the common-place objection which is so often advanced against the seminary. It is whispered in every corner, and by a hundred tongues, whenever the seminary is pointed at or spoken of, that it is a dangerous innovation; a piece of extravagance; that the edifice is quite too large, too expensive, too elegant; better calculated to make mere scholars and fine gentlemen than hardy soldiers of the cross. Then it is usually added, that a more secluded, private, frugal course of instruction and of living, would be much more likely to foster a spirit of humility and industry; of meekness, patience, temperance and devotion; of enlightened views on religious subjects, and of all those peculiar graces and qualifications, without which the greatest attainments in literature are useless or detrimental. Or, in plainer terms, that it would be much better for a young man who wishes to become a minister of the gospel, to go to some worthy, retired pastor in the country: assist him in teaching his school, or ploughing his fields, and receive from him in return such aid in reading Hopkins or Ridgley, as the good man may find leisure or inclination to afford him.

"Their whole scheme, however, I hesitate not to denounce as unsupported by reason or by fact; as alike illiberal and absurd. I maintain fearlessly, though not obstinately or fiercely, that the legitimate tendency of all private education, and especially of a system so contracted as the one just supposed, is, to cherish pride; to confirm prejudice; to restrain a spirit of liberal inquiry; to contract the mind; to concentrate its views to a few objects; to lead it into a narrow, partial track; to mould it into the shape, and tinge it with the complexion of the master. I do not say that these effects will always result; for a naturally vigorous, independent spirit will break the strongest fetters, and rise superior to any disadvantages; but that such a system is calculated to produce them, and most frequently does produce them. Hence you will generally find a young man thus brought up, thinking on all subjects, on which he thinks at all, just as he has been taught to think. His master's dogmas and peculiarities become his own. He is perfectly satisfied with his attainments, because they are as extensive as those of his venerated instructer, who is at once his model and the standard by which he measures theological wisdom and orthodoxy. He has never been brought into contact with his equals. His strength has never been put to the trial, and hence he flatters himself that none are his superiors. With a little smattering of letters and with abundant selfcomplacency, he marches forth as a candidate among the vacant churches, speedi

ly procures a charge, settles down among a people not calculated perhaps by their own superior intelligence, to give him any hint that he is not a perfect Solomon: and thus he continues through life the same opinionated, self-important, dogmatical, bigotted creature, that he was at the beginning. Study is dispensed with, either because he has never learned how to study and acquired a taste for it, or because he imagines he knows enough already. Hence as he grows in years, he grows in dulness: affects to despise learning, and most conscientiously opposes every liberal plan for its advancement. This may be a caricature, but it is a good likeness notwithstanding. And I doubt not that some of my hearers have seen more than one who has sat for the picture.

"All such men of course will be hostile to the seminary. And one secret motive of their hostility, which I have not yet stated; which they certainly never avow, and which they will not thank me for exposing, is jealousy! They are jealous of this new mode of making ministers. They are afraid of being eclipsed by their juniors who shall come forth from this institution well furnished for their master's service. They imagine that themselves must sink in proportion as others rise. And rather than be subject to this mortification, they labour to prevent the growth of an evil which they so much dread. There is a great deal of real opposition from this vile source; whether men are conscious of it or not." p. 16.

We shall extract but one paragraph more, and that probably is the most obnoxious one in the whole Plea.

"I tell you the fact, that the Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian church has been, for seven years, a beggar before the public; a solicitor of alms from one end of the continent to the other: that it is a beggar still, without the means of completing an edifice, which, when completed, will not accommodate a hundred students:* and without the means of permanently supporting a single professor: is melancholy, humbling proof that our countrymen are backward in giving to the Lord's treasury. It is proof that we, in the immediate vicinity of this seminary, are peculiarly negligent and culpable. For I scruple not to affirm that there is wealth enough among the Presbyterians of New Jersey to have defrayed the whole expense of establishing and endowing the institution, without sensibly diminishing

* Not more than a hundred; the speaker should have said.

the revenues or the comforts of our citizens generally. And I think it was from the beginning, and still is, peculiarly incumbent on this state to extend a munificent hand to this great work. Because this state will derive all the pecuniary advantages which such an establishment never fails to yield to any place where it exists. Besides, the reputation which it adds to our little community, the facilities for theological education which it affords our pious youth, and the choice of pastors with which it favours our churches, ought to be taken into the account.

