From the Religious Souvenir. DEATH OF BEDA. "This learned and venerable monk, though his last illness was severe, spent the evening of his death in translating the Gospel of St. John into the Saxon language. When told by his amanuensis that there remained but one more chapter, he urged him to proceed rapidly, saying that he had no time to lose. Master, there is now but one sentence wanting.' "Hasten to write it,' said the dying man. "Master, it is done.' "Thou hast spoken truth-it is done. Take now my head between your hands, and move me, for it pleaseth me to sit over against the place where I was wont to pray, and where now, sitting, I would yet invoke the Father. Being seated, according to his desire, on the floor of his cell, he said, Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.' And pronouncing the last word, he expired." "Speed on!" Then flew the writer's pen With haste and fear perplext, For Death's sure footstep nearer drew The prompting breath more faintly came, That awful messenger of God, Who may not wait for me." "Master, 'tis done." "Well hast thou spoke Life with thy lines kept pace"- And there, while o'er the gasping breath Miscellaneous. L. H. S. AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC, IN BEHALF OF THE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF CONNECTICUT. (Concluded from page 502.) We wish it to be distinctly understood, that we do not charge the Professors with admitting the consequences which we have deduced from their principles; but we cannot conceal our solemn conviction, that the principles, which they have advanced, do necessarily lead to these consequences, and that were we to adopt them, we should feel ourselves compelled to renounce the distinguishing doctrines of the Calvinistic creed. Nor are we alone in this conviction. It is a conviction which exists extensively in the Christian community, and in the minds of a large portion of the most distinguished divines in the country. We might add, also, to some extent in Great Britain.* 4. Another ground of dissatisfaction is, the great importance which the Professors have attached to their peculiar views, and the charges of dangerous error, which they have brought against their brethren. They have charged their brethren, (whose views have been shown to harmonize with those of the standard orthodox writers of New England,) with having advanced theories which lead to the most shocking and blasphemous errors-theories, which involve the positions, that sin is a good thing:' "good in itself"" the only real good to man" -that "when men sin, they do the very best thing they can do"-that * See an article in the Eclectic Review, from the pen of Dr. John Pye Smith. "God is the responsible author of sin"-that "the terms of salvation," and the exhibition of motives to comply with them, are a delusive mockery" that "God is a criminal tempter" that "in no respect is Satan more truly criminal as a tempter than God is”—that we ought to praise God for all the sin which we and others have ever committed"-that "to sin and be damned to all eternity, is the result, and the sole result, in respect to the greater part of mankind, designed, preferred and purposed by the Maker"-that "the worst kind of moral action is the best"-and that "mankind are bound to believe that they shall please and glorify God more by sin, than by obedience, and therefore to act accordingly." They have also alleged, that nothing but the inconsistency of their brethren, saves them from being "the very worst of heretics;" and that their theories "if carried out into their legitimate consequences, lead to universalism, to infidelity, and to athe ism.' We do not complain of the Professors for bringing these charges, if they sincerely believe there is a foundation for them; but we do utterly protest against the assumption, that there is no important difference of opinion between them and brethren against whom such charges are preferred. In view of the foregoing facts and considerations, we appeal to a candid public, whether there is, or is not, any ground for the dissatisfaction which exists in relation to the New Haven school, and whether we are engaged in an enterprise for which no justifiable reason can be assigned. While we have felt it our duty to speak thus plainly of the doctrines inculcated in the New Haven school, we wish it to be distinctly understood, that we entertain none but the kindest feelings towards the Professors, and those who accord with them in their theological views. We concede to them the 'right, to maintain and defend their own opinions: and we ask them to allow us the privilege of maintaining and inculcating what we believe to be the faith once delivered to the saints. To say that the founders of this seminary, "had a right to form, and publicly to avow their own religious principles; to say, that they had a right to consecrate a portion of their property to the defence and diffusion of these principles, and to guard the sacred deposite against perversion, as they have done in their statutes, is only to claim in their behalf, a participation in the privileges common to every Protestant, and to every citizen of a free country.' We utterly disclaim every thing like hostility to Yale College. That venerable institution is, and ever will be, dear to our hearts; and while we deeply lament the existence of evils which seem to us to threaten its best interests, we shall not cease to pray, that its usefulness may be perpetuated, and greatly