plain practical doctrines and precepts, contained in the GOSPEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST." On this interesting occasion, a very appropriate and excellent prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. CHASE preacher at the United States Chapel in this town. ORDINATIONS. On the fifth day of May last, the Rev. Jared Sparks was ordained pastor of the First Independent Church in Baltimore. This church having been gathered for the purpose of maintaining Unitarian and Anti-calvinistic worship, the ordaining council was necessarily composed of churches from this part of the country. It consisted of representations from the following churches. In Boston, Federal Street, Rev. Mr. Channing; Brattle Square, Rev. Mr. Palfrey. Roxbury, Rev. Dr. Porter. Harvard University, Rev. Dr. Ware. Lancaster, Rev. Dr. Thayer. Portland, (Maine) Rev. Mr. Nichols. Portsmouth, (N. H.) Rev. Mr. Parker. Providence, (R. 1.) Rev. Mr. Edes. The written services of the day have been published. And to those of our readers who have not yet seen it, we earnestly recommend the Sermon of Mr. Channing, as a clear, forcible, and eloquent statement of some of the most important truths of our religion. On the 23d day of June, the Rev. Convers Francis was ordained minister of the Church and Society in Watertown. Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Lowell of Boston. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Osgood of Medford, from 1 Tim. 1. xv. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.-Ordaining prayer by Rev. Pres. Kirkland. Charge, by Rev. Dr. Ripley of Concord. Right hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Palfrey of Boston. Concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Ripley of Waltham. OBITUARY. Died, in Salem, in May last, Col. Benjamin Pickman, senior, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. Col. Pickman was born in Salem, in 1741, and was graduated at Cambridge University, 1759. This gentleman enjoyed through life a good portion of the "otium cum dignitate," so much desired and so little known. Descended from wealthy parents, educated in the best style of his time, possessing a constitution of soundness and vigour, a person of elegance and dignity, a mind of strength and elevation, a disposition mild and affectionate, and placing "the bliss in ease," and honour in virtue, he moved on, enjoying and doing good, as long as life had a charm, and, when nature was exhausted, by the regular decay of age, he sunk into the grave without any of the terrific agonies of dissolution, and fell as it were into a refreshing sleep. He pursued learning, not as a necessary requisite to a profession, not as a passion, nor merely as an ornament of life, but for the pleasure it ensures, for the grace it lends to manners, for the purity it gives to the affections, for the light it adds to moral philosophy, and the aid it affords to religion. He was well acquainted with the common classics, with ancient and modern history, with British annals, and with many rare and curious works in the literature of every age. It might be said of him, however, that he read much, rather than many things, and oftener recurred to the old, than searched for the new but every subject was selected with great taste and judgment. He had no passion for the parade of company, but loved society and sought it. His house was the abode of hospitality, and at his table were constantly found men of intelligence of all ages, from the young, whose visions of life were fresh, and whose hopes were full of promise and transport, to those who had seen and felt enough of its vicissitudes and delusions, to place but little reliance on its realities and enjoyments. There they mingled feeling and opinions, and talked of the lights and shades of existence in freedom and harmony. He always, at such times, directed the conversation without engrossing it, and gave it a tone without seeming to have any particular control over it. He was truly the friend of peace, and evinced his principles by the praetice of his life. He was a philanthropist, and listened with delight to the most minute details of the happiness, or fame of his friends; but always discovered uneasiness at an amusing story told at the expense of any one, and turned with resentment from a tale of slander. He was sincerely attached to all our valuable institutions, but particularly to Harvard University; and no man in the community knew so much of the welfare and history of the Alumni of his ALMA MATER, as Col. Pickman. He obtained this information by frequent inquiry, and retained it by an extraordinary memory; but he had nothing about him of that meddling spirit which leads men to be over inquisitive for no good purpose. He inquired after their