hundred miles distant. There was once a celebrated teacher in Virginia, whose name was O.: and it will take an age almost to do away the evil wrought by this high priest of infidelity. He was indeed a man of taste and eloquence but what are they when employed to pollute the transparent streams of Salvation. This man, instead of being branded as an enemy to the commonwealth, was caressed during a dark night of scepticism. How weighty is the of fice of a teacher! Whilst he unfolds the youthful mind, he may do much to shed over its first buds the sanctifying dew of religion, or the bitter poison of infidelity. At the lips of this man, my friend drank in the lessons of a wretched philosophy: and thus fortified be went forth into the world.

Perhaps the reader may suspect that the feelings of my friend had more than a common connexion with the duelling ground we had seen the other day. Who can tell but that a son might have filled one of those graves. I say not so, but things like it have sometimes happened. Suffice it to say, that infidelity will answer better for any thing than the numerous sorrows of life. How cheerless are its consolations for a desolate and bereaved heart! But in the heartfelt belief of the Scriptures, my friend found an anchor both sure and steadfast, that entereth into that which is within the veil on high, whither Jesus, our forerunner, hath for us entered.

About four miles distant from the residence of my friend, there was a Church. When the Sabbath came I went to worship, in company with the family. Of what I saw, nothing need be said, but the occasion may be innocently used to say a few things about the eloquence of the pulpit.

We do

The preachers in this quarter generally preach extemporaneously, and they say that bishops Jewell and Fenelon did the same. not mean that the matter of their sermons is unpremeditated, but that the language, for the most part, is supplied from the impulse of the moment. This method has its admirers; but many are not a little unfriendly to it. By the latter it is looked upon pretty much as they would look upon a painter, who draws the outlines of a picture, and puts on the ornaments with a hurried pencil. We shall neither enter into this question, nor undertake to decide it; but be content with saying, that preaching memoriter is not a good plan. There is a constraint about the preacher, which it requires no Solomon to discover, and the discourse falls coldly on the hearts of the ignorant.

The object of writing is to reduce our thoughts and language to the greatest simplicity. The style of Sir Robert Boyle, or that of Clarendon, save its obscurity, is well suited to the pulpit. This would be apt to take down anchastened flights of the fancy, together with that corporeal animation, which is too often put on to serve an occasion. We cannot but love the man whose fervour in speaking is a fruit of the Spirit, though we shall never cease to deplore that vehemence which springs from a desire to be thought a Greek or Ro

man orator.

Peradventure some of the Virginia preachers are too purely doctrinal. We cannot tell the reason except, from the habit of not writ

ing, the mind seizes on a set of subjects which it is comparatively easy to discuss. Weighty moral themes, that make a part of Revelation-striking parables and descriptive narratives, may be overlooked, because we feel not at home in their discussion, But let none suppose that we disparage the Virginia preachers. They are not only prompt in the eloquence of the pulpit, but their eloquence is often distinguished by a variety and fulness very pleasing to the mind. They have learned to set a just estimate on science, considering it as auxiliary to the Gospel, but by no means giving it an undue ascendancy. I allow, says a fine writer, that 'tis the innocence as well as pleasure of knowledge that deceives those learned men; but they as well as others must remember, that even the wholesomest meats may be surfeited on, and there is nothing more unhealthy than to feed well, and do but little exercise. Let not, therefore, philosophy any more take up our life, so as not to leave us leisure to prepare for death, and study a science which shall most benefit us in another world. We may visit Athens, but we must dwell at Jerusalem-we may take some turns on Mount Parnassus, but we should, more frequently, Mount Calvary, and we must never so busy ourselves about those many things, as to forget that unum necessarium, that good part which shall not be taken away from us.*

