ner, the old serpent, as soon as possible, introduces this false religion, and mingles it with the true. The pernicious consequences of this are not easily imagined, until we behold its baneful effects, and the dreadful desolations produced by it. Ministers should therefore maintain a strict guard against this kind of delusion, especially at a time of great awakening; for many persons, particularly among the common people, are easily seduced by such things as have a show of extraordinary religion. 'All the delusions of Satan, by which those persons are carried away, who are under the influence of false religion, seem to be formed in the imagination. This is the devil's grand lurking place, the nest of foul and delusive spirits. It is probable that Satan cannot come at the soul of man, to excite any thoughts, or to produce any effects there, but through the imagination.'-p. 176. We feel hardly competent to decide as to the correctness of these positions, having never made the subject of demonology much of a study. We think, however, that these speculations have come rather too late in the day. They would have done better for times when we had witches and wizzards; and when to see and even converse with the devil, was one of the commonest occurrences in the world. For some reason or other he has of late years kept himself very much to himself; and probably from this cause some have become so bold, and it may be so foolhardy, as to believe there is no worse devil existing, than is to be found in the passions and affections of men, when perverted and unrestrained; and that to hold up any other can have no good effect, as it can only serve to turn away men's watchfulness and resistance against this real devil, to direct them against an imaginary one. There is one more observation which we wish to make, and which has often occurred to us on reading the devotional works of Calvinistic writers. We do not recollect a single suggestion in this book, calculated by its effect on the heart of man to excite or promote real piety, with which we do not fully accord. So true it is, that all piety must be founded on those great principles of religion, in which all christians agree. And whenever we depart from these great principles, it is only to wander in mazes, which have as little to do with the heart of man, as with the simplicity of the gospel. OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE LATE REV. DR. OSGOOD. FOR THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. DIED at Medford, on the 12th of December, 1822, Rev. DAVID OSGOOD, D. D. in the 49th year of his ministry in that place, and in 76th year of his age. He was born at Andover, October 25th, 1747. He passed through the preparatory course of study under the tuition of Rev. Daniel Emerson, of Hollis, and entered Harvard University in 1767. On leaving college he devoted himself to the work of the ministry, and pursued his theological studies at Cambridge. He was ordained over the church and society in Medford, September 14th, 1774, and God blessed him with a long and happy ministry. In the death of Dr. Osgood our churches are afflicted, and the cause of religion mourns the loss of a venerable and tried advocate. When one, whose revered form bas year after year been seen at the altar of the sanctuary, and who even with the trembling hands of old age has upheld the ark of God, is removed, some of our best and most hallowed feelings receive a painful shock. Dr. Osgood had for a long time filled a large space in society. He stood forth conspicuously as a man, and as a clergyman, and few could be said to be wholly ignorant of him. He gave a highly gifted mind, in all its energy, to the service of the cause of truth. Men, who were destined by talents or station to guide and adorn society, regarded him with profound respect; all, who knew him, looked upon him with uncommon interest: and in the hearts of those, who came within the sphere of his instructions, who listened to the eloquent accents of his lips, and felt the energy of his character, there is left a cherished image of him not soon to fade away. Dr. Osgood was a great and good man. The qualities which composed the groundwork of his character, were of that decided and definite cast, which would suffer no one to be indifferent to him. He had scarcely a tame or unmeaning ingredient in his composition, and was wholly a stranger to those evasive, timorous, halfway principles and conduct, which leave a man in a sort of neutral ground, with the liberty of taking such a course, as in the sequel shall appear most successful or convenient. He was distinguished from youth for habits of patient and laborious application and thought. His early life was passed principally in retirement and in devoted attention to the studies of his profession. Being thus secluded in a great degree from the common influences of promiscuous intercourse, at a period when his habits were in a forming state, he never acquired that artificial exterior of character, which so often passes in the world for more than its worth, and is frequently little better than the whited sepulchres of old. No one, that knew him well, can have failed to remark, as one of the striking traits of his heart and mind, a fearless honesty, an entire freedom from disguise. The character of Nathaniel was his-an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.' Whatever he did or said, you might be sure he thought it his duty to do and say. He might err in judgment; but he followed with firmness the convictions of conscience. The true feelings of most men are concealed, or at least qualified, restrained, and coloured by the fear of appearances, or by a diseased desire of pleasing for the moment. But there was nothing of this in Dr. Osgood. His purposes, views, and thoughts, the springs, which set in motion his character, were generally visible to the world, and sought no concealment or modification. Hence there was a force and directness in his remarks and conduct, which gave him great weight and influence; and one might always feel a perfect security from all apprehension of his acting a part. Yet from a character of this unbending integrity were not excluded the mild and amiable qualities which attract affection. It is true, he had not that habit of temporary accommodation to the various tastes and feelings of those around him, which distinguishes some individuals. But in the minds of all, who