every approach to ecclesiastical usurpation, or to whatever might infringe upon the independency of our churches. It is well known, that he manifested this spirit, whenever he was called to act, in cases where the religious rights of christians were concerned. He wished every christian to act on his responsibility to God, and on no other responsibility. There are men, even at the present day, who are absolutely certain that they are right, and that every one else is wrong, and who therefore behave as if they suppose they have a charter from heaven to vilify and put down those, whom they deem hereticks. But never could you trace the faintest resemblance to such a character in Dr. Osgood. He appealed to the Scriptures, and to the Scriptures alone, for the rule of faith and practice, and saw with pain any indication of that spirit, which would make speculative opinions of more importance than practical piety. He never thought zeal for any particular set of doctrines to be the same thing as zeal for religion; nor could he imagine it to be the best way, in which men can prove that they are christians, to deny that name to those, who are so unfortunate as to have a different faith. With large and noble views of the great and solemn objects of the religion of Jesus, he loved not those angry discussions, by which the robe of the church is so often rent, and the ark of God so often shaken; and no one can doubt, it was his predominant sentiment, that, as has been well observed, the true unity of Christians does not consist in the unity of opinion in the bond of ignorance, nor unity of practice in the bond of hypocrisy, but in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.'

As a theologian and preacher, Dr. Osgood must be allowed by all to have stood in the first rank. The studies connected with his sacred office and duties were ever dear to him. He read much, but he thought more. His mind was an instrument, that wrought powerfully on every object presented to it, and all his learning seemed to act but as an excitement to his own powers, and to furnish them with food and employment. He was extensively conversant with ancient authors, and studied thoroughly the original languages of the Bible. He had made himself well acquainted with metaphysical theology, and was particularly fond of the sound, moderate, evangelical writers, like Doddridge, among the English divines. He drew upon his resources with ease for striking illustrations, and was frequently very happy in his quotations. For several years before his death, he had been accustomed to read on the Sabbath, generally as an extra service, a chapter from the Old Testament, accompanied with such comments, explanations, and practical remarks, as the portion might suggest. He began with Genesis, and at the sime

of his death had, we believe, reached as far as the book of Proverbs. In this course of observations on Scripture were displayed some of his best talents; and to his people they must have been highly instructive and useful. He could scarcely be said to have any useless or idle learning, any that hung loose upon his mind, or was acquired merely to gratify curiosity or to consume time. He turned his knowledge to the best account, and bound it to his thoughts by strong and permanent associations.

Of Dr. Osgood, as a preacher, it is difficult to speak in terms faithful to his merits. It is necessary to have been familiar with the exhibition of his talents in this part of the christian minister's duty, in order to have a just conception of the power with which he appeared in the pulpit. There he stood forth in the strength of that energetic and hallowed eloquence, with which it is meet, that the living truths of the living God should be borne to immortal beings. Who, that has ever listened to his glowing accents, proclaiming the truths of Jesus with the unborrowed dignity of an apostolic manner, and with the authority which rests upon the hoary head that is a crown of glory, -has not felt his soul awe-struck and subdued, and found himself hanging breathless on the lips of the aged preacher, who seemed already to be standing amidst the awful realities of another world. Time had given to his form the meet and honorable ornaments of old age, but had left his mind untouched in its freshness and vigour,—so that we were at the same time affected by the reverence due to years and wisdom, and warmed by the ardour and energy of younger days. His eloquence was fashioned by no rules and shaped by no model. It was all his own, the natural overflowing of a soul full of its subject; and whatever faults the rhetorician might discover, it was evident that any attempt at fancied improvement would have ruined its effect. As he grew warm in his subject, his audience grew warm with him, and felt themselves carried on as by the motion of a strong and steady stream. The characteristics of his preaching were boldness and strength, powerful statements, heart searching appeals, elevating descriptions. He had the talent of making his bearers realize a subject in all its dimensions and relations, in all its solemnity and grandeur. His sermons did not stand unconnected with the text, but grew out of it, as it was his opinion a sermon always should, like a tree branching from its root, or a plant unfolding and spreading from its seed.' His divisions were usually suggested by the passage, on which the discourse was founded, arranged in a clear and natural order, and the mind followed him with the consciousness that it was continually making progress in the subject, He

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never attempted to impart heat without light; he never strove to produce that unnatural and disproportionate excitement, under the influence of which the mind continually swings from one extreme to another. He dwelt much on the attributes of the Deity in relation to man, on the character and offices of the Saviour, on the practical duties of the christian, and on the overwhelming realities of a future world. And he shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. No fear of man ever sealed his lips, or made them utter less than he thought ought to be spoken. He waged war with sin in all its strong holds, and vice trembled and fainted at his rebuke. He spoke peace to the troubled, and the consolations of the Gospel came from him with a holy and soothing force. He had the power of calling away the heart, for a while at least, from the polluting passions, cares, and anxieties of life, and placing it in a purer and calmer region. When he portrayed the mercy of God in the redemption by Christ, and entreated the sinner to come to the fountain of healing and purifying opened in the Gospel, he poured out his soul with his voice, and seemed to be lifted above the things of earth, and to lift the hearts of those around him above them too. He appeared, in truth, like an ambassador in Christ's stead, beseeching men to be reconciled to God.

