tradict each other. It now ap. pears that, August 1814, the present Pontiff published a bull to restore what his predecessor had abolished. This bull probably occasioned the "brief account of the Jesuits." The Review of it is able and interesting. It contains much information respecting the dangers to which society will be exposed by the revival of such an institution. Towards the close of the Review there is a passage which deserves partic. ular notice at the present time.

"It is a curious fact" says the Reviewer, "that at one period almost every celebrated divine in Europe was more or less occupied with plans for the union of the various churches of Christ: whereas now all ideas of confederation appear to be extinet. The world seems calmly to have settled down to the conclusion, that harmony and alliance are impracticable; that the seamless coat of Christ, having been once rent, is to be rent for ever; that the religion of love is to be a religion of permanent dis

eord.

"Now we will freely own, that when our eye is jaded by the almost ceaseless contemplation of the discordances and jealousies of this pugnacious world, we are apt not seldom to turn aside and to refresh ourselves with the contemplation of that happier state `of things, to which we trust we are advancing. We seem to discover in the pages of prophecy, in the improving liberality of the age, in the gigantic operations of the Bible Society, in the universal distribution of the oracles of truth, that spirit at work by

which the alliance of the churches of Christ is to be accomplished. The key note appears to us to be struck, and we expect sweet notes of universal concord to follow. The foundation stone seems to us to be laid, and we expect to see the temple of union arise.

"In this state of things we are exceedingly jealous of any institution which lags very far behind the spirit of the age; which preserves, as a sort of relic, the temper and bigotry of older days; which threatens to retard the march of mind, and to drag us back into those regions of prejudice and intolerance from which we imagined ourselves to have escaped. And such an institution,in our humble opinion,is Jesuitism. If an instrument is want. ed, which may at once quench the flame of charity, throw us back in the career of ages; sow the seeds of everlasting division; lay a train which is to explode in the citadel of truth, and overturn her sacred towers, we venture confidently to affirm, that Jesuitism is that instrument.”

Let the reader now pause, and substitute the terms the proposed Ecclesiastical Tribunals for the Institution of Jesuitism, and ask himself these questions: Have not Christians on this side the Atlantic some reason also to be "exceedingly jealous of any institution which lags very far behind the spirit of the age," in our region; "which preserves, as a sort of relic, the temper and bigotry of older days; which threatens to retard the march of mind, and to drag us back into those regions of prejudice and

is

Are better reasons than these given in favor of Consociations? We are not disposed to impute to our brethren, who are longing for such an institution, either the principles or the practices of Jesuits. But we think the pope under a mistake, if he supposes the revival of Jesuitism will be any benefit to himself, or to the cause of religion; and we think the advocates for ecclesiastical tribunals are under a similar mistake.

They would perhaps do well to consider, that if the churches or the clergy of any sect have a right to form such tribunals in support of their own opinions,

the privilege is common to every sect in every age; that had such tribunals been formed in this state but fifty years ago, in support of the opinions which were then deemed orthodox, "the march of mind" must have been retarded, or some of those, whe are now in favor of the tribunal, would probably have been exposed to censure, deposition, and disgrace, or to a course of "hypocritical concealment" and duplicity, to avoid reproach and condemnation; that the tribunals they are so anxious to establish may prove as snares and traps or fetters to their own children, whose "march of mind" may propably detect some errors in the creed of their self-confident fathers; and that it is possible some other sect may become the majority in this state, and by fol lowing the example of these advocates for tribunals, cause them to eat of the fruit of their own way, and to be filled with their own devices. There is a tide in human affairs; and human opinions

and parties are liable to the caprice of fashion. What is popular at the present time may not be so ten years hence. But parties in religion, as well as in polities, are too prone to imitate the bad examples of each other, and to feel justified in retaliating injuries. A system of intolerance and usurpation is a dangerous engine in the hands of party zeal. Popery was once in a state of child. hood, as harmless as a consociated tribunal would be among us; but it grew to such a monster in size, that it retarded "the march of mind," and occasioned

an awful eclipse of gospel light. We'very well know that the good of the church is the professed objeet in the attempt to establish Consociations. We also know that such was the professed object of the pontiff, in reviving the society of Jesuits-of Ferdinand, in reestablishing the Inquisition in Spain-of our ancestors, in banishing, torturing, and burning one another for supposed heresy-and of the Jews, in killing the Prince of life. Nor are we authorized to say in

which of the several cases the good of the church has been professedly sought with the greatest sincerity. But if people have been the subjects of delusion in other ages and other countries, they may be liable to similar delusions, not only in our age, but in our country. "If thou mayest be free, use it rather;" for there are very few ministers who are worthy to be trusted with the office of keeping other men's consciences, and judging other men's hearts.