welfare from good wishes, and obtained their history as a matter of information, and for the general good. He was a lover and patron of the clerical character, believing that much of the happiness of society depends on a wise and virtuous clergy; but his doctrines were well established, and his views of God and his providence so full of benevolence and charity to man, that he escaped, whenever he could, from the unceasing polemic, and always evaded the incorrigible bigot. He was pious without sanctimony, liberal without ostentation, pleasant without exuberance of spirits, dignified without severity of manners, charitable to error, without countenancing what was wrong, and mild to opposition, but stedfast in the right. He saw and felt the failings of humanity, without believing in the total depravity of man. He smiled at pedantry, pitied ignorance, forgave the unmannerly, and pursued with philosophical and christian complacency," the even tenor of his way." Blessed with an uncommon share of health, and domestic enjoyment and prosperity, he retained his faculties and cheerfulness unto a good old age; and truly it may be said, few men ever enjoyed more or suffered less in this world; and no one ever lived more respected, by those who knew him, for his private virtues, or died, leaving sweeter recollections. His wintry sun shone as bright, if not so intensely, as in the summer of life, and went down without a cloud. LITERARY NOTICE. Messrs. Wells & Lilly propose to publish by subscription, THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, or a description of all the beasts, birds and fishes, insects and reptiles, trees and plants, metals, precious stones, &c. mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, collected from the best authorities and alphabetically arranged. By Thaddeus Mason Harris, D. D. A. A. S. and S. H. S. minister of the first parish in Dorchester. A new edition, revised, improved, and enlarged. "He spake of Trees, from the Cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the Hyssop that springeth out of the wall. He spake also of Beasts, and of Fowls, and of creeping things, and of Fishes." 1 Kings, iv. 33. A small volume with this title was published in 1792, and has been long out of print. Its merit and its estimation have been indicated by its rapid sale, and by the commendations of some of the most learned biblical critics and eminent divines in this country and in Europe. The work has been since wholly transcribed and greatly enlarged; and the author's studies for more than twenty-five years have so contributed to its improvement, that he feels a confidence in now offering it to the public as the most perfect of the kind in any language; and is assured that it will be found to convey much useful information upon the subjects of which it treats, satisfactorily to explain the reasons for the distinction between clean and unclean animals in the Mosaic ritual, and to discover the propriety and beauty of the frequent allusion to natural objects in the sacred writings, in instances which have been wholly unperceived, or but indistinctly discerned. NEW PUBLICATIONS. A Dissertation on the Book of Revelation, dedicated to the author's friends in America. By James Gray, of the county of Longford, Ireland. Newburgh, 1818. A Series of Lectures on the Doctrine of Universal Benevolence-delivered in the Universalist Church, Lombard Street, Philadelphia. By Abner Kneeland. Second Annual Report of the American Society for colonizing the free people of colour of the United States. Washington, 1819. Report of the Committee of Enquiry of the South Church in Weymouth, in which are stated their serious and solemn reasons for declining to request the assistance of the North Church, in the ordination of their Junior pastor, Rev. W. Tyler. Feb. 24th, 1819. Sermons, preached in the Tron Church, Glasgow. By Thomas Chalmers, D. D. New York, reprinted. Kirk and Mercein. Poems, by Jacob Porter. Hartford. Hymns, for the nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ. In four parts. By G. Carseer. Boston. A Sermon, delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. Jared Sparks to the pastoral care of the first Independent Church in Baltimore, May 5, 1819. By William E. Channing, of Boston. 2d Edition. Baltimore and Boston. Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. John Pierpont. By Henry Ware, D. D. Professor of divinity, Cambridge. An humble attempt to ascertain the Scriptural Doctrine of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In three discourses. To which is added 66 The Awakener." By Jacob Norton, A. M., minister in Weymouth. Boston. 