who control the education of dissenting
academies, are fully aware of the danger
apparently threatening the creed of the
Reformation? Hate they their eyes fully
open to the progress of unsound opinions,
in the United States of North Amerjg?
If Germany has not yet exerted her oih
gerous influent? over the minds of those
who are educating/or the ministry,# there
no ground^yfear that Professor Stuart’s
subtile commentaries have opened the way
for a further advipce towards Pelagian
views, and that a wifcer who has been in
(ffjfucefl tunongst us, nnwhiAsuthoritv.
as a sound teacher of the faith, has gained
many converts in this country to opinions
which in his own are already strongly
crates ted*? jTherfmnptation of mischie
vous learn mjfis'a© much to be apprehen
ded, that we must hope, if the temnjir
should ever come witfi’hfe deadly intefec
tual bribe, the^uardians of youth will be
on the watch, and repulse the enemy,
though , he assures them that “ they *&all
not die, but 'shall be as gods, knowing
good and evil.” H
Perhaps it would be premature to say
that the effects of continental leamiM^jife
already discernible in some dissenting
pulpits; but something Is working there
even now, which is not for good.* JjreP
hear now not unfrequendy, much, far ibq
much, about“ primary” and “ seiondary”
meaning* of passages in Scripture. The
congregation is sometimes perplexed with
a ten-minute* explanation of “ th^histori
cal sense;” and portions of the word of
Go8 which hitherto have wjthout question
been applied to Christ, are now explained
as having “ a primary” view of some Jew
ish king, priest, or' prophet. A preacher
will, perhaps, take the 16th Psalm, and
at some length explain every word of it as
said by David «f himself, and show h#w
it agrees exactly with some parts ff Da
vid’s history; then remembering how the
inspired writers have" taken a different
view of the Psalm, will conclude with the
Christian and spirituaHnterpretation ; not
much, in my opinion, to the edification of
his hearers. It iS likanlunging the body
first in snow, and||j^ibrih|ifig it into the
rays of thesun; a very capricious anddha
zardous treatment ofthe human frame.
I might quote an instance, where one,
whose ministry Ijdsually find profitable
and instructive, lapsed**mc€ in my hear
W*'
ing into this learned mood, and at some
length opened out “ the primary meaning”
of a well known prophetical passage, lead
ing a painful impression on my
which haunted me for jnany days;
this effect is produced on one who is no
stranger to expository subtleties, what
must not the effect be on those who hay®
hitherto read tlgpr Bibles in the old way,
and have never Suspected that the guide
post to Zion, was a Janus with a double
HiThe creed of some believers is as % ten
der root grdfemg out of dry ground, and
cannot bew these visitations of blight on
its timorous strength. It has need of a
kinder and more refreshing treatment.
If I wished to enlarge the prayer, “Lo*d,
increase our faith,” it certainly would not
be by petitioning for an increase of this
sort of pieaKing which I have here no
ticed. *
FIbI-SIDE BElieiOB.
Religion is lovely every where. No
station is so hig|i, no society so refined,
no character so virtuous, but that religion
can add newgraces, and afford sweeter
enjoyment. She is Heaven’s own mes
senger to man, as man. She is at home
in the stately hall of the grave senator,
sits with gtace and ease by the judge in
the court of stem justice, is the choice
companion of the man of business, and
the welcome guest at Zion’s sacred feasts;
but no Where does she shine With sd trans
cendent beauty, as in the domestic and
social circle. Here are seen her moot
fitarked influences, for amid the quiet
scenes of the fire-side she dwells in peace.
Religion itself is highly social. S'
to do with the heart and affections;
all die relations Wtoich enter into fc do
mestic state must be more or less affected,
more or less refined and hallowed. Here
is the home of love, and religion is love;
here is to be exercised alone* tie
kindness, and religion breathes good will
to all. Here "are to be generated those
schemes dfi action-frhose outlines are ft
be filled up inafter life, and religion is the
very spirit oKjenterprize. Something pi"
ufirrably gloomy hangs over that hearth
stone from which religion has been exil
ed. Her seat is empty, and no one eap
fHl it. The saeria influence she ondf