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Correspondence respecting Appointments during these six months, to be with Mr ELLES.

Figures mark the number of Sabbaths; Roman characters mark ordinary demands; others Missionary. Engagements of Preachers by Presbyteries or Ministers, will stand only if notified to the Committee of Distribution. Presbytery Clerks are required to intimate to this Committee the licences of Preachers.

The Synod recommend to Preachers to take into serious consideration the calls which, in providence, are addressed to them to engage in missionary labour, either by going abroad, or by accepting an appointment to a home station, for a period of not less than twelve or six months:-Preachers inclined to be thus employed, or who desire farther information on the subject, to correspond with the Rev. ANDREW SOMERVILLE, Edinburgh.

Probationers are enjoined by the Synod, to send their addresses, during their vacant time, to the Clerks of the Presbyteries in which their appointments end, and also to the Committee of Distribution.

The Synod has appointed a standing Committee, distinct from the Committee of Distribution, to whom all complaints, either by Congregations or Preachers, or others, in reference to appointments, or not fulfilling appointments, shall be made. This Committee has the power of corresponding with the Preachers:-all complaints or matters brought before them, which they cannot adjust or remedy, they shall lay before the Synod; it being understood, that this shall not interfere with the rights of Presbyteries.-Rev. Mr M'GILCHRIST, Edinburgh, Convener.

Preachers in Missionary Stations are required to report, at least once in three months, both to the Rev. ANDREW SOMERVILLE, Edinburgh, and to the Presbytery in which they officiate.

Presbytery Clerks are requested to have all demands for next Scheme forwarded to Saltcoats not later than

the 1st of June.

52

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SENIOR DIVISION OF THE UNITED SECESSION HALL.—

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STUDENTS ATTENDING THE JUNIOR DIVISION OF THE UNITED SECESSION HALL,

BROUGHTON PLACE, EDINBURGH.-SESSION, 1845.

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THE

UNITED SECESSION MAGAZINE

FOR FEBRUARY, 1846.

MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS.

THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE,-IN RELATION TO THE CONSTITUTION AND PRIVILEGES OF THE CHURCH.

Ir is a fair enough question to propose for consideration-what is the practical influence of the voluntary and state church systems, respectively, in relation to the constitution and privileges of the church of Christ? In determining this question, the rule which holds good with regard to persons, may be very safely applied in judging of systems and principles,-" by their fruits ye shall know them." It is true, that in judging of the divine authority of any principle, our appeal must be made exclusively to the word of God, and by its simple dictate, whatever may be our reasonings or prepossessions, we must abide. But while it is right that, on this subject, the supreme standard, "the law and the testimony," should be appealed to; it is not an unfair criterion by which to estimate the systems now under consideration, to look at them, agreeably to the rule which we have mentioned, in connexion with their practical tendencies and results. Those who advocate the voluntary principle in religion, do so, undoubtedly, because they believe the views which they hold to be founded on the word of God; but, in connexion with this, they seek, at the same time, to carry out the system to which they are attached, because they are persuaded that it is best fitted to advance the interests of divine truth, and to promote the peace, the prosperity, and the stability of the church. Taking this practical view of the subject, we shall, in the present paper, consider the voluntary system, in connexion with those great leading objects in reference to the interests of the church, which it is designed and adapted to secure, as contrasted with the statechurch system, and those effects which all experience shows necessarily to flow from it, wherever it is adopted. A word or two on these points, it is hoped, will tend to remove some misapprehensions which have been entertained with reference to "the voluntary principle."

1. It is the object of the voluntary system to secure the sovereignty of Christ over his church. The principle which is thus contended for, lies at the foundation of the constitution of the church of Christ. The

NO. II. VOL. III.

G

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