enjoyed his acquaintance, there is evidence enough that his heart was the home of many of the kindest dispositions and tenderest feelings of our nature. His conversation was very often enlivened with innocent hilarity and playful cheerfulness; and few men have made their intercourse sought on these accounts more than he. There are certainly many hearts, which will testify that he was kind and good; and among the young, who surely are not easily won except by something besides sternness and severity, there are those, to whom it is a bitter remembrance, that the venerable old man, whose form was connected with their best feelings of attachment, has gone down to the grave, and that the hand, which always welcomed them with friendship and paternal kindness, is crumbling in the dust. • Beware All ye who knew him not, how ye decide And human kindness, though with brow austere 'Twas such the champion of the truth should be, New Series-vol. IV. 59 And such he was. The world hath ample cause To prize his virtues and to mourn his loss.' But we are to speak of him in a higher character. His piety was deep and ardent. It never seemed to have grown up after his character was formed, and to have been fastened to it by violent effort, but was interwoven with the whole frame and tex. ture of his soul, and was in truth a part of himself. It was the piety of the lowly publican, subduing, humbling, sanctifying; and it shed a rich and solemu lustre over the evening of his days. One might see it rising, as it were, incidentally and without design, to the surface of his heart, and imparting a most deep and impressive effect to his expressions. He had a fixed aversion to every thing like noisy and ostentatious piety, and could not endure the offensive tone of triumph and exultation, with which some Christians speak of their experiences and religious comforts. With him religion was a vast and solemn concern; it was a principle, not a passion. He would not substitute a gaudy painting for a beautiful original,-the trappings and outside ornaments for the essence and felt presence of religion. His piety did not dwell on the countenance nor the tongue, nor did it consist in loud cries and extravagant self-reproaches; but it was the sober, earnest, and prostrating intercourse of the creature with the Creator. It wrought with humbling influence upon a soul of great powers, and presented it, in the spirit of contrition and the feeling of helplessness, to the throne of grace. He had always a humble trust, but no proud assurance. He looked to his God and his Saviour with that well grounded hope, which is as 'an anchor to the soul sure and stedfast; and no one could witness the operation of religion in him, without feeling deeply that it has a real power, equally remote from the cold indifference of the speculative Christian, and the fanaticism of the enthusiast. He never wished to bring to any human test the attainments of others in piety and holiness; but if he saw the evidences of their having imbibed the spirit of the Saviour, and having formed their lives according to the Gospel, be was satisfied without the application of the arbitrary standards invented by men. He was willing to leave his fellow-christians,-where he left himself,to the mercy of God through the Saviour. His religious opinions were those, which are usually denominated moderately orthodox. He was, however, unwilling to bind himself to any human formulary of faith, and his views with regard to some points of belief were doubtless modified and changed, as he advanced in life. He valued and cherished the doctrines which he believed, and enforced them with power and energy. But to his praise it should be remembered, that he did not multiply essentials, nor make all his own doctrines fundamental doctrines. No part of his religious character was more striking, than his freedom from every thing that wore the semblance of bigotry, his love of free inquiry, and his magnanimous and christian charity for those who differed from him. He certainly was not indifferent as to the great points of controversy in agitation at the present day; but he had none of that littleness of soul, which makes difference of opinion an insuperable boundaryline of kindness and regard. He was in the best sense of the words, catholic and liberal. In one of his sermons published but a few years before his death, it is admirably said,-- Each of us ought to think and judge for himself, using the reason, which God has given us, in searching and studying his revealed will. A mind thus independent, an understanding thus unfettered, and unawed by uninspired names, is honorable to a christian, especially to a minister of Christ. From this unrestricted freedom, variety of opinion may be expected to follow. Principles may be adopted by some, which in the judgment of others may seem to sully the glory of the Gospel. Under the influence of other principles, however, held in common by both parties, their hearts and lives may be conformed to the precepts of Christ. In this case, there can be no excusable pretence for either party's excluding the other from christian or ministerial fellowship. It is certain, the spirit of Christ is not confined to any one sect, party, or denomination of his professed followers. We sometimes see it adorning the lives of those, whose peculiar opinions and modes of worship may seem unfavourable to its growth; and we often, alas! find it wanting, deplorably wanting, where it might be expected to shine with superior strength and lustre. Instead therefore of limiting our charity to persons of our own persuasion, let us learn to extend it to all who bear the image of our heavenly Master, and show their love to him by keeping his commands. By their fruits shall ye know them, not by their doctrines, nor by their professions.** It is refreshing, in these times of acrimony and party zeal, when men are shutting each other out from communion and charity, to have from so venerable an authority such noble sentiments. These were the principles, which uniformly governed his own conduct; and more than one occasion is remembered, on which he resisted indignantly the exclusive and unsparing attempts of bigots and partizans. Societies for sectarian purposes under the garb of religion received no favour from him. He carried with him through life an ardent love of religious liberty, and dreaded * Sermon at the ordination of Rev. C. Francis, Watertown. |