enhanced. We disclaim all intention to render the seminary under our care, a party institution. We have no peculiar views to inculcate, no party purposes to subserve. We mean not to assume a belligerent attitude, or to array ourselves against any other institution. While we maintain what we believe to be the truth, our intention is, so far as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men. In proof of our pacific intentions, *All these quotations, and much more of a similar character, will be found in the Review of Dr. Tyler's Remarks in the Christian Spectator, for September, 1832, and in Dr. Taylor's communications in the Spirit of the Pilgrims. It should be remembered, that none of these charges, nor any of the statements of the Professors, which have produced so much dissatisfaction in the public mind, have ever yet been retracted. we appeal to the testimony of the very men who have arraigned us before the public. The Professors say, "Had the articles of the New Seminary been framed expressly as articles of peace and concord, designed to exclude as unessential, all the points which have been so long in controversy, they could hardly have taken a better form for the attainment of so desirable an end." By this declaration, they "are forever precluded from saying or insinuating," that the new seminary is intended to be a party institution. If they can, ex-animo, and without qualification, or reservation, subscribe these articles; and if they intend to teach nothing inconsistent with them, we sincerely rejoice in the fact. But that they can subscribe them consistently, in the sense in which we receive them, and in the sense in which the language has heretofore been generally understood, we shall find it impossible to believe, till they have retracted some of their published statements, or explained them in a manner more satisfactory, than they have hitherto done. But while we frankly acknowledge, that the facts which we have stated are among the reasons which led to the establishment of the Theological Institute; we wish the public to understand, that there are other considerations by which we are influenced in the prosecution of our enterprise. The growing demand for ministers of the gospel, and the rapid increase of theological students, occasioned by the efforts of education societies, and by frequent revivals of religion, seem to us to call for an increased number of Theological Institutions. We believe also, that as there is a liability in such institutions to become corrupt in doctrine, their number ought to be so increased, that they shall operate as a check upon each other, and that no one shall become overgrown. If there were but one such seminary in New England, and if, with its large endowments, and extended patronage, it should become the seat of heresy, who can estimate the evils of which it would be instrumental? And here we cannot but advert to the fact, that the history of all past ages admonishes us, that large and overgrown institutions are peculiarly liable to corruption. By increasing the number, we diminish the dangers arising from this source, and throw around the churches additional safeguards against the inroads of destructive error. There is still another consideration which has had no small weight in our minds. Until recently, the subject of physical education has received but little attention; but its importance is beginning now to be deeply and extensively felt. Facts have been disclosed, which go to show, that the destruction of life and health, in our literary and theological seminaries, occasioned by the neglect of systematic bodily exercise, is truly appalling. It appears from the testimony of a large number of the most respectable teachers in our own country, that "of those who deserve the character of close students, full one-half, if not more, injure themselves by an injudicious neglect of exercise; and that of these, full one-fourth, if not a third, lay a foundation for feebleness and disease which go with them through life, and greatly diminish both their usefulness and enjoyment." This evil surely calls for a remedy; and we know of no remedy which promises to be more successful than that provided by manual labour institutions. Such is the institution under our care; and if the plan shall succeed according to our wishes, it will possess the two fold advantage, of contributing to preserve the Ch. Adv.-VOL. XII. 4 A lives and health of the students, and of enabling them at the same time, to defray, in part, at least, the expenses of their education. Is not this part of the plan worthy of encouragement? We would add, in conclusion, that the enterprise in which we are embarked was not undertaken, without much deliberation, and earnest prayer to Almighty God. The convention which met in East Windsor, September 10, 1833, and which resolved on the establishment of this Seminary, spent two days in prayerful consultation. It was a season of peculiar interest. Deeply impressed with a sense of the responsibility under which they were acting, they looked to the Great Head of the church for direction: and unless they were greatly deceived, they enjoyed special tokens of his presence. Nothing like party feelings seemed to characterize their deliberations. The great and all-absorbing inquiry was, what do the honour of God and the interests of his kingdom demand? They were unanimous in their result. Fully satisfied that they had discovered the path of duty, they resolved to go forward in