and is receiving new accessions. They have at a considerable expence erected a very commodious and handsome church, which has recently been dedicated. Mr. Andrew Bigelow, of Cambridge University, being then engaged in preaching with them, officiated at their desire on the occasion, and delivered an appropriate and serious discourse from Luke xvii. 20. "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation." We are happy to learn, that he has complied with their request to continue his labours among them for a limited period. The unanimity and liberality, which have marked the proceedings of this society are entitled to much praise, and may be regarded as an earnest of their future prosperity. We consider this settlement in a religious view as highly interesting. Eastport has already a population of 2300, and is advancing in commercial importance. It is, therefore, probably destined to exert a considerable influence on the religious character of the county, throughout which, as we have understood, there is now but one regular clergyman. We hope the same spirit of harmony and zeal, which has seemed to actuate them, may continue and increase. They have a just claim upon our co-operation and prayers. We are also much gratified in the favourable situation of the Congregational Society at Belfast, Maine. This Society, it may be remembered, was for a long time in a broken and unhappy state, and unable to provide for themselves even for a short period, the benefits of the ministry. Since the settlement, however, among them, of the Rev. Mr. Frothingham, who was sent to their aid upon their application to the Evangelical Missionary Society, and who afterwards became the pastor of their united choice, their divisions have been healed, their numbers have multiplied, and there is an increasing seriousness and attention to the ordinances of religion. In the flourishing condition of this Society, now no longer in need of any assistance, we have a convincing proof of the wisdom of the plan, that has been adopted with regard to our missionaries, and a most animating encouragement to new and extended efforts. Public Education.-Considerable attention has of late been excited to the important subject of our Public Schools, and particularly to the support and patronage required for the Latin Grammar School in Boston. The liberal system, which has been adopted for the last few years, has been greatly satisfactory to the friends of learning, and has raised this school to a very high reputation. Believing that the interests of learning are intimately connected with the still nobler interests of morals and religion, we quote with satisfaction the following passage from the charge of the Hon. Chief Justice Parker, recently delivered to the Grand Jury at the opening of the Supreme Judicial Court in this county, and at their request communicated to the public. We quote from the Daily Advertiser of April 27, in which this admirable charge may be found. "The reputation which a country may acquire by its wealth or its military strength, does not satisfy those who feel interested in its true glory : it is the cultivation of a literary taste, a respect for learning and learned men, works of literature and science, (together with the public and private virtues which these are calculated to produce,) that our country must be indebted for her reputation abroad, and for that place in history, which all her sons must wish her to sustain. “It is not true that nothing is acquired but the dead languages in studying them.-The history of ancient times, of the glorious struggles of noble states and men to procure or regain their liberty-the magnanimous devotion of citizens to the welfare of their country-the most profound lessons of moral philosophy-the most delightful flights of poetic fancy, these are all communicated to the minds of the young, in a form calculated to make the most durable impression, and to lay the foundation of that high character, which forms the true glory of a people. "It is for these reasons, with others equally important, which will suggest themselves to every intelligent mind, that I cannot but hope, that a seminary so eminent in past time, and which, under its present wise and skilful management, is advancing in usefulness and celebrity, will continue to receive the enlightened patronage of the inhabitants of this town, whose child it is; so that in the rapid progress of our country to national greatness, history may point to this as the best nursery of learning and virtue, the place where heroes, statesmen, and public benefactors of every kind, have in successive generations imbibed those principles, and laid the foundation of that knowledge, which has enabled them to adorn the age in which they lived, and to promote the happiness of their cotemporaries and posterity." Tracts. We solicit the attention of the Christian Public to the Tracts, which we are printing, and many of which may be procured in any number at the store of Messrs. WELLS & LILLY. The agents and patrons of the Christian Disciple are requested to apply for them, and assist in their circulation: and the friends of religion will confer a favour by lending pecuniary aid to the promotion of so good an object. 1. The following is a list of the Tracts with their several prices; Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Jared Sparks, delivered at Baltimore, 1819. By Rev. William E. Channing. Price 12 cents single.-$1 20 per dozen.-$8 per 100. 2. Henry Goodwin, or the Contented Man. Price 17 cents single. $1 80 per dozen.-$11 per 100. 3. Essay on the Use and Meaning of the phrase "Holy Spirit." Price 8 cents single.-75 cents per dozen.-$4 per 100. 4. Essay on Conversion. Price do. do. do. In connexion with these, we notice that WELLS & LILLY are reprinting the series of Tracts, originally published by the English Christian Tract Society. These tracts have been extensively circulated, and been highly approved. For a particular account of their practical design and character, we refer our readers with pleasure to the review on the subject, contained in the present number. The following are already printed, and may be had at the annexed prices, sewed: No. 1. William's Return, or Good News for Cottagers: by Mary Hughes. Price single, 17 cents, per dozen $1 62, per hundred $10. No. 2. Village Dialogues. Parts 1 and 2. 