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ness and formality in religion. Truth compels us to confess, that some of the most distinguished names in the churches of Scotland sunk their characters as divines in that of philosophers. They seemed more ambitious to acquire the fame of sages of morality than teachers of the Gospel of Christ. Their sermons were chaste and elegant compositions, adorned with all the flowers and graces of rhetoric, but destitute of any vitality or savour of godliness. Similar essays, with similar efforts, might have proceeded from the Lyceum of Plato, or the porch of Aristotle. They had merely this distinctive peculiarity-their motto was a Scripture text, and their audience Christians by name and profession. It is evident how frigid and vain such ministrations must have been to those who were "dead in trespasses and sins." To save souls from the error of their way, requires altogether a different style of preaching.

The eloquence which kindles the soul into enthusiasm as it falls from the academic chair, is but a poor and sorry substitute in the pulpit for the message of peace and reconciliation in Jesus Christ. Now we know of no man in the Scottish Church, who raised such an arm of might in the battles of the faith, and achieved such splendid triumphs, as Andrew Thomson. He turned the tide in favour of Evangelism in the metropolis of Scotland. We have seen him, in the Assembly, surrounded by his brethren in the ministry, who heard with breathless attention the words which fell from his lips, and as his eye flashed fire, and his whole frame quivered with emotion, and his voice rose stormy and clear amid those venerable Scots, in the same sphere of action where, in days of persecution and bloody strife, Knox thundered forth his anathemas against the superstition and sins of the peo

ple, and we have then thought that no other more fitting representative could be found of him whose epitaph it was-" He never feared the face of man." And now when the narrow house holds that frame which so recently we have seen instinct with vigour, and active in all the duties of a true Christian patriot, we would say with the psalmist, "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail among the children of men."

It is an invidious task to mention the living. The dead, in all their sacredness, are yet public property, in so far as they have lived public men; but when we speak of the living, there is danger either of unjust censure or undue panegyric. But in noticing the salutary reform which has been lately commenced in the Scottish Kirk, around which some of our dearest recollections are entwined, it would be a worse than prudish modesty to pass by the name of Dr. Chalmers, who now presides over near 200 theological students in the University of Edinburgh.

The very mention of some great men is sufficient to excite attention. Their name is their eulogium, and a watchword of spiritstirring power. Who does not feel within him, at the name of Chalmers, a thrilling admiration, excited as much by that spirit of meek and gentle holiness which adorns his character, as by his gorgeous eloquence and transcendent genius. He consecrates both philosophy and poetry at the shrine of religion. The one when he vindicates theology as the "Queen of the sciences," and the other when he collects from the treasures of his imagination flowers of paradise, wherewith to deck and beautify the garden of the Lord. Providence has now placed Dr. Chalmers at the fountain-head of theology in his native land. He has the future ministry of the Church of Scotland under his guardianship; and without either fear or flattery, we hesitate not to affirm, that its rising clergy will become "scribes well instructed in the mysteries of the kingdom." One of the most useful lessons taught by this minister in Israel is, to subordinate all our reasonings to the facts and findings of Scripture. This he contends is true philosophy; for with our glimmering of knowledge, to attempt to fathom the counsels and secrets of eternity, would be a species of profane madness. Christians know, from sad experience, that their most difficult lesson is humility. The pride of human reason urges them to speculate, and the cant so common in the present day about freedom of inquiry in religion, would lure them, step by step, into the paths of the destroyer. No mental quality is so invaluable as a sober and sound judgment; it preserves us alike from being carried about by every wind of doctrine, and from running into the forlorn depths of impious speculation. We can testify, from experience, that the course of divinity now taught in the University of Edinburgh, is calculated to impress the mind with a devout reverence for Scripture, as "all given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness." We know not a more magnificent spectacle in this degraded world, than the man of lofty science, learning, even as a little child, in the service of his Lord, and submitting the dogmas of his philosophy to the doctrines of the Gospel. It may surely put to the blush those puny theologians who wrangle about a word, or write treatises on a particle, or spend whole months in flimsy, neological speculations, and yet scout all that is worth keeping in the Bible, its scheme of atonement

through the blood and righteousness of our incarnate God, that in Chalmers, the Plato of pulpit eloquence, (to use his own expressive words, as applied to Sir I. Newton,) " the highest science is united with the deepest sacredness." It is impossible to calculate the precise effects which his prelections shall produce on the rising ministry of Scotland; but of this we are certain, that dark must be the understanding, and perverted the moral affections of that individual who could listen to the powerful argumentations of this great professor on the side of orthodoxy, without imbibing, at least, some portion of the "sal evangelicum," which is so profusely scattered over all his theological preparations.

