pressed round me with so much zeal to get possession of the Word of Life, that I was seriously inconvenienced by them. I will not, however, say they were so urged by the love of truth, to prize thus highly this precious Book, but rather that mere curiosity excited them.

"But since our Lord Jesus reigns, to whose service we have wholly dedicated ourselves, and whose honour, we, though in great weakness, yet most earnestly seek, still can the mighty working of his Spirit, by this opportunity and by my weak means, accomplish somewhat towards the advancement of eternal truth. My address was short:

"There,' said I, 'is Peace, I bring the seal of the Covenant of Peace, through which is made known unto you how God, through Christ, is reconciled unto you,' and such like words. The river had just overflowed its banks, and my audience had therefore to wade through the water, or come and go in boats, but not the less numerous or unwearied were they. This occurred within view of the lofty walls of the ancient city, where I had never before declared the gospel of the grace of God. And as the Lord until now has helped me, poor sinner that I am! may his name be praised; so will he assuredly accomplish gloriously the rest! How often, even in the evangelical Missionary Societies, has the possibility of spreading the knowledge unto salvation in China been doubted? And, lo! the Lord gives us, nevertheless, entrance into every city I have previously visited, with the single exception of Teintsin. Oh! that I had but faith to work through love, and, supported by the Almighty arm of the Redeemer, to venture all for his kingdom. Call to mind the immense extent of country to Nankin, through which I have passed, where danger of every kind threatened me, and the protecting hand of God rested upon me, ingrate ! with fatherly love! I fell down, filled with admiration, and gave praise unto the Lord of all mercy and loving-kindness.

"As I stood on the summit of the Porcelain Tower, and saw the city of Nankin lying at my feet, I could not refrain the childish vanity of inscribing thereon, Karl Gützlaff, from the shores of the Baltic.'

"But then the thought occurred to me, what multitudes of heathens were living in the neighbourhood of this city, who never heard of Christianity; and, a few mornings after, I returned laden with books, and distributed them amongst the people. The pressure was so great that I was twice compelled to stop the distribution of this gift of God, in order that the crowds might scatter. Oh, how should I rejoice, should it please Christ, in his infinite mercy, to collect unto himself a congregation of elect souls in the vicinity of this far-famed and most frequented monument of heathenism! Well, the Lord is the hearer of prayer, and can do things which our Missionary Committees have never even imagined. After I had given away all the books, the Mandarins came likewise to receive their share. They wished a course of scientific works; but I gave them the Word of Life, in homely tracts, that they might learn that the great advances of the western countries in the knowledge of wisdom, was solely to be attributed to our holy religion, which elevates the heart, and gives the right impulse to the mind. Heartily did I wish that our Pantheistical philosophers could only see those poor creatures, that they might find out what advantages Christianity has afforded them, and how heathenism, even in its fullness, with the all-deceiving Dualism, (or belief in two predominating deities of good and evil,) show so dark and miserable a contrast with it. As I was particularly well acquainted with all the appointed Plenipotentiaries, I thought it only proper to give each of them a copy of the New Testament. Kijing, the eldest step-brother of the late Emperor, is a thorough Tartar in all

• Gutzlaff is a native of Stettin.

his feelings and actions, and the leading statesman who takes the whole re sponsibility upon his shoulders. Formerly he was the chief Field Marshal of the empire, and richly endowed with gifts; troubling himself little, however, about the observance of religion. Eligin is old and worn out; he was long Governor of different provinces, and feeling now that his end is drawing near, he has given himself up to superstition, and tells his beads daily to the idols of his Lamas. May the Lord bless that godly book to his soul, that it may bring forth the fruits of everlasting life; for I dearly love the old man, because he is a peace-maker, and has done much for his country. The General Governor, Niu, is a Chinese official of the ancient régime, thoroughly embued with all the intrigue of Mandarin life, and altogether blunted to the comprehension of higher truth. Still, may he but once read the lesson of the cross; and what a triumph would it be were his heart to be subdued to the Saviour! Hvang, the High Treasurer, is an amiable man, quite made for a life of business, ever friendly and cheerful, curious to hear, in order to correct his judgment. He thanked me very politely for this gift. I wrote for each of them,This is the Revelation of God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, who sent his only begotten Son to save all the nations upon earth,' and bid them read this work with great attention, as the true way of life. The 29th of August was a most remarkable day. The Plenipotentiaries of both nations met on board the line of battle ship, Cornwallis; I was in the midst of them, and spoke much with Kijing. At length the moment arrived, when China gave up for ever its exclusive law of nations. The treaty was laid before both parties, quickly signed, and then the seal put upon-an event in the history of the world. The false system of a thousand years was politically thrown away, and the right of the foreigner, of the heretofore barbarian, acknowledged. When one considers the preju dices of this people, and their great attachment for a law which shut them out for ever from the rest of the world, and yet see them submitting to necessity; then, does the act of the 29th of August appear as a dream, which even the boldest imagination of fervent hope had never been able to conjure up. But it is done, and may the Lord of all grace give to this new convention strength and stability! I trust not on the arm of flesh, for that has ever deceived me, but I hope to serve the Lord Jesus, with body and soul, to the latest day of my existence. Oh! under his banner one lives so safely, and through his strength achieves the victory! Then let us ever and entirely look to Him, believing, loving, hoping, praying, and working, till He finally conducts us to the goal. I had nearly forgotten to tell you how I went to the grave of their great Emperor, Kang He, in order to recal the memory of former times. He was certainly the greatest man of his age, and what would he have been had he been a Christian? But the Lord knows best the moment when the triumph of his Gospel shall be celebrated. Kang He's inscription in the temple makes laudable mention of his predecessor. O had but this great Emperor still reigned! The days are now past, and we must soon leave this river. Our people have suffered much from sickness, and many have died of cholera. The inundation is now universal, and does very great damage; [ have seen whole districts wasted. The poor people suffer much, yet bear their misfortune with great patience, and without murmurs. Now, pray very much for me, that the everlasting Spirit of grace, love, and patience, may be poured out upon me, poor sinner! and that the Lord of Glory may have his perfect work in me, and in this whole land.

