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Presbyterian Benner. Vol. V. No. 12,,
Presbyterian Advocate, Vol. XIX. No. 7.1
DAVID MCKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor.
TERNS.-IN ADVANCE.
Original Vottrg,
To the Penitent Sinner.
Humble sinner wby so sad?
Much hest thou to make thee glad;
See thine Advocate on high,
Ready to present thy cry.
Though thy prayer is but a groan,
Christ the contrite heart will own;
He who made thee thus to feel
Has a sovereign bairn to heal.
Does thy sin a burden proie?
Is thy heart too hard to love?
Art thou vile, unworthy all ?
Listen to the Saviour's oall:
illeavy though thy burden be,
i Thou niny'et east it all on me;
I thy rtghecouaness will be ;
Look, poor sinner, look to me.
Christ will peace and comfort give;
0, how precious! Look and live.
Then, poor sinner, why so sad;
Look to Christ, rejoice, be glad.
Well, tby sins may make thee mourn,
But the Saviour saith "return;"
Do not slight such calls of love,
Look, poor sinner, look above.
Per the Presbyterian Danner and Advocate.
The Atonement.
la introduction of Sin—. The Prue Character of
Chrtst—The Vicarious Nature and Necessity of
,his Sacre.
f, MEL. EDITOR:—At a period when Unita
fanism, in the pity of Boston, was more
gtblushing, and more in the, ascendant than
now is, it is said that the celebrated Dr.
ohn M. Mason, at the request of some
riends of the Truth, visited that city, with
be view of preaching on the character of
,hrist. When he had made a deliverance
in that subject, marked by an unction, and
power, peculiar even to that great and
iod man, he closed his last prayer in lan.
ge to this effect : "Glory to the Lamb;
nd may the frost of the second death rest
ipon the tongue that will not say, Amen!"
is he came down from the pulpit, one of
he Unitarian Doctors, several of whom were
'resent, with pompous and sneering rude.
Less of manner, thus , accosted him: lc Doctor
ilason, have you come to Boston. to teach
kt Theology ?" Now, Mr. Editor, you and
hers may think it rather assuiting, that
ck-woodsmen of the 'West shoild 'ask you
)publish their views on important doctrinee
f the Gospel. And you, too, may inquird,
o these men expect that we, of our cities.
Pittsburgh and Allegheny,, listen'to
it teachings on such sia t bfeets ? We,hope,
rover, you will giVe Vs,* lettet„in 6'664,
ail hearing in such
,matters: AittOte
ask the favor Of :`etaggesti`ag . n 'few
tghts in connexion with that great point
theology, placed at the head of this
is, however, neither our wish nor our
pose now, to engage in mere controversy
this subject. We rather desire to look
it in its practical bearings. And, to apes
ls from God ) and ruined by sin, we have
hope, and, we will add, no desire, to be
, d in any other way, than on the plan of
Gospel. We must think, that the im
mace of correct views on this subject,
'ital.
We know, indeed, that men far wiser
ourselves may differ somewhat as to
precise truths is the Bible system, that
lit to be regarded fundamental. But if,
we suppose, it is generally agreed, that
, e are some doctrines which must be
in and believed, or men cannot be saved,
:ems to us that this is one. As for our
'es, our full conviction is, that if we are
-ely wrong here, our error will be fatal.
shall wake shipwreck of our souls, and
of heaven.
sincere inquirer after truth, how•
need not be alarmed that he cannot
(stand all the difficulties connected with
subject. He ought, indeed, by all the
is in his power, to seek to enlarge his
taintance with revealed truth. He must
~ that he may believe. Growth in
ledge is associated with growth in
But then, it must not be forgotten,
secret things belong only to God. And
mere silence of the Bible is enough to
us, that the points about which it says
log, cannot be essential. Theological
tants may bring out their dogmas upon
iubject, and magnify their importance.
Thysicians, by their subtilties, may
;e or bewilder themselves and others;
after all, much of what they say may
utterly untrue. But if true, so far as
great interest, our eternal salvation, is
:erned, their speculations may be, to us,
Rae worth. And when they would be
above what is written ; or when they
it to supply the deficiencies of the
so far as any real advantage can be
d from their teachings, we would say,
, d them not—".Nbu tan, au...Tajo,' nee
leis, temples eyes."
for instance, need we distress our
as with the inquiry, what is the direct
formal reason that God has permitted
to enter the universe, which he had
1, and which, since its creation, has ever
under his entire control? The mere
that the Bible leaves this question un
rored, should teach us, that a solution of
difficulty can be to us a matter of little
tical importance. his our wisdom here,
iewhere, to suppress an idle and a vain
isity, and attend to those truths which
eeply concern us, and which are clearly
:sled. The whole history of our race,
our constant observation, gi ve us sad
fence, the force and certainty of w hi c h
:annot possibly evade, that moral evil is
le world And no fact of human con .
, ustiess can be more fully established,
that we are sinners. And we know,
God, in his Word, has abundantly taught
that sin, all sin, is utterly abhorrent to
own holy nature. And he has given
proof, most terrific and positive, of his pur
pose to follow it with his fiery indignation.
