views of Hume, Bolingbroke, or Paine. And the student of theology, who, under the guidance of sound and pious teachers, and with a knowledge beforehand of the points on which his authors are heretical, can not endure the trial to which his faith is subjected, in the study of the works of German scholars, can be but poorly fitted for the many greater trials by which his constancy is certain to be tested. Wisdom requires, that since we have it in our power, we should furnish ourselves with armor from the arsenal of the enemy; and if in our search, we find that he has poisoned arrows in his quiver, we shall be able to lift up the voice of warning for the benefit of those who are in danger.

And while they thus equip themselves for the work of exposing false opinions, the ministry have need to be more skillful and diligent than ever, in the communication of religious truth. Truth is the antidote of error, and rarely fails to be effectual, when faithfully administered. The times demand the most thorough and harmonious enforcement of the great doctrines of the gospel. We can not think with some, that since the recent improvements in theological education, there is a great deficiency of judicious doctrinal instruction in the pulpits of our country, especially of New England. We have carefully examined the history of what are by some regarded as the palmier days of New England's orthodoxy; and we are confident that there are now to be found in her evangelical pulpits, a greater number of sound, discrim inating, faithful preachers, in proportion to the whole, than could ever have been reckoned at any former period. We can not but think, therefore, that they who are continually asking "wherefore the former days were better than these, inquire not wisely concerning this." Their language of complaint has a

tendency to impair the confidence of the churches in those who are set over them, and greatly to weaken the hands of the strong men who are standing for the truth. But while we think it a duty to say this, we also say, our aim must rise still higher; that there is need of a yet more thorough, more instructive, and more efficient exhibition of gospel doctrine from the pulpit. The clergy, and especially the younger clergy, are called upon to possess themselves more fully of first principles; and so skillfully to illustrate and apply them, that their hearers may be firmly rooted and grounded in the faith. Then the ministry will be able to preserve those who are committed to their trust, even from the most fascinating and imposing forms of error; so far, at least, as this result can be secured by human care and agency.

There is one more view remaining, in which the position and duties of the ministry deserve to be considered. Those who are called to fill the sacred office at the present time, have some peculiar responsibilities imposed upon them, by the moral circumstances of the church. We will not here speak of these circumstances in detail. It will be sufficient to observe in general, that in some of her sections, the church is afflicted with unhappy controver sies and divisions, at the same time that she has work of great moment on her hands. We do not refer to the differences which exist, and always have existed, between the evangelical and nonevangelical portions of the nominal church; but to those which generate strife and alienation between such as recognize each other as true disciples of the true Redeemer. Questions more or less important, are in warm debate. Party spirit is enkindled, and party weapons not always the most honorable, are employed. Good men, in their opposition to what they sincerely deem each other's errors,

give too convincing proof that they at least have not attained perfection. And many such like things appear, which dim the glory of the church, and impair her moral vigor. Yet, notwithstanding this, with some right views of her high calling, she is actually engaged against the power of a nominal and corrupt Christianity, and of all the forms of pagan superstition, in a mighty struggle for the universal triumph of the cross. On either side, there is a rallying of forces for the strife. One can not reflect on what he sees and hears, without thinking of the gathering of the nations to the battle of the great day of God Almighty, the event of which will be the millennial tri

umph of the saints. Popery, recovering in a measure her weaken ed energies, has gained some new advantages, and seems likely to gain yet others for a time. She is employing all her arts, taking advantage of every opportunity, and it is probable that her recovery to pure Christianity, will be a work of greater difficulty, than the conversion of the heathen world itself.

The ministers of Christ, are the divinely constituted leaders of the church.

Her circumstances, there fore, being such, they plainly have two great duties to perform. It is incumbent on them, first, by the exercise of a truly liberal and catholic spirit; of a magnanimous forbearance; in a word, of the divine temper of the gospel, to soften as perities, and give at least a spiritual unity to the Christian host. And then, with the prudence, skill, and courage, which are demanded by the greatness and difficulty of the conflict, to bring all its forces into action, and to keep them manfully engaged.

