the trust which is committed to your hands by our church, in connection with your official associates: I refer to the spiritual qualifications of your pupils for the work of the holy ministry. Often as you refer to the plan on which our General Assembly began the policy of her theological seminaries, your mind will be struck with her language: "Convinced that the filling of the Church with a learned and able ministry without a corresponding portion of real piety, would be a curse to the world, and an offence to God and his people, the Assembly do hereby solemnly pledge themselves to the churches under their care, that in carrying into existence, etc., it shall be their endeavour to make this a nursery of vital piety, as well as of sound theological learning; that an inward sense of the power of godliness may grow continually in a spirit of enlightened devotion and fervent piety."

This is a very holy covenant between the churches, and through the Assembly, with her official teachers; and when we consider how liable young men, as well as others, are to be deceived, and how deceitful the human heart is, we may well tremble.

Never did the ministerial work and office in our towns and cities, and on the far distant widening fields of the great Christian harvest, in these wonderful times of advancing civilization, opulence, reading, and luxury, demand on all sides a mightier revival of Apostolic holiness. The world stands ready to be taken by the army of the living God; and by one effective onset of the sword of the Lord, to strike its colours, and run up the banner of Jesus Christ. At the same time, how formidable, insidious, and skilful is the spirit of formalism, through all the masses of society! To say nothing of the unexplored fields of Central Africa, the primeval forests and hamlets of the Andes and Rocky Mountains, the boundless plains and prairies of the Missouri, Columbia, Colorado-China and India, and the Oceanic Isles begin to lift up their voice to our Church and country, to send them that Gospel which Christ has promised them; and for the gift of which the time-piece of prophecy seems to strike the hour. And then the sunny plains of papal nations, once trod and discipled by holy martyrs, seem to ask for the harbingers of the morning, and demand an army of bold and faithful pioneers of redemption to bring back the Royal David to his usurped metropolis. And amidst all this deafening importunity, our country and our churches cry to you-Send us ministers of a holier unction, a keener edge of zeal and fervour, whose faith and training have been cradled amidst mightier searchings and communings of the Holy Spirit! O, my brother, my brother, who but God can sustain your troubled spirit as your daily thoughts and nightly meditations struggle and groan beneath the pressure of these responsibilities? Do all you can; watch and pray, and study,

and leave the rest to Him.

To the esteemed BRETHREN OF THE TWO SYNODS here present, all alike supporters of this Seminary, may I be allowed, on this, doubtless, the last and final opportunity I shall have on such an occasion, with the expression of fraternal love, to say a word commending it to their fostering care. We have now, brethren, separate synodical relations, and shall no more stand side by side in these annual assemblies; but it matters little, for "the time is short," and soon no geographical lines, we trust, will ever separate us from each other. In respect to this and the other Institutions, common to us all, I seem to hear from behind the curtain the voices of our still much-loved M'Millan, Patterson, M'Curdy, Jennings, and Brown, saying, Onward! Brethren, onward! with the work of the Lord! We have now for our Seminary mainly its endowments, and its chosen Professors; but what shall become of its usefulness if it has no students, and they are not to be found in the Church? If we compare the present with earlier periods, our progress, in this respect, has not realized our hopes; and in the dearth of candidates there may spring up a hurtful competition in our Theological Seminaries. Our hope must be in the Angel of the Covenant, and the returning power of his Holy Spirit to all our churches. Then with the parents will come the sons, and with the sisters will come the brothers, and the God of our Fathers "shall establish the work of our hands upon us,” and raise up for us heralds to preach his Gospel unto the ends of the earth.

Dr. PLUMER, Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology, next

delivered the Inaugural Discourse. The theme, selected by the Professor, was JESUS CHRIST; and the mode of treatment was simple, fervent, evangelical, practical. We think Dr. Plumer was eminently judicious in the selection of his topic-the great truth of revelation. All didactic and pastoral theology centres around Jesus Christ; and the best mode of exhibiting divine truth is, not merely as abstract truth, but as momentous, practical truth, adapted both to the head and the heart, to the intellect and the life. The following extracts will serve as specimens of the Inaugural:

Jesus Christ is a wonderful, a glorious person. To look away from self and man to Christ, is to lay hold on everlasting life. If men would be safe, let them flee to him. When he is in the ascendant, the night flies away, and the morning comes a morning without clouds. His names and titles are as important as they are significant. Every one of them is as ointment poured forth. His lips drop as the honeycomb-honey and milk are under his tongue, and the smell of his garments is like the smell of Lebanon. His people sit under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit is sweet to their taste. To them he is altogether lovely. He is their Advocate, the angel of the covenant, the author and finisher of faith. He is as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, the alpha and the omega, the Beloved, the shepherd and bishop of souls, the bread of life, the bundle of myrrh, the bridegroom, the bright and morning star, the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of his person.