Whatever else we are left to doubt, as to the
principles on which the Divine government
proceeds, of this we are sure, that sin will•
not, and cannot, pass unpunisled. And
here, if heaven, where it first began its work
of mischief ; if the dark prison-house of
despair; if all the other woes of earth'
should fail to give us the proof, r 'have it
complete in the suffering and, dying of the
Son of God, when 'he bore the burden of
our iniquities. When, especially, the sword
of Jehovah's justice was called upon to
awake and do its most fearful execution;
when it was bathed to redness in the blood
of him who was the fellow of the Lord of
Hosts. Now, as God is omniscient, he fore
saw all the dishonor that would accrue to
himself, and all the evil that would result to
his creatures through everlasting ages. And
as he is alnaighty, he had power to prevent the
coming in of sin. Why, then did be create
beings, high in the scale of intellectual
greatness, who he knew would-'break his
laws, and mar the beauty and glory of, his
own workmanship ; who would first destroy
themselves, and then act as the guilty in
struments in bringing death and ruin upon
the race to ivhich we belong?
It is true, that God will so overrule sin,
which his Soul hates, that it will Ultimately
afford an occasion, of stowing forth . his own
glory; for to principalities and ppwers in
heavenly places is made known by the
Church, his manifold wisdom.. But the di
rect and formal reason for permitting its in
troduction, is no where given us. And to
pursue such inquiries is not only labor in
vain, but we are here cautioned to cease
from
,our presumptuous meddling with the
deep things of God, and obliged to fall back
upOn his perfect wisdom and goodness; and
to acquiesce in the arrangement. Even so,
Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.
Turning away, then, from questions that
are speculative, and therefore comparatively
unimportant, and listening to the voice of
conscience and of God, charging sin upon
us, (and we may as well deny our existence,
as to deny, that in unnumbered instances, we
have violated God's holy and:righteous law,
and, of course, we have incurred its deathful-
Penalty,) the great question with , us is, how
we may eseape the fearful issue.? And here
the. Gospel, and the Gospel alone, gives us
full information. " Tell ye, and bring them
near; yea, let them take counsel. together
Who hath declared tills from . tinciebt time ?
Who bath told it from that time ? Have not
I, the Lord And there is no God else be
side me—a just God and a Sairionr, there is
none beside me. Look unto Me and be
saved, the ends of the earth,for lam
God, and there is none else."
Here; then, we have a just God'} and a
Saviour. Here we have a Deliverir . such
as we need. In no ether have:we; rtor , , , can
have, any confidence. Tell us- not of, help
from any, other. ...Mock us Matsinnurmisery
by,pqinting us to any ,other, qavipur, than
one who is God. account 401 ot,her
viours as physicians of no B r at in
the suretyship, and meat, end l grac of;Je-
Jesui, , the Lord our righteousness,. we
have all that we can need; all t:hat we,ean
desire. He. has brought' in. everhiSting
righteenspess. He - who new` no sin has
been niade"sitr . for us; that we - itlaY4 :made },
the',;;rightetinanOS::'Of7ttqa - .iii him.'
this rigineusnees,'whiCh receta and magin- -1
fies the claims of justice and of law, - is unto
all and upon all them that believe.
A Saviour worthy of our confidence must
make a full and a complete atonement for
our sins; must reconcile us to God, so that
we are at-one-went with him. And no
other being can do it but the God-Man Me
t diator. But such is the Saviour whom the
Gospel, reveals. Tell us not that the union
of the finite and the infinite in the person
of Christ is impossible. We cannot indeed
understand the how, in this great matter.
But the fact that it is so, is clearly and
abundantly revealed. The Bible instructs
'us not how God can be omniscient,, omni
present, and eternal, but it is , easy to under
stand the absurdity and, the impiety of
ascribing to him the contrary imperfections.
Nor are we taught, bow Christ can be both
God and man, in two distinct natures, and
one, person, to remain so forever. Such
knowledge is too wonderful for us. And
this knowledge is not required of us. But
it is easy to see that thus it must be. Con
vinced of sin, and under consequent con
demnation, we must utterly despair of de
liverance, except on the ground of his
righteousness, and through hie grace and
merit, who is Immanuel, the incarnate God.
We know not how sin can be pardoned, un
less the penalty of the law, of which it is a
violation, is met and answered by the sin
ner's surety. Christ sustaining to us this
relation, for us he could snffer, for us he
could die. Die, not for sin in the abstract,
E. W
(the Bible in such matters deals not in ab
stractions,) nor as a governmental transac
tion, but for our sins : For the sins for
which we in our own persons are guilty be
fore God. And in strict accordance with
the prediction, he has been wounded'for our
transgressions, he has been bruised for our
iniquities, and the chastisement of our
peace was upon 'him; and with his stripes
we are healed. All we like sheep have gone
astray ; we have turned every one to his own
way and the Lord laid on him the iniquity
of us all. And he has made such an offer
ing, and such a sacrifice to law and justice,
on our behalf, 'that now God can be just, and
yet the justifier of him 'that be4eveth in
Jesus.
To make our salvation complete, we need
something more than mere forgiveness of
sin, and consequent freedom from condem
nation and wrath. We need actual meet
nese for heaven, and a title to life. And
here, too, such is the dignity of his char
atter, and such the worth of his sacrifice,
that our Mediator, has made every requisite
provision. He has' by one offering per
fected forever them that are sanctified, and
purchased for us eternal redemptlon. Here
the conscience, before awakened and alarmed,
finds genuine peace, and the heart is made
to feel a joy that is unspeakable and full of
glory. And under the workings of the
Spirit of Grace the faith of every true be
liever will result , in his entire conformity to
God's moral image, and in his full posses
sion of the heavenly inheritance.
