it encounters, is steadily and surely carrying forward to its consummation. His power and grace and promise exclude all doubt as to its ultimate and complete accomplishment. Our faith, our prayers, our labors and sacrifices may hasten the day." Mr. Greene removed, with his family, to Westboro, Massachusetts, in 1849; and the next year God was pleased to take from him his beloved wife. His house having been, not long after, consumed by fire, he removed to Windsor, Vermont. In 1860 he returned again to Westboro, where, with great satisfaction to himself, he spent the residue of his days. The circumstances of his death were affecting. Men were blasting a rock near his house, and a descending fragment struck him on the head, inflicting a mortal injury. This was on Tuesday, April 3, 1866, and he lay perfectly unconscious till Saturday, the 7th, when he died. His funeral was attended on the 11th, the Congregational church being well filled by people of all denominations in the town, where he was universally respected. A considerable number of gentlemen, and some ladies, were present from Boston, and clergymen came in from the surrounding region. Prayers were offered by Dr. Blagden, of Boston, and Mr. Sheldon, of Westboro, and addresses were made by his former associate, the writer of this brief memorial, by Dr. Thompson, pastor of the church to which he belonged when residing in Roxbury, and by Mr. Sheldon, pastor of the church of which he was last a member. His remains sleep in Westboro, near those of his wife, in a beautiful rural cemetery. The muscular development of Mr. Greene was nearly perfect, and almost as much may be said as to the development of his mental powers. Hence his duties were performed with but little consciousness of fatigue. He was unambitious, unpretentious, and guileless; always intent upon the grand purpose of his life, and happy in the good name and usefulness of all around him. He seemed governed by Christian principle, almost as if it were a part of his nature, and moved forward without show or noise, or appearing to desire popular attention. There was, perhaps, some excess of this virtue. It would have increased his usefulness to have been somewhat more regardful of the opinion of others. His mind was of a high order. He had uncommon power of fixing the attention and analyzing subjects, and great mental resources. His thoughts in prayer were apposite and copious, and only required a more distinct and less rapid enunciation to have enlisted the feelings of all reflective and serious minds. He ranked among the best theologians. His mind was intent upon the truth, and nothing but the truth, and was open to evidence; and having a memory which seldom forgot what he wished to retain, he was, in the best sense, a wellinformed man. His knowledge was more accurate, more copious, more really valuable, than that of most men. "He was not a sectarian; but a frank, catholic Christian. Still he studied and loved the doctrines and polity of the Congregational churches of New England, and could always give a good reason for his faith and practice. On ecclesiastical councils, and in adjusting difficulties in churches, he was judicious and often very helpful. His keen discrimination, strong memory, and capital good sense made him a sharp critic in exegesis and sermonizing; and though sometimes apparently severe, he was nevertheless kind and fair, never captious or vindictive. Brethren, who met him in associations, valued his wise suggestions, and felt profited by familiar intercourse with him. Notwithstanding his usual grave and sober appearance, like a man in earnest, as he always was, he could be, and at times was, very racy and playful in familiar conversation and in friendly correspondence. We are told of a letter of this sort he addressed to a brother minister on the subject of New England pastorates in Congregational churches, in which he gave full scope to a mirth-provoking wit that his friend never suspected he possessed. He had a full, well-rounded character, and was a man to be both respected and loved." Dr. Thompson, in his address at the funeral, spoke of him as follows: "Every acquaintance will pronounce his eye single, and hence his whole body was full of light. He was seldom mystified; with sophistry he never could have patience. There were no stained windows to his mind; he saw almost everything in a white light; having rare insight into character, and into the practical bearing of things; never beguiled by forms; fastening at once upon the kernel, discriminating promptly between essentials and accessories, between the certain and the probable. Vigorous common sense was the staple of his mind. His mental constitution was compact; he could readily concentrate his faculties; he would never trifle with a subject, nor with an individual. There was too much on hand, and life, in his estimation, was too momentous to allow of one's spending time in lamentations over the past. What acquaintance would not exclaim, 'Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!' A noble simplicity characterized him. A more unpretending man, a man freer from egotism, from all that is factitious, from all ... sentimentalism, from assumed humility, and unreal sanctity in every form, is seldom to be met with. How ingenuous was he! He was not afraid to be lively, though too earnest a man to fall into levity. He was modest, not ashamed to blush, though not afraid of any one. He would, if there were occasion, beg pardon of a day-laborer as soon as of the Governor, and, in either case, simply because of its being right and proper. "He