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JAMES H. DUNLAP, Franklin, Ia., Oct. 27. LEWIS DU PRE, Mount Moriah Ch., N. C. T. B. EVANS, Lower King and Queen, Va., Oct. 26.

WILLIAM EVERETT, Burns, N. Y., Sept. 18. CHARLES FELDER, Pleasant Hill Ch., S. C., Dec. 29.

LEICESTER FERGUSON, Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio, Jan. 15.

A. M. FORBERT, Pierpont, N. Y., Aug. 22.
JOSEPH Fox, Beulah, King William Co.,
Va., Dec. 21.

HENRY FROST, Templeman's Roads,
Westmoreland Co., Va., Jan. 26.
JAMES GIBBS, South Virgil, N. Y., Jan. 9.
WILLIAM A. GOODE, Rudy Spring, Camp-
hill Co., Va., Sept. 7.

JAMES N GRANGER, West Avon, N. Y.,
Dec. 10.

ELIJAH GRIFFIN, Berlin, N. H., Nov. 20. HORATIO B.HACKETT, Newton, Mass., Dec. 8. HORATIO W. HARRIS, Waterford, N. H., Jan 22.

ISAAC W. HAYHURST, Philadelphia, Nov.

20.

WILLIAM HOLLINGSWORTH, Dublin Co.,
N. C., Oct. 6.

WILLIAM HOWE, Boston, Feb. 23.
JOSEPH HUNTINGTON, East Williamstown,
Vt., Jan. 1.

WILLIAM JONES, Wake Forest, N. C., Nov.

6.

LEVI KELLOGG, Sparta, N. H., Dec. 10. ISAAC B. LAKE, Braintrine, Pa., Nov. 6. WILLIAM LOOK, Pemline, Pa., Oct. 24. HIRAM MCCULLARS, Rehoboth, Harris Co., Ga., Sept. 29.

A. L. MCLELLAND, Pegua, Ohio, Oct. 15. SOLOMON NEFF, Ashland, Ohio, Nov. 13. JOHN NOYE, North Haven, Ct., Dec. 4. MATHEW OLIVER, Richland, Green Co., Ia., Nov. 27.

EZEKIEL G. PAGE, New Sharon, Me., Dec.

11.

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ALEXANDER WRIGHT, Mill Creek, Delaware Co., Ohio, Jan. 18.

CHURCHES CONSTITUTED. At Sexton's Creek, Alexander Co., Ill., Aug. 24.

At Gorham, N. H., Sept. 13.

At Conneautville, Crawford Co., Pa., Sept.

17.

At Delevan, Wisconsin Ter., Sept. 21.
At Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 25.
At County Line, Russell Co., Ala., Oct. 5.
At Summit, Four Corners, Oct. 10.
At Norvell, Jackson Co., Mich., Oct. 16.
At Orwell, Ohio, Oct. 18.
At Abbeville, Ala., Oct.

At Camden, Benton Co., Ill., Nov. 3.
At Batavia, N. Y., Nov. 7.

At Hendrick Co., Ind., Nov. 9.
At Paper Mill Village, Alstead, N. H.,
Nov. 13.

At Darien, Genessee Co., N. Y., Nov. 14.
At Amoskeag, Me., Nov. 20.

At Cahokia Creek, Madison Co., Ill., Nov.

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In Gorham, N. Y., Sept. 13.
In Manchester, Dearborn Co., Mo., Oct. 19.
In Canton, Fulton Co., Ill, Oct. 26.
In Batavia, N. Y., Nov. 7.
In Exeter, Otsego Co., N. Y., Nov. 13.
In Plaistow, N. H., Nov. 20.
In East Hillsdale, N. Y., Nov. 27.
In East Williamstown, Vt., Nov. 27.
In Bethany, N. H., Nov. 29.
In Readfield, Me., Dec. 4.
In East Avon, N. Y., Dec. 10.
In Poughkeepsie, N. Y., Dec. 19.
In Natick, R. I., Dec. 25.
In Elyria, Ohio, Dec. 25.

In Cherry Valley (Lodi), N. Y., Jan. 1.
In Silver Creek, N. Y., Jan. 8.
In White Hill, Huntingdon Co., Ohio, Jan.

14.

In Valley Falls, R. I., Jan. 14.
In Catskill, N. Y., Jan. 16.
In Salisbury, N. H., Jan. 22
In Sisterville, Tyler Co., Va.

In Hume, Alleghany Co., N. Y., Feb. 7.

THE CHRISTIAN REVIEW.

No. XVIII.

JUNE, 1840.

ARTICLE I.

CLAIMS OF RELIGION ON MEN OF LEARNING.

THERE are real and determinate distinctions among men. In common estimates, however, those which are real and determinate seem to be overlooked, and those which are artificial and accidental to stand in their stead. The latter are magnified above the former, because they are more exposed to public observation, and their worth more easily computed. In the estimation of a child, rich clothing, and lordly titles, and magnificent equipage constitute a great man. He thinks not of deeper views. He knows no profounder elements of judgment. He notices no other distinction among men. And why should he believe there is any? But experience leads to some correction of this early estimate. Qualities of a higher order are substituted for those which are, so to speak, visible and tangible. Yet this new estimate, which most men form, is often as radically imperfect and false. It is founded on apparent rather than real distinctions; on temporary differences, and not on those which will last for ever; on those which pass for much, in the opinion of men, but for nothing, with the omniscient Judge of all characters, and Searcher of all hearts. The distinctions created by wit, learning, wealth, office, make men no more perfect in respect to the divine law, or in the

VOL. V. NO. XVIII.

