It would be strange indeed, if, at such a season as this, we alone, of all religious bodies in England, should hold our peace, and if, when assembled in Synod, we should fail to recognise our near kinship to the men whom all around us are delighting to honour.

whom we hail as our ecclesiastical an- minister under diocesan Episcopacy. cestors; their memorials are indus- But though some of them could have triously sought out and revived; and gone further than others in submitting they are held up to public admiration to that government, when enforced by as models of ministerial fidelity and law, they all refused to take the oath worthy martyrs to conscience. of canonical obedience; they all stood up for the right of pastors to govern their respective flocks; and the plan of government which they proposed conserved all the essential principles of Presbytery to such a degree that one of the clergy observed to the King, that if he agreed to that plan "he That the Ejected of 1662 were mainly would unbishop his bishops." But Presbyterians is a fact beyond all perhaps the best answer to such an reasonable dispute. Baxter, indeed, insinuation is, that they suffered to the tells us that the name was generally loss of their livings, the spoiling of applied to all who were opposed to their goods, the imprisonment of their high prelacy, however much they persons, and the ruin of their families, might differ in their views as to rather than renounce their PresbyChurch government. But the fact terian ordination. None took higher that they all went under that designa- ground on this point than the English tion is sufficient to show the wide pre- Presbyterians, and from none have we valence of our principles, as well as received more complete and learned the well-known fact that the corpora- vindications of Presbyterial governtions in large towns were chiefly com- ment. I refer particularly to the two posed of Presbyterians, and that to well-known treatises-the "Jus Diviexclude them the Corporation Act was num Ministerii Evangelici," and the passed, requiring all the members of "Jus Divinum Regiminis Ecclesiastici" such bodies to abjure the Solemn in which ordination by Presbyters is League and take the Sacrament ac- shown to be most agreeable to the cording to the order of the Established Scripture pattern. Church; the fact, too, that it was the There can be no question that it was Presbyterians, as the friends of con- the Presbyterians who, to use a phrase stitutional monarchy, that restored of the times, were most struck at in Charles, as he himself afterwards that part of the Act of Uniformity avowed before the House of Lords, which required all who ministered in when he reminded them that "if it the pulpits of the Church to be epishad not been for these men, neither he copally ordained. And here it is nor they would have been there that worthy of remark that, by adopting day"-a fact which I would pit against this principle for the first time, the the sneering question that has been Church of England was carried a step put in reference to the ministers further back in the retrograde march ejected from the Church of England, of intolerance than ever she had been be"How did they get there?" for I fore. For although individual bishops, would just ask in reference to the Par- such as Bancroft in the reign of Elizaliament of 1662, How did the King get beth, and Laud in the time of Charles there? How did the Lords get there? I., held the divine right of Episcopacy, And, my lord bishops, who are now in the first reformers of the English such high feather and crowing so Church admitted only two orders to be loudly-How did you get there? In of Divine appointment, viz., bishops and short, it was with the Presbyterians deacons, a presbyter and a bishop boonly that Charles sought to negotiate, ing, according to them, but two names and who were summoned to meet with for the same office; the best defenders the bishops in the Savoy Conference, of Episcopacy, such as Hall and to revise the Liturgy, and make such Hooker, were of the same opinion; necessary alterations as they might and the ordination by Presbyters in the agree upon. Church of Scotland and the Reformed Churches abroad, was held as valid, both in the Church and by the law of the land.