THE Corporation of Harvard College have thought it their duty to adopt measures for increasing the means of Theological Education at the University. In order to enable Students in Divinity to reap the benefit of the eminent advantages which the College possesses for this purpose, there is need of funds for assisting meritorious Students in Divinity of limited means, to reside at the University for a requisite time:-Of one or more Professors, whose attention may be exclusively given to this class of Students, and of a separate building.

The Corporation are disposed and determined to apply the resources of the College to this object, as far as other indispensable claims admit. But these resources being entirely inadequate to the accomplishment of their views, they feel it incumbent upon them to call upon the friends of the University, and of the Christian ministry, to cooperate with them in this interesting design.

As the best method of obtaining the assistance of the liberal and pious, it is proposed to form a society "for the education of candidates for the ministry in Cambridge University" All per

sons who shall subscribe five dollars a year shall be members, and continue such so long as they shall pay the said annual sum:-Clergymen paying two dollars a year to be considered as members.

All persons subscribing one handred dollars to be considered members of the said Society for life. Subscriptions for smaller sums, either as annual payments or as donations, will be thankfully received.

Whilst annual and life subscriptions are desired, it is hoped, that affluent friends of the College and of the Churches will, by donations and bequests, do justice to the noble object of Christian munifiçence here presented.

The Corporation are induced to believe, that a large number of persons in the metropolis and in various parts of this Commonwealth will view this invitation with favour;-as an ocoasion for doing what many of them have anxiously wished to see accomplished.

In pursuance of this design, they have requested a large number of distinguished sons and friends of the University to take charge of papers for

subscription, and also Clergymen to promote the object in their respective congregations. After the first Monday of April next, the Corporation will call a meeting of the subscribers, that they may adopt any measures they may see fit for carrying this charitable plan into effect, and particularly choose five Trustees to act with the Corporation in the appropriation of the funds. In behalf of the Corporation, with the assent of the Board of Overseers.

JOHN T. KIRKLAND, Pres't. Harvard College, Dec. 18, 1815.

SUBSCRIPTION.

In conformity to the foregoing proposal, we the subscribers, being disposed to cooperate with the Corporation and Overseers of Harvard College in providing for the education of Stadents in Divinity and Candidates for the Ministry at said College, and to aid in forming a Society for that purpose, do agree to pay the sums, annexed to our names respectively, to such Treasurer as the Society may appoint to receive the same; each annual subscriber to continue to pay his subscription, till he withdraw his name by written notice to the Treasurer.

N. B. Gentlemen holding subscription papers are requested to make a return of the result of their exertions on or before the first Monday in April next.

COMMITTEES

Appointed by the Corporation: Three persons have been selected for each commission, under the belief that that number would most conveniently cooperate in this interesting work. The gentlemen first named will please to act as Chairmen.

Suffolk county-Hon George Cabot, Hon. Israel Thorndike, William Parsons, Esq.

Hon. H. G. Otis, Hon. William Gray, Hon. Isaac Parker

Theodore Lyman, Esq. Gen. Arnold Welles, Peter Thacher Esq.

William Sullivan, Esq. Col. Joseph May, Joseph Coolidge, jun. Esq.

Hon. William Brown, Charles Davis,

Esq. Samuel May, Esq.

Hon. Josiah Quincy, Hon. T. H. Perkins, Jonathan Phillips, Esq. John E. Tyler, Esq. William Thurston, Esq. Henry Gray Esq.

Samuel Eliot, Esq. James Prince, Esq. T. K. Jones Esq.

Samuel Parkman, Esq. Redford Webster, Esq. Dr. Ephraim Eliot. Hon James Lloyd, David Sears, Esq. James Perkins, Esq.

Hon. Thomas Dawes, John Parker, Esq. Josiah Salisbury, Esq.

Hon. P. C. Brooks, Samuel Bradford, Esq. Hon. Daniel Sargent.

William S. Shaw, Esq. James Savage, Esq. Francis Gray, Esq.

William P. Mason, Esq. Theodore Lyman, jun. Esq. Thomas Dexter, Esq. Essex.-Edward A. Holyoke, M. D. Jacob Ashton, Esq. Dr. Joshua Fisher. Hon. Samuel Putnam, Hon. Joseph Story, Hon. Benjamin Pickman, jun. Hon. D. A. White, Thomas Cary, and Stephen Hooper, Esquires.