"But on the presbytery of New Brunswick, within whose bounds it is located, and under whose jurisdiction its professors will ever remain, is surely imposed an extraordinary obligation to spare no pains for its welfare. Have we discharged our duty, brethren? Has every clergyman bestowed his own mite, and exerted his influence with his flock and with the public in this behalf? It is not from a particular knowledge of the part which has been acted in this matter by any individual, that I venture on these inquiries. You may have all done your duty faithfully and honestly for aught I know. But there is fault somewhere or the directors long ago would have been obliged to announce to the people, that their treasury was already full to overflowing, and to charge them to bring no more gifts for the sanctuary, as was done by Moses on a similar

occasion.

"It is possible that a portion of this blame may justly attach to ourselves. Is there then a rich clergyman belonging to this body who has not given according to his abundance? Is there one possessed of thousands, who has not bestowed, at least hundreds, on the school of the prophets? Is there an individual who has kept back altogether, and refused even to speak to his people in its favour: who, so far from taking an active part for it, has taken a decided stand against it? If there be such an individual, let me ask him why he has done so? Has he been influenced by any of the motives already suggested as sometimes operating on the minds of the clergy to the detriment of the seminary? Or, is it the gall of disappointed ambition which rankles in his bosom? Is it because he has not been selected to fill some honourable station in the new institution that he thus coldly overlooks, or insidiously thwarts its interests? Now, since we have examples of men in every period of the Christian church, who were actuated by a spirit as base as this; it will not, perhaps, be thought a breach of charity, barely to suggest the possibility of its existence at present; and to ascribe to it a small portion of the opposition with which our church is infected.

"For it must be admitted after all, even by the professed apologist for the clergy, that there are some selfish, intriguing, ambitious divines in the church, who care for nothing but their own temporal advancement. Who would fight for the seminary if they supposed their own interest would be promoted by it, and who would fight against it for the same reason. Men, who, under the guise of religion, of honour, and friendship, can betray, and slander, and lie; in order to compass a favourite project, or to elevate themselves or their partisans to posts of honour and profit. I tell you, there are such men ; such ministers of the gospel! But with these base creatures I have no fellowship. I never expect to meet them in heaven :unless indeed a Judas may repent, or a Simon Magus be purified :-and I wish to have as little to do with them on earth as possible." p. 25.

If all authors of occasional sermons would write as elegantly, and tell the truth as plainly, and scatter salt as freely, as Mr. Lindsly has done, their sheets would never be sent as wrapping paper to the grocer's shop, for want of readers.

E. S. E.

Keligious Intelligence.

Extract from a Letter addressed to James Stuart, esq. of Philadelphia, dated Lebanon (Con.), August 27,

1821.

sup.

My dear Elder-It will give you joy to learn, that in Exeter, a small and poor parish in the township of Lebanon, which is without a stated pastor, such a revival of religion has been experienced, that yesterday fifty persons were received to full communion. The Domestic Missionary Society of Connecticut has sent them plies for a time, and this seems to be in part the fruit of their labours, in conjunction with those of a pious deacon, and a few other aged Christians. What encouragement does this present for Christians to persevere in prayer and pious exertions for the salvation of their fellow sinners! I pray you and the other members of our particular church not to be weary in well doing.

