with his own blood, has been called in question, by those, who deny the divinity of our Savior; it will be expected, perhaps,— especially, as the force of what I shall observe on the topic before us, rests principally on the truth of that property in CHRISTthat something will be said in support of that reading. As it stands in our Bible, it is a most decisive testimony of the Deity of that illustrious person: for he that shed his blood for the Church, is there expressly called GoD. It cannot be disputed, however, that in several ancient manuscript copies of the New Testament; as well as in some other versions, a different reading exists. Instead of the Church of GOD, some have the Church of the Lord, others, the Church of the Lord, and of GOD, or of our LORD GOD. The first of these, viz. the Church of the Lord, as it presents the least difficulty to the Unitarians, who deny that the term Lord, when applied to CHRIST, is any evidence of his divinity-they contend, is the true reading. There is, however, one considerable objection to it. occurs. The phrase, Church of the Lord is never used in the New Testament. On the other hand, the Church of GOD, frequently The late Gilbert Wakefield, a learned Unitarian, acknowledges, therefore, that the phrase, Church of GOD, is the true reading; but instead of translating the Greek phrase, which is literally translated in our version, with his own blood, he renders it, by his own Son; "and brings some passages from the Greek and Roman writers to shew that the words, in those languages, which literally signify blood, are used also to signify Son, or near relative and were this the only place, where purchasing with his own blood occurred, we might receive this saying; but as the redemption of a man is, throughout the New Testament, attributed to the sacrificial death of CHRIST, it is not likely, that this very unusual meaning should apply here.”* Considering, therefore, the reading, as it stands in our version, most likely to be correct; and, as it regards the sense, substantially the same, with the other readings already mentioned; and consequently, believing that the Church, which the elders of Ephesus, and all other duly qualified ministers were appointed to feed, was See Whitby, Clarke, Scott, &c., in loc. purchased, at so immense a price as the blood of Him, who is GOD as well as man; in whom, indeed, dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;* what must be its value; and therefore what the obligation to take heed, resting upon those under whose care and nurture, it was thus placed? It requires but little reflection, -a slight glance, indeed, at the subject, to perceive the force of this interrogation; and therefore the weight, the importance, and the affecting nature of the charge, which was given by St. Paul, in such strong terms, to the elders; and enforced with such powerful, such almost overwhelming considerations. That creatures so inferior, so comparatively low in the scale of intelligence, creatures so fallen, so depraved, as those elders, in common with other men were, should be honored, by a special, a Divine commission, with the office of superintending and spiritually feeding that Body, for whose salvation, and whose final exaltation to an eternal and blissful immortality, the beloved Son of God, the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,† mercifully condescended, in his incarnate state to suffer,-to shed, indeed, his most precious blood; must have been a reflection, that could not but astonish, and, at the same time, humble and alarm them, under the immense weight of the obligation which it implied. In the discussion of the charge before us, I have not considered it necessary to advert to the circumstance; that though my observations were chiefly confined, in their application, to the elders addressed by the apostle; yet I took it for granted, that I should be understood; for this ought to be the understanding, in all such cases, as intending, that their application should be extended to Christian ministers, in general. Under this view of the subject, then, well may we exclaim, Right Reverend and Reverend Brethren, in the words of the apostle, Who is sufficient for these things?‡ Which of us, frail and imperfect as we are, sufficiently takes heed to himself; to the daily increase of the piety and purity of his own heart and life; to a faithful improvement in that knowledge, and those other qualities, so necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of his moment • Col. ii. 9. ↑ Heb. i. 3. #2 Cor. ii. 16. ous duties? Which of us, in the degree required, takes heed to the flock, which he is appointed to superintend, and to feed; or, at all times, sufficiently considers what that superintendence, and nurture imply; also, whether he performs those duties, in the extensive, faithful, and zealous manner, which is expected of him ; and which his own heart assures him he ought? Which of us constantly lives, under the deep impression and influence, that his office is derived from the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD; that he is the minister of JESUS CHRIST; and that the flock, which he is appointed to feed, is a part of that immense Body, the Church, for the purchase of which, the Son of GOD both suffered and died; and, therefore, feels as he ought, the awful responsibility, attached to his office? Such deficiencies, we are constrained to acknowledge, exist: a part, indeed, the effect of the infirmities and weakness of our nature; but a part, also, from our too great attachment to the world, and our neglect of watchfulness and prayer. Let us earnestly entreat our Heavenly Father that both may be forgiven; but that the latter, through the influences of his HOLY SPIRIT, may be corrected, so that we may not ultimately fall into condemnation; and after we have preached to others, be ourselves cast-aways.