1819. A Sermon, delivered at Newburyport, at the interment of Rev. Samuel Spring, D. D. by Rev. Leonard Woods, Professor of Theology, Andover. The Annual General Election Sermon. By Rev. Peter Eaton, of Boxford. Sermon before the Convention of Congregational Ministers. By Rev. Abiel Holmes, D. D. Cambridge. Sermon at the Anniversary of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company. By Rev. Thomas Gray of Roxbury. Eulogy delivered at the request of St. John's Lodge, on the character of Shubael Bell, Esq. By Samuel L. Knapp. Boston. The Friend of Peace, No. 16. Report of the Massachusetts Bible Society. June, 1819. Report of the Middlesex Auxiliary Bible Society. June, 1819. Reasons offered by Samuel Eddy, Esq. for his Opinions, to the first Baptist Church in Providence from which he was compelled to withdraw for heterodoxy. THIRD EDITION. Providence. TO CORRESPONDENTS. A Review of " The Trial-Calvin and Hopkins versus the Bible and Common Sense," has been received by the editors. They cheerfully express their approbation of the spirit and design of the writer of the review, but they apprehend, that the insertion of the article would on the whole be inexpedient. Whilst they wish to discourage a light and uncharitable method of discussing religious subjects, they are unwilling to give a pledge, as the author seems to desire, that they will openly disavow every work written in support of their sentiments, in a style which they disapprove. Should they take upon themselves this unpleasant office, it is obvious, that their silence in regard to some works, which they may think unworthy notice, would be construed into a testimony in their favour. It should be remembered too, that controversial writings, not excepting the most able, have too often a mixture of human imperfection and passion, and that reviewers cannot reasonably be expected to watch over this class of publications for the purpose of branding what is unchristian either in friends or foes. We fear that we shall be unable to make use of the paper communicated by W. If we should think it best to take so extended a view of the subject at all, we should hardly be ready to do it now. We should wish too, in a publication like this, to adopt a little different mode of treatment, and to avoid some of the reasoning which appears to us irrelevant and inI conclusive. We thank "A SUBSCRIBER" for the work he has sent us, and will take it under consideration. But we cannot admit his remarks upon an article in our last number,-not only because we are averse to entering into a controversy on the subject, but because it would be obviously improper to commence the endless task of inserting replies which may be made from every quarter to the sentiments we advance and defend. The paper under the signature of " TRUTH," was not received in season for insertion in the present number. We have no doubt of the correctness of its positions, and it remains under consideration. We have received an interesting account of Doddridge's Theological School. It shall appear in the next number. ERRATA. In No. 1. First Edition, p. 39. line 11 for cannot, read can. 37 for The, read They. p. 136 In a part of the impression of the present No., p. 170. line 8, for will be read is. THE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLE. No. 72. NEW SERIES-No. 4. For July and August, 1819. ON THE HISTORY AND CHARACTER OF DODDRIDGE'S SEMINARY. To the Editor of the Christian Disciple. SIR, PERHAPS no name can be mentioned among Christian divines, at once so familiar and so dear to the friends of religion without distinction, as that of Doddridge. Most of us, therefore, would be very unwilling "to give up to party" one who belongs to the great cause of piety and charity throughout Christendom; and it is sufficiently well known, that justice to his character would forbid such a sacrifice, not less than regard to the interests of. catholicism. To this sort of usurpation however, the most popular names are very naturally the most liable; and it is melancholy to think that he, whose candid and enlarged mind has secured to him the united love and respect of his fellow-christians, is the more eagerly claimed on this very account, by the zealots of a sect; especially, if any point of agreement in doctrine can be found between them. He is, when his own voice can be no longer heard, made an associate in the spirit and the acts of an exclusive party. We shall seek in vain, for a man whose name has been more continually thus abused, than that of the pious and liberal Doddridge. It is not easy without a smile to meet his name, regularly on the cover of our religious journals in the company of some, from whom (it may be said without hazard, I think) had he been a living cotemporary, he would have kept more widely removed; and he would, perhaps, on the same supposition, have had as little fellowship with those whose New Series-vol. I. 32. |