Say not that our Mediator was obliged for
himself to obey the law of God, and there
fore could not merit salvation for us. We
adroit that it is a plain principle in the
Government of God, that every intelligent
creature, however high in rank, is bound by
an obligation that cannot be dispensed with,
to obey the Divine law perfectly. But as
Christ is God, it is his own law, to which
his Godhead, considered apart from his hu
manity, Cannot properly be under subjee•
tion. And in the economy of grace, the
one cannot be separated from the other.
And although he was, in accordance with
his own voluntary stiptilation, made under
r, •
"ONE THING IS NEEDFUL:" "ONE THING HAVE I DESIR E D OF THE LORD?' "THIS ONEITHINdrISO."*
PUBLICATION OFFICE, GAZETTE BUILDING, FIFTLIgT,IIEE'r„ - ABOVE SHIiTII LD, PITTSBURGH, PA.
FOR THE 'WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1856.
the law, to redeem them that were 'under
the law, yet his human nature, as associated
with the Divine, was not for its own sake
bound to render an obedience infinitely
meretorious, such as by the constitution of
his person, he could and did render; and
therefore it is that his sacrifice is available
for us.
And here again it may be asked, as it has
been often asked, was there no other way in
which sinners could be redeemed, sanctified
and saved ? Given the problem, God's
purpose to save his people, the question is,
was there no other 'method in which this
purpose could be carried out ? Must the
Son of God travail in the greatness of .his
strength to remove every barrier out of the
way? Must be drink to exhaustion a cup
of so much bitterness ? Must be, under
the pressure of his Father's wrath, due to
sin, be crushed down into the dust of death ?
Is sin so great an evil, that for its expiation
a sacrifice of so much worth was necessary ?
Could not God, by the exercise of his mere
sovereign authority, dispense with the pen
alty of his law, and receive the sinner into
favor, and make him an heir of heaven ?
Or might not repentance on the part of the
transgressor make sufficient atonement ?
When we are willing to abide by the plain
teachings of the Bible, and receive for true
Such statements as these : Without shed
ding of blood there is no remission ; But
now once itrthe end of the world bath he
(Christ) appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of, himself; When we shall be dis
posed to lobk at what God has done, and
cease to charge him with foolishness. And
listen to what he says, and r no longer make
him a liar : Then we haltstand off from all
useless inquiries, and regard salvation from
sin as not possible, except through faith in
His blood, Who has been set forth to 'be 'a.
propitiation, to declare the righteousness of
God that he might be just, and yet the jus
tifier of the ungodly.
It is most true that God is love. But he
is, too, a consuming fire. And although be
delights riot in the death of the wicked, he
Cannot deny himielf,' and it is the glory' of
his nature that, except'on the ground of In
adequate atonement, he will by no means
dear the guilty. His infinite benevolence
gives Tali security that he takeslleasiire in
the happiness of his creatures, when
happiness can be enjoyed 'On'the principles;
of his administration. But then the fell-
being`Athe Creature must held , sub
ordination to the higher an 1 more important,
interest the maintenance of • his
glory.. It is,fiis owns teatimony'coricerning
himself, that while he takei plenetire in 'the
exercise of his idviiglinane* he delights,
toe, in the execution of judgment and
righteousness in the earth.
The supposition that the sinner by his
repentance can make - satisfaction, for sin, is'
as absurb as it is false tuitl'impiona. Sorrow
piittin violation of ,however
5 pi , g4li t ,
„Itn' real
4tronement. Ruti.: 4 Wifititneift of
'God it is only by virtue of Christ's atoning
sacrifice that any sinner is brought to gen
nine repentance. And we may as well expect
that God will open the gates of hell, and
cause the wail of its wretched occupants to
cease, and bring them back to happiness and
heaven, as to hope for pardon and accept
ance founded on any spontaneous workings
of the nnrenewed heart.
Nor was there here any injustice when
the Son of God, whose personal innocence
was spoilesS, was made to suffer for the
guilty. We admit and maintain that there
was here a real substitution. But on the
part of the Surety the whole undertaking
was voluntary. And in full view of all that
was before him, it was his own joyful ex
clamation, "Lo, I come I I delight to do
thy will, omy God !" And now that his
work is finished, the Eternal Father, who
surely understands the' claims of his own
law, is well pleased for his righteousness
sake. And he who only knows the full de
merit of sin, in this great transaction, the
atonement of Christ, has magnified his word
above all his name. Here, mercy and truth
meet together; righteousness and peace
embrace each other. And in this plan of
saving sippers through faith in the atoning
sacrifice, we have a development of God's
-wisdom and grace that is marvelous. He
here especially appears glorious in holiness.
And when in this way the sinner is re
deemed from death and from hell, and made
an heir of heaven, in our view the attribute
of God's justice achieves a higher triumph,
and beams forth with a lustre more intense,
than in any other of its manifestations.
Here then. we have a definite transaction,
limited in its very nature, not. indeed in re
spect to the value of the sacrifice offered,
but in its availability : the Great Shepherd
laying down his life for the sheep; the Son
of God suffering and dying to make satis
faction for the sins of those given to him in
covenant; tasting death for every one of the
" many sons" that shall be brought home to
glory. And oh, what a well-spring of life,
and peace, and' consolation, and joy is here
opened to every genuine believer! But
how full of terror and alarm 'this great truth
to every man . who continues to reject the
great salvation !
