Presbyterians, Reformed Dutch, and Congregationalists of New England have acted. Towards the accomplishment of the same object, the Associate Reformed, Associate, and Reformed Presbyterian denominations are exerting themselves; though at present their professors, either for the want of means, or of spirit in their respective bodies, are compelled to perform the duty of pastors. Besides the advantages, which such Seminaries obviously afford the students for the acquisition of theological knowledge, they, in them, becoming personally acquainted with each other, form attachments, and go out into the Church as a band of brothers. Moreover, having been educated in the same Seminary, according to the form of sound words adopted by the denomination to which they belong, they are more likely to preserve "the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. This last consideration is of vital importance, for the prosperity of each particular denomination. For so long as such denominations do exist apart, whilst they respect the unquestionable claims of each other to the Christian name, and interchange in the kind offices of Christian fellowship, so far as they agree in those truths which are essential to the Christian name, they ought to rally round their own standards, and adhere to them most sacredly, admitting not one as a constituent member, who does not ex animo embrace the whole system of doctrines embraced in them. Let others be received as friends-visitants-brethren-partakers of the common salvation, and treated with all the rights of ecclesiastical hospitality. In the present divided state of the Church, there is no other way for preserving harmony and good order throughout all her borders. Let every denomination then cherish with care and affection their respective Seminaries, that thus their internal union may remain inviolate, and they act as a band of brethren.

2. Religious publications constitute a powerful engine in preserving purity of doctrine, and holiness of life, in the church of God. No others ought to be encouraged by her members, than those which accord with her faith and practice. Let us not be understood as interdicting the reading of every

work which is not of this description. We mean, that the Church ought not to be officially accessary to the publication and circulation of any others than those already mentioned. Let us not be understood as recommending the infliction of censure upon the author or publisher of any work which is not confessedly erroneous in essential points. We mean merely to state, that in our judgment, it is the duty of Church officers officially to inform the members wherein any work, published by one of their number, varies from her Confession, and refute the error.

Of all the various kinds of religious works, none are more extensively useful in promoting the interests of the Church than periodical publications. From their nature, they combine doctrinal, practical, and critical instruction, either in a regular series of essays, or in the desultory miscellaneous form. They contain reviews of works, informing the public of their contents, subjecting them to the rules of impartial criticism, and testing their principles by the word of God, and the forms of sound words. They furnish intelligence of what God is doing for his Church, either in her own borders, or in the world. From the regular returns of these publications, they afford opportunity between these returns, to read them, whilst we are attending to the daily callings of life. From their diversified matter, they gratify a desire after the knowledge of truth, and a laudable curiosity after the events which are daily transpiring in the religious world.

Such a work we have undertaken, because we think the signs of the times in our land require the experiment. We have undertaken it, conscious of its magnitude and responsibility, in humble dependence upon divine aid for success. To Him who is the Head of the Church we commit it, confident that he will glorify himself in its results,

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE dr. abEEL.

AMONG the noblest emotions of man's bosom in relation to his fellow-man, are those of friendship. Few indeed are destitute of the exercise of these emotions. Scarcely one human being is so completely isolated as not to feel attachment to others of his kind. It is true, that very often caprice is the parent of a spurious attachment; which is nurtured by the reception of benefits and the expectation of profit; which languishes, when the hope of advantage is disappointed, or the capricious fervour cools; after a short and constantly precarious life, it dies; and in its stead, spring up envy, and hate, and revenge. But such attachment as this deserves not the name of friendship. That friendship to which we refer, really exists, where virtue and goodness and worth are discovered in the object; where mutual confidence is felt, where mutual intercourse is cultivated, where mutual forbearance is exercised. It really exists, where to the love of kind is superadded the influence of the love of God and the grace of the Holy Ghost; where the object is regarded as a member of a beloved Redeemer, a child of a reconciled Father. Then the Christian feels the glow of true and exalted friendship; and the emotions of his soul are honourable to the man, and bring glory to God.