It may be said, perhaps, that these Presbyterians virtually surrendered their principles when they agreed to

The bearing of this fact on the Ejectment of 1662 is very important. It shows, in the first place, that the Presbyterian ministers who were previously in possession of livings in the Church, had as valid and legal a claim to these livings as any who had received Episcopal ordination. And it shows, in the next place, that, by the Act of Uniformity, which made Episcopal ordination indispensable, a radical change was introduced into the constitution of the English Church-a change condemned by the holiest and best of her sons, her founders, her martyrs, and her defenders-a change which closed the door against communion with all the other Reformed Churches, and only brought her into nearer accord with the Church of Rome, which repays the compliment by denying the orders of the English Church, and reducing her clergy when they flee into her bosom to the rank of laymen.

and sermons of four hours' durationwith their closely-cropped heads, and beard and moustache frowning ominously over the starched ruff, like a chevaux de frise-and what a difference between them and the portly, closeshaven, well-conditioned men of the Restoration, with their flowing ringlets or full-bottomed wigs, who seem, from their portraits, to wish well to all the world around them. Richard Baxter is the only remaining type of the former school; and he tells us, very goodhumouredly, that Chancellor Hyde said to him, if he had been but as fat as Dr. Manton, all would have gone well: to which the redoubtable Richard replied, that if his lordship would teach him the art of growing fat he would find him not unwilling to learn by any means.

But, seriously, the men who expressed themselves well content with the King's declaration from Breda, "granting liberty to tender consciences, and that no man should be disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom," cannot well be considered as intolerant. And Baxter distinctly says, in reference to the toleration which the King wished to introduce on behalf of the Papists, whom he craftily mixed up with other sectaries-" We felt ourselves in a strait: if consented to, it would be charged on us that we spake for s toleration of Papists and sectaries; if we spake against it, all sects and parties would be set against us as the causers of the sufferings, and as a partial people, that would have liberty ourselves, but would have no others have it with us.”

I do not now dwell on the characters of our ejected fathers; so much has been said of late on this subject that it has become familiar to us all. There are only two points which, before sitting down, I would notice very briefly. And first, they have been often charged with intolerance, and much has been said to deaden or neutralise our sympathies with the men by representing them as having embraced persecuting principles, and as having been quite ready, had they been in power, to put the same bitter chalice to the lips of their adversaries, which they were now called themselves to drink. We grant that some of the fiery zealots of a former time had written in violent and reprehensible language against the toleration advocated by others. And no party had as yet adopted the wide The only other point I shall touch views as to toleration now held. But upon is the charge of dishonesty which the truth is, that the Presbyterians of it has been alleged is brought, im1662 were a different class from the plicitly, if not explicitly, against Presbyterians of 1643 to 1648. In the modern Conformists. While our posi course of twelve years a great change tion as Nonconformists plainly says had come over them a change indi- that we cannot see how we could, with cated even in their outward appear- a good conscience, minister in the For let any one survey the por- communion of the English Church, traits of the men during the two any more than our Puritan fathers periods; let us survey the Solemn could, we do not thereby presume to League men of the one period, with dictate to the consciences of other their solemn, lank, lugubrious visages, men. "To their own Master let like those of men with whom long days them stand or fall." One thing is of fasting were not merely metaphori- certain, that the ejected Presbyterians cal, but days of downright bodily absti- of 1662 never, even by implication, nence, spent in prayers of two hours' accused their conforming brethren of

ance.

acting a dishonest or disingenuous from the Establishment. Leaving it part. At the same time, we cannot to others to follow the light of their but lament that there should be so own consciences, let it be our part to little disposition shown to reform lift up the fallen standard of Presbyabuses, to rectify what all must allow tery in England, and by showing it to to be fair grounds of conscientious ob- be the standard of peace as well as of jection to thousands upon thousands truth, of liberty as well as of order, of of their fellow Christians, and such a beauty as well as of bands, let us so determination to cleave to forms and commend it that all who are rightrestrictions which they know have hearted may follow after it! alienated the affections of so many

Missions.

Report of Foreign Missions Committee to Synod, 1862.

