rr * 
150 
vassing what I say, than from imbibing 
all that T can teach: and the most useful 
Jessons which you can learn from me 
are, a habit of attention, a love of truth, 
and a spirit of enquiry.” P. 38; 
The second part of this work contains 
a view of the constitution of the church 
of Scotland. As the subject is interest- 
ing, but we believe not very generally 
known, we shall endeavour to present 
to our readers a faithful abridgment of 
this part. Of the statement of facts 
which this portion of his volume con- 
tains, Dr. Hill abserves, “I offer this 
general voucher, that I write upon a 
subject ultimately connected with my 
profession, and with the leading pur- 
suits of my life; and that my brethren, 
who can easily resort to the authentic 
sources of information, would deem me 
unworthy of their society, if I were 
capable of introducing wilful misrepre- 
sentation into a didactic treatise.” Pref. 
+ Vii. 
The church of Scotland is, of course, 
considered by its members as founded 
upon the principle of the primitive 
church, in which they perccive no dis- 
tinction between presbyters and bishops. 
“A\ body of presbyters Me Fe: a modera- 
tor, who conducts the proceedings, and 
executes the sentences, is’ regarded as 
competent to perform all the acts which, 
in an episcopal government, belong ex- 
clusively to the bishop. It tries the 
qualifications of candidates for the office 
of the ministry; it conters orders by the 
imposition of hands; to those who are 
nominated by persons having right of 
nomination, it grants the investiture of 
the sacred office, or induction into the 
charge of a particular parish; and it 
exercises inspection and jurisdiction over 
the pastors of all the parishes within dts 
bounds. 
In the exercise of his spiritual froe- 
tions a pastor acts within his parish, Ho- 
cording to his own discretion; and for 
the discharge of the pastoral duties, he 
is accountable only to the presbytery 
from whom he received the charge of 
the parish; but in every thing which 
relates to discipline, he is assisted by lay- 
elders. These, like the deacons of the 
primitive church, attend to the interests 
of the poor. But their peculiar business 
is expressed by the name ruling-elders; in 
every question of jurisdiction within the 
parish, they form a spiritual court, of 
which the minister is moderator. In 
- « 
THEOLOGY AND ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. 
the presbytery also they sit as represen- 
tatives of sessions or consistories. 
Ministers are admitted into a church 
by a presbytery. When a student has — 
gone through his university education 
according to certain prescribed rules, he 
may be proposed to a presbytery, in 
order to be taken upon his trials; the 
consent ofa superior court,called a synod, 
having been first obtained; to which 
court an appeal lies, if the presbytery 
should be oppressive. A person entered 
upon his trials, having obtained a licence 
to preach, is called a probationer; and 
in this character has no fixed charge, 
though he is allowed to assist a clergy- 
man disabled by age or sickness. When 
he receives a presentation, he undergoes 
a second trial before the presbytery to 
whom the presentation is addressed: if 
they find that he is not qualified in respect 
of doctrine, literature, or moral cha- 
racter, their sentence declaring him un- 
qualified, unless it be reversed by their 
ecclesiastical superiors, renders his pre- 
sentation void. If, upon a vacancy ina 
living, the patron do not present within 
six months, the presbytery take such 
steps as they judge proper to supply the 
vacancy. None but Jicentiates or probas 
tioners, or those who have been previ- 
ously inducted to another living, can be 
presented. The people have no right 
to elect a person to be presented to the 
presbytery ; this right being reserved to 
the patrons, except when it is transferred ~ 
by the patron to the parishioners. Yet 
the people are not overlooked; but have 
two ways allowed them of expressing 
their sentiments of the person who is ta 
minister to them, either by subscribing ~ 
or refusing to subscribe a paper, named 
a call, inviting him to be their minister ; 
or by supporting a charge of immorality 
of conduct or unsoundness of doctrine. 
T'he former of these seems of little im- 
poriance, as a call may ~be sustained, 
however small the number of subscribers, 
If no objection occur, the person is or- 
dained, by imposition of the hands of 
the presbytery, who assemble at a time 
appointed for the purposes the presentee 
having first answered the quesitons, and 
made the promises and engagements re- 
quired by the law. 3 
The lowest judicatory in the church 
of Scotland is the éirk-session, composed 
of the minister of the parish and of 
lay elders. New elders are chosen by: 
the session, but are liable to be objected — 
. 
