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vealed religion. At the other, a systematic discourse is delivered on any subject the party chuses. After which follows a debate on some moral or religious subject. Two are appointed on each side; and after arguing the matter at length, any other member is at liberty to deliver his sentiments. Messrs. Mason, Ewing, and Innes, were distinguished speakers in this laudable institution; and to it, in a great measure, we may attribute that easy and manly eloquence for which all of them are conspi

cuous.

But neither these important exercises, nor his studies, prevented him from attending to matters of inferior concern. Ready to every good work, his mind, like his Master's, was not above noticing the wants, and consulting the interests of little children; and we have seen him, at a Sabbath School, direct the devotions of many, who are now bearing fruit in the vineyard of the church.

While at Edinburgh, the unwelcome tidings arrived of the death of his beloved parent; and the church, knowing his superior talents, saw in him the most fit succefsor to his venerable father. They therefore resolved to wait the time when he should return to the

bosom of his country and the church, fully fraught with the blessings of the gospel of peace. He lost no time to hasten his departure for America, where he arrived, and, with the unanimous voice of the people, was ordained pastor of the church over which his father had long and succefsfully laboured. Here he has continued to exercise his ministry with much acceptance, not only to his own people, but the majority of the well-inclined citizens of New York. Every Sabbath presents a scene highly interesting to the Christian: a loving people hanging on the lips of wisdom, eager to catch the heavenly doctrine as it drops. Under the guidance of such a shepherd, there is not to be found a wanderer; his stock of divinity is not exhausted with a few sermons, the production of many a laboured hour, and upon topics so common to the car, that dulnefs itself in the repetition becomes proficient. No, he is ever able, out of the treasure of his heart, to bring forth things new as well as old.' Of this, every one who has heard the sublimely animated discourses delivered from the pulpits of this metropolis, is well afsured His church consists of near seven hundred members, with' all of whom he is on terms of more than common intimacy. The relation which subsists between a minister and his people, when

properly understood and acted up to, is superior to every human tie; and they who, from sinister motives, cut the heart-wrought knot, may find an excuse plausible enough to men, but, except in some cases, they will search in vain for one with which they can face the High Priest of their profession, Christ Jesus.

It is the duty of every Christian, however mean his situation in life, to promote the welfare of his fellow-mortals; but there are indispensible obligations to this, laid upon the ministers of the gospel; and we may, without any breach of charity, suspect the Christianity of that man whose narrow soul is limited by the walls of the church or meeting with which he is connected. Mr. M. lives in habits of friendship with ministers and christians of various denominations; but, like a faithful servant of Jesus, he refused to give the least countenance to Dr. P. on the arrival of that gentleman in New York. The spirit which characterizes Mr. M. is that of His Divine Master, the advancement of whose kingdom has been ever dear to his heart; and on all occasions he has stood forth in any design to promote its interests.

As a member and office bearer of the New York Mifsionary Society, he is steady, zealous,

and active; not daunted from prosecuting the end, though the means employed may not have all the succefs to be wished. But his Character is not more high as an eloquent and able divine, than as a public-spirited citizen and patriot, in the best sense of the word. Mr. M. may be said to inherit such a spirit, for his father, with many good men from this country, espoused the cause of Congress during the struggle with America for her independence; and we have heard it said, he followed the army in the capacity of chaplain, and was much respected by general Washington. The son is likewise a warm friend of his country in its civil and religious liberties; but a determined enemy to the policy, which connects their existence with that of French principles, and affects to treat those whom they term of the old school, as weak minds, pofsefsed of good hearts but bad heads. During the contest for the last election of a President, he espoused the British party in opposing Mr. Jefferson; not from any other motive, than conviction that it was his duty to prevent the Patron of Infidelity from filling that chair, which a Washington and an Adams, names equally dear to the patriot and Christian, had consecrated by the many testimonies they gave to the excellence of our Holy religion. He well knew that Deism in

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the chief magistrate must be productive of evil to the state; for if the fountain-head be corrupt, the streams will necefsarily become contaminated. The truth of this we see in the late accounts from that country, wherein it is said that a hundred Deists in New York, have entered into a resolution to maintain and propagate their principles at the expence of their all! Poor men! where is their hope when the Lord taketh away their soul? However, it is consoling to think, that in this very city, where the Hydra of impiety has arisen, there is a Spiritual Hercules, one whose club is equal to their united onset. Magna est veritas et prevalebit.

Mr. Mason expostulated with his fellowcitizens against the election of Mr. Jefferson; and though his exertions did not succeed, the addrefs contained in this volume, created a spirit of enquiry into the nature and consequences of principles, as connected with the office of a Chief Magistrate, which gave Mr. Jefferson the mortification to see, that many thousands of the same sentiments in matters of state, were his warmest opposers, when the motives which actuated his conduct were found not to be built upon the true foundation, the word of God, but a crooked policy, dictated by a spirit opposite to Christianity.

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