with a view of obtaining a thorough classical education. Of these, the greatest number, probably, is at Cumberland University. Some twenty or thirty are at this time pursuing their studies there with reference to the ministry. A book agency has recently been established at Louisville, Ky. This has for its object not only general circulation of valuable books and publications, but also to hold out facilities to writing, in this denomination, for the publication of any works produced.* Facilities of this kind, it is hoped, will draw forth from obscurity some valuable writers. Proper circumstances never fail to call forth a multitude of authors. Under the auspices of Mecenas, Virgil, Horace, and many others, flourished. During the reigns of James and Elizabeth, when the Court was an academy, England produced some of her mightiest authors. and discretion in the present day. Our country has produced very few writers of merit and distinction. The reason is obvious. The enlightened reader will, doubtless, not take it amiss if it be affirmed that education in general, in this country, is superficial. In England, Germany, and other European countries, it is much more thorough. Properly considered, this is no disparagement to this country. Its age considered, probably no country on the globe excels it in point of education, and superior writers. The youth of sixteen, who writes like a sage of fifty, will, probably, at fifty, write like a dotard. The same remark applied to a nation, is equally true. It is not to be wondered at that the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has not, as yet, produced many writers. The period, in the ordinary course of things, has not yet arrived for writing. It has been the period for action. It must be confessed that the denomination in question has produced compar Among the clergy of this denomination atively few authors. With churches it is there have not been any instances of as with individuals and nations: they heresy. A remarkable harmony in dochave a youth, a manhood, and an old trinal beliefs has existed. This has been age. Youth, in all, is the time for ac- the case, whilst in other churches, many tion. Greece had its heroic age, in which of the clergy have shot madly into the Hercules and Theseus flourished. Then wildest and most extravagant heresies. followed a more sober, reflecting period, We have witnessed, within the last few in which Sophocles, Eschylus, Euripides, years, some of these ministers arraigned Herodotus, Xenophon, and Thucidides before their several spiritual courts, passflourished. The same is true with re- ing through the most perplexing trials, spect to Rome. It was not till near the under allegata of the wildest heresies. It close of the Republic that writers of emi- cannot be doubted but the propensity of nence began to make their appearance. writing books has been the cause of much The first two hundred years of the Chris- of this. In no science, save medicine, is tian era scarce produced any valuable there such an endless disposition to theowriters in the church. After this, a short rize, as in theology. There are no time, a swarm of them appeared. It grounds for theory in either. For the had been good for the cause of religion former is based on actual observation and if many of them had never appeared, or experience; the latter, on plain revelation that they were used with more judgment from God. But what has here been stated, is not intended as an opinion in opposition to theological works, or theological writers. It is a mere reference to the abuse of them. It would be good for the cause of religion if it had many such advocates as Chalmers and D'Aubigne. * Rev. Reuben Burrows has written a book on Baptism, that is in considerable demand. Rev. Milton Bird has recently written an able work on the doctrine of election. Rev. Robert Donnell has produced more than one work of merit. All from him is replete with sound sense. His "Miscellaneous Thoughts" contain lucid and comprehensive expositions of many points in theology. It is to be hoped that Mr. Donnell's life will be spared, and that his pen will be active. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is mainly confined to the Southern and Western portions of the United States. From the Lakes on the North, and the Gulf of Mexico on the South, it is nu merous. A few churches and ministers) nicant, which is a still lower estimate, at different points, are to be found east of there are 400,000 persons in its connecthe Alleghany Mountains. tion. In a growing country, and a progressive age, a sufficient number of per It is not to be expected, in a church like this, extended over so large a terri-sons this, to wield a powerful moral, intellectual and religious influence. tory, and many portions of it sparsely settled, that the number of communicants can be accurately ascertained. In some of the new states the means of communication are very imperfect. But we can determine accurately enough. On the authority of the Assembly, which met in May, 1847, at Lebanon, Ohio, there were 17 synods, 68 presbyteries, 800 congregations, 650 ministers, 200 licentiates, 150 candidates for the ministry, and over 100,000 communicants. The number of communicants in some estimates has been placed considerable higher than this. The lowest estimate has here been stated. Estimating four children, and other adherents, to each communicant, which, it will be acknowledged is a very low estimate, there will be found 500,000 persons connected with this branch of the Redeemer's Kingdom. Allowing three persons to each commu With due dependence on the God of providence and grace, energetic efforts and wise counsels, future prospects are highly encouraging. Such is an account submitted to the reader, of the origin, progress, doctrines, and present extent of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It