CHINA.

stations it is difficult to give statistics AMOY has proved to be one of the which shall distinguish the separate most interesting fields for missionary agencies. It may suffice to mention effort in China, and nowhere has the that the congregations at Amoy itself labour expended been requited with and at Chioh Bay are under the immemore encouraging results. Besides the diate care of the Dutch Reformed agents of the London Missionary So- Mission, whilst the congregations at ciety and our own brethren, Messrs. Pechuia and Bay pay are the special Douglas and Swanson, there are charge of the English Presbyterians, there stationed five representatives as are also the stations at An-hai and of the Dutch Reformed Church of Emung-kang, where, however, the conAmerica. These last in theology and verts have not yet been organised into ecclesiastical polity are almost identical a distinct and separate church-fellowwith ourselves, and from the outset the ship. With this preliminary explanation, co-operation between them and our we submit the following tabular sumown missionaries has been so close and mary of the church-membership at the intimate that in the case of some of the close of 1860 and 1861 respectively :

In connection with these Presby-important Christian community is terian missions alone there are now rapidly rising. Nor are there many 355 members, and the accessions of the congregations at home which can reyear have been upwards of 70. It is cord a progress and spiritual prosperity gratifying to know that the member- proportionate to that with which it has ship in connection with the London pleased the Lord to visit the Church at Missionary Society is equally numer- Amoy. Since these statistics were ous; so that in this locality a large and received, a native church has been

founded at Chang-chew. Early in the fashion by forged documents and false present year, Mr. Douglas and Mr. witnesses. Rapalje, of the Dutch Reformed Church, paid to that city two succes sive visits conjointly. On the first occasion Mr. Douglas baptized six men, and on the last Sabbath of February, Mr. Rapalje baptized three

women and one man.

The last accounts received from Mr. Burns were dated from Foo-chow on the 10th of February. He had been anxious to find opportunity thence to visit Formosa; but as yet he had not been enabled to accomplish his purpose. In the meanwhile, he had found openSome of the facts tabulated in the ings for usefulness in the neighbourforegoing summary are full of promise hood of Foo-chow. "Since I last for the future. The number of Chris- wrote," he says, "I have been chiefly tian households must be considerable in the country, in a large town of where, in the course of a single year, thirty or forty thousand inhabitants, 39 infants have been admitted into the situated at a distance of eight or nine Church by baptism; and it is a good miles from Foo-chow. Its name is sign of the solid and self-governing Nang-sen, or South Island. It has character of the Chinese people that been often visited by missionaries, but already this Church has supplied itself every effort to rent premises for with 16 elders and 15 deacons. It is a preaching the Gospel had failed; and, token still more hopeful for the future as a last resort, for some time past the that they show their anxiety to impart mission of the American Board have to others the blessings which itself has rented premises some miles beyond received. Although so recent a con- the town, and too far removed from quest from heathenism, the Church at the mass of population-premises far Amoy already shows the missionary from the locality as well as disadvantaspirit. It will be remembered that the geously situated. I felt it my duty to Church at Bay-pay was originally try to find a location in Nang-sen, and planted by the affectionate and self- about four weeks ago set out on Saturprompted efforts of native Christians day for that place, accompanied by a from a neighbouring village; and now Christian servant and another native in its turn Bay-pay has passed on to Christian, both members of the AmerChang-chew the light which itself ican Methodist Episcopal Mission received from Pechuia. It is also here. Our way was most wonderfully pleasant to remember that Si-Boo, who opened, so that half-an-hour after our has been so useful among his country- arrival we had succeeded in renting men at Singapore, is one of the first- very suitable premises, and, partly by fruits of our mission; and besides the the kindness of neighbours, who lent native helpers sustained by the mission, us various articles, and partly by purit will be observed that three colpor- chasing, before night we were fully teurs are sent forth and supported by established in our new quarters.... the native churches. But the severest The opportunities for preaching have, of all tests is persecution. To this as yet, been very favourable, and we ordeal many of the converts in China trust that the Gospel may take root in are subjected. The station which at that important town. The agents of present suffers most severely is An-hai. the American Board will, I expect, There, during the confusion of a fire move to this new position from the in the neighbourhood, the place of premises beyond, which they have worship and the houses of several of hitherto occupied; but while I am the Christian inhabitants, were broken open and robbed; and now Song, one of the most prominent church-members there, is under arrest, and, through a cunning and vindictive conspiracy, is in danger of losing his earthly all. It is the policy of the adversary to bring against the Christian, accusations such as cannot secure for them the protection of foreign powers, and these are supported in the most unscrupulous

permitted to remain in this quarter, I shall, of course, do all that I may be able, to aid in carrying on the work."

