more likely to GAIN THE VICTORY in argument, and thus to CARRY HIS POINT, than the sarcartick and acrimonious debater. Surely, then, the disposition to emplov, in the conflicts of ecclesiastical assemblies, those poisoned weapons, to which the children of this world so often resort in their assemblies, is, of all propensities, one of the most inexcusable; since they are as injurious to the cause of him who employs them, as they are offensive to all pious.

and delicate minds.

It is impossible for me to avoid recollecting here some venerable Ministers of our Church, of what may be called the Old-school, with whom it was my happiness to be acquainted in early life, and who in reference to the point under consideration, left a noble example. They spoke, in judicatories, as men who remembered that they were servants of Christ, and were assembled to advance the interests of " pure and undefiled religion." No coarseness, abuse, sarcasm,or unseasonable levity ever escaped their lips. I have heard them reply to weak, pe ulant, and even highly offensive speeches, with a meekness, benevolence and dignity, which excited the admiration of all, and which more effectually mortified and humbled their indelicate opponents, than a thousand vollies in their own style could have done. Such men are too rare

in any church. Would that their mantles might be found resting on the shoulders of many who came after them!

15. While you treat the opinions of every fellow member with respect, YOU OUGHT TO

TREAT THOSE OF THE MORE AGED AND EXPERIENCED WITH PECULIAR DEFERENCE. Re

member that such men have not only seen more years than yourself; but that they have been long accustomed to the consideration of such questions, and the routine and difficulties of such business as may come before you. It is, therefore, not merely desirable that you should hear their opinions, if possible, on any subject under discussion, before you make up your mind upon it; but when they have uttered those opinions, it behooves you, however they may differ from your own, to treat them with the profoundest respect. And if you are constrained to express a different opinion, let it be done with modesty, and even with caution. Oppose them rather by stating the objections to their views which occur to your mind, and inquiring what can be offered for their removal, than by direct or confident attack. Let it be seen that you differ from them with reluctance, and with much diffidence. And when you refer to any thing which has been uttered by them, in which you cannot concur, let it be with something of that filial reverence with which

you ought ever to regard their persons. While you do this, however, do not fall into the extreme of those, who, when they differ, in ecclesiastical assemblies, from an individual venerable for age or standing, do it with so many circuitous apologies, and so much fulsome flattery; protesting how much it pains them to oppose a father solearned," so "pious," so "illustrious," &c. that every person of just taste is disgusted. Let your respect for their persons and opinions be manifested by your general air, tones, and manner, rather than by any direct eulogies on their character, which it is difficult to express in a happy manner, and which had better always be omitted.

16. Be careful to MAINTAIN HABITUAL GRAVITY in all ecclesiastical courts, and especially in those of the higher class. Can it require a moment's reasoning to show, that when the ministers and elders of the church of Christ are assembled to deliberate on the most deeply momentous and solemn interests which can possibly occupy the attention of mortals, they ought to be serious, sober, and to avoid every thing that approaches to levity? One would think that the very lowest standard of proprie ty that could be adopted by any thinking man, would require this. And yet such is the frailty of our nature, and such the temptation frequently arising from the gregarious principle,

if I may so express it, that in our larger ecclesiastical bodies, and especially in the General Assembly, it often happens that gravity is interrupted to a painful extent, and that some of the most devout men are frequently borne away by the power of sympathy. Indeed some ecclesiastical de aters avowedly act on the plan of carrying their point by almost any of those weapons which are admissible in secular assembles, and, among the rest, by the broadest and most undisguised ridicule. Hence, if they can so manage as to excite a burst of laughter at the expense of an opponent, they are peculiarly gratified. I cannot believe that this is a proper mode of conducting ecclesiastical business. It is an offence, in my opinion, both against christian dig i'y, and christian benevolence. Let me not be told that the use of ridicule, as a weapo in debate, is indulged to a far greater extent in the General Assembly of the church of Scotland, than it has ever been in any of our judicatories I know it. But this is no just fication. Such scenes as have been often exhibited in that venerable body, within the last thirty or forty years, would not have been tolerated in the better days of the church of which it is the supreme judicatory. Knox and Melville, in their day, or Henderson, Rutherford and Gillespie, in theirs, would have "groaned in spirit," and poured forth the ma

jesty of apostolical rebuke, if they had witnessed many a debate, which, within the last quarter of a century, has passed without reproof, and perhaps (such is the power of habit) without regret. If this decline of dignity, is to be attributed, in any measure, to the decline of the spirit of primitive piety in that church; it may also, perhaps, be, in part, owing to the increased frequency and freedom with which distinguished Barristers are introduced, to plead the causes which come before the Assembly ;men so much in the habit of taking all kinds of liberty in their pleadings, that it is not possible even for an ecclesiastical court always to keep them within proper bounds ;-men whose professions of reverence are often little better than half-concealed irony, and solemn mockery;and whose example cannot fail to exert a most pernicious influence.

17. Do not think me too minute if I guard you against a FREQUENT CHANGE OF YOUR SEAT, AND MUCH MOVING ABOUT, during the proceedings of an ecclesiastical assembly. There are those who appear, probably from a bad habit, rather than any thing else, incapable of sitting still many minutes at a time, even in a church judicatory. You may see them, perhaps, in a dozen or twenty different parts of the house, in the course of one forenoon. This is a practice as undignified as it is mischievous. It is almost