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fered from us in the choice of a remedy for these evils. The agents of the A. H. M. Society have said, "Let the two be united, let them become one in fact, as they are in object." But the agents of the Board have said, "No, let the A. H. M. Society retire." Similar to this, if I rightly remember, was the doctrine of Mr. Russell, as expressed in the Synods of Ohio and Cincinnati, in October, 1829. He could not then deny the existence of these evils, but when to prevent them, I requested that the Presbyteries might be advised to become auxiliary to both Boards, and thus reduce their action to one, Mr. R. resisted the proposition, and urged the Presbyteries to become exclusively auxiliary to the Board of Missions. How then has it come to pass that the Board have so little knowledge of existing difficulties and collisions, in which their own secretary appears to have acted so important a part, and of which their own agents have been so fully aware? Have the secretary and agents failed to report these collisions to the Board? Then let them answer it to the Board, and to the injured cause of benevolence in the Presbyterian church, rent by divisions, which it is far less important to conceal than to cure. But they are not and cannot be concealed. The Board are not ignorant of the existence of the collisions and difficulties complained of.— Testimony sufficient to place this declaration beyond a doubt, was uttered on the floor of the last General Assembly, though much was suppressed; and the letter from the Presbytery of Cincinnati, to which Mr. R. was replying in the remarks now before us, is full and explicit on this subject. Why, then, are we told, in view of all this testimony, that the Board do not apprehend any serious evils from the separate action of the two general societies? These evils are already so great that they have disturbed the tranquillity of numerous congregations, Presbyteries, Synods, and ths General Assembly itself, and have produced two great parties in the Presbyterian church, in relation to an enterprise, whose proper spirit as well as its necessities, call for united and concentrated action. If these are not serious evils, then I know not what evils, or what disgrace inflicted on the church of Christ, may be regarded as worthy of our serious and earnest efforts to remove them. For myself, I am ashamed of the divisions and animosities that now exist on this subject; and so deep is my impression of the guilt of these divisions, that I cannot cease to make it, as it has been hitherto, a leading object of my endeavours, to persuade these contending parties, to become ONE, that the world may know that God is with them of a truth. On this object" my heart is fixed." I know that it is both good and pleasant for brethren to act together, as well as to dwell together in unity;" and witnessing, as I have occasion to do, so much of the evils complained of, my fathers and brethren of the Presbyterian church will bear with me, if I use solicitude, and earnestly beseech them actively and zealously and without delay, to promote a result so much to be desired,

What measures ought now to be adopted, I do not feel prepared even to suggest. So far as the western states are concerned, I trust our brethren on the ground will be prepared to express their wishes to the next General Assembly, or that they will adopt other measures to secure that harmony of action so essential to the peace of the churches and the permanent prosperity of the Missionary work. In this way it is hoped they will exhibit an example of union which will constrain the churches of the older States to cease from those divisions, which have already impressed upon the action of their benevolence so deep a stain of opprobrium, in the face of the world.

I have now said all that I deem necessary to publish in reply to Mr. Russell's letter to the Presbytery of Cincinnati. Having, at the commencement of these communications, expressed the motives with which I felt constrained to enter upon this discussion, I need only add that most of the disclosures which I have made, have been as painful to myself as they will be to every christian reader. I have also followed out some comparisons between the A. H. M. Society and the Board of Missions, which I would gladly have avoided, had they not been introduced, in the letter under review, in such a manner as to render them necessary to the perfection of my reply. I have however endeavoured to keep my own heart with all diligence, and to feel that I was writing not for a party, but for the cause of the Prince of Peace. Peace and union are my object, while I have felt that my brethren generally could not appreciate the necessity of efforts to effect such a result, without a knowledge of facts in relation to existing and apprehended evils.These facts I have endeavoured to exhibit fearlessly and without reserve, as far as they have appeared to be necessary. I now leave them before the public, and commend them to the prayerful deliberation of the western churches, and to the over-ruling providence of God, while I repose in the confident assurance that "truth is great and will prevail.” With a deep sense of my unworthiness to have been the advocate of such a cause, I remain the friend and brother of all them that "pray for the peace of Jerusalem." ABSALOM PETERS.

New-York, Jan. 5, 1831.

TRUE AND COMPLETE

NARRATIVE

OF

ALL THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHILADELPHIA PRESBYTERY, AND OF THE PHILADELPHIA SYNOD,

IN RELATION TO THE CASE OF THE

REV. ALBERT BARNES.

"Errores, qui non refelluntur probari videntur; gangrænæ enim sunt, quas irritant, non curant, blandiora remedia."

Not to refute error, is virtually to approve it; for it is a gangrene which mild remedies aggravate, but do not cure.

PHILADELPHIA :

Printed by Russell & Martien, No. 22 Walnut Street.

48p

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE first part of this Narrative was published several months since, in reply to an anonymous publication which was intended to impeach the conduct and motives of those members of the Philadelphia Presbytery, who had resisted the reception and installation of Mr. Barnes, upon the grounds of the doctrinal errors contained in his Sermon. The latter part of the Narrative is now published, to counteract the effect, which might otherwise be produced, by a pretended history of the late proceedings of the Philadelphia Presbytery, published by the Rev. Dr. Ely in the "Philadelphian," of which he is the Editor. This account, so far from presenting a faithful copy of the minutes of the Presbytery, may be considered throughout as a tissue of plausible misrepresentation.

This Narrative would not have appeared before the public, if the above account had not appeared; but the cause of truth now imperiously demands its publication. The question to which it refers is not of local, but general interest, and one which is likely to engage the attention of the Presbyterian Church throughout its entire bounds. For the manner in which the Narrative has been prepared, the writer alone is responsible; for the faithfulness with which the facts have been presented, he confidently appeals to every candid witness of the Presbyterial proceedings. As the Clerk of Presbytery, his duty rendered it incumbent upon him to pay close attention to every item of business as it was introduced, and he pledges

his veracity to the public, that he has not been guilty of any intentional misstatement, in the account which he now furnishes. The only request he has to make is, that those who have become interested in this affair, should form their opinion, not from the idle gossip to which it has given rise, but upon the strength of the evidence by which it is accompanied.

Philadelphia, December 18th, 1830.

WM. M. ENGLES.

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