Sayfadaki görseller
PDF
ePub

have urged upon my hearers the duties of repentance, faith, prayer, personal holiness, and growth in grace and Christian knowledge. I have endeavoured to excite in them a deeper interest in religion,-a greater reverence for the gospel,-a more lively sense of their accountability to God, a more earnest inquiry about what they must do to be saved,-and a more careful and constant attention to the things belonging to their peace. I have endeavoured to guard then against infidelity, fanaticism, and uncharitableness,-to exhibit not only the plain doctrines of the gospel, but also to direct their attention to its precepts and spirit. I have been more earnest to tell my hearers what I did believe, than what I disbelieved, and to leave the impression on their minds that I had a stronger desire that they should become disciples of Christ, than members of any religious party. I have thought that in this way I could do more for the cause of truth and holiness than by discussing some controverted subject, which might fix the attention and gratify an idle curiosity, but would do nothing for the heart. There are a great many who are sadly indifferent and stupid about religion, even when it is divested of all that is irrational and superstitious. While they can hear no preacher but an Orthodox one, they are negligent and would find an excuse for their not joining the church and for their absence from public worship in the creed to which they must assent, and in the minister who is to guide them in their devotions and instruct them. But remove these obstacles; give them the privileges and advantages which they imagine would satisfy them; and are they constant at church? Do they become professors of religion? Too many of them still remain heedless and bold. They join a Restorationist or a Unitarian society, and continue to neglect their religious duties. They love to talk about the absurdities and extravagances of Orthodoxy; but vital, personal piety is what they have never felt the need of. I have supposed that many such persons come to hear us preach, not because they wish to know the truth, so that by it they may become holy and free; not because they are anxious to learn what they must do to be saved, but because they hope to hear something said against Orthodoxy. They admire and applaud us, not as disciples and ministers of Christ, but as opposers of Calvinism. I am a Unitarian, and I am neither ashamed nor afraid to confess it. I should rejoice to have all embrace the same faith, since I believe it to be the faith of the glorious gospel. But I should not be satisfied with barely winning their assent to my creed, and with numbering them as belonging to my denomination; my object is not attained till they become Christians in heart and life.

You will excuse me, my dear brother, for dwelling so long on these things. Though we may differ in doctrine, and in our methods of operating upon the minds of others, I trust we both feel earnest to promote the cause of truth and piety. If you will not charge me with flattery, 1 will here tell you with what pleasure I have read some of the last numbers of the Messenger. They contained but little that was controversial, and much that was practical; and while they were almost silent about your peculiar doctrine, they were calculated to do much for it by the earnestness with which they enforced practical piety. Not that the preceding numbers were destitute of practical instruction; but in these I thought it abounded. It gave me the impression that your paper was changing for the better, and that its influence would be more salutary. When I read the religious journals and papers published by other sects, I am eager to know, not only with what arguments and spirit, with what frequency and power, they defend their peculiar tenets, but also what attention they pay to the precepts of religion generally. And when I discover that they are earnestly and often enforcing all the great Christian duties included in denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and in living soberly, righteously, and piously, it gives me a delightful sensation. There is a great deal of sin and misery in the world; and when I see men, by whatever name they may be called, ardently and perseveringly engaged in meliorating

the human conditien, it makes my heart glad. It inclines me to think of their errors in doctrine with more patience and charity.

I have taken no notice of your answers to my letters which have appeared in the Unitarian, and which you have had the generosity to publish in the Messenger. I have been silent about them, not through disrepect nor indifference, but because I found it would be attended with considerable difficulty and inconvenience, were I to reply to each of them, while answering your first letter. I know not, indeed, whether you expected it; I barely mention it here to prevent any disagreeable thoughts in regard to the subject; I ought to have mentioned it sooner. Forgive me, if it has occasioned you any solicitude.

I am, dear sir, your friend and brother,

REV. ADIN Ballou.

JONATHAN FARR.

THE BOSTON SUNDAY-SCHOOL SOCIETY.

