have been more appropriate and at who takes the oversight of a church tractive than in the delivery of the and congregation at the age of twentypresent discourse, while he occupi one or two, will labour more years in ed the delicate station of an ad the vineyard, than another who is or dained at twenty-eight, or even later ; monisher not merely of his breth or than he himself would, had he ren in faith but his brethren in of waited a few years longer. On the fice. contrary, I am strongly inclined to Dr. H. will excuse us for this think, that upon an average, those brief delineation of his manner, ministers who are settled near the done for the eye and the benefit of age of thirty, actually preach as many others; and we shall pass peace years as those who commence eight, And there are or ten years earlier. ably to give our very curt description of the contents of the sermon. obvious reasons why it should be so. The work of the ministry is a great The title of the discourse, quoted work. The duties of a pastor are exabove, will inform those of our tremely arduous, especially at first. readers who have not already learn. They require much physical as well ed the subject of it, that it treats of as intellectual vigour. But the conthe good pastor-what he is—what stitution is not ordinarily. consoli. is necessary to constitute one dated much under the age of thirty. what is demanded of the minister From twenty to twenty-five it is yet who would be one. The division ble of sustaining that constant pres in its greenness, and of course incapaof the subject is simple, compre- sure of care and toil, which is inseparhending the qualifications he should able from the pastoral office. Hence, possess, the example he must exhi- chiefly, so many invalids in the sacred bit, the active duties he is to per- profession. Hence so many blighted form. hopes, bereaved churches, and early In speaking of the qualifications graves. Let our youthful Levites then, who are chiding the sluggish necessary to constitute a good pastor, Dr. H. mentions, with much years that keep them away from the alter, repress their premature aspirainterest, that of maturity in age and tions, and rather esteem themselves judgment. The qualifications of happy in being allowed ample time piety, good natural abilities, educa- for preparation. They will find it tion, and prudence, were the more quite another thing to have the care obvious : but in stating this, he had of one or two thousand souls, from to contend with the ardour of youth what they are apt to anticipate ; and ful benevolence which is so prone after a year's experience will be much to overlook wisdom and to precipi- longer, than to regret that they did more likely to wish they had waited tate the raw recruit at once into the not settle sooner. ranks of veterans and the fore front But supposing it morally certain, of battle ; and with much earnest that the minister who enters the desk ness he recommends to the young at twenty, will labour ten years longer candidate, a course of preparatory than if he had waited till thirty, it by no means follows that he will do more missionary labors, previous to settlement with a people and taking good. The usefulness of a minister, for any given time, must depend upon In the the over-sight of a church. course of his remarks on this sub- cal attainments, the maturity of his his Christian experience, his theologiject, he says: judgment, the weight of his personal character, and his acquaintance with They seem to think, that the earlier men and things. And it cannot surea man enters the spiritual field, the ly be doubted, that other things being longer time he will have to labour; and equal, the man of thirty has a sounder that the amount of good done must be ex- judgment, and more general knowlactly proportional to the time employ., edge, and greater weight of character, ed in doing it. But I conceive it is by and in short, is in most respects betno means certain, that a young man ter qualified for the pastoral office nor a than the youth of twenty-one. of which he places these so clearly course, the former enters the sacred and prominently before us ; profession under far better advantages will we touch particularly, on the ihan the latter, and with the same de circle of pastoral duties which, like gree of zeal and faithfulness can do one who has himself moved in them, more good in the same time. I appeal to you my brethren wheth- he exhibits so familiarly and imer you have not known young preach- pressively to his brethren ; for we ers of fine talents and great promise, shall be tempted to transgress, too exceedingly deficient in pastoral qualfar, the limits assigned