TRIALS, &c.

To Aaron Kerr, Esquire, of Somerset Township, Washington County, and State of Pennsylva nia.

DEAR BROTHER,

AT length I take up my pen in order to answer your frequent inquiries relative to the prosécution against the Rev. David Barclay, before an Ecclesiastical Court, (the Presbytery of New Brunswick) and have deferred answering your repeated requests until all things should be accomplished, (the decision of the prosecution against him.) It seemeth good to me also, having perfect understanding of all things from the very first, Luke i. 3. that is, I am well acquainted with the conduct of Mr. Barclay, as I have lived near bim ever since he came into the county of Sussex; although it is a laborious task. Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand, Gal. vi. 11. Well knowing thy great zeal in matters of religion; for thy zeal is according to knowledge. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might

make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, Prov. xxii, 20, 21. When the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions, at Jerusalem. And when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart; and when the Queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom. Howbeit, I believed not their words until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom, was not told me, for thou exceedeth the fame that I heard, 2 Chron. ix. 6. Although you have heard a great deal of this man who is the subject of this communication, yet the half has not been told you,

The English and Germans in the township of Knolton, in the County of Sussex, and State of New Jersey, agreed to throw aside local prejudice, and form themselves into a congregation, designated by the name of "The first English and German Congregation in Knolton."-They were then a flock without a Shepherd; they were duly organized, and put themselves under the care of the Presbytery of New Brunswick; at this time the Rev. David Barclay was Pastor of the Boundbrook Congregation: in consequence of some uneasiness as to his conduct, in which his character,

and the prosperity of the church, were deeply interested, eventually, the Presbytery was convened -a public trial was had; the Presbytery determined that the charge, or charges, were not pro-ved agreeably to the form of process, in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America.-"No crime shall be considered as established by a single witness."-Page 429. Chap. i. Sec. 7. Therefore, guilty, or not guilty, the Presbytery could not do otherwise, but acquit him, as there was but one pointed and positive witness against him.

Knolton, Oxford, and Mount-Bethel congregations were all vacant; they had not yet formed a union nor applied for a minister, when Mr. Barclay came of his own accord unto us, saying, I am the good Shepherd, the good Shepherd giveth his life for the Sheep, St. John x. 11. He preached among the people, and told them many fine things, which were believed, and his preaching was approved; consequently, he was thought to be somebody. For before these days, rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody.-Acts v. 36. The Boundbrook Congregation being a great distance from their congregations, the people consequently were not acquainted with the particulars of the charge, evidence, nor general standing of Mr. Barclay, at Boundbrook; and presumed, that he was an innocent and injured man, by his

relation of the case, and that the Presbytery had pronounced him not guilty. But, alas! we were all remiss in our duty. We should not only have prayed; but watched also-we should have reverted to the precepts, and solemn warnings of Christ. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps' clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Mat. vii, 15. The congregrations of Knolton, Oxford, and Mount-Bethel, laid in their joint call, before the Presbytery of New Brunswick for the Rev. David Barclay, each congrega tion to pay him two hundred dollars, annually, and have one third of his labour in the Gospel. Mr. Barclay accepted said calls, and moved into Knolton congregation, and in the language of the Psalmist, saying, When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.-Psalm lxxv, 2. The labours of Mr. Barclay, for some time promised to produce much good he was in high standing our churches were crowded-frequently the house could not contain the people: myself as well as others in friendship with him, (and to preserve his usefulness) often requested Mr. Barclay to be very exemplary, and to set a double guard over his conduct, and general deportment and conversation, which would wipe off the foul aspersions his enemies at Boundbrook were circulating against him: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.-Eph. v, 15.