is as minute and extended as a work of this nature would admit. The facts can be relied on as true, having been taken from authentic sources. It has been composed amid a press of pastoral duties, at snatches and intervals. It is presented, such as it is, to an enlightened and charitable Christian public. If allusion has been made to the doctrines and practices of other denominations, it has been done out of no ill design. Every church has a right to present to the world its own doctrines and practices, and show wherein these differ from others. HISTORY OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIANS, COMMONLY STYLED COVENANTERS. BY THE REV. R. HUTCHESON, PASTOR OF THE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION, AT BRUSH CREEK, ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO, JULY, 1847. hered to these sacred engagements, who were, on account of that adherence, called COVENANTERS. For a very interesting account of these people, see the History of the Covenantors in Scotland, published by the Presbyterian Board, in two volumes, Nos. 76 and 77. See, also, Traditions of the Covenanters, in three series, and Annals of the Persecution in Scotland from the Restoration to the Revolution; all published by the same Board. For the principles they contended for, see the Cloud of Witnesses. ALL who give attention to the history | together in persecuting those who adof the church, know something of the sufferings of the martyrs in Scotland, under the tyranny of the house of Stuart: and all who love the truth in its purity, admire the men who so earnestly contended for it,-who "loved not their lives unto death." The principles for which they contended, as these are set forth in the formularies of the Church of Scotland, and illustrated by the history of their times, are worthy of the most careful study, not only of the private Christian, but of the divine, and the civilian: for while they contended most strenuously for the honor of God, they sought, as a part of that honor, the full establishment of the rights of man. They had in common with many others, bound themselves to God and one another in covenant: first, in the National Covenant of Scotland; and again in the Solemn League and Covenant of the three kingdoms, Scotland, England, and Ireland, framed in 1643, and renewed, 1648. The church and the nation, the rulers and the people, had mutually and voluntarily entered into these solemn vows; but the majority soon violated them, disowned them, and joined REFORMED PRESBYTERIANS claim to be the lineal descendants of those Covenanters, adhering to the same principles, however far they may come short in faithfully carrying out their application. They have a Synod in Scotland, one in Ireland, and one in the United States, besides a number of congregations and scattered societies in the British provinces in North America. The Reformed Presbytery was constituted in America, for the first time, in the year 1774, by three ministers, the Rev. Messrs. John Cuthbertson, William Linn, and Alexander Dobbin, with ruling elders. These ministers had been sent over from Europe, in order to organize the Church in America. During the persecution, several members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, left their native country, to seek an asylum in the western world. These, and their descendants were found collecting into praying societies, as they were wont to do in their own land, upon the footing of the Reformation principles in the beginning of the 18th century. They kept themselves distinct from the other worshipping societies which they found formed, or forming in the land, judging them no way disposed to enter into the full spirit of the covenanted reformation. Mr. Cuthbert son arrived in America, from the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland, in the year 1752. Twenty years did Mr. Cuthbertson serve alone, the Church in America. He visited the different societies which were formed throughout the colonies, on reformation principles, and animated them to perseverance. Exposed to danger almost constantly from the servants of the British crown, who were then endeavoring to confirm over the American colonies, the doubly grievous yoke of tyranny and Episcopacy; he endeavored to inspire his friends with confidence in the justness of their cause, and with hopes that God in his providence would, in his own time, deliver them. In the year 1774, Messrs. Linn and Dobbin, were sent to the country by the Reformed Presbytery of Ireland: upon their arrival a judicatory was constituted, and the Reformed Presbyterian Church put on a regular appearance, as an organized visible society in the colonies of America. This regular organization was soon lost by a union of the Reformed Presbytery and the Associate Presbyteries; by which, instead of combining two denominations into one, a third was formed of some parts of the other two, known by the name of the Associate Reformed Church. This new church has adopted the names of both the bodies from which it was formed. The union was completed in 1782, after having been five years in agitation. A great part of the church joined their ministers in the schism from their former connexion, and united in this new body with seceders, who had also irregularly departed from their former ecclesiastical brethren. Those who did not join, turned their at tention again toward Europe, and called for ministerial assistance, which could not be immediately obtained. They were again reduced to their private fellowship meetings; but they did not however, despair, even at their lowest state. They expected help; and, they received it. Rev. James Reid was sent as a missionary, by the Reformed Presbytery of Scotland, to examine the affairs of the church in the United States; and after having travelled from Carolina to New York, and remained several months in