to these noifications, and of course extremely em- tices of sermons. barassed in discharging the ordinary We shall add a word only, to exduties of the ministry? Has not the use press our cordial approbation of the fulness of some been greatly circumscribed by rashness, by timidity, or by method, adopted by the ministers palpable errors in judgement, which who compose the Pastoral Associathe ripening of a few more years might tion of Massachusetts, for aiding have prevented ? For my own part, one another in their duties as pasI cannot but think, that many of the tors in the churches ; and to comdifficulties which ultimately end in dis- mend it, for adoption, to all their mission, originate in the want of age brethren in office. For, we would and experience at first ; and that from respectfully inquire, is there suffi. the same causes, not a few are led in cient attraction given to the great the commencement of their ministry, to sacrifice their own judgement and object of aiding one another in pasindependence, so as never to gain that toral duties, by those existing bodies influence, either at home or abroad, among Congregational and Presbywhich might have been established and terian clergymen, which meet as turned to the very best account. legislatures and judicial tribunals Indeed, when we turn our attention to act upon the concerns of the for one moment to the responsibilities Church and its members public and of the pastoral office; when we think private? And will not the particof its ever varying, and continually ular duty of mutual watchfulness pressing and ardous duties; when we consider what maturity of Christian and admonition, be discharged with experience, what wisdom, what pru more wisdom and faithfulness and dence, what meekness, what forbear. love, and be followed with more exance are required ;-how can a youth cellent results on the character of just passing from his minority, a child ministers, when, throwing off the almost, be adequate to such a station? secular feelings of public agents especially, how can he grow up to his managing the concerns of others, full stature under all the pressure of weekly preparations for the desk, of they assemble specifically for this hourly hindrances and exhausting pa one and sole purpose, to inquire rochial duties, in a great and popular into themselves,--to search out congregation? Will you insist upon their own faults, to learn their own age and experience in your represen duties, to improve their own graces, tative at a foreign court, or in any sta- to exhort and admonish one anothtion of great civil responsibility at er, and to look unitedly in prayer home, and at the same time, count to the Head of the Church and its these qualifications unimportant in the ambassador of Christ, in one to whom pastors, for his blessing on them, as are committed the eternal interests of brethren alike sustaining the rethousands? sponsibilities and burdens of the pastoral office ? We will not follow Dr. H. through Whatever methods the ministers what he says of pastoral example, of Christ may adopt for this purrelative to the particular virtues of pose, whether to convene in those Christian forgiveness, temperance, private and friendly circles of neighindustry, and hospitality, or through boring ministers' which, we know, the illustrations, enbon-point, by in many places have been establish ed for mutual improvement, or in their labors. In the three discourmore general and public bodies like ses already delivered, the wide this Pastoral Association, the duty fields of prayer, preaching, and is one which must commend itself conduct, have been entered upon ; to the conscience of every pastor and now there remains free scope in the sight of God. We who hold for specialty and minuteness in reto the system of mutuality and not gard to each, in the discourses of episcopacy, say with Baxter, in which are to follow. But whether the introduction to the Reformed they who are to come after as the Pastor, on comparing the mutual public admonishers of their brethduty of brethren in the ministry ren in this Association, shall go with the mutual duty of brethren in forward in the paths now opened the faith : “We have therefore before them, or go back for the sake need to be warned, and awakened, of faithful remembrance, these liv(if not instructed) as well as they. ing discourses, steeped with the exSo that I confess, I think we should perience of the age, coming warm meet together more frequently, if from the heart and lips of active lawe had nothing else to do but this. borers in the field, must, notwithAnd we should deal as plainly and standing the able treatises on the closely with one