Thomson and Chalmers together, presented a front which error and sophistry could never penetrate. One has already fallen in the combat, a good soldier of the cross. May the other long be spared to shed a glory on that church, of which he is the brightest living ornament; and to lead successive generations of Scotland's Ministers to the fountains of living water.

The present day is distinguished for rash and adventurous speculations in religion. But while mists and clouds have settled on some of the lesser mountains, the Andes of theology, still display their summits in the skies. And in the midst of that temporary dimness and darkness which have obscured some lesser lights, it is refreshing to behold the great luminaries of the church continuing to shine with unclouded splendour. The present storms and dissentions will purify the religious atmosphere, and restore the sanctuary to its primitive healthiness. The Lord hath scattered some of the cedars of Lebanon, but the stateliest are yet untouched in all their luxuriance.

INTERESTING TRAIN OF INCIDENTS.

The following account is given by the Rev. Legh Richmond, as having been related by a minister in a meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

A drunkard was one day staggering in drink on the brink of the sea. His little son by him, three years of age, being very hungry, solicited him for something to eat. The miserable father, conscious of his poverty, and of the criminal cause of it, in a kind of rage, occasioned by his intemperance and despair, hurled the little innocent into the sea, and made off with himself. The poor little sufferer, finding a floating plank by his side on the water, clung to it. The wind soon wafted him and the plank into the sea.

A British man-of-war, passing by, discovered the plank and child; and a sailor, at the risk of his own life, plunged into the sea, and brought him on board. He could inform them little more than that his name was Jack. They gave him the name of poor Jack. He grew up on board that man-of-war, behaved well, and gained the love of all the officers and men... He became an officer of the sick and wounded department. During an action of the late war, an aged man came under his care, nearly in a dying state. He was all attention to the suffering stranger, but could not save his life.

The aged stranger was dying, and thus addressed this kind young officer: "For the great attention you have shown me, I give you this only treasure that I am possessed of (presenting him with a bible, bearing the stamp of the British and Foreign Bible Society.) It was given me by a lady; has been the means of my conversion; and has been a great comfort to me. Read it, and it will lead you in the way you should go." He went on to confess the

wickedness and profligacy of his life before the reception of his bible; and, among other enormities, how he once cast a little son, three years old, into the sea, because he cried to him for needed food!

The young officer inquired of him the time and place, and found here was his own history. Reader, judge if you can, of his feeling, to recognise in the dying old man, his father dying a penitent under his care! And, judge of the feelings of the dying penitent, to find that the same young stranger was his son-the very son whom he had plunged into the sea; and had no idea but that he had immediately perished! A description of their mutual feelings will not be attempted. The old man soon expired in the arms of his son. The latter left the service, and became a pious preacher of the gospel. On closing this story, the minister in the meeting of the Bible Society, bowed to the chairman, and said, "Sir, I am poor Jack."

INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE
REV. THOMAS BARR.

We extract the following letter from the Presbyterian, of the 9th inst. We are aware that that publication, and the Christian Advocate go to a considerable number of the same individuals. But we must preserve this letter in our pages; and duplicate copies will injure no one. Paternal feeling has given to some sentences of this letter a touching pathos. But we are sure the respected author is far more desirous to promote foreign missions, in our beloved church, than to enlist sympathy for himself. The cause he advocates is one that we have been pleading, almost alone, for years past; and we cannot consent to lose, to any extent whatever, the aid of such a coadjutor. If appeals like this fail to rouse the Presbyterian church to united and vigorous action in behalf of foreign missions of her own choice and sending, we shall fear that the lethargy of death is upon her.

Letter from the Rev. Thomas Barr, to one of the Professors in the Theological Seminary at Prince

ton.

an ordinary life of successful labour might or could have effected. To my own heart, that mission now seems to be doubly consecrated; and my prayers flow more frequently for its success, than before this mournful event. And will not this be the case with all who

knew, and took an interest in its

commencement? Will it not be

that many others, who shall come to the more distinct knowledge of the same, by the circumstance of his death on the very eve of embarking, will feel an interest in this cause, beyond all that they felt or manifested formerly? Especially, do I hope and pray that this may be the result, to a great extent, throughout the Presbyte

Monroe, Butler Co. Ohio, Nov. 22, 1832. Rev. and dear Sir,-Your very affectionate and Christian communication, forwarded in September, by my dear son, was received, and in some measure appreciated at that time; but much more so, since his removal in so sudden a man-rian church, now first commenc

ner, and at so eventful a moment. It has been, and is a severe trial to my feelings, and my faith. Mourn I must; murmur or repine, I think I do not. At least I pray and guard against so doing. It is the Lord: and he doeth all things well, in this case, as in every other act of his most righteous government. This I believe, and cry "Lord, help thou mine unbelief!"