was a manly man, a man of robust honesty, who in thinking and in dealings moved straight forward, his path being the shortest distance between two given points. Who ever suspected David Greene of aiming at popularity, of struggling after greatness? How little of self, how little that was petty or personal entered into the springs of action with him! . . . He was always in his place; Sabbath vagrancy he held in low esteem. How fervent were the supplications poured from those lips now closed in silence! How earnest his hortatory appeals! How deep his interest in the Sabbath School! He believed in the Abrahamic covenant, in its obligations and privileges, sealed to the children of believing parents. The first time that I administered baptism was to one of this group, then an infant in those strong hands, now crossed and motionless till the resurrection. "It can easily be gathered why it seems to us, at Roxbury, as if he had never been dismissed from the church there. His influence for good lingers still. For the same reason, he continued to the last, in some sense, a public man. Such men are, by the force of character, always in office. Though not one to fascinate, he was one to inspire deep confidence; and excellence like his is of itself inevitably a power. He could not retire from the Christian, nor from the missionary world." RARE OLD BOOKS. BY REV. M. K. CROSS, WASHINGTON, IOWA. "THERE are more ways to derive instruction from books," says John Foster," than the direct and chief one of applying the attention to what they contain." He then proceeds to trace minutely the history of some distinguished volume that has been long and extensively circulated, noting some of the most remarkable circumstances connected with it. "It is striking, to a degree even awful" (he observes), "to reflect what such a book must have done; to how many it may have imparted thoughts new and affecting, which nothing could expel; how many it may have been made the mean of leading into a happy life, and to a happy end; how many it has arrested, disturbed, and warned, whom it could not persuade. So great a number of accountable beings, unknown, for the most past, to one another, scattered here and there, over more than one country, and over a long space of time, have come into some certain relation to this one book!" With what profound admiration we gaze upon the ancient Cedars of Lebanon, the old and towering trees of California, and the venerable elms that adorn our public parks and meadow lawns! In the same spirit we cherish an old volume, that has been the guide and solace of departed friends. As we hold it in our hands, or gaze upon it in its place on the shelf, we recall, with fresh interest, the image of the mother, the wife, or the child, who once perused its pages, but whose hands are now still, and whose eyes are forever closed upon those earthly scenes. As our range of backward musing is extended, by some elder volume which has fallen under our eye, we think how the hearts of men in earlier generations were moved and molded by the pages which have come down to us. The antique type, the coarse and faded paper, the obsolete spelling, the interjected marginal notes (still retained in some modern books), and the quaint pictorial devices with which they were illustrated and ornamented, - all report the wonderful progress of literature and art, within one or two brief centuries. The progress of opinion and principle, on great questions of philosophy and morals, is also forcibly suggested; while the depth and earnestness of the piety which ruled the godly of other times throws a beautiful glow over the dim pages on which it is recorded. Although not a professed antiquarian, one can appreciate the enthusiasm with which those who are, linger among the dusty alcoves where the wisdom and the piety of past ages are enshrined in books. The enterprise of erecting a Library Building for the preservation of rare and valuable books, by the American Congregational Association, grows in our estimation, when we think how many of these precious relics will soon be gone, irrecoverably, if the work is not pushed on to completion. Private owners, who are not willing wholly to part with such volumes, might be glad to avail themselves of a safe place of deposit, where others could enjoy the benefit of seeing them, at least; and many would, no doubt, in the end, conclude to leave them there as a permanent donation. I have lately met with some rare old volumes, in the library of Rev. Charles Thompson, an English Baptist minister, who was personally acquainted with John Foster, and preached for some time in Robert Hall's pulpit, at Bristol. Mr. Thompson is in his seventy-third year, has been preaching in this country a number of years, and now resides at Washington, Iowa. He assures me that he has been offered, and refused, five hundred dollars for a single volume, entitled, “The Bible: That is, The Holy Scriptvres, Conteined in the Old and New Testament; with most profitable Annotations upon all hard places: Imprinted by Robert Barker, Printer to the King's most 1 Introductory Essay to Doddridge's Rise and Excellent Maiestie. 