The general objects of this society are in this vicinity well known, as are also its annual meetings, holden for the purpose of collecting informa tion relative to the prosperity of the great cause of religious education throughout the State, and of giving to benevolent hearts new impulses to effort in the promotion of that cause. Hereafter the managers of the society propose, and, as we think, most wisely, to hold quarterly meetings of the society, at each of which reports may be read from several of the schools, and mutual excitement gained from the sympathy of the meeting and from the remarks which gentlemen may offer on any of the interesting topics embraced in the general subjects of Sunday-school instruction. We have said we think this plan a wise one Even " pure minds" need to be stirred up "by way of remembrance." And we are induced to insert this notice on account of the strong satisfaction, and, as we trust, the lasting excitement which we gained from attending the first of these quarterly meetings which was holden the 7th ult. This meeting was opened by an appropriate prayer from Rev. Mr. Lothrop, and presided over by the venerable Dr. Tuckerman, so distinguished among us for his spirit of benevolence in the cause of the poor,-a benevolence, if we may say it here, possessing a rare combination of traits,-having all the enthu siasm of ideal, and all the sober and business-like cast of practical philanthropy. Reports, which, we may here remark, are read not to be formally accepted, but to give information of the state of the schools to which they relate, were presented from Rev. Mr. Pierpont's church, Rev. Mr. Lothrop's church, and from Rev. Mr. Barrett's church. After the reading of the reports, the meeting was kept in a constant state of excitement by the remarks of gentlemen interested in the subject and connected with Sunday schools, and was concluded by an impressive address from Rev. Dr. Tuckerman, and the singing of a hymn.

The reports gave a most encouraging account of the success of teachers in the three Sunday schools from which they were made. The children were represented not only as willing to receive instruction, but as hungering for the bread of life, as longing, with the eagerness of an unsatisfied want, to have those fountains opened within them from which should proceed the "well of water springing up into everlasting life." Every thing indeed that we hear of the results flowing from judicious Sundayschool instruction, gives us a continually strengthening conviction of the power that may be given to the principle of faith even in the child's

mind. In fact we do not ask for any information as to success to prove to us that right efforts must meet with success. The capacity of the child for religious instruction is established on authority whose obligation can neither be denied nor increased. "Of such is the kingdom of heaven." Let this brief reply be made to all who doubt as to the event of strong benevolent effort in the cause of the young. "Suffer little children to come unto me." No other words need be uttered in the hearing of those who would wave away the young from the altar of instruction and the throne of prayer. Let us not have our minds so entirely closed to the sublimity of that scene with the children as at first were most of the actors immediately concerned in it. Let those who believe that young hearts may have the kingdom of God built up within them, and young hands, perchance, build up that kingdom in the world,-let such draw excitement from the incomparable grandeur with which that scene invests the character of Jesus. The sublimity of the Saviour's words and of the act with which he accompanied them are equalled by the simplicity of the narration. We will even venture to quote the language once more, in hope that the mind of every young reader may gaze upon it till its glory dawns upon his soul. "Then were brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them and departed thence." Matt. xix. 13-16. These simple words are a bulwark of defence for Christianity which none of the weapons of the

infidel can overthrow.

But, in noticing the Sunday-school society, we did not intend to be drawn into such a course of remark on the general object proposed in Sunday schools. One great object of the quarterly meetings of the society is to discuss the comparative wisdom and utility of the different modes of instruction which are pursued in different schools. We would close in saying to those who promote the interests of this society,— God speed you. You are engaged in a humble task, but a great one. You are working silently but with vast effect. Your efforts may not gain you a splendid name, but they will gain you a rejoicing conscience. The world may not praise you now with its voice, but it will praise you with its character ages hence.

ORDINATIONS AND INSTALLATION.

Mr. George W. Briggs was ordained at Fall River, Sept. 24. Sermon by Rev. F. A. Farley of Providence.

Mr. John L. Russel was ordained at Salem, Oct. 9. Sermon by Rev. Charles C. Sewall.

Mr. Horatio Wood was ordained at Walpole, Sept. Rev. Jason Whitman.

Mr. Samuel May was ordained at Leicester, Sept. 13. F. W. P. Greenwood.

24.

Sermon by

Sermon by Rev.

Rev. Benjamin Huntoon was installed over the First Congregational Parish, in Milton, Oct. 15. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Harris.

Several gentlemen within the last few months have been ordained to preach the everlasting Gospel in the West. We shall give an account of these ordinations in our next in connection with some appropriate remarks.

JUST RECEIVED BY

JAMES MUNROE AND CO.

12mo.

12mo.