another, as the pastoral offce bequeathed us by the most serious among us do with our wisdom and experience of former flocks ; lest, if they only have the ages, be numbered among the most sharp admonitions and reproofs, powerful stimulants and refreshing they only should be sound and ho- cordials which can be presented to ly in the faith. the pastors of the churches for their The Pastoral Association have animation and comfort, amid the undertaken this duty : and have al- responsibilities, the trials, the vicisready received in this discourse and situdes, the anxieties which come those which have preceded it, able upon them in conducting the people instructions, and powerful admoni- of their charge to their Heavenly tions, to guide and animate them in Shepherd. Literary and Philosophical ¥ntelligence. United States.-Messrs. Bliss and dence of two months in Mexico, Inakes city. language, with the literal English that, as regards the appearance of I have only room at present to say, translation on the opposite page. The public are encouraged to expect Mexico city, its houses, public and prithe Memoirs of the late venerable exs vate, its streets, &c. it is far superiour President Jefferson from his own man to any city of the Spanish republics, uscripts. and in many respects superiour to any At the annual commencement of city of our own country. Alleghany College, May 3d, four The interior of the dwelling-houses young gentlemen were graduated, and is by no means equal to the exterior, ten orations delivered, in seven differ- and they are not so well furnished as ent languages. in the South American seaport cities. The people, I think, are not generally so intelligent, certainly not so refined, Mexico.-Mr. Brigham, after a resi- as the South Americans, and are more superstitious, more jealous of stran- tion of discovery under Captain Durgers, and, in point of morals, about the ville, in preparation at Toulon, should same. Priests, monks, and nuns are be directed. The vessels are nearly numerous, and yet exert a great influ- equipped. ence over the people. The Academy of Sciences and LetThe Scriptures, however, are now ters at Dijon has proposed, as the subfreely introduced and circulated, and I ject of their prize of eloquence for the think the demand for them is greater, present year, “a comparison between than in any of the southern republics. Saint Bernard and Bossuet, in respect As for the free toleration of religion, it to their writings, their character, and cannot be hoped for yet in many years: the influence which they respectively they are a very different people from exercised over their contemporaries. the Buenos Ayreans, as regards toler- The French Academy have elected ation. the duke de Montmorency as a memTheir colleges are large, some of ber of their learned body. The inauthem well endowed, and have many gural oration of the duke was an eulostudents, but their books, and of course gium upon St. Vincent de Paul and their instruction, are of the kind in works of Christian charity. M. de vogue in the dark ages. Chateaubriand followed in nearly the À Lancasterian school is now in op same strain. The French literati eration, and a Mr. Jones, son-in-law complain that the literary institutions of Lancaster, has hopes of establishing of France is being perverted from the soon a school for teachers. purpose for which they were designed, The number of Indians in Mexico is to the dissemination of the opinions of great, said to be two millions, and un the Jesuitical party. like any other city in the new world, they live and labour in the city itself, SWITZERLAND.-A Society has been and suburbs, speaking generally only established at Berne, with the approbatheir own tongue, and retaining most tion of the government, for effecting of their ancient customs. They may insurances against losses produced by be regarded as industrious, yet, through hail; which are frequently very serious their great intemperance, are poor and in that country. miserable. I never see them without pitying their hard lot, and thinking of Italy.--Pompeii.--Recent excavathe horrible cruelties and abuses, which tions have brought to light some very they have received from their Catholic interesting objects amongst others a conquerors. marble stature, resembling the statues of Cicero, a large bronze equestrian ENGLAND.