By him the violated law spoke out

Its thunders, and by him, in strains as sweet
As angels use, the gospel whisper'd peace.'

The prayers of Dr. Osgood were, in a very uncommon degree, solemn and fervent. They had that effect, which devotional exercises should always have,-they left the soul no liberty to wander, but consecrated its attention to the holy office of intercourse with God.

It is not easy to estimate the good influences exerted on the community by a long life thus spent, and by a powerful mind thus employed. We believe Dr. Osgood did much to stay the progress of an uncharitable and exclusive spirit, to strengthen a sense of the value of our religious privileges, and of the respect we owe each other, as disciples of Jesus. He had a weight of character, which made his influence felt in a remarkable degree in society; and if he erred in the zeal, with which at times he entered into political discussions, it was an error resulting from a strong sense of duty. With regard to the direct effects of his ministry, he had the satisfaction which must belong to a good and faithful servant of Christ. But he set up no fallacious standard of ministerial success; nor did he count any man a useless labourer in the vineyard, merely because he had not been able to stir up a spiritual commo

tion among his people, nor to raise that feverish excitement, which too often ends in spiritual pride, and consumes the true foundation of the christian character. No man was more in earnest, than he, in the cause of religion; no man loved better to witness its progress 'pure and undefiled;'-he saw with joy every indication of the power of the Gospel among his people; his delight was to win souls to the Saviour. But he wished for no wild and violent efforts at religion; he sought not to produce agonies and raptures, but to place the hearts of his hearers under the tuition of the spirit of the Gospel, and to impress it upon them, that a good and holy life is the best orthodoxy, and a bad one, the worst heresy. He dwelt upon the consideration, that a good minister at least prevents much evil, and therefore that he should not be wholly discouraged, though in looking around he should see but few palpable and direct effects of his exertions.

In speaking of this distinguished man, we have said nothing of many traits of character, which he possessed in common with other great and good men. His name will long be remembered with honour among the clerical fathers of New England, who have enlightened, adorned, and blessed our churches, by their piety, and primitive dignity, and long and useful labours. We think there was some general resemblance between his character, and that of the late bishop Watson, the same energy, the same fearlessness, the same superiority to all the littleness of sectarian feeling. Many of his faults and frailties were evidently such, as sprung from the same sources, which gave rise to some of his best and noblest qualities; and such frailties and faults who would wish to remember? His death was a happy one: for it was truly falling asleep in Jesus. It seemed as if Heaven in kindness had permitted him to die just as he would have wished to die. He had a great aversion to that death-bed parade, that going off in triumph, which is sometimes thought important as the proof of sustaining piety and trust. His work was finished, and well finished. He had stood at the post of duty for years, and had grown old in the service of his God. The incumbrances of earth had apparently been falling away from him; and the transition from labour and duty to reward and glory, when it came, was gentle and easy. It is ours to wear the remembrance of him in our hearts, and to profit by it as we ought.They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.'

INTELLIGENCE.

Massachusetts Peace Society.-The seventh Annual Meeting was held at the Vestry of the Old South Church in Boston, on the twenty-fifth day of December-where the usual business was transacted at a full assembly of the members. An excellent address was delivered in the evening by the Hon. Richard Sullivan. We offer to our readers a few extracts from the Annual Report.

Ar the expense of this Society and its Auxiliaries there have been distributed in the last year

Of the Numbers of the Friend of Peace,

Of smaller Tracts

In the same year there have been sold

Of the Friend of Peace,
Of other Tracts,

In all

6620

7226

3068

229

17,143

In the gratuitous distributions, besides the many copies which have been circulated in the United States, some have been sent to each of the British provinces in America--some to France, Holland and Russia on the continent of Europe-to Calcutta, Ceylon and Serampore in Asia-to New Holland, Otaheite and the Sandwich islands, and some to South America. A greater number have been sent to Great Britain than to any other foreign country; but these have chiefly been in exchange for the Herald of Peace. Including these, there have been sent to foreign states 771 copies of the Friend of Peace, and nearly the same number of other Tracts.

A gentleman by the name of Matthew Simpson, residing at Ballston Spa, in New York, on reading some of the Peace Tracts, became impressed with the importance of their object, and travelled through several counties in that state and a few towns in Vermont, and procured 1950 subscribers for a book to be composed of the Solemn Review and seven Numbers of the Friend of Peace. He then procured the copies to be printed, and distributed them himself.

In former years, Tracts were sent into all the neighbouring British provinces. The seeds thus sown have taken root, and pleasing fruits have already appeared. In Nova Scotia, we have an active Agent in Walter Bromley Esq. formerly an officer in the British army. Through his exertions, aided by respectable