12 cents single.-$1 12 per dozen.-$8 per 100. No. 3. Village Dialogues. No. 4. Village Dialogues. Part 3. 12 cents do. do. do. Part 4. 12 cents do. do. do. No. 8. The History of Edward Allen, the patient man. Price 17 cents single.-$1 62 per dozen.-$10 per 100. Applications from vacant parishes for candidates educated at the Theological School at Cambridge, may be made to the Rev. Professor WARE, or to S. HIGGINSON, Jr. Esq. List of New Publications. Character Essential to Success in Life. By Isaac Taylor, Ongar. Wells and Lilly, 1820. Family Mansion. By Mrs. Taylor, 1820. Sermon delivered in Eastport on the Dedication of the First Congregational Meeting House, Jan. 13, 1820. By Andrew Bigelow, A.M. Sermon delivered at the Ordination of E. J. Sewall, by Ezra Ripley, D.D. Letters on the Eastern States. New York, 1820. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Our friends will perceive by the aspect of our Miscellany, that their claims are not neglected. We fear, that W.'s poetry would be thought not sufficiently simple and intelligible. Eusebia was mislaid, or should have appeared. We will find a place for it hereafter. We thank MIKPOZ for his communication. We perceive that there is much, that is interesting in the discussion he has commenced, but fear it is too extended for the limits of the Disciple. If he will furnish us with a condensed view of all he proposes, we shall be better able to judge as to the expediency of inserting it. At present, we are disposed to think, that some other medium of publication would be preferable. "A Layman" is just received. END OF NO. 2,-VOL. II. THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. NEW SERIES-No. 9. For May and June, 1820. ON THE AUTHORITY OF GREAT NAMES. FOR THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. It is thought by some, that our opinions on important subjects should in no case be influenced by the authority of distinguished names; for on what question, they ask, may not the greatest geniuses be found in opposition to each other? If it be urged, as an argument in favour of Christianity, that certain eminent men have been believers; it will be objected on the other hand, that men not less eminent have been infidels. Since, therefore, as we are told, these opposite authorities mutually destroy each other, this mode of defending Christianity cannot be admitted. Let not those persons, then, who thus argue, avail themselves of the authority of great names to promote infidelity. But however plausible such reasoning appears, it may be worth while to inquire, whether it is in this case solid; and whether the fact, that the christian religion has been pronounced true, by persons of the highest endowments and attainments, does not furnish an argument for its truth. The accounts contained in the sacred writings, or those, on which their divine origin rests, are in their nature difficult to be believed. They are such as the mind at first and previously to examination, is apt to reject as fabulous. It shocks us to be told of events happening in opposition to those laws which regulate and sustain the universe; we do not, we cannot fully admit the truth of them, until we have evidence which appears to us irresistible. When, therefore, we recollect by whom, by what illustrious geniuses and scholars, the christian faith has been embraced, in what manner shall we account for this phenomenon? Are we to suppose that a Locke, a Grotius, a Newton, those New Series---vol. II. 21 1 162 On the Authority of Great Names. great masters of reasoning, those distinguished lovers and propagators of truth, yielded a blind belief to stories which, from their very nature, are liable to be regarded as the fabrications of impostors? Can we imagine, that they credited accounts of miracles, of prodigies and wonders, without proof? This were a miracle indeed! No! such men believe such accounts only because they are constrained to believe them; because they see, that, if the facts related are, extraordinary, the testimony which supports them, is likewise extraordinary; and that, if they reject Christianity, they must no longer submit to the government of reason. Let us now take a view of the other side, and consider how Christianity is affected by the infidelity of great men. Have they, let me ask, made a careful, impartial inquiry into the evidences of our religion? If we suppose they have not made this 'inquiry (a supposition which, as it respects many leading deists, is certainly correct) we want no further reason for their infidelity. It, indeed, follows as a natural consequence. Strong evidence alone will produce a conviction of the truth of marvellous events; and strong evidence concerning those recorded in the scriptures is to be obtained only by patient examination. But it may be asked on the other hand, is it conceivable that great writers would have employed their pens against the christian revelation, without having investigated its pretensions to authenticity? This, it must be confessed, appears at first view almost incredible. But when we consider the nature of the facts contained in the Bible; the aspect, under which they at first present themselves to the understanding; the reluctance we feel in yielding our assent to things so wonderful and so different from any within our own observation; the study requisite to collect the proofs of their authenticity; and the several ways, by which the mind is liable to be misled, such as, by strong prejudice, peculiarly active in countries where the established religion is an enormous mass of abuses--by an accidental habit of looking at Christianity through the medium of those objections and difficulties, which are, perhaps, inseparable from every system of revelation-by a sordid wish that a religion, so pure, so holy, so opposed to an unbridled license of the passions, may not be true by a silly contempt of vulgar notions, and a perverse ambition, which some men display, and which seems, like a demon, to possess their minds, of astonishing the world by the originality of their ideas, at the expense of truth, religion, virtue, and common sense-when, in short, we consider, how much there is, or may be, within and without us, to oppose inquiry upon this subject, we can readily conceive, that even the most distinguished ene |