pean philosopher, going to show that the Americans, with their boasted religious liberty, are rapidly degenerating into a nation of fanatics. It would not be difficult to find in that mass of crudities, which in past times has gone under the general name of Religious Intelligence, hundreds of statements, which would seem to justify such a conclusion. Men of real abilities, prudence, and skill, have so seldom thought the periodical press, a subject worthy of their attention ;this mighty engine of good and evil, has so often been left to the management of unexperienced, and often half educated men; that a large part of its records might casily be made to subserve any purpose, which the enemies of evangelical piety might wish to effect.

Yet we do believe that revivals of religion are the joy and glory of the Church, and the hope of the world. The polemic fires which were kindled at the Reformation, continued to rage until vital religion in the Church had been nearly burnt out. There seemed to be nothing to prevent the universal prevalence of a heartless formality, but such visitations of mercy as we now speak of. The circumstances of the American Churches were, in many respects, favourable to the occurrence of these events. Christians in the United States were placed in a situation to look only to the grace of their Lord, and the power of their religion. In this case, there is naturally a more direct and vigorous application of religion to the conscience, than we ordinarily find in different circumstances. And there is no control of the ministers of the Gospel, by "the powers that be." Every one is at full liberty to try the utmost force of his religion, in the way which appears to him best.-America is, and it long will be, the land of revivals.

But in this country, "who will may preach, and what he will." And it is not to be denied, that among numbers of our fellow-citizens, noisy declamation is preferred to sound exposition of the Bible. Powerful excitements are pro

duced by addresses to the imagination and the senses; and we have a pretty full experience of the disastrous and desolating effects of false revivals. Men of experience, of sound discrimination, and careful observation among us, can afford on this subject, information of the highest value to the world; and utter warning voices, which, if duly regarded, will save the Church from much reproach and sor row, and prevent the occurrence of many a scene of desolation.

It is a matter for everlasting praise, too, that we have in this country a number of men, of adequate information, of fervent piety, and habits of careful observation, whose labours have been greatly blessed. Genuine revivals of religion have taken place under their ministry. They have brought forth fruit, and their fruit hath remained. They who were afar off have been brought nigh;-Christians have made advances in holiness;-and the whole effect of one revival has been a preparation for another, of equal, or perhaps greater power. These instances afford opportunities for statements of particulars of the most instructive. character. The wonder is, that they have not already been made. A thorough conviction of the paramount value of revealed truth, united with deep piety, a large portion of common sense, and some considerable knowledge of human nature, have prompted these most excellent ministers of Christ, to pursue the course of true wisdom, but they have not yet, as far as we know, preserved registers of facts; have not made and recorded numerous, minute, and careful observations, so as to afford ample instruction to others, of less wisdom and experience than their own.

Now the organization of the Presbyterian Church affords very peculiar advantages, for collecting information respecting the progress of religion; the particular measures employed to promote it; and the results as they are varied by different plans, or by the same plans, conducted in different

circumstances. We can scarcely conceive of a situation in which more practical wisdom might be acquired than in our General Assemblies, if only the members would come together, with hearts all alive, and attention all awake to this great object. They who compose this venerable body, are for the most part members of all the inferior judicatories of the Church. As pastors and elders, they belong to Church Sessions, where all the measures adopted to promote the conversion of sinners, and the holiness of Christians, in their particular congregations, are of course, subject to their personal inspection. Then there are Presbyteries and Synods, where the state of religion, and the means used to build up the kingdom of the Redeemer, are matters of particular inquiry, and of formal report. And finally, there is the General Assembly, in which are gathered representatives of the Churches, from the Presbytery of Londonderry to that of Missouri. These great councils, too, are held every year. The order of the Assembly requires an annual report of the state of religion. It is possible, then, to bring together the knowledge and experience of more than a thousand men, and afford the whole to each member of the Assembly. We have wished with inexpressible earnestness, that the protracted, and often warm discussions of matters of mere personal and local interest, which so often occur, might give place to the careful consideration of other, and we hope to be forgiven for saying, more important business. And it occurs to us, that a close union and free correspondence with foreign Churches may help to produce this change. For let our former remarks be recollected; that Christians abroad are beginning to waken up, and look at the events which are taking place in our country. The report of what the Lord has done for us, has travelled into distant lands. And our brethren from afar, are inquiring with much solicitude on this subject. The Minutes of the General Assembly are sent abroad; and they will be read with

great eagerness.

When it is seen that twenty or thirty thousand are added to the Churches in a year; and there is great glorying in the wonderful achievements of redeeming mercy, these authentic records of our Church will be studied with much care, that it may be known what are the measures thus signally blessed by the great Lord of all.

In a word, our General Assembly might be made to feel that they are acting on a wide theatre; and not for themselves and for petty interests at home :-that they are "encompassed with a great cloud of witnesses ;" and that they ought to lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset them, that in a word, they ought to constitute the centre of an influence which shall be felt through the whole world. And why may not such things be? Why may not the third Thursday in May constitute an epoch in the history of our Church? And the future historian in tracing the progress of religion, ought to be able to see in the measures adopted by each General Assembly, a new impulse given to the great enterprise of making this land the land of Immanuel; and this world his kingdom.

It is most admirably taught in the constitution of our Church, that "truth is in order to goodness;" and that "the great touchstone of truth, is its tendency to promote holiness." According to this doctrine, if our Church is, as we maintain, the purest, so it ought to be the holiest in the world. And if our system of ecclesiastical polity is nearest to the great principles laid down in the New Testament, then in its administration, it ought to produce the best results.

The strongst argument that possibly can be produced in these times of contention and division, would be the superior zcal, liberality, kindness, self-denial, humility-or to say all in one word, the superior holiness of Presbyterians. Let the country and the world, feel that we are a blessing to them, and they will receive us: let them feel that we are

a greater blessing than any other people, and they will admit our greater purity both in doctrine and discipline. Any measures which have a tendency to produce a result like this, shall always have our warm approbation, and decided support. Indeed, one prime object of our labours, in conducting this journal, is to raise the standard of piety in our Churches, and especially among our ministers. And whatever else we may be able to accomplish, we shall feel all the mortification produced by failure, if we are favoured with no success, in this our leading purpose. None, we trust, can question our zeal for sound Presbyterian orthodoxy. But we value our doctrine and discipline for this very reason, because we believe, that, when fully received and carried out into practice, they are entirely adapted to make men more active, benevolent, liberal, and pious, than any other system of which we have any knowledge. When convinced of the contrary, we shall be ready to change our plans. We are especially desirous that the General Assembly may be the instrument of doing all that good, which, by its constitution, it is adapted to do; that it may diffuse blessings, in every direction, to the greatest possible extent; and divine benefits from every source opened by the great Head of the Church.