During my stay at this hospitable mansion there was a company of intelligent persons assembled to pass the day. The conversation turned very much on literature, and it was easy enough to discover the strength of local prejudice in the decisions given on subjects of taste. Knowing how much of the pleasantness of the day would depend on coincidence of sentiment, I said nothing, but wished only to find out how far the literature of Virginia was giving its influence to Christianity. The British Spy has a leaning towards the Christian system, and to my certain knowledge, an infidel was once awakened from reading the description of the blind preacher. The Mountaineert has treated momentous subjects, and he has done it well. The Evangelical Magazine has all along united literature with theology. The Editor of this work deserves much for his perseverance through so many difficulties. Considering his struggles in the maintenance of that work, one can easily forgive his southern prejudices. He excels most men in uniting an attachment for his native state, with the most extended philanthropy; and a zeal for his own religious denomination, with the most liberal charity. He reminds us of a king who wishes to cultivate his own dominion, that distant nations may share in its fruits.

The Virginians have much to justify their local attachment; but for an undue portion of it, they cannot be excused. Their country is not covered over with classical associations. In all my ride I did not meet with a Down Hall or a Weston; and as to Indian antiquities, the traveller looks in vain for the grave of Pocahontas, or any monument, to this mother of Virginia. She died on a foreign shore, Boyles Reflections. p. 114.

*

A collection of Essays ascribed to the Rev. C. Spence.

and her eye closed in death, as it was intensely gazing towards the blue hills of her native land. And who can tell, but in that land where she sojourned, her heart might have heard of Him, who has given her a country beyond the hills; a country of softer skies, of rills, and fields, and flowers.

But we lose sight of the company, and it is not polite to quit a company without good reasons. We broke up, after spending the day very much to my satisfaction. But one of the company said to me, as he was retiring-were it not for your grave office, I would invite you to stay till cold weather, to show you something of the pleasures of the chase, for Nimrod was a mighty hunter before the Lord. True, said I, but he hunted mighty beasts, and you deal in small game. But, replied he, the foxes plunder our lands. Then, said I, when you come to the death, turn them not loose again to prolong the chase, for there is sharpness in death.

At the house of my host, I wrote a paper called "Rural Life in Virginia"-and likewise the following version of the ninety-fifth Psalm.

Glad songs prepare for great Jehovah's throne;
O'er the wide world, his mercies hourly fall-
Above all gods is he, for he alone

Can hear an angel's, or an insect's call.

Learn in his pastures fresh and green to stray
With willing heart; thy Shepherd's voice attend
This sacred hour, nor let thy feet delay

To wind the path, where his soft footsteps bend.

He made the earth, and formed the raging deep,
He set its bounds and quells its mountain waves;
And then each pearl that decks its caverns steep
Is his, with every gem the streamlet laves.

Oh hear his voice to-day, and seek his rest,
Lest his broad arm, in vengeance lifted high,
Shall bar its gates: come kneel with all the blest,
Who fill with harps of gold, the sounding sky.

B..

For the Christian Herald.]

PASTORAL LIBRARIES.

THE foundation of a Pastoral Library has been laid by the people connected with one of the Presbyterian churches in this city. The object and plan appear to us to be so well worthy of imitation by other churches, that we, with great pleasure, give the following article a place; and hope the benevolent wishes of the kind friend who procured the Constitution for publication, will be fully realized in the general adoption of its principles.

Extract from the minutes of the — Church, in the City of New-York, October 24, 1822. ON mature deliberation, the Session unanimously adopted the following resolution, viz.

The Session, considering the vast importance to the dignity and usefulness of the Christian ministry of a competent professional li

brary, and anxious to procure and perpetuate in this Congregation a blessing of such incalculable auxiliary worth, have deliberately resolved, that it expedient for them to enterprise the founding of a pastoral library, subject to the regulations specified in the following Articles of Constitution; viz.

Article 1. The object of this enterprise shall be to found a permanent library for the benefit of this Congregation, to be called the CHURCH PASTORAL LIBRARY.

II. The exclusive use and the immediate control of all the books comprising this Library shall pertain ex officio to the Pastor of this Congregation.

III. In order to replenish this Library with the most appropriate and valuable books, and also to conserve its interests, and supervise its concerns, the Session shall annually elect, at their last meeting in December, three ruling Elders of this Church, who together with the Pastor, shall constitute a Board of Trust, and be charged with the management of the institution.