21

sight of God, than the fact of their having been born in one degree of latitude or in another. They are as truly the rightful subjects of God's moral government, with these qualities, and under these circumstances, as in the absence of them; and as truly in the absence, as in the possession of them. It is not for any of these that God, for Christ's sake, feels a complacency in one that he does not in another; nor, on the contrary, is it for the deficiency of any of these, that he feels an abhorrence of one that he does not of another. There are other grounds of decision. There are other principles of judgment, according to which men are to stand or fall. Elements, taking a deeper hold of man's inward nature, are those which stamp his character, and are to fix his final fate. "God seeth not as man seeth." "That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” In respect to their obligation to one law, and their amenableness to one tribunal, all men-rich and poor, learned and illiterate, bond and free-are on a footing of equality. Hence, those distinctions among them which terminate with the present scene of things, are purely accidental; like those accidents of matter, which are independent of its permanent state, and only casually superinduced. The only real distinctions are involved in the questions,-are they sinful, or holy-are they conformed to the law and character of God; or are they his enemies? These are distinctions that will survive suns, and systems, and worlds. They will rule the decisions of the judgment-seat. They will pass beyond it. They will fasten their solemn seal upon man's destiny, and assert their fundamental reality in his irreversible condition for ever.

There is, therefore, in man, somewhat, independent of all earthly distinctions. There is that, in the matter of his duty and his destiny, which they cannot affect. whatever latitude, and under whatever circumstances he is born, and lives, and dies, these mere accidents of his condition interfere not with those graver concerns. That essential something, constituting his obligations and his relations, and which is at the basis of his eternal prospects, will survive, unimpaired, "the wreck of matter and the crush of worlds." They cannot disturb, or modify, or make it other than it is. It is too high, too sacred for

their influence. And if it is raised beyond their power, much more is it beyond the power of the lesser events that happen to man.

That high and sacred principle within us, enthroned above all that is accidental in time and matter, and, therefore, in its main characteristics, essentially the same in persons of all conditions, doubtless requires, in all alike, its proper nutriment. The eye is refreshed by the objects of this glorious creation, and by the contrivances of art. The ear is regaled by eloquence and music. Savory food is prepared for us, to gratify the palate. Flowers and fruits, in their season, fill the air with their fragrance. The wide earth, whose ever opening beauties, on every side, meet around us, is adapted to our organ of motion. Every outward sense, every sensual principle of our nature, so to speak, is furnished with its appropriate means of gratification. God has made provision that the intellect, also, shall be fed according to its necessity. In all this profusion of mutual adaptation, we cannot doubt that, as the soul of man has its appetites, so there is an appropriate nutriment for them. We cannot doubt that, as light gratifies all eyes, and sound all ears, so there is some element of happiness, fitted to meet the wants of all souls. As light is one, and as sound is one, so that element of happiness must be one, of which all may partake, and in which all may find pleasure, whatever may be their condition, or the accidents of their circumstances. As there is a principle in man's nature, independent of time and matter, so its appropriate nutriment must be in that which time and matter cannot affect; which earthly events cannot alter; nor human distinctions modify or destroy.

Such is practical Christianity; adapted equally to the learned and the ignorant; the poor and the rich; the bond and the free. Different conditions may illustrate, with different degrees of forcibleness, its power to enliven and sustain; but its pervasive influence throughout the soul is necessary alike to all conditions. Rank, and office, and titles may satisfy ambition for a moment; but the soul, after all, craves something more. Fine dress and splendid equipages may please an uncultivated mind for a while; but the soul cannot feed upon them. Science and learning may spread forth the treasures of all continents.

and languages, and congregate the riches of all minds; but he to whom such an inheritance falls will need some higher principle of happiness, and of hope, and of life, as much as the most degraded and ignorant beggar. Religion is the only universal and the chief good of man. The summum bonum of the human race, which the ancient philosophers sought so diligently, is here realized. This good, experiment has decisively shown, will never disappoint its possessor. This elixir of immortality will not leave him who enjoys it to the fate of other men. It is offered to all conditions. It has claims upon the regard of all ranks and stations. Properly appreciated, its own nature is fitted to vindicate its claims. The nature of man, as man, settles the question of its universal adaptation to the necessities of our race. It is not circumstances, but man, that demands its support, and is vivified by its life and love. It is not a low rank, nor an elevated one, for which it is fitted; but human beings, considered without reference to worldly distinctions; considered only as dependent, accountable and immortal. The nature of the law of God, under which we live, is fitted to establish its claims. Its promises and pretensions commend it to universal notice. If they are found true, they must entitle it to universal acceptance. Every other claim must yield to its authority. Every distinction must bow to its demands. Every rank must be lost in the rank of believers. Religion, indeed, is not a levelling system, like the systems of infidelity. But there are respects in which it sets all on a common footing. It recognizes in us all a common nature, common relations to one another and to God, common obligations, common dependence, and a common destination to an eternity of just retributions. So far as it is a system of duties, therefore, it lays upon us all common claims. So far as it is a system of glorious revelations, it sets before us a common banquet, demanding and richly rewarding universal attention."

It is the design of the present article to assert and vindicate the claims of religion on men of learning. Religion is so often seen in connection with ignorance, and poverty, and affliction, that men of cultivated minds, it is to be feared, regard it as belonging to those states, almost exclusively. They deem it, as it were, a solace divinely ordained to meet those necessities of our nature; destined

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