For, that this doctrine is true, and that
it has all the essential importance we have
ascribed to it, we make our most codfident
appeal to the plain, the direct, the abun
dant teachings of the Bible. And we ap
peal too, to that sweet consciousness of peace
and reconcilement with God,, which every
weary and heavy-laden sinner has, who
comes to Christ for rest. We know'--that
the interests here involved are unutterably
precious; but with our faith fixed on the
atoning sacrifice of the God-Man Mediator ?
we surely need not fear the issue. When
the Eternal Father shall nullify his own
purpose, and violate his promise and his
oath ; when the Son of God shall cease to
love his people whom he has redeemed, and
for whom he now intercedes; and when the
Spirit of grace shall leave unfinished the
most glorious workmanahip of his own hands
' —then, and not till then, may the hope of
heaven founded on such a basis, end in dis
appointment.
But there remaineth no other sacrifice
for sin; nought but a fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation, that shall
consume' the adversary. And the greatest
good that the writer of this article can de
sire in relation to any one of his readers,
who may still be impenitent' and' unbeliev
ing, is, that he may take the timely and the
salutary warning,, and flee' for' refuge to this
hope;set before him in the Gospel. And'
,
well for him, that the th. should, disturb
the quiet of his soul, a d grate harsh,thun
der upon his consoiencei, -For the hope that
.
rests upon any other f .. ctindationi must:per
ish. It will be like t: giving up of-the
f
ghost in the day of Go s coming.
Respectfully, ye rs,
' - - ' °muffs, UMBRA.
For the Presbyterian na " atanal Advocate.
The Innocent wi . -,,the Guilty.
REV. Dn. IVICKINN v.:Dear, Sir:—
4 .
With all due respect f ' ryou, I 'bust think
you are not qnite correc.in your remarks Of,
the 13th of September in the Banner and..
Advocate, about punisli*g the. innocent for
the sake of executingl ' claw. on the , guilty.. .1
You give a long extra° Of:one ,of Ixey , dia-1,
Courses, which .your arelPleasedrktb ~" com
mend as of inestimable i hAipexoeptrinite_
sentence, and this Bents .on'yetib"conaernit"'
and "utterly repudiate.l 4 , ...Many of the ex
tracts which are seen iWthe papers from my
discourses, are made by the' reporters with
outi my knowledge. . d sometimes these
reports are mere caries res; the proper ex
pressions are not repo d, and the connex
ion of things is sadly b ken. The extracts
you give are, however,:kabstantially cornet.
4.
The sentence which you condemn is the
following: "Let us cherish sentiments of
kindness, and allow ninety-nine guilty per
sons to go unpunished, ther than , to pun
ish one innocent person t Yon think that
a
my "kindness of hear4as led me astray,"
and that this is an linfldel sentiment."
You say, " save the inibcent, but let not,
one guilty man escape, much less ninety
nine." And• on this point we are certainly
agreed. For we both I)elieve that, the es-.
cape of the guilty frontripunishment accord
ing to law, emboldens them in crime. And
1 believe, also, that, thia certainty of pun
ishment .is a greater terror: to evil doers,
than the intensity ori*rribleness of the
punishment inflicted.; ;Raves it regards the
sentence to which you'. take exception, I
thought I was standing! on the best and
surest platform in ,the.Torld, namely : the
Bible, the Constitution of the United States,
and the. Confessiow.of Faith,. And . I
promise. you: that, when-you show me that
the Rule of Law which '1 quoted, is not ae
lebraing to the Word;_ I).f God, the laws of
Christendom and;of ll*. United States, and
.theiConfession of:Faiilkthen I will " repu
diate!' itralena ~0 07 ,, ,1
~ : -..First,„-,--The„?.llisentirs9- 1 from which you
make the fe*ustiwbisifeached with a view
to -allay:, ex.iiitenienti,a*Ak especially .to pro-
Auceleelings,oflinmaty toward two per
sonst Alien ih• • the ip m i * of the. Vigilance
-Committee. Rumor , said they were to be
_executed in.& few dayttl ; I was not satisfied
that they deserved 4 die. The rumor,
however, i(*ixix*k , They were both
lenge. -NOOF, r - 7 ards, by the Com
mittee.t-'l.' ,- ~ - ' e.law holds " that
trta nri.i, d !
to be innocent
, tin . '' . '7 ~• .' ,' - , .1194P01ki,'.1-wished.4theffee,
unfortunate prisoners to hitve the benefit of
any doubt that might be reasonably enter
tained of the guilt of the crimes for which
they were to be executed. The meaning of
the Rule of Law which I quoted, is not that
we should let the guilty go free from the
penalties of the law—not that laws should
be loosely executed. It does not call for a
paralytic, nor an epileptic administration of
laws. It does not teach that we are know
ingly to let either one or ninety-nine guilty
persons go unpunished. But it does mean
that as Christian legislators, we are so to pro
tect the innocent as not to deal unjustly
with them, fora the sake of being sure that
we shall succeed in punishing the guilty.
Surely as long as there is a doubt of guilt
we ought not to execute the extreme pen
alty of the law. The point of your argu
ment is; that it is cruel to let the guilty go
free, for thereby " three times ninety-nine
innocent persons will be destroyed!"