To meet these obligations, is not an easy task. It can only be accomplished by a deep bathing of the soul in heaven's own element of love, and by the all-inspiring power of living faith. The Christian min

ister who means to approve himself to God, will keep himself aloof, as far as practicable, from needless and unholy strife. While he stands firmly for essential truth, he will kindly accord to others the freedom of thought, which he feels it his own right to exercise. He will be urged to support this leader, or to lend his influence to that. But he will choose rather to call no man master. He will ask for truth, upon his knees, and listen to the voice of God's own oracle, that never can mislead. And in the seasons of his calm and holy musings, when his heart yearns in silence after truth, because he loves her for herself, she will come on her angel pinions, and withdrawing the veil with which she conceals her face from the vulgar gaze, will permit him to feast his soul with the contemplation of her celestial beauty. O then he will be as though a breath of heaven had been breathed upon his soul. He will loathe the clamor of contentious words, and the din of discord, begotten by selfishness, or pride, or vain ambition. And though it cost him incessant watchfulness and care, he will preserve his equanimity, and shed around him the sweet influences of peace.

In the discharge of official duties, as one divinely commissioned to go before the church in her spiritual conflicts, the faithful minister will find it needful to devote his highest powers and richest acquisitions, and to stir up in his bosom a zeal that can not tire. As he looks abroad upon a dying world, he will feel that no enterprises are so noble as those that look to its redemption from its bondage. He will be wil ling to stand in any place, to suffer any hardship, to perform the humblest labor, if this great work may thus be carried forward. His own private wishes or concerns, will seem of small account, in comparison with the great and glorious interests of God's kingdom among

men. If the strong holds of Satan are to be carried by assault, he will be anxious to be found foremost in the breach; if to be reduced by the tediousness of siege, to be the last who will be ready to despond. Such are the ministers imperatively demanded by the present attitude of the Christian church, in relation to the world; men who are guileless, pure, and lamb-like in their spirit, but who in action, are lion-hearted and invincible.

To those who are already in the ministerial office, and to those who expect ere long to enter it, the views which we have taken of some of the more prominent circumstances which, at the present moment, are materially affecting the position and duties of the ministry, are views of serious interest. If they are just, they claim something more than a passing notice. They are unworthy of the sacred office, who, while they bear, or expect to bear, its high responsibilities, are not anxious to obtain definite and comprehensive views both of its general and ordinary, and of its specific and extraordinary duties. They are guilty of presumption, who offer themselves as leaders of the sacra mental host, in the conflict between truth and error, holiness and sin, without a thorough knowledge of the battle-ground; of the strength, position, and probable movements of the enemy; and of the proper methods of directing the weapons of attack, or of maintaining the position of defense. Yes! the Christian minister

who would labor in the blessed office to which God hath called him, with eminent success, must at once study well his relative responsibilities, and live for the one great purpose, of meeting them in a becoming manner. He must learn wisely to adapt himself in his course of official labor, to the existing condition of the world and of the church; and bring to his work superior moral, intellectual, and prudential qualifications. The work is great; and human pow. er and wisdom, alas! how insufficient! Yet there is no occasion to despair. The Lord himself is with his servants. Let them but be faithful to themselves, and to their trust, and he will guide them where they doubt; he will sustain them when their hearts are fainting; he will refresh them in their severest labors, with his presence and his smiles.

If any are ready to deem the toil required too great, let such remember that the day of rest is near. In a few days, even such as are yet in the freshness of their youth, will have put off the robes of mortal toil, and have gone to their repose. The labors, cares, and strifes of earth, will have been exchanged for the sweet serenity of heaven, and the eternal fellowship of the redeemed. Sacrifices and exertions will be richly overpaid, and never more remembered. They will then forever rejoice that God conferred on them the honor of this ministry, and regret only that they were not more intensely devoted to the work of turning many to righteousness.

It would seem to be admitted as an established axiom in the philosophy of history, that the character of a people in its early life, involves the condition of its ultimate destiny. Hence the great importance attached to faithful portraitures of the founders of states, and the necessity of a right record of the principles which formed the basis of their systems of civil polity and religious faith. A key is thus furnished by which to account, in a great measure, for the developments of every subsequent age. Having the eye fixed upon the events of the past in their succession, and being acquainted with the influences which gave them their origin and distinctive form, we generally find our present experience according with our natural anticipations, while we are enabled to read the future with almost prophetic certainty.

"Armed with the twofold knowledge of HISTORY and the HUMAN MIND," says Mr. Coleridge, "a man will scarcely err in his judgment concerning the sum total of any future national event."

