an official capacity; and, if it have funds at its disposal, the terms on which men shall be allowed to receive a share of them: provided that they who join them, do it voluntarily, and that others may, without molestation, be permitted to decline these terms, or to withdraw, if they, after having joined them, can no longer conscientiously comply. I say, a right indisputable by man, yet a right for the use of which they are responsible to God; and the abuse of which has been and is the source of most deplorable consequences.

If, however, the Synod of Dort had only proceeded to exclude from office public teachers, whether of congregations or schools, belonging to the church or churches established in Belgium, who would not comply with the terms agreed on in the Synod; the terms alone would have been the proper subject of our judgment, and not this exclusion, provided no further punishment had been inflicted. But this exclusion ex officio would of course be also ex beneficio, or from the emolument of the office. And how far this would have been justifiable, I am not prepared to say: and, indeed, much depended on the nature of their funds, and the tenure on which they were obtained or held. But one thing is clear, that, if some reasonable proportion of the emolument had been reserved to those who were excluded from office, so long as they conducted themselves peaceably, it would have been a very conciliatory measure, and suited to give a convincing testimony, that the glory of God, the peace of the church, the cause of truth, and the salvation of souls had been their motives and object; and not secular and party interests.

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In respect of the revenues which, having been appropriated to religious purposes in former ages, fell into the hands of those who conducted the reformation, and formed establishments, it cannot reasonably be expected that the bodies thus in possession should voluntarily agree to share them with dissentients: but in revenues raised by taxes on the present generation, for the purposes. of supporting religion, and other things connected with it; equity seems to require that a proportion should be awarded to peaceful dissentients, of whatever description, according to the sum which that whole body may be required to pay towards such a tax for they who contribute, and are good subjects, and can give a pledge to the government for good behaviour, ought, in all reason, to share the benefit in proportion.1

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When the teachers of congregations and of schools, supported by the revenues of the churches in Belgium, had been excluded or suspended from their office and its emolument, all that was done beyond this, seems to have been unjustifiable. The excluded party, in reason, and according to the scripture, (though not according to the general sentiments of that age,) were entitled to full toleration to worship God, and to instruct others, either as preachers, or teachers of schools

'It may be worthy of consideration, how far a grant from Parliament for building churches or chapels exclusively for the establishment; while the public at large must advance the money from the general tax, or taxes, is thus consistent with strict equity. The design is excellent and most desirable; but whether it would not be more unexceptionable, if a proportionable sum were granted to peaceable dissenters, for the building or repairing their places of worship, may be matter of inquiry to impartial legislators.

not supported by the establishment, provided they did this peaceably. At most, only very general restrictions should have been required. But such teachers of separate congregations, and of schools, were not then known, or at least not recognized nearly all places of worship and schools, were in the hands of the established authorities, and every thing attempted must be done secretly, and then, on that very ground, condemned as a conventicle or seditious meeting.

Excommunication, according to scripture, is nothing more than simple exclusion from the communion of the church: "Let him be as a "heathen man, and a publican:" except when God miraculously by his apostles, who could in that respect" do nothing against the truth, but "for the truth," inflicted salutary chastisements, "for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit

might be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus;" or that "others might learn not to blaspheme." But when, in addition to such an exclusion, many heavy consequences followed, extending even to fines, banishment, imprisonment, exclusion from the common benefits of society, and even death, the very word excommunication became dreadful and hateful; and the relaxation of all discipline, nay, almost its annihilation, has been the consequence. Restore the matter to its original use; let the communicants become such of their own voluntary choice, admitted on a simple and credible profession of those things in which Christianity consists; and let them, if they act inconsistently, be excluded from communion, and left, in their former state, till they give proof of repentance; considered as equally entitled to good

will and good offices in temporal things as our other neighbours; admitted to any means of grace which may aid their recovery; conversed with in every way which does not sanction their misconduct; and "restored," if it may be, in "the spirit of meekness:" on this plan, I apprehend, discipline might again be established, and great benefit arise from it. But they, who cannot inflict miraculous judgments, surely are not authorised to attempt other punishment of excommunicated persons, which have a thousand times oftener been exercised "against the truth, than "for the truth."

The distinctions among the different offenders, and the mandates given to the different subordinate classes and presbyteries, appear in no other way exceptionable, than as the presbyterian plan will of course be objected to, both by episcopalians and independents. But the Synod, as it has been seen, attempted far too much; and, forgetful of our Lord's prohibition, were so eager "to root up the tares," that they greatly endangered the wheat also.

THE APPROBATION OF THE MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND VERY POWERFUL LORDS THE STATES GENERAL.

The States General of Federated Belgium to all who shall see and read this, health (or salvation, salutem). We make it known (that) when, in order to take away those lamentable and pernicious controversies, which a few years since, with great detriment to the republic, and disturbance of the peace of the churches, arose con

cerning the well known five heads of Christian doctrine, and those things which depend on them; it seemed proper to us, according to the order in the church of God, and thus also in the Belgic church, to convene at Dort a national Synod of all federated Belgium; and that this might be held (celebrari) with the greatest fruit and advantage of the republic, not without much inconvenience (molestia) and great expenses, we sought for and obtained, unto the same, very many, the most excellent, learned, and celebrated foreign divines of the reformed church; as it may be seen from the subscription of the decrees of the aforesaid Synod, after each of the heads of doctrine: our delegates moreover being also commissioned (deputatis) from each of the provinces, for the direction of the same; who, from the beginning to the end being present, should take care that all things might there be handled in the fear of God, and in right order, from the word of God alone, in agreement to our sincere intention. And this aforesaid Synod, having now, by the singular blessing of God, judged with so great a consent of all and every one, as well foreigners, as Belgians, concerning the aforementioned five heads of doctrine, and the teachers of them; and, we having been consulted and consenting, published, on the sixth of May last past, the decrees and determination affixed to these presents; We, that the much wished-for fruits of this great and holy work (such a one as the reformed churches have never before this time seen,) might be abundant to the churches of these countries; seeing that nothing is to us equally desired and cared for as the glory of the most holy name of God, the preservation and pro