made instrumental to the accomplishment of the prophetic word.

Let it be our care to improve the times and seasons which are given to us, for making known the ways of God upon earth, and his saving health to all nations; and to encourage, by our example and assistance, that zeal which has been so happily kindled: inculcating, both by our conduct and recommendation, a strict adherence to the principle of our Institution; to the gravity of its object, and the importance of its end; as the surest means of consolidating that spirit of Christian love, which harmonizes the various Societies co-operating in this sacred cause, and of rendering the Institution itself both permanent and extensively beneficial.

Above all, let us pray that the in

fluence of that Holy Book which we circulate, may not only be felt in our hearts, but exhibited in our lives; that the Members of this and every other similar Institution may let their light so shine before men, that their Heav enly Father may be glorified; and finally, that those who distribute and those who receive the Holy Scriptures, may be found among the number described by the Apostle in his Apocalyptic Vision:

"After this, I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, kindreds, people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and with palms in their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to' our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

New

The meanest pin in Nature's frame
Marks out some letter of thy name.
Where sense can reach or fancy rove,
From hill to hill, from field to grove,
Across the waves, around the sky,
There's not a spot, or deep or high,
Where the Creator has not trod,
And left the footsteps of a GOD."

A number of gentlemen of Meadville, (Pennsylvania) have associated themselves together for the purpose of establishing a College in that town. Timothy Alden, and Robert Johnson, are elected President, Vice-President, and Professors, and are to be the only Instructors at the first organization of the Institution. They have advertised in "Crawford's Weekly Messenger," July 29th, that the freshman class is to be admitted on the first of July, 1816.

Many gentlemen of fortune, edu. cation and respectability are about to unite in an effort to establish a College near Winchester." It is supposed that Winchester in Virginia is intended. See Chronicle July 31, 1815.

Obituary.

Died, at Enfield, (Con.) the Rev. Nehemiah Prudden.

Mr. Francis Jackson, Cambridge.

Mr. Thomas Prentiss, Cambridge,

Mr. David Reed,

do.

Mr. Samuel Clarke,

do.

Mr. Henry Ware, jun.

do.

Mr. Jonatban P. Dabney, do,

Mr. Rufus Hurlbut,

do.

Mr. Samuel Gilman,

do.

No. 11.

MR. EDITOR,

THERE is no respect, in which the exercises of public worship have more improved in our capital and its vicinity, and, I believe, throughout New England, since the revolutionary war, than in the style and performance of sacred music. Every one, who has arrived at middle age, can well remember the time, when it was' common to hear in our churches the worst tunes of the worst masters sung in the worst manner; when the most popular tunes abounded in fugues, were of the lightest kind and of the quickest movement; and when slow and solemn music, such as is best adapted to the purposes of religious worship, was rarely performed, except to excite merriment in inconsiderate minds at the taste of our ancestors.

These abuses proceeded to such a length, as in a degree to work their own cure. Serious people became convinced of the unfavorable influence of a bad taste in psalmody upon the cause of religion. They began to combine for a cure of the evil. This Vol. III.

VOL. III.

was however very gradually effected in the face of the most deeply rooted prejudices. Collections of sacred music were made by persons of taste and skill, who banished the jargon of modern corruptions as fast, as public sentiment would admit the change; till, I am happy to acknowledge, a growing number of our churches are furnished with tunes, at which correct taste is not disgusted, and religion is not obliged to mourn.

Still much remains to be reformed. It is painful to every one, who has a proper relish for this delightful exercise, to witness the manner, in which it is too generally practised. I refer not so particularly to the actual singers, as to the whole assembly. If we look around upon our common audiences, at the time of singing God's praises, we shall find a chilling languor too generally prevalent. Some will not take the trouble to open their books, and to accompany the formers. Others compose themselves to sleep, from which they are not aroused by the most sol

per

A still further abuse is, that the singers themselves often perform this exercise without manifesting an interest in it, as a religious service; and, after their part is acted, repay the indifference, with which they have been heard, by neglecting every other duty of the sanctuary.

