The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

.perfectlythey feem alfo to threatenLETTERS, TRACTS, \^C-349cur church witli ah inundationof hercfy. We would therefore recommendthis matter to the moll ferious attention of the veryreverend fynod. We might here infift on the obligationthe fynod is under to .pay a proper regard toour recommendation. The inhabitants of Paifley havealways been diilinguiihed by their zeal tor the church.It does not indeed become peopl:; to fpeak of theirown attainments ;yet we cannot help oblerving, andwe do it without vanity, that we have been the occafionof more bufniels to ciiurch-courts, for thefe lail:ten years, than any two boroughs within the boundsof this fynod. It well becomes tjie fynod, th«^refore.,to liilen to what we recommend to them. We arewell acquainted with the refpe6l that is dueto a good cuftomer \but, however, we fhall not infdt» vfpon it at prefent. The caufe now before us recommendsitfelf. It is the caufe of trade and religionand we think the fynod ought to glory in being thedefenders of thefe valuable enjoyments.We lliall not pretend to l\iy in what m?inner thevery reverend fynod ought to proceed in this affair.There was a time when excommunication mdght have•been very profitably applied to thefe academicians. Butwe, alas ! live in a degenerate period, when the beautifuldifcipline of the church is quite difregarded.Though our brethren in the neighbouring churchhave fallen into fome errors, yet they have not ioilall regard to religion among them. Excommunicationcan ftill take away a man's moveables, unlefs hegive proper figns of repentance in a tew days. Sucha powerful excommunication would be particularlyufeful among us at prefent. When a man lofes hisefFe^ls, he alfo lofes his influence over others. Anacademician in low circumftaTices could not be verydangerous.No gentleman of rank or character wouldregard him. His reafonmgs about the advantages ofan academy would meet with no credit , for his un-