Oliver Prescott, M. D. Nathaniel Bradstreet, M. D. Michael Hodge jun. Esq.

Hon. John Pickering, Humphrey Devereux, Esq. Leverett Saltonstall, Esq.

Hon. John Heard, Asa Andrews, Esq. Nathaniel Lord, Esq.

Plymouth-Hon. George Partridge, Beza Hayward, Esq. Dr. Cushing Otis.

Hon. Judge Thomas, Hon. William Davis, Kilborn Whitman, Esq.

Hon. Nahum Mitchell, Hon. Wilkes Wood, Barnabas Hodge, Esq.

Bristol.-Hon. George Leonard, Hon. Hodijah Baylies, Hon. Samuel Fales, Esquires.

Barnstable-Dr. Samuel Savage, Hon. Wendell Davis, Hon. Richard Sears.

Norfolk.-Hon. Edward H. Robbins, Hon. J. Richardson, Thomas Greenleaf, Esquires.

Middlesex-Hon. Josiah Bartlett Hon. Timothy Bigelow, Samuel Hoar, jun. Esq.

Abraham Bigelow, Esq. Loammi Baldwin, Esq. Hon. Timothy Fuller.

Worcester-Hon. Joseph Allen, Hon Oliver Fiske, Hon. Levi Lincoln, jun: Esquires.

Daniel Waldo, Esq. Stephen Salisbury, Esq. Hon. Benjamin Heywood, Esq

Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden.Hon. Thomas Dwight, Joseph Lyman, Samuel C. Allen, Esquires.

John Williams, Esq. Samuel Lathrop, Esq. Lewis Strong, Esq.

Cumberland-Hon. Prentiss Mellen, Hon. George Bradbury, Hon. Stephen Longfellow, jun.

Berkshire-Hon. J. W. Hulbert, John C. Williams, Esq. Henry D. Sedg wick, Esq.

York-Hon. David Sewall, William Pitt Preble, Esq. Dr. Samuel Emer

son.

Kennebeck-Hon. S. S. Wilde, Hon. James Bridge, Hobert H. Gardiner, Esq. Hon. S. Thatcher.

The Corporation will name other gentlemen in addition to the above, in the more distant counties.

OBSERVATIONS.

As a proposition is now before the publick for increasing the means of theological education at Harvard University, it is thought that a few observations on the subject may be accept able to those who have not been able to give to it much attention, and whose aid and patronage may be solicited.

It may perhaps be asked by some, though I hope the question will be confined to a few, Why ought we to be so solicitous for the education of ministers? The answer is very obvious. The object of the ministry is peculiar ly important. To the Christian minister are entrusted in a measure the dearest and most valuable interests of the human race. He is called to watch over the morals of society, and to awaken and cultivate the principles of piety and virtue in the hearts of individuals. He is set apart to dispense that religion, which, as we believe, came from God, which was given to reform, exalt, and console us, and on the reception of which our immortal hopes depend. Ought we not to be solicitous for the improvement and preparation of those, by whom this religion is to be unfolded and enforced, and to whose influence our own minds and those of our children are to No. 1. Vol. IV.

be so often exposed?

Our interest in a minister is very peculiar. He is to us what no other professional man can be. We want him not to transact our business and to receive a compensation; but to be our friend, our guide, an inmate in our families; to enter our houses in affliction; and to be able to give us light, admonition, and consolation in suffering, sickness, and the last hours of life.

Our connexion with men of other professions is transient, accidental, rare. With a minister it is habitual. Once in the week, at least, we are to meet and sit under his instructions. We are to give up our minds in a measure to his influence, and to receive from him impressions on a subject, which more than all others, concerns us, and with which our improve. ment and tranquillity through life and our future peace are most intimately connected.

We want the minister of religion to address our understandings with clearness; to extend and brighten our moral and religious conceptions; to throw light over the obscurities of the sa cred volume; to assist us in repelling those doubts which sometimes shake our convictions of Christian truth; and to establish us in a firm and ra tional belief.

We want him not only to address the understanding with clearness, but still more to speak to the conscience and heart with power, to force as it were our thoughts from the world, to rouse us from the slumbers of an unreflecting life, to exhibit religion in an interesting form, and to engage our affections on the side of duty. Such are the offices and aids which we need from the Christian minister. Who does not see in a moment, that much preparation of the intellect and heart is required to render him successful in these high and generous labours?

These reasons for being interested in the education of ministers grow out of the nature and importance of relig ion. Another important remark is, that the state of our country demands that greater care than ever should be given to this object. It will not be