the strength of the Lord. Hitherto he has seemed to smile on the enterprise, even beyond our most sanguine expectations. Friends have appeared, both in and out of the state, who have aided us by liberal donations. A commodious building has been erected, and is now prepared for the accommodation of students. An excellent farm has been purchased, and a workshop will soon be completed. A respectable library has been collected. Teachers have been provided, who are on the ground, and ready to enter upon their labours. A respectable number of students have already expressed a desire to enjoy the benefits of the institution. In view of these tokens of the divine favour, we would desire to be humble, and unfeignedly thankful. But our Seminary is still in its infancy; and a much greater amount of funds, than has yet been received, will be needed to carry into full execution the plans which we contemplate. We cannot doubt, however, that He to whom the silver and the gold belong, and who has the hearts of all men in his hands, will raise up patrons and benefactors. To him we still commit our cause, sensible, that except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it; feeling assured, also, that if He shall smile upon our enterprise, it cannot be overthrown; and being willing, if our hearts deceive us not, that if it does not meet with His approbation, it should come to nought. East Windsor, October 14th, 1834. PROTRACTED MEETINGS AND NEW MEASURES. We did not read the following paper till we had finished and sent to the printer our Valedictory Address-Then we took it up, and our gratification was not small, to find our sentiments, on several points, and in their general tenor, sustained and enlarged on, by the judicious author of this publication, sanctioned by his brethren, at whose instance it had been prepared. We had previously perused with much satisfaction, a piece entitled New Measures, from the Vermont Chronicle; and written, as we understand, by the editor of that paper-This we had destined to a republication in our pages; but on reading the more extended article, which we now introduce, we found that New Measures had received a portion of attention, in treating of protracted meetings, with which they have always been connected; and that many of the same ideas were contained in both publications-We can afford space but for one of these papers, but we cordially agree, in nearly every opinion and remark contained in both. In retiring from our editorial labours, it gives us unfeigned pleasure, to observe that just and sober views of evangelical truth and piety, seem likely to prevail, before long, against that spirit of fanaticism, which has recently threatened their entire subversion. The following article will, we apprehend, occasion many reflections, and excite not a little surprise, in any reader who may peruse it half a century hence. From the Boston Recorder. PROTRACTED MEETINGS. At a meeting of the Berkshire and Columbia Ministers' meeting, at Spencertown, New York, on Wednesday the 5th of November, a statement and remarks were presented by Rev. D. D. Field, of Stockbridge, on the following subject, previously assigned to him: "The evils of hasty and extravagant accounts of the results of Protracted Meetings." After free remarks upon the subject, it was voted unanimously by the ministers present, that Mr. Field be requested to forward this manuscript to the Boston Recorder for publication-that the clerk of the meeting forward to this paper a record of this vote-with a request also to the editors of the New York Observer, to insert the same in their paper. E. W. DWIGHT, Scribe of the Meeting. Attest, THE EVILS OF HASTY AND EXTRAVAGANT ACCOUNTS OF THE RESULTS OF PROTRACTED MEETINGS. Beloved Brethren, It is well known to you that I have collected, for a number of years, the statistics of the churches connected with the Berkshire Association. From this circumstance I have been led to notice, beyond what I might otherwise have done, the discrepancies between the reported results of protracted meetings, at and about the time of their close, and the more accurate results, as they have afterwards appeared, when the supposed converts came to make a profession of religion. These discrepancies, sufficiently great and appalling, from the time these meetings were introduced among us, have recently become so, beyond all former examples. This is so well known to persons in this region, that nothing need to be stated in the way of proof to satisfy them of the fact. For the information of others, some few statements may be needful. The disposition to calculate upon slight appearances, so common and so mischievous in many other cases, has been exhibited here to an alarming extent. We cannot indeed assume it as true, that all who profess godliness are godly persons: but it is safe to affirm, that the mass of those who truly experience the grace of God, will, in the course of a few months, connect themselves with some church, especially where circumstances are favourable for their making a profession, and where they are encouraged in thus doing. As the last of the meetings to which I shall more particularly refer, was held as long ago as last February; and as the others were held at previous times, the first as far back as May, 1833, it must be supposed that the body of those savingly affected by the meetings have been for some time in the bosom of the church. Now as to statements: these meetings, seven in number, all held in |