My heart's desire and prayer to God is, that every one of the people of my charge may be brought to a religious experience similar to that of Indian Philip of Connecticut. You may rely on the truth of what I shall now state concerning him, for my grandfather knew him well. That abori

ginal lived in the time of the great revival in this state, in 1740, and was thought by himself, and others, to be a renewed man. But the renowned Mr. Tennent, of our city, came this way, and after conversing with Philip, feared that he put his trust in the pious frames of his own mind, made a Christ of them, and so was deceived. Mr. Tennent therefore said to him, sternly, "Philip, unless Christ be in you, you are a dead man," and then abruptly turned away. This was the means of Philip's experiencing renewed and very pungent convictions of sin; which finally terminated well. In relating his own views of his past experience, subsequently to this, he said, that when he found comfort it was in this manner. He seemed to himself to be clinging to a pole with both his hands, and thus to be suspended over the bottomless pit. He was keeping himself out of hell by his own exertions. He tried to sustain himself, but soon one hand, from exhaustion of nature, let go its hold; and he hung fast by the other. Then, after a little, one finger of that hand relinquished its grasp, and then another, until he hung, for a second, by one finger alone. That failing, he seemed to be falling, falling, down, down to hell; but the first he knew, he was caught in the arms of Jesus. So may my people despair of every thing in the matter of salvation but Christ; and when they seem to be sinking to endless ruin find, that the Redeemer folds them to his arms. Yours, affectionately,

E. S. ELT.

FROM THE RELIGIOUS REMEMBRANCER.

GREAT OSAGE MISSION.

Extract of a Letter from Miss Susan Comstock, of the Harmony Mission Family, to a Clergyman and his Wife, in this City.

Mission Boats, Mississippi River,
June 1, 1821.

My very dear Friends-Since the mind is prone to recal ideas of departed pleasure, which is never more to return, think it not strange, that in addition to the fancied interviews which have taken place since you bade us adieu, that your letter is now nearly committed to memory.

Besides the ties which cement the hearts of Christians, the repeated tokens of interest and affection of which I was made the recipient while with you, have, and ever will bind you closely to my heart.

The interest you feel in my situation and future welfare, calls forth the warmest

emotions of gratitude from my heart. And indeed, had I not an Almighty arm on which I could at all times rest, my situation would still be more delicate; but in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. How sweetly can I rest on the promise of the Master's preserving power to the servant devoted to his cause. He has been as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. His love and grace are infinite, and if fixed on me I need not fear. The promises are so sure, that I can with the utmost safety draw the conclusion that his faithfulness will not fail. It will undoubtedly be through many trials and great hardships that I shall enter the kingdom of heaven: but the believer is so privileged, that he may glory in all, knowing that they "work out for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory:" for whom he blesses with grace below, he will crown with glory above. How trifling will all the privations and hardships appear when admitted to behold his unutterable glories!

We enjoyed excellent health during our journey to Pittsburgh, and were treated with the utmost kindness while on the way. We stopped at Mr. Herron's, but were soon again dispersed. During our passage to Cincinnati, I was afflicted with a severe headache, but at present my health is very good. The banks of the beautiful Ohio presented, for the most part of the way, a scenery sufficiently variegated to please the eye, and give exercise to the imagination.

We were agreeably entertained while at Marietta and Cincinnati. We passed pleasantly down the river till we had nearly reached Shawneetown, when a holy God saw fit to afflict us severely, that he might more effectually lead us to rest on him. On the third of May, one of our boatmen fell into the water, and was soon, we trust, received into a mansion in glory.

But Jesus loves his people with a tenderness which he only can describe. On the 5th, Mrs. Newton's babe, four days old, closed its eyes on terrestrial things. The mother survived till the 6th, when amidst the prayers and tears of the family, she closed her missionary labours, and breathed her spirit into the arms of everlasting love. Her precious remains are deposited in Shawneetown, quietly to rest till the morning of the resurrection.