IV. To the Board of Trust shall appertain the responsibility of controlling the finances, of purchasing all books that are bought, of filling their own vacancies, and of adopting and pursuing such measures not inconsistent with these articles and the word of God, which they may prudentially approve as subservient to the interests of the Library. They shall keep records of their proceedings; they shall annually inspect the books, and make a full report to the session of the state of the Library and its funds, at their last meeting in December, of each year.

V. The Pastor of this Church shall be the Librarian; and in case of a vacancy in the Pastorate, the Board of Trust shall appoint one of their number to officiate till the installation of a pastor.

VI. The sources of revenue to the Library are contemplated to be donations of a twofold description; viz. 1. of Books; and 2. of money, or of any other articles of value; which shall be appropriated according to the pleasure (when expressed) of the donor.

VII. It shall be the duty of the Librarian to preside in all meetings of the Board; to convene them whenever he may judge it necessary, or whenever requested so to do by any of the Board; to label and number all the books, and to preserve a correct catalogue of them; to keep the minutes of the Board, and record therein the title of every book that enters the library, with the manner and date of its procurement, noting its cost, or the name (if obtainable) of the donor.

VIII. The Librarian with two other members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to do business.

IX. It shall be competent for the session to modify these articles of Constitution as their wisdom may from time to time suggest; but, to supersede the object, or abolish the existence, or sell any of the books of the Library, after they shall have been received and recorded, shall be incompetent to them, unless by asking the advice and obtaining the consent of the Presbytery.

Entelligence.

CONTINENT.-LONDON JEWS' SOCIETY.

Journal of a Missionary Tour of Mr. Bergmann, a converted Jew, from Frankfort.

After having called upon the Lord in prayer for strength and blessing, whereby I might be enabled to contribute to the honour of his name, I set out from Frankfort on the 9th of May, and arrived in the evening at H. The landlord, a sensible man, after having understood the object of my journey, cautioned me against the Rabbin of that place, who having attempted to excite government to harsh measures against Jewish converts, since yesterday was more incensed than ever against Christianity, because he had read in a newspaper, that the only son of a rabbin at H. lately had been baptized at Elberfeld, and that the readers might suppose, that it was his only son.

As caution seemed necessary, and yet I was desirous to have some conversation with that very rabbin, I took the advice of a friend in a neighbouring place. He informed me that the Jewish overseers and the rabbin had, indeed, succeeded so far, as to cause an order to be given, that no gatekeeper or other inferior civil officer in towns, should be permitted to distribute Christian tracts among the Jews; but that this order did neither extend to himself nor to me, and that consequently I had nothing to fear from calling upon the rabbin. Having therefore taken with me some important tracts, especially "Christian passages from Rabbinical Works," I went to the rabbin. In reply to his first question, What is your desire? I presented to him the tracts, with the request, to peruse the last mentioned with great attention, as it clearly appeared from it that the most celebrated authors of the Talmud and the Cabbala had, many hundred years ago, confessed Jesus Christ to be Here the rabbin in a rage flew up against me. "What," said he, "do you not know that I can flog you, ad lemitha, to death?" No, sir; answered I, that you cannot for two years since I professed the evangelical Christian religion, and think it now my most sacred duty to make my dear Israelitish brethren also acquainted with the way of salvation. So, said he, you are a Meshumed; an accursed baptized; take then your things back again;-but, no, I shall keep them; but you will see, that I can write large volumes against them. That, replied I, you are welcome to do; but your confutation must rest on solid grounds. Get you away, cried he in a passion; only see how merages-angry -you have made me, how my whole guff-body-shakes. Follow the Meshumed as far as the end of the Jewish street, cried he to a young Jew who was present. I took a polite leave of him, and went the same day to G. where I only took my night's rest, and proceeded, on the following day to S. where I arrived in the afternoon at four o'clock. It was a sabbath, and many Jews saw me, when I alighted