From a region still further West-across the Mississippifrom the banks of the Red River, we have another volume, published some years since,-"the Hunter and other Poems." Any one who reads this volume and remembers the early age at which it was written, will lament that Mr. Flint should have withdrawn, as he seems to have done, his fine powers from the field of literature. He lives in a region hallowed by the deaths of the two great discoverers of the West,-Soto and La Salle. And from the time that they wandered to and fro, and up and down, thousands of leagues through this unknown world, to this day, how often has just such a scene as the one here described, been looked upon a scene so beautiful and fresh, that it always appears as if it were seen for the first time in the world's prime.

The storm had passed, but not in wrath,
For ruin had not marked its path

O'er that sweet vale, where now was seen
A bluer sky, and brighter green.

There was a milder azure spread

Around the distant mountain's head;
And every hue of that fair bow,
Whose beauteous arch had risen there,
Now sunk beneath a brighter glow,
And melted into ambient air.
The tempest, which had just gone by,
Still hung along the eastern sky,
And threatened, as it rolled away.
The birds from every dripping spray,
Were pouring forth their joyous mirth.
The torrent with its waters brown,
From rock to rock came rushing down;
While, from among the smoking hills,
The voices of a thousand rills

Were heard, exulting at its birth.

A breeze came whispering through the wood,

And, from its thousand tresses, shook

The big round drops, that trembling stood,

Like pearls, in every leafy nook.

When on a turf of richest green,

Which spread around his cabin door,

O'er-arched with boughs, that joined to screen

**

The dwelling of the lonely man,

That Hermit sat; and thus once more

The story of his life began.

Or would you be made sensible, by a single image, of the awful stillness of a western forest.

The moon shone bright, and her silvery light
Through the forest aisles was glancing,
And with mimic beam, on the rippling stream,
A thousand stars were dancing.

No noise was heard, save the night's lone bird,
From his dark and dreary dwelling;

Or the distant crash, of some aged ash,
Which the axe of time was felling.

We intended to have referred to more of our western writers in this article, but we find that it is already extending to too great length. We shall continue our quotations and remarks in the coming numbers of our work.

ART. X.-DR. BEECHER AND DR. WILSON-OLD SCHOOL AND NEW SCHOOL.

It is well known to our readers, that the Presbyterian church has been rent by controversies between what are called the Old and New School. The questions in dispute, are now regularly brought to issue before the judicatories of the Church, by a charge of heresy brought by Dr. Wilson against Dr. Beecher, before the Presbytery of Cincinnati; and the trial has already occupied six or seven days. However the trial terminates, it is one of great interest and importance to the whole Presbyterian church. We hoped to have received an account of it from some one more competent to give it correctly than ourselves. But failing of this, we will endeavour (difficult as it is for a Unitarian to enter into the spirit of these high mysteries and hair-drawn distinctions,) to give as clear an account as we can of the matters in dispute between the two parties; for though, nominally, it is only a trial of Dr. Beecher for heresy, it is in fact a trial whose result is to decide, whether the party, of which Dr. B. may be regarded as the head, or the party in which Dr. Wilson takes the lead, is henceforth to be considered as properly belonging to the Presbyterian church.

So far as we understand it, all that is important in this controversy resolves itself into a question of interpretation.

Both Dr. Beecher and Dr. Wilson receive the Confession of Faith as containing a compend of the system of doctrines taught in the Bible. Both receive it as a standard of faith. But they understand it differently. The question is, which understands it aright—that is, which receives it in that sense in which it was understood by its authors. It was written long ago. Since that time, many of the technical terms of philosophy and theology, have undergone great changes in their meaning. Each of the contending parties retains the language of the confession of faith, and each professes to receive it, in its original meaning. But Dr. Wilson charges Dr. Beecher with heresy, on the ground that he does not receive it in the sense intended by its framers; and here the parties are at issue. There are three points, on which Dr. B. is charged with heresy.

First; Dr. Beecher maintains that men are able to do all that God requires them to do, and that the only inability recognized by the confession of faith is a moral inability, or a disinclination which is voluntary and blameable;-an inability like the intemperate man's inability to abstain from strong drink-the inability of disinclination, voluntary indeed, but strong enough always to decide the choice.

