originally from Fife, who had been officiating for some time among the Dissenters in England, but was now recalled to take charge of a congregation at Colinsburgh, together with some ordained elders, constituted themselves into a presbytery at this last place, whose inhabitants were the first who formally applied to them for relief, hence called "The Presbytery of Relief;" being willing, say they, to afford relief from the rigorous execution of the act of patronage, to all "who adhered to the constitution of the Church of Scotland, as exhibited in her creeds, canons, confessions, and forms of worship."
Their views of church-communion are not so contracted as those of the Seceders, for they permit their members, in the absence of their pastor, or when they are at a distance from any chapel in their own communion, "to join in any other society of sound Presbyterians, where the speaker is known to be orthodox, of good report and regularly called to the ministry." Many of their people receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper with equal readiness in the established Kirk as in their own; and they admit to communion, not only Presbyterians, but Christians of every denomination, who, "as far as they can judge, have a competent measure of knowledge, are sound in the faith, and unblamable in their lives, though not their followers."
Mr Gillespie assured the public, that "his views were to hold communion with all who appear to hold communion with the head, our Lord Jesus Christ, and with such only;" and their