Now, I do not ask that any proven to be
guilty shall go unpunished. I- only insist
that their guilt must be proven according to
law, and -that they be punished according
to law. And as I umderstand the subject,
there is infinitely more cruelty in punishing
one innocent person, than in letting ninety
nine guilty go unpunished. I believe "it
is better"for society, and that the harmony
and well being of a virtuous universe are
less shocked by. letting the, guilty, whose
guilt is not absolitely proven, go free, than
by punishing one innocent person as if
guilty. Idu not teach that criminals should
be shielded from the law. But upon what
authority would you put one innocent person
to death ? Does the law of God- or the laws
of the land allow one innocent person to be
sacrificed, for the sake of securing the exe
cution of some others that are guilty.? It
is a fearful thing to take human life. It
ought not to be.ool3e except on a plain war
rant from the Supreme Giver of Life.. As
long, therefore, as we have any reasonable
doubt as to the, perfect application of God's
warrant to the individual - whose life we have
in our hands, we should err, if we err, at all,
on the side of mercy..
Suppose a case. Here are ten persons,
Whose guilt is proven according to law, and
one whose guilt is not proven—and who, in
fact, according to law is innocent—now, by
what law, human or Divine, will you.sacri
fice this one innocent person, in order that
you may have the guilty executed As I
understand the case, the only . plea on which
this could be done is the infidel rule of
expediency, or the dangerous and Jesuitical
rule of " doing. evil that, good may come."
Secondly. I quoted the sentence as one
that as it seemed to me I had heard all my
life. I regarded it as .a maxim that no one
disputed. •On examination, however, I find
it is an actual rule of law, aid down by Sir
Matthew Hale, the father of English law,
and by Sir William Blackstone, the greatest
of commentators on English laws. And to
make myself still more sure, I have asked the
opinion of one of our ablest judges, the high
est authority we have, and he replied to me :
"It is a rule universally acknowledged. I
have never heard it called in question be
lore. The number is variously stated, five,
ten, or one hundred, but the principle is the
same. The rule of law is the same, and
prevails in all our courts." •
Sir Matthew Hale says : It is better
that five guilty persons should escape un
punished, than one innocent person should
die." And Blackstone says : " The law
holds that it is better that ten guilty per
'sons • escape than that one innocent one
suffer." See Hale's Pleas, 2 vol., pp. 289,
290. Chitty's Blackstone, 2 vol., 4 Beck
p. 276; and Roacmes Criminal Evidence,
p.':14..
, Then, if I haVe greatly erred, .I am
astraywith the greatest legal , authors. For
Hale was ,certainly "one of the best, purest
and moskriiiiitia,n and humane judges that
ever siVen;ftbe English Bench." And..it
wereimit feisY, to find ; higher authority as to
what is law than Blackstone. I must, there
fore, Still hold with the Rule of Law, that
"it is better" that five, or ten, or even one
"hundred' guilty persons should escape un
punished, than ''° that one innocent person
should die.". ~I do, not know .of any au
tnority to punish an innocent person with
death efen if ,thereby we could secure the
eiectitien of one hundred guilty ones.
Your farther questions abOut the Vigil,
Med Committee I may. answertwhen lashall
ItaVe-nrulmtime; and the - effects of its doings
are i more fully developed. May the Mine
StinloifthboVezilyViaminittioilion all your
Inunns, and giteit-gMeitimiliitir4mfarf.
Yours faithfully, in manifold toils for Christ's
crown and kingdom. W. A. SCOTT.
San Francisco, Nov. 4, 1856.
For the Presbyterian ißenner and Advocate
A. Few Plain Thoughts to a Young Friend
Just Entering on the Xinistry.--No. 3.
In my last, I spoke of avoiding extremes
in the mode of preaching. Don't slavishly
read, and don't - be` an extemporaneous
preacher. But if you will run into ex
tremes, steer for the former—that is,
if you don't write extemporaneously, you
will preach more truth, and wear better with
the church. - •
Between these extremes, there is, you
know, the preaching freely from' the manu
script, or from memory, or extemporaneous
ly, as ministers understand that word. While
I would deserve to be 'laughed at for my
pains, if I were to speak, ex cathedra, about
these modes, my opinion - may have some
weight with you, as the suggestion of expe
rielnee and friendship.
The deliberate conviction, then, is, that
preaching exactly from memory is the worst.
It is saying the same thing to affirm, that in
a few cases, it is the -best. But in most
eases, it makes the delivery recitative, state
ly,- and (vide) withdraws the attention of
the bearer, less from the mere working of the
machinery, than either of -the other modes.
I never listened to a memoriter preacher,
that I did not think the effort to recall words
had a strange effect on the eye, the organ to
which, entire, lively freedom is so necessary,
in order to impression. Stress, and often
dis•tress, appears more on the man, than in
the case of others. Very often, that is ex
cept where ,the memory is a capital one,
there is a painful apprehension visible on
the face of the speaker, and sympathized
with by intelligent hearers, of a lapses
memorim. To this, the very best memori
zer, no matter what his powers may be, is
always, from many eauses, liable. I was
made exceedingly nervous the other day, by
a brother who, has preached over thirty.
fe t iirslnfiirw d — his 'cater'
word, drifted out to sea, and seemed as if
he would n't get to port. But he was an old
seaman, "kept on saying' Something good,"
and at last got right. He told me the thing
was not unusual. " What of it?" says one.
Nothing, perhaps, to you. Your memory
may be extraordinary; and still you are not
always safe. lam persuaded, that to many
hundreds of ministers who memorize—that
is, to' men not extraordinarily gifted any
way—the case is very suggestive. Such
men, by their memoriter preaching, are un
dergoing, weekly, a great'deal of unvecessa
•ry distress, both in, their study and in the
pulpit. They cannot preface and get through
two long (or even one) recitations of this
kind a week, (and lecture to boot,) without '
much unnecessary toil and pain. For it
cannot be proven that there is any gain in
this way of teaching, or enforcing truth,
over the other modes. The labor and tribu
lation accompanying it, then, in the cases of
most men, is altogether needless.