* 1 Cor. ix. 27. The present number of the Pulpit, containing the Discourse of Bishop CROES, having been printed, though not published, previous to his decease, it would have been sent out much earlier to subscribers, but in order that the Discourse of the venerated, and much respected Prelate, might be attended by this obituary notice, for the preparation and procurement of which, some days have necessarily been expended. They are now, together, submitted for the respectful consideration of the patrons and subscribers to the work. The September number will soon be out. OBITUARY NOTICE OF BISHOP CROES. Died, at his residence in New Brunswick, N. J., on the 30th day of July, the Right Reverend JOHN CROES, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in the Diocese of New Jersey. the Bishop CROES was born in Elizabethtown, N. J., on the 1st day of June, 1762, of parents who had emigrated from Germany. At the age of eleven, he removed with his parents to the town of Newark. His father originally designed to instruct him in some mechanical employment, as a means of future support, since the circumstances of the family were not such as to warrant incurring expense of a liberal education. But very early in life the subject of this notice manifested a great fondness for books, and embraced every opportunity which offered to improve himself by reading. His father observing this, at length gave him the option of learning a trade or procuring an education by means of his own exertions. He chose the latter alternative. His endeavors in this respect, were, however, for a considerable time, retarded by the war of the revolution. In three or four years after the war commenced, he was called upon to take up arms in the cause of his country, and he continued engaged in this cause, with occasional intervals of rest, till the peace in 1782. He then resumed in earnest, and with that diligence and energy that marked his course through life, the acquisition of a liberal education. In doing this he was materially assisted by the late Rev. Dr. MAC WHORTER, pastor of the Presbyterian church in Newark-a friend for whom he always entertained the highest regard, and who continued to manifest his kind offices towards him ever after. By indefatigable perseverance, Mr. CROES soon acquired a good knowledge of the VOL. II.-22 Latin and Greek languages, at the same time laying the foundation of an unusually accurate knowledge of the English language. Having made these acquisitions, he undertook the business of instruction, thereby riveting more deeply the knowledge he had obtained, and procuring the means of supporting himself while studying divinity. In 1785, he married Martha Crane, daughter of a respectable citizen of Newark. Their offspring consisted of five sons and three daughters, of whom four are at this time living, viz. two sons, (both ministers in the Episcopal Church,) and two daughters. Mr. CROES continued in the business of instruction and of preparation for the ministry till the year 1789. He then visited the town of Swedesborough, in Gloucester county, and accepted an invitation to act as a lay-reader in Trinity church in that place, for a few months. In February, 1790, he was ordained Deacon, by Bishop WHITE, and assumed the full charge of the congregation. In March, 1792, he was admitted by the same Right Reverend gentleman to the holy order of Priests. Swedesborough is a Swedish settlement, and the congregation originally was attached to the Swedish Church. When Mr. CROES assumed the charge of it, all its concerns, both temporal and spiritual, were in an unprosperous state. The church edifice was not finished, and the worshippers were few. He applied himself immediately to the finishing of the church, and soon rendered it one of the neatest and most convenient in the diocese. All the other temporal affairs of the congregation quickly assumed a more promising aspect, while the hearers and communicants steadily increased in number. In this place he resided twelve years. In the year 1801, he received an invitation from Christ Church, New Brunswick, and St. Peter's Church, Spotswood, to become their pastor, and at the same time was elected principal of the academy in New Brunswick, which had been without a teacher for some time. This academy was the remains of what had been Queen's College -the exercises in which had been for several years discontinued. Here, also, both as minister and teacher, he exhibited the same ardent desire to be useful, and to improve the concerns committed to his charge. The academy, which he commenced with fifteen scholars, soon numbered fifty, and sixty, and seventy, and attained a character 'not excelled by any other in the state. The affairs of his churches also prospered under his judicious management. In 1808, he resigned the charge of the academy, (having previously resigned that of the church at Spotswood,) and devoted himself solely to the church in New Brunswick. In 1815, he was elected by the Convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, Bishop of that Diocese. But for weighty reasons, he thought proper to decline that honorable post, although the emoluments |