et it be
united by Covenanting, into one glorious mass, and be exhibited for
beauty, and glory to God. Let the Free Presbyterian Church, remembering
the past, wisely look forward to the future; and, reflecting upon what
may be the effect of its procedure on other nations of the world, now
act so as to present an example worthy the imitation of all. And it is
humbly presumed that the standing of the Church, in the days of her
greatest glory and efficiency in the land, in preference to every other,
claims her adoption. The position, ecclesiastical and civil, of the
friends and followers of the Second Reformation, like an ancient
fortress held by comparatively few, but venerable from its eventful
history, remarkable amid the ruin which time has laid around it, and
displaying a massive grandeur as it rests on its broad and solid
foundations, which had, during periods not very remote, been
contemplated more as an affecting memorial of the past, than as a
strength which should be available in time to come, has of late, while
tyranny made progress, been somewhat approached, as it stands begirt
with its gigantic bulwarks, surmounted with the banner of the Covenant,
manifestly high above all other means of defending the Church; and it
faithfully promises a vantage-ground, noble from its commanding
altitude, and unassailable within its high defences, to which all in the
land who love the truth should come, that to whatever outward peril they
might be brought, they might maintain their christian warfare, to their
continued honour and final triumph.

C.

In order to suggest a good basis, whereon all in the land who hold the
truth might unite in a capacity more or less intimate, the following
observations are humbly presented for consideration. The friends of
truth cannot justifiably persevere in supporting the British
Constitution as the ordinance of God. The government, in order to its
dignity and efficiency, proclaims itself to be worthy of cordial
support. The claims which it puts forth may not be regarded by itself as
of a very high order, yet it views them as indisputable; and even,
though manifestly not an ordinance of God nor friendly to true religion,
it seeks to strengthen its authority by availing itself of the use of a
most sacred institution in religion--the oath. The government itself,
though for certain ends it applies the oath, is not scriptural. And why
should good men claim for it the character of an ordinance