We reached the Mississippi on the 9th, and with it commenced a laborious passage. We are now about fourteen miles from St. Louis; and all this distance, except a few miles, the boats have been pulled or shoved up the stream. From the sawyers, planters, drift-wood and rocks, we are constantly in danger. The ropes have several times broken, and we

have been whirled round, and sometimes carried some distance down the current. But as yet we are preserved, and making slow advances towards our destined home. For the first three days, the banks of this river were covered with willows and a species of trees called cotton wood; but since we have had an agreeable variety. At one time we pass little settlements strongly marked with the hand of industry; at another, the long forests wave their lofty heads. Again, the imagination is brought into exercise by the most lofty piles of rocks, or rather precipices, deeply shaded with primeval trees. The grandeur of these scenes surpasses description; they appear at times, when at a distance, like ancient castles in ruins.

*

The grace of God, my dear sir, has been my support, since your gig turned from us on the way. Never shall I forget the moments which I spent in your mansion. The young ladies are still as dear to my heart as ever, and are much on my mind; but dear little M and CI love. Do teach them to remember me, that should I live, a few years hence they might write me. I shall pray much for them. I thank dear Miss M- for her token of affection. I would write to her now, but as I am watching over the bed of my dear sister Weller, I have not time. I shall write them all when I arrive at my anticipated home. At present remember me affectionately to them, and please to inform them that the young ladies in Harrisburgh agreed to meet on Saturday evening, to pray in concert with them.

Adieu! and ever write to, and pray for, your affectionate sister,

SUSAN COMSTOCK.

Letter addressed to a Young Lady in this City, from Miss Susan Comstock.

Mission Boats, Osage River, July 26. My dear Sisters in Jesus Christ-When I sit down to write, I feel so ready to converse with you, that ere I am aware, I find myself in your dear social circle, where my last afternoon was spent, recounting to you the various scenes through which I have passed, during my long journey. This my time will not permit. The interesting interviews with which I was favoured have indelibly engraven you on my heart-the remembrance of which is still sweet. Sweeter far will be our meeting in yon blissful world beyond the skies. What a rich feast will be found when admitted into his unclouded presence! The ravished powers will expand to receive the emanations of the Deity. From the inexhaustible riches of his grace every capacity will be filled.

Through the faithfulness of our covenant God, we find ourselves almost to the consecrated ground. Thus far, I think we may say, the presence and blessing of the Master have been with us. In numerous instances of immediate danger, his almighty arm has been extended to save.

When called to leave the precious remains of one of our little number in a land of strangers, through the whole afflictive scene his grace was made sufficient, and we were enabled silently to acquiesce. His faithfulness has never for a moment been withdrawn. Encouraged, therefore, by such marked success, we go forward, looking futurity in the face, with a humble reliance on the Master's last promise, "Lo, I am with you always.” Since the chilling regions of the north, and the burning climes of yon vertical sun, have experienced the genial influence of the Sun of Righteousness, may we not rationally hope that our arrival there will be as the beginning of days? And that a cloud of invaluable blessings is hanging over these western regions, whose precious drops will ere long descend, and cause many an immortal flower to blossom and bring forth fruit an hundred fold?

Upon the Rock of Ages we will build our hopes of future success, assured of his gracious co-operation. His promises are all yea and Amen.

Apparently, my dear sisters, no soil in which the Rose of Sharon has yet been planted, promises more bloom and beauty than this western wilderness. May our prayers ascend in unison, that the Sun of the moral firmament will soon dispel the night which has so long overwhelmed the soul in more than Egyptian darkness, and this western sky resume the tints of celestial beauty in which it shone before the fall. The principle which influences Christians to exertions for christianizing the world, we trust, is that which causes the redeemed in glory unceasingly to articulate their allelujahs. Redeeming love-what a theme! Well may its trophies sacrifice a few earthly comforts, to publish its invaluable blessings to immortal souls, perishing for lack of vision. Let it not be said then that the missionary makes a sacrifice, since with angels he is privileged to proclaim peace and good will to men, and even to become a co-worker with his divine Master. I leave you to conceive of the mental darkness and stupidity of the inhabitants who are scattered along on the banks of those rivers which we have passed. Destitute of Bibles, and other means of grace, their situation was truly affecting. Who can reflect on these solitary places, and not earnestly desire their salvation? O for more of the spirit of Christ, my mastermore love to perishing souls-inore heavenly-mindedness. Cultivate every be

nevolent feeling, my dear sisters, that while we are labouring to form the minds of these wild children of the forest, you by your exertions at home may cause our hearts to rejoice; whilst many of our charge will arise and call you blessed.

