course is founded on the following words of the apostle, We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children, 1 Thess. ii. 7. The preacher first describes gentleness, and then considers its influence on a Christian minister, and observes, that it will be visible in his discourses, in his discipline, and in his entire conduct. To recommend this Christian virtue, he represents it as amiable and divine, as of great importance to the success of the ministry, as often enjoined in the gospel on Christian believers in general, and especially on the ministers of religion, and as particularly exemplified in the conduct of-Christ and his apostles. The sermon closes with the usual addresses. The style is correct and handsome, and the manner persuasive. That the preacher does not inculcate that hollow catholicism, that cold hearted liberality, which equally approves all kinds of faith, except the true, which some appropriate to themselves, as a sort of patent virtue, we infer from the general strain of the discourse, and from the following passage in particular. Gentleness "ought never to infringe on that plainness of speech, nor violate that good fidelity, which the care of souls essentially requires. The moment it sacrifices one impor tant truth, or keeps back the least part of the counsel of God, it ceases to be a virtue, and becomes a gross sin. When the fear of man deters a Christian preacher from selecting a subject of discourse, which he believes to be important, or from treating it when selected, according to what he believes to be the true mean ing of the holy scriptures, it bringeth a snare, dangerous, if not destructive to his own virtue, and infinitely hazVol. I. No. 11. RRr ardous to the souls of his hearers." page 8. The CHARGE by the Rev. Mr. CUSHING of Waltham, is serious, impressive, and evangelical. "Let it be your first care," says this reverend father, "that you personally have felt the power of gospel truths, that you may more effectually recommend them to others." THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP was given by the Rev. Mr. THAYER of Lancaster. The first part of this performance might easily be mistaken for a preface to a history of martyrs. Allusions are made to dismal times, in a solemn, laboured style. "The Christian history a source of lamentation," "disaffection," "asperities," "uncharitableness," "lust of spiritual usurpation," "tyranny," "unalienable rights of opinion and conscience," are words and phrases, which may give some idea of the exordium. In the re maining part, the author has introduced most of the common place phrases generally used on such occasions. Three Sermons, preached at Northampton, one on the 30th of March, the other two on the Annual State Fast, April 4, 1805. By the Rev. SOLOMON WILLIAMS, pastor of the church in Northampton. Northampton. William Butler. 1805. SUCH Occasional sermons, as those now before us, have an important and salutary influence on society. They describe the existing state of things, and "catch the fiving manners as they rise." They diffuse correct information among those, who have less opportunity for reading and inquiry. In such discourses the importance of passing events, their connexion with morals and religion, and their probable influence on the community may be distinctly portrayed. While the subject rouses attention, the solemnity of the day, the character and responsibility of the preacher, as well as the affection and respect he enjoys, increase the interest of the people, and give additional force to the truths delivered. By printing such discourses their influence is continued and extended. We would not by this recommend the printing of every fast or thanksgiving sermon; but when the information given respects our dearest interests, when it has not been diffused generally through the community, when the manner can give no just offence, when the style is correct, impressive, or engaging, we think the publication will promote the general good. These remarks, with some slight exceptions, perhaps, apply to the sermons under consideration. The first is from Prov. xxiv. 21. "My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change." The preacher observes, that the text comprises three articles for distinct consideration. I. The character drawn, and the manner in which it is formed. II. The caution, which is given, "Meddle not with them." III. The suitable and efficacious antidote provided and applied against this double evil of being given to change, and of meddling with them that are. The two fast sermons are from Psalm lxxxii. 5. "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course." In these sermons the preacher observes, "We may do well to look into our political and moral state, to discover what is unsound, deprecate what is threatening, correct what is wrong, turn wholly to the Lord our God, and seek of him a right way for ourselves and our children." In aiding his people in these duties, he observes, 1st. We may confess and lament that truth is falling, and has fallen in our streets. 2. That there is a manifest and extreme decay of neighbourly kindness, brotherly love and charity. 3. That morality and religion are held in such low estimation in the choice of civil rulers. 4. That disrespect, in so many instances and ways, is shown to age, authority, just influence and merit. 5. That forgetfulness of the past, aversion to trace and ascribe important effects to obvious and true causes, and open and gross abuse of those to whom we are chiefly indebted are so prevalent. 6. That so much is done to separate church and state, religion and government, which is a blow struck at the foundation of things. 7. That prejudices are excited against, and odium cast upon a stable form, and firm administration of government, which are calculated to work evil in the community. 8. That immoralities so generally prevail. Though the style and punctuation of these discourses are liable to criticism, we think the topics above-mentioned are illustrated in a manly, candid, and serious manner; calculated to answer the great end of preaching, to make men wiser and better. A Sermon preached at the ordination of the Rev. Charles Lowell to the pastoral care of the west church and congregation in Boston, Jan. I, 1806. By ELIPHALET PORTER, pastor of the first church in Roxbury. Belcher and Armstrong. Boston. 1806. JOHN Xvii. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. On the foundation of this well chosen passage, the preach. er proposes to illustrate two points. I. It is by means of truth, that God sanctifies mankind. II. The word of God is the truth, by which this important purpose is effected. This division appears simple and natural. But unfortunately the two points are placed in a wrong order. The rules of correct sermonizing undoubtedly require, that the point, which holds the second place, should have been first attended to. To attempt to show the tendency of any system, before showing what it is, would commonly be deemed an absurdity. The author himself found the inconvenience of his arrangement, as he was, in several instances, obliged, in order to illustrate the first proposition, to anticipate the second. No writer can show to advantage, that divine truth is the means of sanctifying men, without showing its adaptedness to that purpose. And in order to show its adaptedness to that purpose, he must display its nature, and point out its leading qualities. Το make it appear, that revealed truth is suited to convince and convert sinners, and to excite and improve holy affections in believers, it is necessary to show what representations it makes of sinners, what motives to repen tance, and what objects of holy affection it exhibits. But this is a part of what should be done under the second head. If the author had attended to the second point first, he might have had the advantage of illustrating it distinctly and fully, and, at the same time, of preparing the way for a profitable consideration of the other point. Many of the observations on each head are valuable, some of them are superficial, and some exceptionable, The preacher is careful to guard his hearers against supposing, that the doctrine he defends is intended to exclude the needful influence of God's Spirit. "By his ener, gy," he observes, "all things are sustained; and without his support, co-operation, and blessing, nothing truly good and desirable can be effected, either in the natural or moral world." In this sentiment all enlightened divines. and Christians agree. But the author is not content, without disclaiming certain sentiments contained in "some theological systems." If he had been so good, as to make us acquainted with his meaning, we might be under better advantage to judge of the propriety of his remark and we think he ought not to have concealed an error, which in his view was so hurtful. A general, indefinite charge, of certain nameless errors contained in certain nameless theological systems, can neither be understood nor answered. We must acknowledge, that we are acquainted with no respectable divines in New England, who entertain the idea, "that there is no more aptitude or tendency in divine truth essentially to change the dispositions and character of the şinner, than in the light of the sun to give sight and sense to a marble." It is possible that those, against whom the author means to object, hold the following sentiment as tenaciously as he does. "It is God who sanctifies ; but he sanctifies through the truth, in a manner consistent with our nature and faculties, as rational, voluntary, and accountable beings." Considering the express design of the author under the second head of discourse, we think his summary of revealed truth, in p. 13, very defective. The first inference is, the great importance of the truth. The thoughts are pertinent and weighty. In the second inference we hear with pleasure, that great at. tention and respect are due to the word of God. With entire satisfaction we quote the following hints. "Let men repair to the scriptures with humble, reverent, and teachable minds. compositions of fallible men, as tests of soundness in the faith, and as preferable, or at least supplementary to the holy scriptures, appear honourary to the word of God, or promotive of free inquiry and the progress of truth." This has long been the cant of liberal prejudice concerning creeds and confessions. But what imaginary being is the author now opposing? Who, except imposing papists, ever considered any "compositions of fallible men," as "supplementary to the holy scriptures ?" Who that has any claim to the honourable title of a believer, looks upon creeds of human composure, as preferable to the word of God? To charge the reformed churches in Europe and America with using creeds and confessions, as preferable, or supplementary to the scriptures, is misrepresentation. The most strenuous defenders of creeds since the reformation, have never received or used them in any other view, than as containing, in a condensed form, the es sential truths of revelation. And we wish the experience of ages may determine, whether those, who have rejected the use of creeds and confessions, have honoured the word of God by a firmer faith, or studied it with more reverence, diligence, and prayer, than Christians of a different opinion and practice. On reading a passage near the Let close, we cannot withhold the rethem acknowledge no authorita- mark, that, to address an assemtive guide of their faith and prac- bly indiscriminately, as children tice, but Jesus Christ." The of the light and of the day, confollowing observation wants can- sists neither with scripture, nor dour and fairness. "Nor does with well known fact. It is putthe use which has often been ting light for darkness. made of creeds, confessions, and The Charge, by Professor WARE, deserves neither censure, nor high encomium. It is, on the whole, a pleasing performance. It is thought, how ever, that when he points out the requisite qualifications of men, who should be introduced into the ministry, he ought to have added, in conformity to apostolic example, soundness in faith.* If the preceding sermon is true, this omission is very important. The Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. BUCKMINSTER, is sprightly and ingenious. But the correctness of his notions concerning unity is much doubt ed. He asks, "Is there not, amidst all the varieties of discipline and faith, enough left to us in common to preserve a unity of spirit?" We cannot give an affirmative answer. They who honour the Son even as they honour the Father, and they who do not thus honour him, are too widely different to unite on gospel ground. The figure about theplanetary system" is far from suiting the occasion. It is long, and full of labour, and agrees not with a performance, which should be an easy expression of the heart. head wo unto us that we have sinned." After a few observations illustrative of the text, and of the original state and fall of man, and a display of some of the deplorable effects of the apos tasy, as evidence of human depravity, the preacher introduces, as a strong example to his purpose, the tragical event which occasioned his discourse. He thus relates it: "On the ninth day of instant No. vember, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and five, a most daring robbery and murder were committed within the bounds of this parish. It appears, that Mr. Marcus Lyon, a young man of about twenty two or three years of age, who was on his way from the state of New York, to Woodstock, in Connecticut, the place of his nativity, was met by two ruffian footpads, and robbed and murder ed, in open day, on the stage road in this town. It is probable that he was shot at in the first place, with a pistol, aimed at his heart. This proving ineffectual, in consequence, it is likely, of his full dress, and the ball striking one of his ribs, they had recourse to other means of effecting their nefarious purpose. His body was found, on the evening of the following day, in shallow water, in the edge of Chicopee river, at a small distance from the highway, and confined with a stone to prevent its floating. face and head, particularly the latter, were greatly bruised, and the back part of his skull very much fractured. His A brace of pistols, in a very shattered condition, and one of them much smeared with blood, was found nigh him. They were doubtless made use of to break his head. Whether clubs(one of which was also found near the spot) or stones, were likewise used, is uncertain; though somewhat probable, from his head being so extremely bruised and broken. verdict of the jury of inquest summoned on the occasion was, wilful murder. The "His body, as soon as was CORvenient, was conveyed to the place of his nativity, where it has doubtless received the rites of Christian sepul |