Dr. Wilson, on the other hand, holds that men are naturally unable to obey the commands of God, as much as they are to create a world, and that this is the only sense of the words unable, cannot, &c. used in the Confession of Faith.

The second point relates to original sin. Dr. B. holds that there was a connection or social liability subsisting between Adam and his descendants of some sort, (he does not decide what) similar to what exists between parents and children, rulers and subjects, whereby the character and condition of his descendants were dependent on his obedience, while the terms imputation, guill, punishment, &c., as used in the Confession of Faith, are theological technics, which at the time it was written, meant liability to suffer penal consequences for the sins of another; just as the children of a drunkard are said to be punished for his crimes. He maintains that nothing is sin, such as that for which punishment is inflicted, in the common use of terms, but voluntary guilt in disobeying known obligation. But that the disobedience and fall of Adam, did something, which makes it certain that all his descendants will voluntarily sin; so that it is proper to call them depraved beings, because they are so constituted that they certainly will sin as soon as they become free agents. This he calls a depraved nature.

Dr. Wilson, on the contrary, holds that the fall of Adam produced such an effect on the nature of the mind of his descendants, that until Almighty agency rectifies the evil, it is impossible for men to do right, and that this constitution and character of mind which comes in consequence of Adam's fall, is the true meaning of the term original sin.

The third point, relates to the doctrine of regeneration, and the agency of the Holy Spirit in effecting this change.

Dr. Beecher maintains regeneration to be the voluntary act of a moral being in choosing the service of God-that this act is brought about through the agency of the Holy Spirit, by means of the truth-that it is by the presentation of motives that the mind is led to take this course, and that no human agency is sufficient so to present motives as to avail without the supernatural aid of the spirit of God-not that man cannot (physically,) but that he will not do his duty without this divine influence.

Dr. Wilson substantiated his charges of heresy, by comparing published declarations contained in Dr. Beecher's sermons with the Confession of Faith, and showing their discrepancy according to his interpretation of that symbol.

Dr. Beecher defended himself on the ground that his views were in agreement with the true and original meaning of the framers of the Confession of Faith, and with the views of the leading writers of that church. To prove this, he quoted largely from the writings of these authors, showing that they held to his interpretation. He attempted to show that his interpretation was the only one that made the Confession of Faith consistent with itself, consistent with the common sense of mankind, and consistent with the Bible;-from which he inferred that it was the correct one.

Dr. Beecher also attempted to show, that if his views were not the correct ones, they had always been allowed in the Presbyterian Church-that the same differences existed when that church was organized in this country-that the NewEngland divines, who always have held his sentiments, have been received as members of its judicatories without any renunciation of these views being demanded-that he himself had thirty-four years ago entered the Presbyterian church by examination, when he professed these views, and was receiv ed without objection, and that he had been invited to return from New-England into the Presbyterian church as a fellow laborer, by all the leading men who now opposed him on the ground of heretical opinions.

Dr. Wilson also charged Dr. Beecher with slander for asserting that the Presbyterian church holds his sentiments, and with hypocrisy for professing to believe the Confession of Faith while he does not.

This matter will go by appeal to the Synod, and from thence to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church. If this body decide that these doctrines are not heretical, and not so objectionable as to be inconsistent with peaceable fellowship, the charge of heresy will not be sustained, and no division will take place. If it decide them to be heretical, then either those who agree with Dr. Beecher, or those who agree with Dr. Wilson, will, we suppose, separate and become another denomination.

This trial must be one of very great interest to every one who takes any interest in the changes of theological opinions, and in the progress of religious error or truth. We have here simply endeavored to lay before our readers an account of the true state of the question between the contending parties. We refrain from all further remarks at present. We understand that the proceedings of this trial are to be published. If they are, we may comment upon them at some future time.

PAST AND FUTURE.

The Past has had its pleasures;
Angels of God are they,

To lead us to His altar

With thankful hearts to pray,-
To teach us that a Father's hand,
Directs us on our way.

The Past has had its sorrows

Sad tears and broken ties;-
But griefs amid the gloom reveal
A heaven to trusting eyes,

As lightnings, though they blast the earth,
Illuminate the skies.

The Past soon in the Future

Again must reappear;

How blest, if joys and griefs unfold

In love and faith sincere,

To wing the soul for heaven, when

The body borne by mourning men,
Is laid upon its bier.

Y.