proper foundations, is little to be feared, and prepares for a permanent rest. On the contrary, that false quiet, which many are so anxious to preserve, that superficial and fragile tranquillity, artificially frozen over the boiling waters of dissent, is of little value while it lasts, and awaits only the next accident from without, or swell from within, to shiver it to atoms.

We would say, in conclusion, that if our labours shall have the effect to awaken in the minds of any an increased interest in the doctrines of the Christian religion,-to promote the knowledge of these doctrines where they may be little known, or to confirm in the belief of them any who may be wavering, we shall have a sufficient reward. Through the efforts and conflicts of our pious fathers, the founders of our institutions, we have received a form of doctrine, in a great measure free from the corruptions by which the energies of Christianity have been elsewhere suppressed. This divine religion has been the weal of our country in times gone by: and if our institutions are to be preserved through future times, this religion will be their salvation. How zealous then ought those to be, who hold in trust this richest legacy of the past, to transmit it unimpaired through the troublous crisis in which we live, that it may enter, as a controlling and conservative element, into the era now opening upon the world!

ART. II.-LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE LITERARY AND THEOLOGICAL REVIEW.

From Rev. HEMAN HUMPHREY, D. D. President of Amherst College.

Mr. EDITOR-Will you permit me, in the commencement of your arduous and responsible undertaking, to make a few suggestions, in reference to the new Quarterly Journal, which you are about to submit to the judgement of an enlightened Christian public? That I consider the enterprise seasonable and auspicious to the interests of "pure and undefiled religion," it is unnecessary for me to repeat in this communication. It may be thought by some, that we have already more periodicals than can be well sustained. But if I do not greatly mistake the signs of the times, and the

voice of multitudes, from the east and the west and the north and the south, there is, at this moment, a call such as has rarely been heard, for a new religious publication. And it does appear to me, that under the title which you have assumed, a work may be produced, which, without interfering with what is decidedly correct and excellent in other periodicals, will fill a space unoccupied by them, better meet the exigencies of the times, and bear directly upon a greater number of the vital interests of the church. Indeed, there is moving somewhere, in the dim twilight of my conception, the beau ideal of a periodical, such as I have never seen,much more perfect, doubtless, than I ever shall see. However this may be, I cannot but think, that a journal might be so managed, as to hold out stronger claims to general patronage, than have hitherto been presented, especially in the departments of theological discussion and practical piety.

Loud and extensive as the call is, which is bringing your journal into being, permit me to say, Mr. Editor, that its success and usefulness must depend upon its character. It must take a high rank with kindred publications. It must contain a variety of well digested matter, suited to the taste and wants of different classes of readers. Every department must be ably sustained; and in order to this, you must have a great deal of help. I am confident it is vastly more difficult than is generally supposed, to make a first rate periodical. It requires more time, and a greater variety of talent, than the majority of readers ever dream of. Let not the men, therefore, who have said, "We must have a new work," and who are able to make it what the public interest demands, let them not merely subscribe for it, and read it, and wish it well. They must think for it, they must write for it, and they must induce other able and judicious men to do likewise.

But essential as a strong concentration of talent is, to the success of your undertaking, you are perfectly aware, Dear Sir, that talent alone will not suffice. It must be power judiciously directed. It is easy to conceive, that such a work might be conducted with great ability, and yet do very little good; nay, that the interests of pure religion, might be made to languish and bleed under its influence. You will excuse me for saying, that the pen of every writer ought to be guided by the holy energies of a deep and pervading piety, and of high moral principle. How exceed

ingly desirable is it, that all your correspondents should write in the fear of God, and with an earnest desire to promote the health and purity of the church!

I am aware, that you and your immediate advisers, will have a difficult and delicate task to perform, in the selection of matter. Writers are naturally attached to their own offspring; and are apt to wonder why every body else does not see the same perfection in them, which they themselves discover. But I hope you will look with your own eyes, and be guided by your own deliberate judgement. You must be permitted, and are expected, to act with entire Christian independence; and in this way alone, can you secure public confidence.