America, he returned to Europe in the summer of 1790. Mr. McGarragh was ordained by the Reformed Presbytery of Ireland, for the Church in America, and arrived in South Carolina about the year 1791. The Rev. William King was commissioned with instructions to join Mr. McGarragh, and arrived in the United States, in 1792. Rev. James McKinney from the Reformed Presbytery in Ireland, arrived in 1793. Mr. McKinney possessed talents admirably adapted to the situation of the church at that time. He possessed an intrepidity of character, which could neither be seduced by friendship, nor overawed by opposition. His powers of mind, his extensive knowledge, and capability of enduring fatigue, eminently qualified him for his Master's work. Through his instrumentality, the church rapidly increased in the States of Pennsylvania and New York. Rev. William Gibson arrived from Ireland, in 1797, accompanied by Messrs. Black and Wylie, who had completed a collegiate education in the University of Glasgow, and were preparing for the work of the ministry. The church was again by the goodness of her exalted King, favored with a regular organization. The Reformed Presby. tery of the United States of North America, was constituted in the city of Philadelphia, in the spring of 1798. Mr. King died before the meeting of this court; but the Presbytery was soon increased. Messrs. Donelly, Black, Wylie, and McLeod, were licensed to preach the gospel in 1799. In the course of two years, they were all ordained to the ministry, and had the care of fixed pastoral charges. The constitution of the Reformed Pres byterian Church in the United States, was fully recognized by the ecclesiastical judicatories of the same church in Scotland, and in Ireland; a friendly correspondence was established between the three Presbyteries; and some encouragement afforded of receiving ministerial help at a future period. In the year 1800, the Presbytery enacted that no slave-holder should be retained in their communion, A committee appointed the same year to visit the Southern States, and regulate the concerns of that part of the church, abolished the practice of holding slaves among church members. No slave-holder is since admitted to their communion. ness, and the Presbytery met biennially. At a meeting held in Philadelphia, that judicatory was dissolved, and the ministers with the delegated elders, being assembled, agreed to constitute a synod. The senior minister, Rev. William Gibson, being called upon for that purpose, did constitute with prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus, the only King and Head of the Church, the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in America, on the 24th of May, 1809. The deeds of the Presbytery were all recognized by the synod; and the former committees were erected into Presbyteries. Thus the church was lengthening her cords, strengthening her stakes, and stretching forth the curtains of her habitation. A brief sketch like the present, will not admit of a full development of her progress, and the changes through which she has passed. To the general reader it will be more interesting to know something of her distinctive features; wherein she dif fers from other members of the great Presbyterian family-children of the same Father, between whom there should be no strife; but, alas! they have grievously fallen out by the way. In May, 1806, the Presbytery issued the Testimony of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. This work consists of two parts; the first, historical, exhibiting the church as a visible society, in covenant with God; and pointing out precisely the situation which they themselves occupy as a distinct part of the church universal. The second part is a Declaration of the doctrines held by them, and an enumeration of the errors which they reject. It has ever since been contemplated, and is now in progress of preparation to publish A prominent, distinctive feature of this a third part, containing arguments in de-church, is, that her members will not own fence of the doctrines, and making a par- allegiance to the government of any nation ticular application of the principles of the which refuses allegiance to the Lord Jesus testimony. All who would understand the Christ,-the Prince of the Kings of the doctrines of the church, must become ac- earth. And as they do not find any naquainted with the Testimony. tion rendering allegiance to Him, they reAt the same session, (May, 1806,) two main in the character of aliens, neither acts were passed by the Presbytery, which voting for officers, holding offices, sitting are important, as containing practical di- on juries, nor taking the oath of naturalirections for the conduct of individual mem-zation; whether in the United States, bers of the church-an act respecting Great Britain, or any other nation yet giving oath, when summoned before the known. constituted authorities of the nation-and an act respecting serving as jurors in courts of justice. These acts and the reasons for them, and corresponding practice, présent some of the distinctive features of the Reformed Presbyterians, and called forth all their exertions, in preaching, writing, and conversation, in their own defence. In consequence of the extended field over which the ministers and the people were scattered, the Presbytery was divided into three committees for transacting busi This practice is based on the following doctrines : 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ as Mediator, has committed to him all power in heaven and in earth, as the vicegerent of the Father; and governs all creatures and all their actions for his own glory and our salvation, as Head over all things to the Church, which is his body. Mat. xxviii. 18; Eph. i. 20, &c.; Phil. ii. 8, &c.; Heb. ii. 8. 2. That submission is due to the mediatory authority, from all the intelligent |