You will say, that perhaps my objections
savor more of pique than reason. I have
no personal ifisappointment tb express. I
have never tried the plan. I will frankly
say, hoivever, that. I do dislike it, in part
from the conviction, that it shortened the
lives and usefulness of a number of dear
young men, whom I knew. They were of
much promise, and .in important churches,
(one in a city ;) and after three or four years
of memorizing—after three or four ' days
weekly writing—fell in the harness. Dr.
and Mr. -- may laugh at this.
TheY can commit their sermens in two hours,
and preach gloriously. •But you, my young
friend, I think, cannot do it. Ido not say
that if you adopt this mode your memory
will not improve. But, as many others have
found, it always will be hard work—unneces
sary bard work—that nobody can show the
Master requires of you.
The Irishman who Swallowed the Tra et
and how he Paid for a Bible.
A missionary lodged one night in the
house of a gentleman among the mountains
of Kerry, in Ireland. In the morning, as he
stood beside his host, looking over the wild
and beautiful country, they saw a shepherd
tending some sheep at a little distance. The
gentleman pointed him out to the mission
ary. "There is Peter," said he,`" one of the
shrewdest men that we have in the district"
Then the missionary went up to him, en•
tered into a conversation, and gave him a
tract in Irish. A few weeks after, he and
Peter met a g ain. ."I've, swallowed the
tract," said the latter." "If I give you an
Irish Bible, will you swallow that?"" I
won't be indebted for it, but I'll buy it."
"Well, I've got two or three." "What is
the price ?" " The price I ask is this : when
God shall strike the light and love of it in your
heart, that you will teach six men like your
self to love the Bible: and. Peter took it.
Some time after, an Englishman, accompan
ied by the missionary, started to cross the
mountains. Just before them was Peter.
" Oeh," said he, "but y'r riverence is wel
come so early." ." Why, Peter, what are
you doing here ?" " Shure, I'm doing hon
estly; I am paying for the book; and on the
top of the mountain, where by this time it
was broad, daylight, he led them to a hay
stack, behind which were six RomadCatho
lic men, away from the eye of the priest,
waiting for Peter to teach them the Word of
God
Irish and English boys and girls, do you
know and love God's Word ? Then persuade
other little boys and girls to love it too.—
Church of Englund AS ' uiday School Quar
terly Mgazite. , ,
4it''' . "ll'l l l --. '""''''''
•, i iti,,,s..!'-‘;:alt: ~._ ::faptils,-:;
... ... ._:„..,..„.,..•,,•,., _••
.. . •..,.„..„.„.„..,..
MEN of 'the noblest`dispositions: always
think theniselves the leakiest -When 'others
shire' their happiness with , thent r
TRUST him little who- praises all; him less,
who censures all, and him least,.who
,in
different about 411.--Lavater. „
.TEO3-inan- who has . no enemies.may at
once conclude le has - no parts,
_for, it ,is as
natural for little minds to envy and datmet
.from that which'is'great, as 'it for wate r Seek a level.' ' "" " -
FRAIL OF ^ Evil 'ln the commission, of
fear man so much` toi*thine own self.
Anotherlie but 'One **Wttig akainst. thee;
thou irks thousand. Another thowinayest
void 4klitalrimittliou 4 pangt not. h ,Nicked
"messis its ow ri 'titan:Lent. '
THE ONE TALENT.-If there be one thing
on, earth which is truly admirable, it is to
see qod's wisdom blessing an inferiority of
natural powers, where they have been hon
estly, truly, and zealously eultivated.—Dr.
Arnold.
kr is a secret known to few, yet of no
small use in.the conduct of life, that when
you fall ifito a man's conversation, the first
thing you should consider is, whether he
has a greater inclination to hear you, or that
y
should hear liim —Addison •
ou . .
TRELAND.—As a further indication of the
gradual progress of Ireland from universal
pauperism to at least comparative prosperity,
a lodal Tory paper cites the ease of the. Car-
Jew union, in which within seven years, the
number of paupershati decreased from 2,900
to 374, and this number consists
ly'of the aged and infirm, with children an
der fifteen years of age.
SAVING.—The origin of wealth is, -in a
moral feeling, self-denial. " Here is some
-thing I will not consume or throw away—l
will take care ,of it, store it up for the future
use or myself or others." The man who
first 'said and acted thus, laid the foundation
of a virtue upon'earth. The Sayings of each
man are a diffusive blessing to all, and there
fore, so far,:frugality is a ,thing which all
3.l;tay and ought to applaud. '
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE.—The Catalogue
for 185627 shows the following summary:
Medical Students 50; Undergraduates--
Seniors 61; Juniors 62 ; Sophomores 68;
Freshmen 60. Scientific School—Seniors
18; Middle Class 23; Juniors 11...
UNIVERSITY. OP VERMONT.—^SeHiOTS2O;•
Juniors 27 '
• Sophomores 17; Freshmen 20.
Academical Students 94; Medical Students
41.
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.--There are
in the United States 154 Colleges, with
1059 instructors, 11,111 undergraduates,
and 67,691 Alumni. Of these Alumni,
. 0 .10- 1,7 -Jahm-enter9449 , --MiniSTY)- Witioh
1 . 7 110.0er 'was to; be increased about , 400
by the graduates of 1856: The denomin
ation shoWn to have the highest num
ber of colleges under its ears, is the
Presbyterian—thirty-three in all—and the
Baptists stand second, with a reported list of
twenty-two colleges under their patronage.
