occasional hearers, would no more obtain credit, the means of refuting them being always at hand. In the second place, church-communions would have more real esteem of one another in proportion as they evidenced themselves to be acting from principle. In the third place, seeing one another in earnest in maintaining their respective tenets, each would be led to consider the tenets of another with more seriousness, and to enquire with more diligence what truth or what error is in them: an enquiry which would be much less difficult, were every church-communion honestly and plainly to ascertain their distinguishing tenets by a public and particular declaration.

Since the grand apostacy in the papal church, there have been two most remarkable periods, wherein several churches gave suitable evidence of sincerity and earnestness in endeavoring to attain the knowledge and pure profession of the truth. The first was that of the glorious Reformation from Popery; when the Lord brought so many churches from the bosom of Antichrist with confessions of faith and testimonies to his truth in their hands. The second period was about the middle of the last century, when so resolute and successful a stand was made against superstition in the worship of God, and against the tyrannical government of Episcopacy. But the time of going forward in reformation was short, and was succeeded by a grievous defection from what had been attained. In the course of which defection, the Protestant churches as such, have fallen into great lukewarmness and indifference to the purity of their holy profession: which indifference has been excused and increased by the prevailing opinion of latitudinarianism :--Latitudinarianism, which makes religion consist sometimes in such emotions and passions as are excited by pictures and musical sound, sometimes in such mere outward morality as might be found in heathens, in any thing rather than in a single adherence to the truths revealed in God's word:-Latitudinarianism, which makes an attachment for any gross error or corruption which ever plagued the church of God, pass for great piety-Latitudinarianism, which, in vast multitudes bearing the Christian denomination, is already ripened into open and avowed profanity, infidelity and atheism :-Latitudinarianism, an idol to which this generation seems to be so absolutely attached, that' there is reason to apprehend that such a severe calamity will be necessary to wean them from it, as was necessary to wean the Jews from their idolatry. Let us hope and pray, that the blessed work which was begun in the Reformation from Pope

ry, which was advanced in the Reformation from Prelacy, and which is still carried on amidst great and manifold opposition, may speedily issue in the more eminent glory of the latter dav.

We conclude with an exhortation to those that are engaged in a professed adherence to a testimony for the principles of the first and second Reformation, against the various defections therefrom, in the present state of the visible church. We call you, in the Lord's name, to study a firm and consistent adherence to that testimony in profession and practice. The charge which the adversaries of Paul brought against him, and from which he, vindicated himself, that his word towards the Corinthians was yea and nay, an affirmation and denial of the same thing, holds lamentably true against many professors, at this day. One part of their conduct says, yea, they are adhering to a testimony for the truth; another part of it says, nay, they are making light of it. Be concerned that your adherence to the present truth may, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, be yea, that is, steady and consistent. Hold fast the profession of your faith without wavering. And that you may do so, we offer you the following advices.

1. Be careful to attain a competent knowledge of the several articles of the present truth and testimony of Jesus. Study to know these, not merely as contained in our subordinate standards, such as, our Judicial Testimony, our Catechisms and Confession of Faith, but also according to what the nature of these subordinate standards require, as contained in the scriptures of truth, which are the supreme standard, and the only foundation of a genuine faith. When adversaries represent our subordinate standards as turning away men's attention from the holy scriptures as the only rule of faith and practice, they are propagating what, if they be acquainted with these standards, their own consciences must allow to be a base calumny, and an open shameless contradiction to the letter, and to the whole nature and design of such standards; they being nothing more than the declared adherence of the church, in the articles specified, to the word of God alone; and there being no other way conceivable in which the church, as such, can make a faithful opposition to the various errors and corruptions, according as they come to prevail. To fall in with the design of these subordinate standards, it is necessary for you to be like the Bereans, "searching the scriptures daily, whether these things be so."

2. Study to have distinct views of the testimony for truth,

to which you adhere, being the cause of God. It is his cause, because every article of revealed truth is a letter of his name; and the denial of it is an open contempt of his authority, and an impeachment of his veracity. It is this persuasion that must animate you to steadfastness in your holy profession, under all the changes of outward appearance; and to activity in the support of it in your several places and stations.

3. Let your attendance on gospel ordinances, while you have them in purity, be regular and exemplary. Carelessness in this respect is rebellion against the Lord's command, and evidences a criminal neglect of his declarative glory, and of the welfare both of the church and of your own precious and immortal souls. Be concerned that your frame of mind, on the calls you have to attend on public ordinances may be like that of David, as represented in the 122d Psalm, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."

4. Beware of resting in any knowledge of the truth which is not saving and experimental, and which has not a sanctifying effect on the heart and life. The truth, received into the heart by faith and love, is a root and principle of holy obedience, according to Ephes. iv. 21, 22, 23, 24. "If so be that ye have heard him, and been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; that ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

5. Continue in the exercise of faith and of prayer. Remember that ye owe all your steadfastness to the free grace of God in Christ Jesus. The more steadfast your views of him, whose name is the LORD our Righteousness, you will be the more steadfast in your holy profession. Behold your strength and standing to be not in yourselves, but in Him. And if ye would have faith exercised, evidenced or increased, be much in prayer. "Come boldly to the throne of grace, that obtain mercy, and find grace to help you in the time of need;" that ye may join with the people of God in all ages, in saying, "A glorious high throne, from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary."

you may

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

OF THE REV. DAVID GOODWILLIE.

THE REV. DAVID GOODWILLIE was born near Fife-shire, Scotland, in the beginning of the year 1749. He received his academical education in Edinburgh, where he also studied Theology. He was licensed to preach the gospel in the fall of 1778. He was employed, preaching as a probationer, in Scotland, England and Ireland, during a period of ten years. In the spring of 1788, he emigrated to the United States of America, and formed an important and seasonable acquisition to the Associate Presbytery of Pennsylvania, then much in need of help. For although the members of the Presbytery had then increased to six, yet the congregations and applications to the Presbytery had been increasing in a still greater ratio. Many of those, who had been carried away by the fair promises of those who formed that union, which gave rise to the Associate Reformed body in 1782, not finding their expectations realized, were now returning to their former profession; and many from Europe, who had been acquainted with the principles professed by the Associate Church in Great Britain, were also making application to the Presbytery, from different and far distant sections of this widely extended country. In order that Mr. Goodwillie might be qualified to discharge all the parts of the office of a gospel minister, in the newly organized congregations among which he was now called to labor, the Presbytery judged it expedient to take him on trial for ordination, as early as convenient, after his arrival. Accordingly, we find he was ordained in the city of Philadelphia to the office of the holy ministry, on the 31st day of October, in the same year he arrived. Mr. Beveridge preached on the occasion. The discourse is inserted in this collection.