency of fpiritual and fubordinate beings. Satan may transform himself now, as well as formerly, into an angel of light. It is enjoined upon us not to believe every fpirit; but to try the fpirits whether they be of God. As the magicians endeavoured by their inchantments to imitate and difcredit the miracles performed by Moses: fo has it been an artifice of fatan in every period of the church, to endeavour to obftruct and bring a reproach upon a revival of religion, by counterfeiting the operations of the fpirit of God, and exciting those who were concerned in fuch revival, to extravagant and diforderly proceedings. True religion is a moft rational and fcriptural thing. One of the unhappy circumftances ufually attending a revival of religion is, that fome who are engaged in it, are prone to confider all its concomitants, and every thing connected with it, as facred. This affords the adverfary an opportunity, unfufpected, of fowing tares among the wheat, to the great prejudice of the approaching harveft. In times of the revival of religion, it highly concerns us carefully to guard againft grieving the Holy Spirit of God, and provoking him to fufpend or withdraw His gracious influences, either by refifting, or not duly improving his operations; or by yielding to the fuggeftions and influences of fatan. All religious experience is to be brought to the test of divine truth. To the law and to the testimony, if it be not conform

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able to thefe, it is because it is fpurious. God is a God of order, and not of confufion: and whatever tends to destroy the comely order of his worship is not from him, for he is confiftent with himself. Whilst then the General Assembly mourn over and lament those irregu lar and disorderly proceedings which have taken place in fome parts; and which have tended to obfcure and tarnish the glory of this good work of God: they rejoice that, in general, they appear to fubfide: that the minds of the people are reverting to more rational and fcriptural views and exercises: that but few of the ministers in their connection have countenanced or encouraged these wild extravagancies; or confidered any bodily exercises as a criterion, by which to form a judgment of a perfons character or state; but have formed their opinion, in this cafe, from the conformity of their views and exercises to the word of God. The Affembly are happy to find that the pernicious and deftructive principles of infidelity, and "philofophy falfely fo called" continue to loose their influence, or are lefs avowed; whilft at the fame time they have cause to lament that formality and lukewarmnefs in religion, seem to prevail in fome of our churches, and that the facred inftitutions of the gofpel are attended with fo little power. Multitudes continue careless and secure, perishing in ignorance and in fin, whilst the love of many waxes cold." A refpectful and ferious attention however to the inftitutions of religion feem pretty generally to have prevailed; and an increafing union and harmony in focieties which are composed of Presbyterians and congregationalists. We are also happy to learn by the delegates from our fifter churches of Connecticut, that the highly ufeful practice of catechifing has. been more than commonly attended to among them: that their churches are in peace, and there is a generally increased attention to the things of religion among them.

Upon the whole, the Affembly find no inconfiderable caufe to blefs and praise God for the tokens of his goodness; they find alfo many things which are cause of humiliation before him. They feel themselves called upon from the circumstances in which they are placed, to renewed and vigorous exertions in the cause of their God and Redeemer, in hope that "their labours fhall not be in vain in the Lord." And they do earnestly exhort all the people under their care, to activity and perfeverance in the chriftian course "looking to the mercy of God unto eternal life through Jefus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory in the churches world without end. Amen.

Refolved, that the members of this Affembly, with fuch perfons as may choose to join with them, will spend a part of next

wednesday evening in this church, in fpecial prayer for the revival of religion, and in other religious exercifes; and that Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Milledoler and Mr. Griffin, be a committee to make arrangements for the occafion; and to defignate the perfons who fhall lead in the exercises,

The meeting for special prayer, and other religious exercises, was duly attended last evening, in the first Presbyterian church in this city, by the members of the Affembly, and a large concourfe of the people,

Upon enquiry it appeared, that the Rev. Dr. Green and Mr. Hazard, who were appointed by laft Affembly, to write the hiftory of the Presbyterian church in these United States, have been fuccefsfully employed in collecting materials for the work.

Refolved, that the Presbyteries and churches, which have not yet forwarded their local hiftories, be fpeedy in compleating and fending them, to the gentlemen appointed to this important fervice.

An extract from the records of the Presbytery of Baltimore was read, whereby the Presbytery instruct their commissioners to this Affembly, to endeavour to engage the Affembly to adopt a refolution, earnestly recommending it to all the minifters under their jurifdiction, to refufe to join, in rendering any kind of funeral honours, to any perfon who shall have fallen in a duel; or is known to have fought a duel, or given or accepted a challenge for that purpose.

The Affembly took into confideration the refolution fubmitted by the Prefbytery of Baltimore, and

Refolved that Dr. M Knight, Mr. Waterman, Mr. Marques, Mr. Blythe and Mr. Griffin, be a committee to take this fubject into confideration; to draught and lay before this houfe, fuch refolution or refolutions as may be proper, in the opinion of the committee, to be adopted by the General Affembly.

The committee to whom was referred the propofition from the Presbytery of Baltimore refpecting dueling, exhibited their, report The report being read and amended was adopted, and is as follows, viz.

The General Affembly having taken into ferious confideration the unhappy prevalence of the practice of duelling in the United States, and being anxioufly defirous of contributing what may be in their power, confiftently with their character and fituation, to discountenance and abolish this practice,