He is their Creator, captain, counsellor, covenant, corner-stone, covert from the tempest, a cluster of camphor, and chiefest among ten thousand. He is to them as the Dew, the door into the fold, a diadem, a daysman, a day-star, a deliverer, and the desire of all nations, ranks, and generations of pious men.

In their eyes he is the Elect, Emanuel, the everlasting Father, and eternal life. He is a Fountain of living waters to thirsty souls, of joy to troubled ones, of life to dying ones. He is the foundation on which his people, with safety, build their hopes of heaven. He is the father of eternity, the fir-tree under whose shadow the saints rejoice, the first and the last, the first fruits, the first-born among many brethren, and the first begotten from the dead.

To his chosen he is as the most fine Gold, a guide, a governor, a glorious Lord God, the true God, over all God blessed forever. He is Head of the Church, the help, the hope, the husband, the heritage, the habitation of his people. He is the horn of their salvation. He rides upon the heavens by his name, JAH. He is the Jehovah of armies, the Inheritance, Judge, and King of his people. He is their Light, their life, their leader, their law-giver, their atoning lamb, the lily of the valley, the lion of the tribe of Judah.

He is the Man Christ Jesus, the master, the mediator, the minister of the true sanctuary which the Lord pitched, and not man. He is the mighty God of Isaiah, the morning star of John, the Michael of Daniel, the Melchisedek of David and Paul, and the Messiah of all the prophets. He is the Only-begotten of the Father-full of grace and truth. He is both the root and the offspring of David. He is the Peace, the prince, the priest, the prophet, the purifier, the potentate, the propitiation, the physician, the plant of renown, the power of God, the passover of all saints. He is a polished shaft in the quiver of God.

He is the Rock, the refuge, the ruler, the ransom, the refiner, the redeemer, the righteousness, and the resurrection of all humble souls. He is the rose of Sharon. He is the Seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, the seed of David, the Son of God, the son of man, the strength, the shield, the surety, the shepherd, the shiloh, the sacrifice, the sanctuary, the salvation, the sanctification, and the sun of righteousness of all believers.

He is that holy thing that was born of Mary. He is the Truth, the treasure, the teacher, the temple, the tree of life, the great testator of his church. He is the Way, the well of salvation, the word of God, the wisdom of God, the faithful witness, the wonderful.

His person is one; but his natures are two. He is both human and divine, finite and infinite, created and uncreated. He was before Abraham, though not born till for ages the patriarch had slept with his fathers. He was dead, and is alive forevermore. On earth he had not where to lay his head, yet he disposes of all diadems. He has the arm of a God, and the heart of a brother. To him all tongues shall confess and all knees bow; yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. None loves like him, none pities like him, none saves like him. It is not surprising that such a person lives and reigns in the hearts of his people. No marvel that the virgins love him, and the saints praise him, and the martyrs die for him, and the sorrowing long for him, and the penitent pour out their tears before him, and the humble trust in him, and the believing lay fast hold of him. His frown shakes the heavens, his smile gives life, his presence converts dungeons into palaces, his blood cleanses from all sin, his righteousness is the white robe of the redeemed.

If men would be safe, or wise, or holy, or happy, or useful, or victorious-let them look to Jesus, let them look to none else, let them walk in him, abide in him, glory in him, and count as loss all things beside. You may look at the law till the spirit of bondage overwhelms you with terrors and torments. You may go about to establish your own righteousness till you can boast and perish like a Pharisee. You may weep till the fountain of your tears has gone dry, you may have all gifts, understand all mysteries, bestow all your goods to feed the poor, yield your body to be burned; but all these things will not atone for sin, will do nothing towards regaining the lost favour of God, will not make you meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. None but Christ, none but Christ, none but Christ, has been the cry of the faithful witnesses of all ages, when truth has triumphed, when oracles were struck dumb, when sinners were converted, when saints rejoiced, when the word of God mightily grew and prevailed.

True piety begins, continues, and is perfected by our union with Christ. We are cleansed through his blood, we are clothed in his righteousness, we are purified by his Spirit-we meet the demands of the law of this day of grace, when we walk as he walked, and have the same mind that was in him.

The excellent Professor closed his address with the following impressive words:

And now, honoured fathers and brethren, you learn for yourselves what is to be the polar star, pointed out to the young men of your Seminary, to guide them in their quest after truth, usefulness, and life everlasting. Surely no apology is necessary for giving such prominence to that dear One, on whom all good hopes depend. To question your approval of exalting Christ to the highest place would doubtless be doing you great injustice. While some put their schools under the patronage of dead men or dead women, your Institution is dedicated to Him who was dead, and is alive forevermore, and hath the keys of death and of hell. Pray that it may ever remain a bulwark of Apostolic, Reformation doctrine. Pray for its pupils, who are so soon to fill your places. Pray for its professors, who must so soon stand at the tribunal of God, and undergo the examination of omniscient purity for all the impressions they make on the rising ministry.