No other denomination has more than
eleven.
NEWSPAPEL—Judge Longstreet has
said : Small is the sum that is required to
patronize a newspaper, and most amply re
munerated is the patron. I care not how
humble and unpretending the gazetti which
he takes,—it is next to impossible to, fill a
sheet fifty-two times a year, without , pitting
into it something that is worth the subscrip
tion. I well remember what a different
there was between those of my schoolmates
who had and those who had not access to
papers. The reason is very evident : Youth
will peruse a newspaper with delight, when,
they will peruse nothing else."
DANCING.—The Synod of Nashville bears
the following testimony :
Resolved, That the practice of 'danoing
and attending upon dancing parties or thea
tres is eminently and exclusively that of the
world that lieth in wickedness, and, so in
consistent with the.life of a Christian, , and
that purity of heart which Christians should
strive to attain, that'it is not only improper
for Christians to allow themselves or child
ren to engage in it, and qualify themselves
for it, but the Sessions of our churches
should treat it as an offence worthy of disci
pline 'under our rules of Church' Govern
ment; and that this action of Synod be
read from the pulpit by all our ministers.
CONGREGATIONALISM IN IRELAND.—The
Northern Congregational Association, whose
object is to afford an opportunity of inter
course and counsel between ministers and
delegates from churches of the Congrega
tional Body in Ulster, commenced its sittings
in Armagh, on Monday, the 15th ult.
There were present pastors from their
churches in Londonderry, Coleraine, Straid,
Richhill Moy, Dungannon Newry and
Armagh, besides delegates. The state of
vital religion in the denomination was fully
and freely discussed, and measures were:de
vised, under hope of the Divine blessing', for
securing in their midst a wider extension of
evangelical piety.. The subject of deferred
annuities for, their ministers in Ireland, and
a widow's fund, was introduced, and arrange
ments were made with a view of securing
support for superannuated pastors of the
denomination, or their bereaved families, in
eases where such assistance should be re
quired. s -
Looking from Self to Christ.
" Your occasional doubts and fears arise
from too Much 'considering faith and repent
arm as thugrounds, rather than as the evi
dences, of salvation. The truth is, that a
weak faith makes the soul as secure, though
not so happy, as a strong one ;
,and an im
p.erfect repentance, as we deem it, May be
sincere, and, therefore a work of grace.
Our salvation is not because , we do so well,
but because he whom we trust hath"done all
things well. The believer is never 'more
happy, nor secure, than when at.the same
moment he beholds and feels his own vile
ness and also his Saviour's excellence.
I the chief of sinners* `IIXII
But Jesus died for me,'
is the burden of its song. Yon look at your
self too much, and at the infinite price paid
for you too little; " For conridtion, it is true,
you must look to your own, heart; but- for
comfort, to your own Bevil-Jur. Thus, the
=I
Philadelphia, 27 South =Tenth- .Sheet, .belei , filestaut
• -
By Nail, 'or at the'Oidoeta: so :FT Year
Delivered in the City 71 5- 46 tr t BED ,'PROSPEMIIIII.
svcsintled ...Israelites. were to look enly at tha
brazen'serpentforr-recoverp , it' The graces of
the Spirit; irifettsignic;;Wiabtteis Oaken;
t i i ,- 4 6 -;:44 5 10 6 ,..,,A t .' 0 0015t,; 90 +•„„
by; but it rs'' varlet, as reenniulsm,,,oe' r ,
lioved' restedb.upowkrveriland !followed,
that wilt speak peace t,o outselves: }sy-looking
rrtiktO'hibi, 'we litafrizid•tlit'inord
kiYilv9tgrtvfl AIA)4 11 1)#"* :$ 3 l O-4
sin iz andAte sensible ow ; veTrAort.irs , 000
of what we yet desire to be. None are se
holy 'as those who mourn they are-not so.
While oursarictificationis.still a gradual 'and
imierfeet- work, our jnstifwation is , perfeet
and complete, the former is, wrought in us,
the latter for us. 'Rell'iirtutilv t ait a worth
less sinner on the Skirratir,l'arrd' the latter ii
all, you r , own ,with itnTafecoinpartying blessings
of pardon, icceptince, adoptiion , and the
non-imputatrat` or 'Sin' to''your Charge.
Hence will 2llo44liiirkftil; isbbdieneeedevor
trtdness of heart, patience 'in tribulation; sad
quiet waiting for the glory, of God. Thus
salvation is by faith alone,,and thus Raving
faith works by love. Embrace these princi
ples freely, fully and' impartially,,end you
will enjoy a true Scriptural peace, assurance
and joy." —Leigh Richmond's Letters.
IC•a3frkiblfoßlitolill:ll s ol) 3 LY s Mll4l)4o:l3 . ,tai):46l:4
WHOLE ND 2*co
e~
Nor the Presbyterian Benner and Advocate
Action of the Synod of lowa.
MEMBERS DIIRING,TRE PAST YEAR.
Synod would record with sorrow, yet with
humble submission to the Divine will, the decease
Of three of our beloved brethren during the past
year, viz: Rev. Hugh Hutchinson, James Galls
tine, and R.. Q. McComb. In leaving on our Re
cords a brief tribute to their memories, we are
pleased to note in regard to all of them, that
they were faithful and beloved. Brother Nutch
inson was a native of Ireland, and licentiate of
the Presbytery of Bainbridge when he removed
to this country about four years ago. He had
been the very accepted and beloved pastor of the
church of Le-Claire.for about two years, when, in
November last, he was called to that rest which
remains for the peoPle of God.