Such friendship may be in a sense suspended. If nothing else, the stroke of death in a degree interrupts it, placing the dearest object in the house of silence: and the survivor is left to mourn, his heart widowed, rent, and bleeding. Yet such friendship is indestructible. In the regions of glory, its exercise is to be renewed, and its gratifications are to be eternal as the communion of the saints. Here on earth, surviving friends anticipate these gratifications: they cherish recollections of the departed: they delight to trace their history, to reflect on their excellencies, to review the evidences of their attachment: and thrilling, rapturous sensations accompany the thoughts of heaven, of the reunion of friends, and their inseparable fellow

ship, with everlasting happiness their possession, with everlasting love and praise their employ.

If then we know any thing of this Christian friendship, and wish to express our fond recollections of a departed friend, we may well calculate on the ready indulgence of all our Christian readers. And in the present case, we feel assured, that many bosoms throb with emotions like our own, and that the short and imperfect sketch, which we now present, will be read by many with an interest which nothing but fervent and imperishable attachment could excite.

The late Dr. John N. Abeel was born in the city of NewYork. Early in life he was placed in a school at Morristown, New-Jersey: and after he had made the usual preparation, he was admitted into the college at Princeton, where he graduated. Making choice of the profession of law, he commenced the study of it with Judge Patterson in New-Brunswick. In about a year, however, his heart became changed by the energy of divine grace, and his views were directed to the holy ministry as the business of his future life. In conse quence, leaving his able instructer, who had formed high expectations of his eminence at the bar, he became a student of theology with the Rev. Dr. Livingston; and afterwards with President Witherspoon, on accepting the office of Tutor in the college at Princeton. Having finished his studies, he was licensed to preach the gospel by the Classis of New-York in the year 1793. He remained a candidate for the ministry but a short time, being quickly invited to Philadelphia, and ordained and installed as a Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Arch-Street, and a colleague of the Rev. Dr. Green. In the year 1795, he deemed it his duty to accept a call from the Reformed Dutch Church in this City, and accordingly removed from Philadelphia to New-York. In this sphere of labour and usefulness, he continued to exert himself, until his last sickness; refusing offers and invitations, which were addressed to him from Philadelphia and from Boston, and, we understand, the proffer (formal or informal) of the Presidency of Union College. In the year 1809, he became indisposed, and lingered in VOL. I....No. 1. 2

disease during the remainder of his life. He spent one winter in South Carolina; he made a voyage to Rio Janeiro; but these means, as well as the skill and attention of his medical friends, were ineffectual. The progress of his disorder was gradual, yet constant; and he departed this life in the night of the 19th of January, 1812, in the forty-third year of his age. As a ntan, he possessed a sound understanding, greatly improved by diligent application.. His manners were very unusually mild, unassuming, amiable, and winning. In society, he was affable, and communicative. His colloquial talents were extraordinary; few men have possessed equal powers constantly to entertain, and interest, and instruct, in every circle, both of friends and of strangers. Accordingly his company was courted, and afforded high and continual pleasure to his numerous acquaintances.

As a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he was truly eminent. He had industriously cultivated his fine natural talents, and laid up large stores of valuable information. Here indeed he especially excelled: few have possessed so nice and accurate intellectual discernment. His literary acquirements and his correct taste were manifest to all who heard his preaching, though few men have been more free from a pedantic display of science. His style was plain and simple; the strain of his discourses was didactic: and he usually preached extemporaneously. He delighted to introduce and to dwell on particulars relative to Christian experience; and thus speaking from the heart, he was always animated and interesting; he appeared always familiar with his subject, and very frequently he exhibited to his hearers uncommon elegance of diction, and captivated them with his eloquence. Particularly this was the case, when he preached on occasions of charitable collections. We also well remember, that very great and very general attention was excited to a series of discourses on education, which were received, by his people and many others who heard them, with the warmest approbation. He carefully stated, defended, and applied the doctrines of grace; and was an honest advocate of those truths taught in the scriptures, which are often characterized as the peculiarities of Calvinism. He had subscribed to