"KARL GUTZLAFF."

Kang He reigned from 1662 to 1723. He wished to be the reformer of China, as Peter the Great in Russia, and Joseph II. in Austria, but he could not attain his object.

The last received letter of 28th January, 1843, from Tinghai, contains the following words:—

"On my arrival here, I received an appointment to the capital of Fokian Fuhschan. I was, however, left upon this island to superintend the civil affairs. I have now schools to establish, to preach, to travel the land, containing from 3 to 400,000 inhabitants, to print and distribute books, &c."

In case any one, in the interests of science or otherwise, desire to hold communication with our distinguished countryman, he is now made aware of his address, which is likewise contained in the above-mentioned letter, it is the Rev. Ch. Gützlaff, care of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co., Hong Kong, China.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF THE SEPARATION OF THE FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT, WITH THE LEADING EVENTS ANTERIOR TO IT.

[From 1736, when the General Assembly, repeating the declarations of former Assemblies, declared, "That it is, and has been since the Reformation, the principle of this Church, that no minister shall be intruded into any parish contrary to the will of the congregation," and rejected the presentee to Kinnaird in respect of the opposition of the people, though without reason assigned, till 1834, the party in the Church of Scotland denominated "Moderate," had a constant majority in the Assembly, and refused to give effect to the dissent of the congregation. In 1833, the Assembly rejected, by a majority of 149 to 137, a proposal to bring again into operation the above recited principle. The same Assembly, with only one dissentient voice, passed a declaratory act, admitting the ministers of Parliamentary Churches into the Church Courts, assigning to them parishes quoad sacra and providing them with kirksessions. In 1834, for the first time since 1736, the Evangelical party had a majority in the General Assembly, and at this period the following chronological account begins. J

1834. May 27. The General Assembly passed an act "Anent Calls," generally called the Veto Act. It once more declared "that it is a fundamental law of this Church, that no pastor be intruded into any congregation contrary to the will of the people;" and in order that this principle might be carried into effect, it enacted, that when the majority of male heads of families, in communion with the church, dissent from a presentee being admitted to a vacant charge, he shall be rejected by the presbytery.

May 29. The Assembly at the same time passed a declaratory act as to ministers of Chapels of Ease, in accordance with a corresponding act of 1833, in regard to Parliamentary Church ministers, declaring that they were entitled to sit as members of presbyteries, and other

Church Courts, and directing sessions to be formed, and parishes quoad sacra to be assigned to them.

1835. June 1. The Associate Synod of Seceders having, in consequence of the proceedings of last Assembly, applied for a conference with a view to a re-union with the Established Church, a committee of conference was appointed by the Assembly.

1838. March 5. In the cause of the Earl of Kinnoull and the Rev. Robert Young, v. the Presbytery of Auchterarder and others, the Court of Session, by a majority of eight to five, pronounced judgment in favour of the pursuers. The action arose out of the following circumstances:On the 14th September 1834, Lord Kinnoull, patron of the parish of Auchterarder, issued a presentation in favour of Mr Young, an unordained licentiate. The presbytery determined to apply the Act on Calls; and in a roll of 330 male heads of families, it was found that 287 dissented from the presentee being admitted, while only two parishioners signed the call. An appeal was taken from the proceedings of the presbytery; first to the synod, which confirmed them, and next to the General Assembly of 1835, where they were also confirmed by a majority of 131 to 95, and a remit was made to the presbytery to proceed according to the Veto Act. On 7th July 1835, the presbytery rejected Mr Young. The action in which the above decision was pronounced was then brought, to have it declared that the presbytery acted illegally and beyond their power, and that they were still bound to take Mr Young on trials, and if found qualified, to admit him minister of Auchterarder.