I was pleased to find, that your journal is to have a literary, as well as a theological department. Not that I think the former should be so prominent, or occupy so much space, as the latter. But I can see no reason, why literature and religion should not walk hand in hand, in every enlightened Christian community. Surely, learning and taste have no natural affinity with infidelity and irreligion, in any of their Protean forms; but the contrary. And too long have the enemies of vital piety, in the republic of letters, been permitted to cast reproach upon evangelical religion, by representing it as hostile to intellectual cultivation and refinement. It is not so. It is decidedly favourable. Intellectual polish, refined taste, is the natural ally of a pure heart, of high moral and Christian feeling. Who can doubt, that chaste and elegant literature, will be cultivated with greater success in the approaching millenial day, than ever before? Why, then, should it not find a place in all the periodical journals of our own times, which are aiming to hasten on that glorious period?

I sincerely hope, Sir, for the reasons just given, that this department of your work will be ably sustained; and that the Christian scholars of our land will furnish you with literary articles, vieing in finish and classical beauty with the best that unsanctified talent has produced, and rising far above them in moral conception and sentiment.

Besides, such a work as yours, which I hope will go into thousands of Christian families, ought to exercise a vigilant censorship over that spurious and often profane literature, which, under every conceivable title of attraction, is gradually gaining admittance even into religious circles. It is a

duty which the patrons of your work will naturally expect of you, to warn them when they are in danger of being misled by some popular name, in the literary calendars of the day. Let this duty be discharged ably, fearlessly, and in the calm, dignified style of Christian criticism and rebuke, and who can estimate the amount of good which may be done!

But as I have already intimated, the theological department of your work, is by far the most important; and to this, the great body of your readers and patrons will turn with peculiar interest. They will expect to find in it, lucid statements and discussions of all the cardinal doctrines of the Bible, as well as of the nature and evidences of experimental religion. And I should be glad, my dear Sir, briefly, and with great deference, to express my own views, in regard to the requisite spirit and execution of this difficult. part of your work. It is here, pre-eminently, that you, and your able counsellors, and all your correspondents, will need that "wisdom from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Very much will depend upon the spirit and manner of discussion, especially upon controverted subjects. I would that every line might be written in the meekness and gentleness of the gospel, and with the judgement of the great day full in view. The unadulterated truth of God, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is what we want, to establish our faith and guide our practice.

There are three prominent methods of theological statement and discussion, which lead to very different results. One of these is, to determine beforehand, what the Bible ought to teach on certain controverted points, and then to prove, by the help of liberal glosses and new translations, that it does teach the very things, which it had been previously decided that it must. Another method is, to settle in the first place certain great philosophical principles concerning divine efficiency, free will, and the like, and then show how the Scriptures recognize and corroborate these very principles. A third method is, to open the sacred volume, and endeavour, by a patient and prayerful examination and comparison of its several parts, to ascertain what "the Holy Ghost teacheth," and then to believe it, whatever human philosophy may decide, one way or the other.

Surely, I need not stop to show, that this last is the only safe mode of investigation. I hope, therefore, that when you wish us to believe any doctrine, or perform any duty, you will bring us at once to the word of God, and bind us to the law and the testimony. Possibly we shall not all like to be thus absolutely "shut up to the faith;" especially as there are some things in the Bible, hard to be understood. But no other course, no other policy, will stand the test of the final day.

Let, (if you will permit me frankly to express my own views,) let those who write for this department of your journal, lay the Scriptures at the foundation of all their statements and arguments. Let them not be afraid, that we shall be tired of hearing, "Thus saith the Lord," as long as any point remains to be proved or enforced; or that they shall be put down as quaint and old fashioned, if they venture to appeal, with much freedom, to chapter and verse for their authority. I will not deny, that some of the fathers, including the most illustrious names in our own catalogue of Christian worthies, may have erred in the profusion of their Scripture quotations; but I am more and more convinced, that if this was the case, the prevailing fault of modern theologians lies far in the other extreme. Let any one look over some of the most popular and laboured discussions of the present day, and tell me, if it is not very remarkable, how little prominence is given to the divine standard of our faith. I hope you will request your correspondents to ask, in this respect, as well as some others, for "the old paths;"-that they will consider no doctrine as proved, till they have brought the sacred writers to testify explicitly in the case; and that, if they ever choose to call in philosophy, it will not be as a material witness, but merely as a collateral and unessential evidence. The Bible, taken in its plain, obvious meaning, is certainly right; but any man's philosophy may be wrong.

In regard to the mode of presenting the fundamental truths of religion in your pages, I hope the style of controversy will be avoided, as far as possible. Let each great subject be brought up, calmly and fully, without stopping to inquire, who believes or disbelieves the doctrine in question. This, as you well know, was the method generally adopted by the sacred penmen. They delivered their message, and then left the truth to speak for itself. And this way of