Itev. James Gallatin was one of the pioneer
preachers of our Church in loWa, whilst it was
yet a Territory. He was a native of Pennsylva
nia, received hiecollegiate edubation in Jefferson
College, and his theological at the Western Theo
logical Seminary in Allegheny
,City. He was or
dained to the work "of the ministry by the Presby
tery of lowa, at Spring Creek, which churCh, to
gether with that of Round . Prairie, he served for
several years. For the last fe*years be had been
missionary in the churches of Scotch Grove, Cas
cade, Maquoketa and Andrew. In Scotch Grove
was his home, which church had increased most
under Ms ministry, until, he was about to have
been settled there as pastor, when he was called
tolls reward. The people of the' church were
much attached to him, and the congregation was
increasing rapidly under his ministry.- Although
he had been in ill health for some months previ
ous to his decease, yet the messenger came to him
at an hour very. unexpected to himself and all
about him. On the first day of Way last, whilst
the dew'of his youth was still upon him, he calm
ly and believingly departed this life like one fal
ling into a sweet sleep. .
Brother Gallatin to those-Who best knew him,
was sociable r refined and agreeable. As a scholar
he was thorough, and as an: ambassador of the
Lord Jesus, he Ni7,ll4l,4nifiecl; and; his diseottress.
waysitarKhly , studiedianct enriohed-with•Gos
pel truth, well calculated. to feed the church of
God purchased with his blood. He was able, pop
ular and faithful as a preacher__and pastor; con
sequently his death is to us a great lose, yet we
doubt not it has been his ineffable gain.
Rev.' R. C. McComb departed this life on the
24th of August last, in the full hope of a, blessed
immortniity, in the fifty-first year of his age. He
received his collegiate 'education at South Han
over, was ordained by the Presbytery of Colum
bus, 0., in 1840, and was pastor of the London
church until 1854. Soon after this, he removed
to Fort Madison, lowa, which church he served
one year and then accepted an invitation to the
Crawfordsville church, soon after.whieh he ended
his labors'upon earth, confiding in the promises
of,the Gospel for complete redemption. "Blessed
are the dead which die in the. Lord; yea, faith the
Spirit."
In these solemn providences, we are consoled
;by the reflection, "The Lord reineth, and death
all things well;" and' also by the_good hopes we
entertain, that these beloved brethren are now in
the Church triumphant. ,:We, moreover, would
take the admonition -thus given us, "Be ye also
ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the
Son of Man cometh."
Per the Presbyterian Banter and Advocate
Church Dedications in lowa.
On the 18th of September last, the new and
handsome honse of worship of the Le-Claire
church was opened, and by appropriate services
dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. Ser
mon by Rev. Joshua Phleps, D. D.
On the 80th of Sept. the very neat and com
modious edifice of the Princeton church was also
opened, and by religious services, dedicated to
its intended use. Rev. T. D. Mason preached the
sermon on the occasion. This Is a new church,
composed of zealous members, in a beautiful and
thriving village, and have their house of worship
entirely paid for. These two form a united
charge, under the ministrations of the Rev. Boge,
late Of Canada.
We enteatain the best of hopes for their pros
perity and usefulness.
On the 17th' ult..; the church of Marion, Linn
County, in the observance of solemn religions
services. dedicated their new church edifice to the
worship of Almighty God.
Rev. F. A. Shearer preached the sermon and
together with Rev. J. D. Mason, administered the
Lord's Supper.
After public worship, on the Monday preced
ing, a unanimous call was moderated for the Rev.
A. Marshall as pester.
This young brother ,has been pieaching to the
church for the past six months, with much accep
tance ; • Santis about to become their settled pastor,
with prospects of extensive usefulness. _
The Lord, by the copious influences of his Spir
it, furnish misister and people' for hearty co-oper
ation in the advancement of the Redeemer's
kingdom ! d. D. M.
For the Presbyterian Fanner and Advocate
"Presbytery,of Cedar.
On the 17th ult., an adjourned meeting of
Presbytery was 'held' in the State-Rouse, lowa
The meeting was opened with prayer by the
Rev. Alexander Boyd, Moderator; after which a
sermon -was' preached- by Rev. It J. Taylor, can
didate for ordination.
A call was' put into his bands from the church
of Montezuma, Poweshiek County, of which he
signified his acceptance.
A call was 'also put into the hands of Rev. A.
S. Marshall, from the church of Marion, of
which he signified his acceptance.
On the morning of the 18th, brother Taylor
was ordained to the'full work of the Gospel min
istry, by the laying on of the hands of the Pres
bytery. - .
Brother Morrow of Cedar-Rapids, preached the
sermon, the Moderator presided, brother Shearer
led in the ordaining prayer, and the charge to
the yoUng brother was . delivered by J. D. Mason.
Father Boyd •was appointed a Committee to in
stall.
Brother Taylor settles in a wide missionary
field, with good prospects of extensive use-
• .
In the Counties immediately North of him,
Marshall and Tama, a laborer of energetic mis
sionary', character is very much needed. Two
._churches are there organized, and :a third is
wanted, and no man to brat* unto them the
-bread of life. The , Willsend sai Itrabatiador af
ter his own heart -- J. D. M.
10
ES
EMS