23. The General Assembly, by a majority of forty-one, adopted the "Independence Resolution," to the effect, "That the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, while they unqualifiedly acknowledge the exclusive jurisdiction of the Civil Courts in regard to the civil rights and emoluments secured by law to the Church and ministers thereof, and will ever give and inculcate implicit obedience to their decisions thereanent, do resolve, That, as is declared in the Confession of Faith of this National Established Church, The Lord Jesus, as King and Head of his Church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of church-officers, distinct from the civil magistrate,' and that in all matters touching the doctrine, government, and discipline of this Church, her judicatories possess an exclusive jurisdiction, founded on the word of God, which power ecclesiastical,' in the words of the Second Book of Discipline, flows immediately from God and the Mediator, Jesus Christ, and is spiritual, not having a temporal head on earth, but only Christ, the only spiritual King and Governor of his Kirk; and they do farther resolve, that this spiritual jurisdiction, and the supremacy and sole headship of the Lord Jesus Christ, on which it depends, they will assert, and at all hazards defend, by the help and blessing of that great God who, in the days of old, enabled their fathers, amid manifold persecutions, to maintain a testimony, even to the death, for Christ's kingdom and crown;' and finally, that they will firmly enforce submission to the same upon the office-bearers and members of this Church, by the execution of her laws, in the exercise of the ecclesiastical authority wherewith they are invested."

1839. May 3. The House of Lords affirmed the judgment of the Court of Session in the Auchterarder case.

22. The General Assembly, by a majority of 204 to 155, adopted a resolution to the effect that all resistance to Mr Young's claim to the civil emoluments of the benefice of Auchterarder, and all claim on the part of the presbytery to the jus devolutum or other civil right, should be abandoned, as falling under the decision of the House of Lords; and that as by that decision the enforcement of the principle of non-intrusion, which could not be abandoned in any parish, was necessarily attended with a suspension of the legal provision for the sustentation of the ministry in the parish, the General Assembly being "deeply impressed with the unhappy consequences which must arise from any collision between the civil and ecclesiastical authorities, and holding it to be their duty to use every means in their power, not involving any dereliction of the principles and fundamental laws of their constitution, to prevent such results, do agree to appoint a committee for the purpose of considering in what way the privileges of the National Establishment, and the harmony between Church and State, may remain unimpaired, with instructions to confer with the Government of the country if they should see cause."

25. The Assembly passed an act admitting the Associate Synod of Seceders into the Church, on the footing of the quoad sacra ministers, and directing parochial districts to be assigned them.

June 12. The majority of the presbytery of Dunkeld appeared at the bar of the Court of Session to answer for a contempt of Court, in having admitted a minister to the pastoral charge in Lethendy, in defiance of an interdict. On the 14th, the censure of the Court was pronounced against them, and they were found liable in expenses. The circumstances out of which this proceeding arose were, that on 8th June 1835, the Rev. Mr Clark had been presented to the united parishes of Lethendy and Kinloch. The presbytery having rejected him in terms of the Veto Act, a second presentation was granted to Mr Kessen. Thereafter Mr Clark raised an action to have it found that they were bound to take him on trials, and if found qualified, to admit him; and he also obtained an interdict against Mr Kessen presenting himself, and against the presbytery inducting him. The presbytery resolved to proceed on the call in Mr Kessen's favour, and admitted him as pastor thereon; and it was for this act that the above proceedings took place.

Dec. 13. The Commission of the General Assembly, by a majority of 107, suspended from their functions and office seven ministers of the presbytery of Strathbogie, who had resolved to proceed with the settlement of the rejected presentee to the parish of Marnoch. In this case, Mr Edwards had been presented to the church of Marnoch; and the presbytery of Strathbogie, acting under the instruction of the Synod and the Assembly, rejected him on account of a majority of dissents, in virtue of the Veto Act, one parishioner having signed his call, and 261 out of 300 heads of families on the roll having dissented. Mr Edwards obtained a decree of the Court of Session, to the effect that the presbytery were bound to take him on trials and induct him, and a majority of the presbytery resolved to implement the obligation so declared by

the Court.

20. The Court of Session interdicted the intimation or execution of, and afterwards suspended, the sentence of the General Assembly's Com