By the short interviews enjoyed with my son, just on the eve of departure, (for Africa, as was then thought,) and the opportunity then afforded of knowing more of his spirit of piety and acquirements, he had become more endeared to my heart; and I parted with him, in the fulness of hope and expectation, that if the Lord should spare are his life, "he would become (to adopt a sentence from your letter) eminent in the missionary field." While I have the consolation arising from a well founded trust, that though absent from the body he is now present with the Lord, whom he loved and served; I also indulge the animating hope, that God will overrule his death, to a greater advancement of that missionary enterprise to which he was so ardently devoted, than even

ing, in her own distinctive character, a mission to the heathen of foreign lands. And, highly revered friend, will you not use your influence in the Presbyterian church, to arouse them by this event, to prayerful exertion in behalf of the enterprise? Hitherto, to a great extent, as to individual members, the work of sending the gospel to the heathen, has been overlooked, or but partially regarded. And it has long been my opinion, that until the Presbyterian church, in her own name and character, engaged in the work of missions, a general interest among her members could never (humanly speaking) be excited. The present juncture, it strikes my mind, is favourable, if seized and managed aright, for awakening a deep and lasting interest in the work of missions, in many within the Presbyterian church, as well as other Christians.

There has been too great a dread of mere sectarianism, among many of influence in the church, for her good, and that of the general cause. So I think, with all due deference to the opinions of others. If the Presbyterian corps, in the army of the Lord of hosts, is ever to give that aid in the contest for the conquest of this world to its rightful Owner, which their numbers and means would seem to render them capable of giving, they must be kept together, disciplined and drilled in their own peculiar manner, and marching under their own standard. I feel much on this subject; not out of envy or jealousy lest other denominations should do too much in this good cause. No, far from this, I have rejoiced, and do still rejoice in what the Lord of the harvest is doing by the instrumentality of any of them, and all of them; and in this cause, I say to them, "God speed!" But I think it both the sin and the shame of the Presbyterian church, that, as such, she has been lagging behind, while many of her sons, instead of inciting her to this glorious enterprise, have deserted her, and gone into other corps of the Lord's army; leaving her naked and bare, so to speak, of any part of the glory of sharing in the triumphs of this cause, as a consolidated host. My beloved Joseph and I often interchanged thoughts on this subject. He had his fears that I had too much sectarianism in my views; and I mine, that he was not sufficiently aware how important a due measure of the esprit du corps is, in carrying on a good cause. He forgave what he thought a little erroneous in me; I did the same towards him. Yet I urged him to keep his eye upon the subject, before the W. F. M. S. of the Pittsburg Synod was formed, hoping that by the time his course of studies should be completed, a door might be opened for his entrance into the missionary field, as a messenger of the Presbyterian church. The Lord granted me this thing also; and while I feel individually rebuked, by the Ch. Adv. VOL. XI.

stroke of God's hand, in his early removal, I still desire to trust and hope, that one end I had in view, in desiring my son to be a missionary of the Presbyterian church, will be answered, viz. a greater and more united effort by this denomination than heretofore, in the missionary work.

I received, this week, a very interesting letter from Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, at whose house Joseph deceased. The details were given which a parent in such circumstances would like to know, mingled with those Christian sympathies and consolations which tend to calm and soothe the afflicted mind. I have reason to hope that my dear child left a sweet savour of godliness behind him, in most places where he has been.

I was somewhat strikingly affected at the first perusal of your letter. The solemn, admonitory consolations you presented, seemed then such as I supposed you would have written, had you been giving me an account of his death. Since that event (oh how soon after!) I have thought that your consoling sympathies, with the testimony you were pleased to give of his character, conduct, and worth, in your estimation, were something like anointing him before hand for his burial. I was not worthy of him, and the Lord hath chastened me sore by his removal. I beseech you to remember me in your prayers, that I may not only be supported under this affliction, but that I may be so exercised thereby, as in due time to receive the fruit in peace, and in righteousness. May the Lord reward you for the respect and kindness you have shown "to the dead, and to me." With sentiments of affection and respect,

D

Yours in the Lord,

THOMAS BARR.

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