Visit to Texas; with Descriptions of District School, by J. Orville Taylor.
Scenery, Habits, &c.
Christmas Box for 1835. Plates. 18mo.
Mather on the Types. 12mo.
Affection's Gift, for Youth. Plates. 18mo.
The Oasis. Edited by Mrs. Child. Plates.
16mo.

Beckford's Italy; with Sketches of Spain
and Portugal. 2 vols. 12mo.
Belgium and Western Germany in 1833.
By Mrs. Trollope. 8vo.
History of England from the Earliest
Times to the year 1588, by Sir James
Mackintosh. 8vo.

Mothers and Daughters. 2 vols. 12mo.
Defence of the Revolutionary History of
N. Carolina from the Aspersions of Mr.
Jefferson. By Jo. Seawell Jones. 12mo.
Bernardo del Carpio. From the Spanish of
Don Jorge Montgomery. 12mo.
Connection of the Physical Sciences, by
Mrs. Somerville. 12mo.
Pictures of Private Life. 2d Series. By
Sarah Stickney. 12mo.

JAMES MUNROE & CO.

HAVE JUST RECEIVED FROM

THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION

THE FOLLOWING INVOICE OF

VALUABLE ENGLISH WORKS.

Unitarianism the Doctrine of the Gospel, | Barker's

by Lant Carpenter, 3d edition.
Farmer's Dissertation on Miracles, 3d edi-
tion.

Farmer's Essay on the Demoniacs of the
N. Testament, 3d edition.
Priestley's Memoirs, with Observations on
his Writings, by T. Cooper and W.
Christie; and Four Posthumous Discour-
ses, 2 vols.

Milton's Last Thoughts on the Trinity.
Bible Stories, Part 2d, containing Stories

from the N. Testament, by S. Wood. Price's Four Dissertations, 5th edition. Belsham's Translation and Exposition of Paul's Epistles, with Notes, 4 vols. Belsham's Memoirs of Lindsey, 2d edition. Traité où l'on Expose ce que l'Écriture nous apprend de la Divinité de Jésus Christ, par P. F. Le Courayer. Cellerier's Discourse on the Authenticity and Divine Origin of the Old Testament, with Notes and Illustrations; translated from the French by J. R. Wreford. Tagart on the Claims of Unitarian Christianity to the Respectful Consideration of the Reflecting Public.

Church-Establishment

Christian, &c.

Anti

Harris's Harmony of Nature, Providence, and Christianity.

Review of Smith's Scripture Testimony to

the Messiah.

Orthodoxy and Unbelief, by Ed. Higgin

son.

Joyce's Analysis of Paley's View of the
Evidences of Christianity, 7th edition.
The Word made Flesh: A Sermon be-
fore the British and Foreign Unitarian
Association, by W. Hincks.

Ashworth's Account of the Rise and Pro-
gress of the Unitarian Doctrine in the
Societies at Rochdale, 2d edition.
Brief Dissertation on the Ministration of
the Divine Word by Public Preaching,
by Rob. Robinson.

Priestley's Unitarianism Explained and
Defended.

Priestley's Outline of the Evidences of
Revealed Religion.

Lardner's Letter on the Logos.
Yates on the Unity of God.

Whyte's Sermons on Doctrinal and Prac-
tical Subjects, 2d edition.

JAMES MUNROE AND CO.

HAVE JUST PUBLISHED,

Ware's Life of the Saviour, stereotype edition.

Lowth's Isaiah, from the tenth English edition, carefully corrected and revised.

Stewart's Philosophy of the Human Mind. 8vo. 2d ed.

Briggs's Sermon at the Installation of Rev. A. B. Muzzey.

Wood's Discourse, on Gospel-Truths.

Two Discourses delivered before the First Parish in Cambridge; one, upon leaving the Old Meeting House, and the other, at the Dedication of the New. By William Newell, Pastor of the First Church in Cambridge.

Sunday-School and Parish Libraries will be promptly furnished, to order, on the most liberal terms.

Orders for any work published either in this country or in Europe will be attended to without delay.

The establishment of an hourly communication with the city, by coaches and baggage-wagons, enables us to assure distant customers of the execution of all orders transmitted by mail, with about the same despatch as can be had in Boston.

Liberal terms will be allowed to authors who may favour us with the publication of their works. No pains will be spared to bring out all books in good style and with despatch, and to give them extensive circulation.

Manson and Grant, Printers, Cambridge.

« ÖncekiDevam »