But are arguments necessary to prove, that singing is a part and a highly important part of worship? Is it not inconsistent, bypocritical, sacrilegious, while some of the audience are celebrating the praises of the Most High in the sublimest strains, for others to feel no interest, and take no part in the service, unless to debase it by positive acts of impiety?

It cannot be denied, that singing, as too often managed, is but

solemn mockery; and that with many, instead of promoting the great objects, which it is intended and adapted to accomplish, it is at best an unmeaning service.

It is highly desirable, that this subject may be regarded in a just light. In our houses of worship, I am happy to observe the practice of rising at the performance of this exercise gradually gaining ground. This gives it an interest, which it can no otherwise attain; for in this case it appears, as if the audience were disposed to consider it, as a common concern, and were unwilling to surrender this part of worship to a small part of the congregation alone.

It is to be hoped, that this prac tice will increase and prevail; for I see no reason, why we should not rise, as well in singing God's praises, as in celebrating them by prayer.

I would enlarge upon this subject, were not my sentiments fully and happily expressed by two writers in your useful miscellany, to whose suggestions I desire earnestly to recal the attention of every reader.

ERASMUS.

mode of trial was considered as a solemn appeal to God, and the surest way of ascertaining the truth, and of obtaining a just and satisfactory decision on a disputed point. Not only might a man defy his antagonist, and call on him to make good his charges or prove bis innocence by the sword; but the witnesses also were equally exposed to the challenge, and obliged to establish the truth of their testimony by the dint of arms, at the call of one of the parties. Nay, the magistrate or judge, when about to give his decision might be accused of iniquity or corruption, and challenged to defend his integrity by combat; nor could he refuse to fight without exposing himself to infamy.

After the custom was introduced, it became so popular, that it was extended to almost all classes of persons and cases. Clergymen, women, minors, a ged and infirm people, if they could not or would not fight personally, were obliged to produce champions to fight for them. The clergy however remonstrated against this custom as repugnant to the spirit of the gospel and subversive of justice and order. But the maxims and passions which favored the custom, had taken such hold of the minds of men, that they disregarded those admonitions and censures, which would otherwise have filled them with terror. At length the kings of Europe exerted themselves to abolish the custom; but the struggle to support it was of long continuance and subsist ed for several centuries. Although the custom gradually lost.

ground, some instances of this mode of trial occurred as late as the sixteenth century.

In speaking of the edicts of kings to abolish the custom Dr. Robertson observes, “no custom, how absurd soever it may be, if it has subsisted long, or derives its force from the manners and prejudices of the age in which it prevails, was ever abolished by the bare promulgation of laws and statutes. The sentiments of the people must change, or some new power sufficient to counteract the prevalent custom must be introduced. Such a change accordingly took place in Europe, as science increased and society advanced towards more perfect order."

Such was one of the sanguinary customs among Christains of former ages-such their mode of obtaining justice, and such their courts of judicature! Who is not shocked at the thought of his having descended from ancestors so ignorant, so savage, so ferocious and inhuman; and so blinded by the popularity of a barbar

ous custom!

But between the Judicial Combat and the present custom of war, there is an agreement in some striking and important particulars.

1. The custom of war is supported under the idea that it is a necessary, just and honorable mode of deciding a controversy. The Judicial Combat was supported on the same ground, and while the custom was popular, it was as necessary, as just and as honorable, as the custom of war is at the present time.

2. In the Judicial Combat the

45. Luke vi. 1. "It came to pass, on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands."

THERE is no other example of the use of the compound word, which is here rendered, the second sabbath after the first; and the endeavor to explain it, has not a little perplexed both critics and commentators, We will not however perplex our readers with long speculations, either of

our own, or of others, upon it. But a few remarks may not be uninteresting, nor wholly unprofitable.

First, then, it is translated by one, "on the sabbath called second-prime;" it being considered "safest to render the word by one, similarly formed in our own language."* By another, "on the first sabbath of the second month " By a third, "the first after the second." And in a copy of the Bible which I have, printed in 1599, it is rendered, it came to pass on a second solemn sabbath." We subjoin the