Our history is illustrated by the most undoubted records, and rich with the adventures and sacrifices of the best of men in their efforts to found a new empire. They succeeded in their enterprise, and died with the full assurance of a remem. brance in the hearts of a grateful posterity"till the world's end."

Our annals hitherto have afforded nothing more worthy of national pride, than the events which transpired at this early period. The leading principles of all the peculiar forms of American society, were at that time established by the fathers of New England. They originated the American idea of a civil constitution, providing at once liberty and security to all on condition of obe

dience to laws enacted by the popu lar will. Their popular system of a free government has continued for more than two centuries unchanged in all its essential features.

If we are so much indebted to our predecessors, it is a most imper. ative duty to bring forth to the light of our times their true character and principles. And the dictates of the purest patriotism, as well as re spect for our ancestors, demand that this tribute to their memory should be made by the historians of this pass ing generation, and transmitted to those who are to come after us. No future period can be so favorable to make historical collections, and to correct the numerous misappre hensions which prevail as to the real character and purposes of the Puri tans. Assuredly a great work will have been accomplished, when all sections of our wide republic shall forget their local jealousies, and learn to regard Plymouth Rock with reverence, as the basis from whence has arisen the superstruc ture of a new civilization which is to immortalize the American name. Nor will the impression which the truth, when well understood, will make in foreign countries be less happy. The permanence of our infant institutions is yet regarded by many abroad as problematical. But civil and religious freedom are among the oldest of our ancient things; and it is much to be doubted whether the last two centuries have witnessed in the old world any thing, either in modes of government or forms of religious faith, which have displayed less the marks of mutability, than the institutions which American Puritanism brought into being and has thus far sustained.

There has surely been some occasion of national reproach, in the

indifference of too many, even of our scholars, relative to our colonial history, especially when we find Mr. Alison sustaining his accusation against us by so respectable authority as De Tocqueville, whom he quotes as saying, "that so regardless are the Americans of historical records or monuments, that half a century hence their history, even of their own times, could only be written from the archives of other nations." We believe, however, that reflective minds among us, are beginning to feel the importance of this great subject. The formation of historical associations in different parts of New England, are indications of an increasing interest. A rich accession has been made to our literature by the labors of Mr. Sparks, in his publication of the writings of Washington and Franklin, the great impersonations of the valor and the wisdom of the Revolution. But a wide field lies anterior to this, only partially explored by the historic traveler, in every stage of which there will be found instances of as devoted patriotism as any which shone in the more conspicuous era of the Revolution. The five generations who lived, and labored, and passed away before the contest with the British crown, were never in bondage to any foreign domination. They owned the authority of the English monarch, because they needed his protection; but they obeyed the laws which they themselves enacted.

The historian of New England colonization needs other qualifications than an accurate knowledge of statistics, or the power of pleasing description. He must be able to appreciate the nature of those principles which led the first colonists from their native shores, or he will be likely to confound their simplicity of character, and devoted patriotism, with the faults of their age, and weaknesses common to humanity. He will mistake the depth and Vol. I.

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earnestness of their piety, for what their enemies have termed the follies of a stern and rigid superstition. If, however, he apprehends clearly the elemental principles of freedom in church and state, which they cherished above all price, he will award to them the high honor of having founded an ecclesiastical system, more in harmony with democratic institutions, than any that the world had seen. And though the idea of universal toleration was not at first recognized as it is now understood; yet it is their praise, that an absolute and perfect religious freedom has grown up, as the natural product of their institutions. That the great body of the American Puritans were political or religious enthusiasts, in any dishonorable sense of the word, during any period of their colonial history, is an aspersion from which we express our utter dissent.

The term Puritan first appears in the reign of Elizabeth, as the court appellation of a party demanding the farther reformation of the church of England. Long and bitter controversies arose, which were never terminated till the expulsion of the house of Stuart from the British throne. At the revolution of 1688, the Puritans obtained satifaction in relation to most of the essential principles of liberty for which they had contended. Their political rights were secured by the British constitution, and the enjoy ment of their religious opinions and worship was granted by an act of parliament, extending equal toleration to all dissenters from the established church, except Roman Catholics and Unitarians.

From the fact that Puritanism does not appear in the form of a party organization, after the acces sion of William and Mary, it has been very common for late English writers to speak of it as a historic relic, rather than as a living spirit, still efficient and predominant. No