In the series of events which have resulted in the solemn services of this evening, there has been a strange union of mercy from the Lord, and of kindness from his people. These have rendered tolerable, trials which, otherwise, would have been insupportable. They have made darkness light, and rough places smooth. They have taken away stumbling-blocks, and held out most pleasing promises of usefulness. They have driven away perplexity, and given pledges of help from above, and of brotherly encouragement from you all. I came among you a stranger, and was received as an old friend. In these circumstances, I bow the knee and give praise to the Father of all mercies; and I beg you to accept assurances of heartfelt thanks for all the love and generosity you have so liberally heaped upon me.

Dr. Plumer commences his instructions with the highest hopes of his friends, and of the patrons of the Institution. That he may enjoy the enlightening and quickening influences of the Holy Spirit, and in co-operation with the honoured Professors associated with him, may be the instrument of great good in the education of the rising ministry, is the prayer of all who love our Saviour, our Church, and our Western Theological Seminary.

Bousehold Choughts.

"WHERE'S JAMIE?"

"WHERE'S Jamie?" I heard an old lady ask, as I entered a house.

"He is safe," I answered, for I had just seen the lad in the

street.

Jamie's grandmother went to the window, and looked out. My answer did not seem to satisfy her, and on a second thought it did not satisfy me.

I asked myself, "Is he safe?" He was not playing on the river-bank (where some children have been drowned), nor among the carriages at the steamboat wharf. He was not running about the railroad station; but was he safe? His active limbs seemed in no danger of being broken or injured.

But had Jamie anything besides his body, that might meet with harm?

Yes! He has a soul-a heart,—and if that should be injured, it would be of more consequence, than if his body should suffer.

Can you tell why? Do you think Jamie was in any danger? Yes! He was in great danger! There were bad boys in the street, who might injure his soul. There were those who showed bad passions, anger and hatred.

There were some who said evil words, and took God's name in vain.

And there were those who did cruel and wicked things. Was not Jamie in danger of learning much evil?

When his aged grandmother asked again, soon, "Where's Jamie?" I did not say, "He is safe."

M. M. W.

GOOD NIGHT.

"GOOD night, dear mamma!" a little girl said,
"I'm going to sleep in my nice trundle bed;
Good night, dear papa! little brother and sis!"
And to each one the innocent gave a sweet kiss.
“Good night, little darling!" her fond mother said—
"But remember, before you lie down in your bed,
With a heart full of love, and a tone soft and mild,
To breathe a short prayer to Heaven, dear child."
"Oh! yes, dear mother!" said the child, with a nod,
"I love, oh! I love to say 'Good night' to God!"
Kneeling down, "My dear Father in heaven," she said,
"I thank Thee for giving me this nice little bed;
For though mamma told me she bought it for me,
She tells that everything good comes from Thee;
I thank Thee for keeping me safe through the day;
I thank Thee for teaching me, too, how to pray;"
Then bending her sweet little head with a nod,
"Good night! my dear Father, my Maker, and God;
Should I never again on the earth open mine eyes,
I pray Thee to give me a home in the skies!"

'Twas an exquisite sight as she meekly knelt there,
With her eyes raised to Heaven, her hands clasped in prayer;
And I thought of the time when the Saviour, in love,
Said, "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven above;"
And I inwardly prayed that my own heart the while,
Might be cleansed of its bitterness, freed from its guile.
Then she crept into bed, that beautiful child,
And was soon lost in slumber so calm and so mild,
That we listened in vain for the sound of her breath,
As she lay in the arms of the emblem of death.

Selected.

A GOOD WIFE FROM THE LORD.

SOLOMON says, a prudent or good wife is from the Lord, and not a few have experienced the truth of his assertion. One reason why so many fail to get good wives is, that they do not ask the Lord for them. They follow their own impulses, or the suggestions of interest, and do not ask counsel of God and commit their way unto Him. In the most important of all earthly matters they take counsel of their feelings, and lean to their own understandings.

Thomas Shepherd, the first pastor of Cambridge, and one of the most godly and useful of the New England Fathers, acted in accordance with Solomon's doctrine. 66 Now, about this time, I had a great desire to change my estate by marriage; and I had been praying three years before, that the Lord would carry me to such a place where I might have a meet yokefellow."

He was at length invited to take up his abode with Sir Richard