-Mr. Butler's “ Book of stature, supposed to be of the Emperor the Roman Catholic Church" has call. Nero, and a complete public bath. ed forth a great number of publica- The latter, indeed, seemed to have tions, small and great, in reply; the been abandoned only a few days. It ablest of which is by Dr. Southey un- consists of four apartments, being the der the title, “ Vindiciæ Ecclesiæ An- number that the Romans required in glicane." such establishments. The furnace, the The Lord Bishop of Salisbury has cold bath, the warm bath, and the vaquestioned the authenticity of the pour bath, besides the anti-chamber, " Treatise on Christian Doctrine" as and the place for attendants. The a work of Milton; on what grounds rooms are adorned in the most sumpwe are not informed. The London tuous manner; the ceilings and walls Literary Gazette says his Lordship’s are covered with the most beautiful opinion receives strong corroboration works in stucco, and the floors are of from an autograph letter of Milton's, various coloured marble. The top of lately found in the State Paper Office, the cold bath is a dome, with an aperwhich differs conclusively from the ture at the top, for the admission of copy of the Treatise. light. The bath is lower than the floor, and about twenty feet square, FRANCE.—The minister of marine with the interior wholly of white marhas requested the Academy to draw ble. The royal museum receives alup a statement of the various subjects most daily, some interesting addition to which the attention of the expedi- from these excavations. Herculaneum MSS.-The unrolling, Seyffarth, of Leipsic. From the celedeciphering, and printing, the Hercu- brated inscription on the Rosetta Stone, laneum Manuscripts, is said to be pro and from examining many rolls of pa. pyrus, this laborious inquirer is of opinceeding with diligence. The following on that the hieroglyphics in general are announced as in the press and near- are simply hieratic letters, ornamented ly ready for publication. agreeably to a calligraphic principle. Two treatises on Rhetoric, and one He also infers, that both the hieratic on Ethics, by Philodemus; two on Na and demotic letters had their origin in ture, by Epicurus; one by Chrysippus, the most ancient Phænician alphabet. on Providence; these will be succeed- The Leipsic Literary Journal, which ed by one of Camicus; one of Polistra contains a notice of this theory, mensus; one of Epicurus. tions farther, that the learned professor reckons the hieroglyphic signs or charEGYPT:—The population of Egypt is acters to amount to about 6000, as four estimated at 2,514,400 persons of whom or more figures are frequently conjoinabout 200,000 are Copts, or descend- ed in the formation of one of them. ants of the ancient Egyptians: 2,300,000 We feel more and more convinced that, are Tellahs, a mixed race of Arabs, by arranging and comparing the mulPersians, Syrians, and Egyptians, and titude of ancient Egyptian records, in14,000 are foreigners. The number scriptions on stones and monuments, of villages in the country is 3,475, sarcophaguses, papyra, mummy cases, about one half of which are in Lower &c. &c. which now abound in Europe, Egypt. we shall at length be enabled to deciEgyptian Hieroglyphics.---These pher this long buried language of the venerable characters have lately found early world. another erudite expositor in Professor List of New Publications. RELIGIOUS. tion of Mass. By Heman Humphrey, A volume of Sermons, designed to D. D. President of Amherst College. be used in Religious Meetings, when A Sermon delivered at Springfield, there is not present a Gospel Minister. Ms. May 10, 1826, at the ordination of By Daniel A. Clark, A. M. Amherst, the Rev. Rufus Anderson, as an EvanMass. 1826. 8vo. pp. 328. gelist; and of the Rev. Messrs. Josiah A Sermon, preached at the Aniversa. Brewer, Eli Smith, Cyrus Stone, and ry of St. John the Baptist, June 24, Jeremiah Stow, to the high and sacred 1826, in New-Haven, before Hiram and office of Christian Missionaries. Ву Adelphi Lodges. By Rev. Com. Ben Warren Fay, Pastor of the First jamin M. Hill, Pastor of the Baptist Church in Charlestown, Ms. Church in New-Haven. Durrie & The Biblical Repertory, vol. 2. No, Peck. 3. By Charles Hodge, Professor of The Christian Philosopher; or the Oriental and Biblical Literature in the connexion of Science and Philosphy Princeton Seminary. with Religion. Illustrated with engravings. By Thomas Dick. 12 mo. G. & C. Carvill, New-York. The Moral Characters of TheophrasThe History of the Crusaders, for tus, in the Græca Majora, literally the recovery and possession of the Ho- translated into English. To which ly Land. By Charles Mills. 8vo. pp. are subjoined explanatory and Philo 528. Philadelphia ; H. C. Carey & logical notes. For the use of Students. 1. Lea. Andover: 1826. 8vo. pp. 36. A Sermon, preached May 31, 1826, The Diplomacy of the United States: in Boston, before the Pastoral associa- Being an account of the Foreign Reg 1826.-No. 8. MISCELLANEOUS. Pp. 397. 55 |