Comparatively with the number of inhabitants in St. Louis, we found but few who were sufficiently interested in our mission to do much; but those were a precious few indeed. Sweet are the bonds which unite the hearts of Christians in labours of love. The ladies went from St. Louis to St. Charles in carriages. Governor Clark generously provided two. Sister Weller, who was taken from the boats ill at St. Louis, with sister Jones and myself, went from St. Louis to the house of colonel Post on the Missouri, a distance of thirty miles by land, and seventy by water, where we were kindly entertained till the arrival of the boats; so that I was on land nearly two weeks. Nothing material happened to impede our progress up the Missouri. We entered the Osage on the 29th of June. Soon after we entered the river, the water became so low, that most on board expected to be under the necessity of stopping for the summer; but he who holds the waters in the hollow of his hand, caused a sudden flow, so that we passed the rapids with a degree of ease; and we have had plenty of water ever since. This interposition of Providence was noticed even by the boatmen. O let us praise the Lord for his goodness, for his wonderful works to the children of men.

My dear Miss M- will accept of my grateful acknowledgments for her kind letter at Pittsburgh. The dear little hymn has been sung with pleasure. Had my time permitted, I should have written to Miss M- and the other young ladies, but they will accept of this. Will you remember me affectionately to my dear friends, Dr. Eand lady, with all who shall inquire after me. Wishing you the favourable presence of Almighty God, I remain your sister in the best of bonds,

SUSAN COMSTOCK.

Extracts from the Report of the Board of Missions to the General Assembly in May last.

(Continued from page 427.)

MR. JACOB TUTTLE

Has reported the fulfilment of his missionary appointment for three months, within the bounds of the presbytery of Newton. He laboured in Middle Smithfield, a place situVOL. I.

ated on this side of the Delaware, about 40 miles above Easton; and in Milford, a small town about 25 miles above the other, the seat of justice for Pike county; and in the region lying between them. This mission, it is believed, has been attended with beneficial effects. The manner in which Mr. T. conducted his mission, as well as his success, will appear from what he states in regard to his labours in Smithfield and Milford.

"Perhaps novelty, more than any thing else, drew numbers together, on my first entrance among them. But in the course of the time spent there, I visited them from house to house, expostulated with them, exhorted and entreated them as they valued the favour of God and would avoid his displeasure, to avail themselves of this day of his merciful visitation. The religious tracts I distributed, I found to be of singular service, in introducing me to their confidence, and arousing their attention to the calls of the word, so that before the conclusion of my labours among them, a more than ordinary interest in these great subjects discovered itself. I only mean that there was an uncommon excitement. There were, however, five or six whose minds were deeply impressed, one or two of whom were hoping that they had "passed from death unto life." I did not at first appoint meeting more than twice between the Sabbaths; but as I discovered, as I thought, an increasing interest in these things, I considered it my duty to increase the means of attending to them, so that the last week I spent among them I preached every evening except one in some quarter of the congregation. But notwithstanding their frequency, they were well attended, and by some every evening, let the distance or weather be what it might. These things encouraged me to hope, that if more labour could be expended here, a rich and abundant harvest of souls might ensue.

"Milford is the place I visited next, which is the seat of justice for Pike county. It is a small town, situated near the Delaware, on elevated ground, and contains probably 30 or 40 families. Though they have had occasional preaching for several years, yet no church has been organized, and but little or no fruit of the divine word appears among them. This little town, though in past years healthy even to a proverb, has been remarkably visited for the last nine months, and about 15 of its inhabitants have been called to the world of spirits. I concluded that I was authorized to interpret these dispen30