1606." The same Progress of Religion in the Soul of Man. volume also contains "The Whole Booke of Psalmes: Collected into Grone for Salvation and VVrastle English Meeter, by THOS. STERN- Vnder the Cross for the Kingdome HOLD, IOHN HOPKINS, and of Christ." others, With apt notes to sing them withal." These notes were made "with letters ioyned to euerie note by his right name, so that with a verie little diligence, thou mayest the more easily come to the knowledge of perfect Solefaying," &c. According to the date, this volume was printed five years before the authorized version of King James, and two years after the appointment of the Westminster assembly, by the same man who printed the authorized version; yet no mention is made of the work in Carpenter's history of the early English versions; and the proprietor, after many inquiries among antiquarians, has been unable to learn anything more about it than is found on the title page. Another interesting work, of an earlier date, is the first translation of Martin Luther's Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians. The title page, in part, is as follows: "A Commentarie of M. Doctor Martin Luther Vpon The Epistle of S. Paul to the Galathians, first collected and gathered vvord by vvord out of his preaching, and novv out of Latine faithfully translated into English for the vnlearned. Imprinted at London by Thomas Vantrouillier, dvvelling vvithin the Blacke frears by Ludgate. Cum Privilegio 1575." The work is dedicated, or addressed, "To All Afflicted Consciences VVhich The translators very modestly "refuse to be named, seeking neither their ovvne gaine nor glory, but thinking it their happines, if by any means they may releue afflicted mindes, and doe good to the church of Christ, yealding all glory vnto God to vvhom it is due." Both of these volumes are printed in the German text, and are in good condition. The translation of Luther, printed nearly three hundred years ago, is perfect, and, with proper care, will last three centuries more. Mr. Thompson has also "The Saints Sure and Perpetuall Guide"; and "The Saints Soule-exalting Hvmiliation, or Soule-fatting Fasting," "by the late Reverend, Learned, and Godly Minister of Christ, Robert Bolton, Bachelour of Divinity, etc. 1634." The pictorial devices with which these volumes are adorned, are quite as entertaining as any other part of them. One, for instance, is a huge Bible resting on an hour-glass; a skeleton with an arrow, supporting it on one side, and a man, with wings and a scythe, supporting it on the other. Over and under the picture are these words : "Study me in thy Prime. Bury Death, and weary Time.” "The Glasse doth Runne, and Time doth Goe, Death hath his End, I have not so." SOME FACTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NORTH PARISH OF HAVERHILL, AND OF THE CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETY NOW KNOWN AS THE "UNION CHURCH AND SOCIETY OF NORTH HAVERHILL, MASS., AND THE TOWN OF PLAISTOW, N. H." BY REV. DAVID OLIPHANT, Andover, MS. THE town of Haverhill, Mass., included originally, beside its present area, the largest part of Methuen, Mass., a large part of Salem, Hampstead, Plaistow, and all of Atkinson, N. H. In the autumn of 1727, on account of distance from the only place of worship in the town, and badness of roads, the north and west parts of the town obtained permission of the town to hold meetings in each of these localities, during the following winter. The inhabitants of the north part had, a few months previous to the obtaining of this permission, petitioned the town to build a meeting-house there, but without success. Meetings were held, however, as appears from the fact that money was obtained of the town the following spring to pay the minister. At the meeting, when this money was obtained, a petition was again presented for leave to build a meeting-house, and though still unsuccessful, on June 18th, 1728, a vote was passed by the town to set off the north part of the town as a distinct parish. The parish originally included Hampstead, or Timberlane, as it was then called, Atkinson, and Plaistow. In 1730, the town allowed the North Parish or Precinct ten pounds towards the support of a minister. A Mr. Haynes was invited to settle over the parish, but declined the invitation. Mr. James Cushing, son of Rev. Caleb Cushing of Salisbury, Mass., was soon after invited, and accepted the call. The church in the North Parish was organized Nov. 4th, 1730, of members dismissed from the 1st church for this purpose. At this time the call to Mr. Cushing was renewed, and Dec. 2d fixed as the day for his ordination. Mr. Parsons, of Salisbury, preached, Mr. Brown, of Haverhill, gave the charge, and Mr. Tufts, of Newton, the Right Hand of Fellowship. The next spring the proprietors of the town voted to give Mr. Cushing about twenty-nine acres of land. By the running of a new line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in 1741, nearly one-third of the territory, population, and property of Haverhill fell to the north of this line. Two-thirds of Mr. Cushing's hearers, exclusive of Hampstead, lived north of it. The meeting-house was in that section of North Haverhill now called Plaistow, and stood very near the line which now divides the above mentioned States. A Congregational church, however, has never been organized in Plaistow, since its incorporation as a town, the people of Plaistow being the same who previously belonged to the North Parish of Haverhill. This accounts for the union of the people of Plaistow and North Haverhill in one church and society from the first to the present time. Land was early given by the proprietors of Haverhill for the support of the ministry in the North Parish, and indeed for its support in all the parishes. The land belonging to the North Parish was sold, and the proceeds of it were incorporated by the Legislature of Massachusetts as a ministerial fund, Feb. 8, 1823, for the mutual benefit of the North Parish and Plaistow ; and it was thus used till about the year |