A short time ago the Committee were sorry to learn from Mr. Grant that his services would no longer be available to this Church, from a change in his views on the subject of infant baptism. The loss of this excellent missionary is the more calamitous from occurring at a time when the call for

more help at Amoy is so urgent. In steps for opening a native school in the one of his last letters, Mr. Douglas immediate neighbourhood of Bauleah. writes: "We are earnestly longing for The principal men of the village had news of some re-inforcement. Our agreed to give, on perpetual lease for number is small-only Mr. Swanson school premises at the rent of nine and myself-especially in a climate rupees per annum, a piece of ground where health and life are so very pre- somewhat exceeding an acre; and on carious. We have just now been the first day of last month it was the solemnly reminded of this by the purpose of our friend, with his native death of our beloved sister Mrs. assistants, to commence the work of Talmage, of the American Mission, teaching. He had found on the part who fell asleep just two days ago. of the parents a general willingness to Her removal is a heavy blow to us all, send their children to school; nor is both as missionaries and as Christian there likely to be any change in this friends." But hitherto, although they feeling until their heathen prejudices have had zealous coadjutors in our are roused by actual cases of conown esteemed professors, as well as in version. the heads of the Free Church Colleges, For this station, so open and so your Committee have entirely failed in entirely unoccupied, the Committee is finding new labourers for the Chinese anxiously endeavouring to secure a field. Considering the inviting cha- European missionary. As the Synod racter of that field, with its unequalled is aware, besides providing school preexigencies, this lack of labourers is a subject for much grief, not unmingled with amazement.

The blame, however, is perhaps our own. We have failed to keep our people intimately and affectionately acquainted with the work of God in China, and our appeals for help to the brethren there have not been sufficiently directed to Him who can raise up and make willing his own servants. It is not to the "labourers" but to "the Lord of the harvest" that we are directed to "pray" when the labourers are few.

Meanwhile, it is most gratifying to find that there is no flagging of the Church's efforts. The income of the year was £2,500, in which the contributions of our children and Sunday scholars amounted to £270.

And if any element of encouragement had been wanted, we should find it in the constant and abounding zeal of our friends in Scotland. The annual meetings held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, have numbered large audiences, and have enlisted in the advocacy of the Chinese Mission many of the men whom Scotland delights to honour.

INDIA.

THE Mission at Rampore Bauleah is commenced. The Rev. Behari Lal Singh arrived there on the 20th of March, and proceeded at once to take

mises, a few generous friends have agreed to contribute £300 per annum towards the support of native teachers.

Rampore Bauleah, 4th April, 1862.

MY DEAR SIR,-It affords me sincere pleasure to be able to address you from the present scene of our humble labours, and that, too, in the enjoyment of ordinary health, tested by the attempt to overtake a good deal of miscellaneous business necessary at the outset of our operations. From my letter to my esteemed and beloved friend Mr. Hugh Matheson, you will have learned that the first Christian vernacular school at the English Presbyterian Church was opened in the name of our God, on the 1st of this month, with ten pupils. The number has subsequently risen to sixteen. They assemble at present under the shade of a thatched roof, supported by bamboos, which does not, however, afford good shelter from the oppressive heat and the deluging rains. As soon as I am able to secure a piece of land, either from the Government or the native land-holders,' and erect a suitable hut, which may hold out the prospect of retirement and protection, I have reason to believe the number of boys to anticipate. I have received applications will come up to more than we have ventured from various parts of the district to establish Christian Vernacular Schools, which I hope to comply with as soon as our present school has been raised to a state of efficiency. I am glad to inform you that a few villagers have promised to confide their daughters to the training of your agents, but the difficulties connected with female education in a district like this are so great that I must not be hasty or over-sanguine. In the meantime